One day the wife asks her husband for peace and quiet while she cooks dinner.
The husband took the batteries out of the smoke detector!
Town of High Prairie senior peace officer Alan Bloom submitted his retirement notice to the Town April 21.
Bloom is retiring at the end of June.
The Page joins council and the community in thanking Bloom for his many years of service. Being a law enforcement officer of any kind is a difficult and thankless job, but thank goodness we have so many people willing to serve in those capacities.
Happy retirement, Alan! In a few months, that is!
When the NPHL playoffs began, The Page told many people the person most upset had to be NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.
Why? Because the Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers, and Philadelphia Flyers did not qualify for playoffs. Note all four American teams of the “Original Six” of the NHL are now golfing. Five major American TV markets gonzo alonzo!
“I can just hear the ratings dropping,” The Page said. Big American markets. No teams. In Canada, we watch hockey whereas in the States cities are more drawn to watch their local teams and don’t give a hoot about out-of-market teams.
Well, early numbers are in. Through games April 21, ratings were down 27 per cent to only 718,000 viewers per game.
Gosh, The Page loves it when he is right, probably because it does not happen too often!
But no need to send Bettman a present or crying towel. He makes a pretty decent salary and is paid no matter what the ratings!
Wow! Did you see in last week’s edition where the Town of McLennan is offering huge tax incentives to residential and non-residential taxpayers?
The new bylaw reads that council may, by pass a bylaw, “for the purpose of encouraging the development or revitalization of properties in an assessment class specified . . .. for the general benefit of the municipality, provide for full or partial exemptions from taxation.”
The incentive applies to new construction of residential properties and/or renovations to an existing residential property, as well as non-residential (business) properties, and applies only to the municipal portion of property taxes. Your local town or village cannot, by law, waive the education portion of your tax bill. Usually, its about half.
The bylaw states new residential and non-residential developments will be exempt from the municipal portion of taxes equal to:
- 100 per cent of the value of the current year’s municipal tax levy in the first year;
- 66 per cent of the value of the current year’s municipal tax levy in the second year;
- 33 per cent of the value of the current year’s municipal tax levy in the third year.
That is not exactly a chicken feed incentive, people!
Different villages and towns offer different incentives, if any.
Years ago, High Prairie town council refused an incentive. The council at the time said it was unfair to give a new business, which may be the same as an existing business, a tax break while the old business did not.
For example, it is fair to give a new pizza place a three -year tax break while the existing pizza joint still pays full taxes? Probably not.
Anyway, each town or village struggles with tax incentives. It is not an easy debate. It is fair to ask, however, what your town is doing to encourage business development.
The message here: McLennan is open for business!
An artist had 10 pieces of his work at a public art sale in the local city gallery. A man approached the caretaker and asked if the price of art would increase if the artist died.
“Oh, for sure, it increases,” said the caretaker. “There would be no more art by the artist so its value would rise. Why do you ask?”
The man answered quickly, “I’ll buy all his art that’s left!”
“Wow,” said the caretaker. “You must really like his art!”
“No,” said the man. “I’m his doctor!”
A man went to an auction and much to his surprise, a parrot came up for bid. He thought it would make a nice present for the wife. He bid $50, then $100. Later, $200 and $300. He finally bought the parrot for $500 and went to pay the auctioneer.
“Man, I never thought I’d buy that parrot,” he said. “The bidding was so intense. I just hope that bird talks!”
The auctioneer starts to laugh.
“Who do you think was bidding against you?”
A little girl is outside digging a hole. The inquisitive and nosy neighbour is watching but becomes bored. About 30 minutes later he looks again and sees a rather large hole taking shape. He again loses interest. Half an hour later he decides to look again and sees the little girl is filling a rather large hole. He decides to go help.
“Susan,” he tells the little girl just as they finish filling the hole. “Why did you need such a large hole?”
“My goldfish died,” she told the man.
“That’s terrible, I’m sorry. But why did you need such a big hole.”
The girl replies, “Your cat ate him!”
Have a great week, everyone!