Tuesday, September 16, 2008

More coming. No excuses at all,other than work and sloth. If pollsters stopped calling me to ask my opinion on the election I could get more work done.......Will post a "bon mot " shortly

Friday, September 5, 2008

http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/city/pages/sk-46_metric_e.html

Watches
Melfort - Tisdale - Nipawin - Carrot River
1:15 PM CST Friday 5 September 2008
Tornado watch for
Melfort - Tisdale - Nipawin - Carrot River issued

Scattered thunderstorms are expected this afternoon.

Conditions are favourable for the development of funnel clouds or weak tornadoes. These types of funnel clouds form out of large cumulus clouds or very weak thunderstorms and normally do not have the energy to reach the ground. However one or two of these funnels may briefly touch down and can become destructive over a very small area. Treat all funnel clouds and tornadoes seriously and avoid when possible. Should one develop overhead take shelter until it dissipates. Remember these funnel clouds will normally appear with little or no warning.

Better not land here to much crop in fields and I have to go out there eartly in the AM
http://www.katepwabeach.com/bins/index.asp

Do the cottage owners at Wakaw know about this

See also the following........

Resort tax burden
Wed, Sep 3, 2008 06:09 PM CS

IT'S QUIET ON KATEPWA. ONLY THE WEATHER COULD DO THAT. COTTAGE COUNTRY IS HOT PROPERTY, AND THERE'S A RACE TO CREATE MORE ROOM.

RON WEIBEL/Berry Hills Development
"More and more people are trying to get out of the city to a place that's a little more quiet."

THE HOUSING DEMAND HAS DRIVEN UP PRICES ACROSS THE PROVINCE, BUT ESPECIALLY AT THE LAKES. WHERE RETIREMENT AND VACATION DREAMS - BOUGHT FOR 80 OR 90 THOUSAND DOLLARS - ARE ABOUT TO COLLIDE WITH THE REALITY OF REASSESSMENT.

FRED WEEKLEY/Mayor, Katepwa District
"Property is now valued at $600,000. They're going to lose their homes it's a simple as that."

FRED SMITH HAS HAD A PLACE AT KATEPWA FOR NEARLY 40 YEARS. FACING A POTENTIAL 70 PERCENT INCREASE WOULD MEAN ONE THING.

FRED SMITH/Nearly 40 Years at the Lake
"I'd drop out. I'd have to sell the place cause I'm retired."

BIG HOMES, AND BIG INVESTORS ARE AN EASY TARGET FOR DRIVING UP TAXES. BUT RALPH WOOD, WHO'S ALSO LIVED AT THE LAKE FOR 4 DECADES, WELCOMES THE NEIGHBOURS.

RALPH WOOD/4 Decades at Katepwa
"If folks want to squander their money then say - oh big cottages should pay more. To me that's not fair."

THE BURDEN COMES FROM THE EDUCATION PORTION OF PROPERTY TAX. IT'S ESPECIALLY HIGH IN RESORT COMMUNITIES WHICH REQUIRE LITTLE LOCAL TAX. KATEPWA HAS A GROWING PETITION TO MOVE THAT BURDEN ELSEWHERE. AN INCREASE TO PROVINCIAL SALES TAX IS WHERE THE COMMUNITIES MAYOR WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT. THAT WAY THOSE WHO COULD AFFORD MORE - WOULD PAY MORE.

FRED WEEKLEY/Mayor, Katepwa District
"Brad and the boys have to get this done sooner rather than later."

WEEKLEY ADMITS IT MAY NOT BE POPULAR, BUT IT WOULD BE FAIR. IT'S AN IDEA THAT'S ALSO BEING SHARED WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES - ESPECIALLY RURAL WHERE THE EDUCATION EQUATION HAS BEEN QUESTIONED FOR YEARS.

DAN MCINTOSH/CTV News
"It will be a tall order to convince the government to change tax policy in a way that makes a significant difference. If the peitition can't do that - next year, a day at the beach will be much more expensive for many. Dan McIntosh CTV News, Katepwa." reposted from the CTV news web site in case it goes away

Katepwa is in the Qu'Appelle valley E of Regina in S Saskatchewan

Its all about the money. Ok ENOUGH

Look pictures of the Wakaw project

http://news.webshots.com/album/23703287AnZohclvCM

For an update on the Wakaw Canal http://www.townofwakaw.com/WakawCanalUpdate05.html

So we can sail to get our booze when the oil runs out

Tourism is a panacea, that does not produce a sustainable "Value added " economy. This is an example of the "Service" economy we in the west have become. It is a type of shuffle game where one party gives something of perceived high value, to gain even more short term High value. Society is left holding the bag. I wonder if there is provision in the plan for dredging the silt and wildlife bird poop up in a few years. Oh well its not in my back yard. I go further North where the Loons cry rings clear at 4:45 am and the fish jump out of the lake into your boat. OK ENOUGH Ranting for now.