The Saskatchewan Government is toying with the idea of lowering the legal drinking limit from 19 to 18 years of age. Those of us with high morals shudder at such a suggestion. Why do we want younger people drinking? The realist should understand young people are drinking at about 16 years-old anyway so we may as well lower it. Alberta and Manitoba both have legal drinking ages at 18 so Saskatchewan may as well too. Having said that, the majority of vehicle accidents involving alcohol occur when people are between the ages of 18 and 25. I think more studies need to be done. Are more lives at risk? I do not think lowering the legal drinking age encourages people to drink at a younger age because most young drinkers are doing so illegally anyway. One good point I heard is that if you are old enough to carry a weapon and defend our country, then you probably should be old enough to have the odd beer.
From the 'we hear what we want to hear' department: the provincial government has approved three new privatized liquor stores. In the 2007 election, Brad Wall said his government would not privatize government run liquor stores. He's keeping that promise as these stores are new and he made no such promise as far as creating new stores are concerned.
Chester Fried Chicken is coming to Yorkton. They will set up shop on Broadway Street. Frankly, I can't figure out why more businesses aren't more forthcoming on their plans for Yorkton once they get their real estate details firmed up. What's wrong with some free publicity to get folks buzzing about a new retail outlet? However, a good majority of these companies stay hush hush until the day the door opens. It puzzles me. I suppose since I have no business sense of my own, perhaps it isn't supposed to be something I understand.
If you are in the mood for a good laugh, check out YouTube and the bit about a lady who called a North Dakota radio station complaining about Deer Crossing signs. Apparently, this woman has been in three accidents with deer in the last year and she feels it's high time the State move these Deer Crossing signs to an area where there is a lot less traffic. She understands deer have to get from Point A to Point B, but can't they do it in a school zone or something?
In Pittsburgh, a 24-year-old man was asked by his mom to go out and shoot a skunk that she felt was lurking about outside the family home. So, he goes out with a gun and the mom is behind him with a flashlight. They find what appears to be a skunk, but after he puts a bullet in the 'pest', the mom and brother discover it's actually the man's 9-year-old sister dressed up in a Halloween costume. Fortunately, she's recovering in hospital. He has been charged with aggravated assault.
I haven't watched a Western Hockey League game in a few years, but I took one in on Saturday night as Yorkton's Davis Vandane plays for the Prince Albert Raiders. The Pats and Raiders met for the first time this season on Saturday, with Regina winning 4-1. Davis has carved out a pretty good WHL career for himself after playing two years of Midget 'AAA' with the Yorkton Harvest and fourteen games two years ago for the SJHL Terriers. He's one of three 20-year-olds on the first place Raiders and it was good to see a healthy contingent on hand to show him support.
You really have to wonder what it is away from the football field that dogs Eric Tillman. He was beloved in Saskatchewan for turning around the sad sack Roughriders, but an altercation with a babysitter resulted in he and the organization parting company. Over the weekend, with the playoffs looming, the Edmonton Eskimos fired him, effective immediately.
