Battlefords News-Optimist

Scrutiny of government tax and spending policies remains an important hallmark of Canadian democracy. And yet, while federal and provincial government finances routinely make headlines, municipal governments often escape the fiscal spotlight.

The recent killing of two Canadian soldiers by self-professed, radicalized young men who became enamoured with a violent interpretation of Islam will bring up multiple assertions about the "root cause" for such attacks.

We now seem to be in a pattern. A little snow, a little melting and then a little snow again. When it wasn't snowing the weather was quite pleasant. It really is typical November weather.

The Mervin 4-H Beef Club held their annual organizational meeting Oct. 20. The club has eight members, one Cloverbud, two juniors, four intermediates and one senior. The club is pleased to have three new members this year.

A recent highlight of 2014 for Hubby and me was the visit of our sister-in-law and her three daughters. It's been more than a decade since we last saw her and more years than that since we saw our nieces.

Since there is a very real possibility our football team's season could be over by this time next week, I've decided to talk about the Saskatchewan Roughriders. I notice interest in the Riders has gone straight down the past number of weeks.

The fall of 2014 moved Canada into a new realm. It used to be Canadian soldiers went to places that were not so nice as part of their commitment to the United Nations and world peace. That was forever changed this October.

The legacy of those who saw action for the Canadian forces in various conflicts around the world is one worthy of remembrance.

Sitting here in Battleford, having coffee with Harold Anderson, one would hardly suspect that you were in the presence of one of the brave men who helped push back enemy troops out of France, Belgium, Holland and England. Anderson was a pilot.

When counselling patients on health, physicians often focus on lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise or smoking.