Little goblins, ghouls, princesses, all manner of other spooks and friendly animals will be swarming the streets tonight. Keep an eye out for them as, in their excitement to gather up Halloween treats, they may not be watching out for you.
Various school Me to We Club members will also be hitting the streets, but they will be asking for donations of non perishable food items for the food bank, so you might want to stock up on a few cans of soup and boxes of crackers and cereal along with your sweeter shell outs.
If you had been paying attention to the national media last week, you would be wondering how these little people could possibly be brave enough to venture out on the streets after dark.
Last Thursday CTV aired their version of "crime capital of Canada" as the second lead story on their national news, right behind the never ending Senate scandal. A segment also ran in the Saskatoon regional news. Both portrayed North Battleford as an embattled place, where people cower in their houses, keeping a safe distance from streets rampaging with crime. Described as a "city in chaos," it doesn't seem like the kind of place where innocent little trick or treaters could possibly venture forth without armed guards.
The segment reminded me why I quit watching TV news 25 years ago. At the time, living in Watrous, our cable service dished up Detroit evening news for our enjoyment. A steady diet of murder and mayhem had us turning the channel and we've never gone back. In a newspaper you can pick and choose what you want to read and chances are you're going to get a far more thorough examination of an issue than can be dished up in a few sound bites.
CTV's portrayal of the Battlefords is getting high marks for accuracy from respondents to our weekly website poll, however. Of those voting so far, 38.6 per cent are saying the broadcast was "dead on accurate." Another 28.1 per cent agree the community has crime, but disagree with the depiction of a "city in chaos." Register your vote. The poll is open until Monday. (www.newsoptimist.ca)
I think their spin on the crime issue in North Battleford was way over the top. It was noted at city council by Sgt. Darcy Woolfitt this week that a recent murder at the Travelodge was the first such death in the Battlefords in 10 years. When it comes to murder, Krydor could be named "crime capital of Canada" this week, at least on a per capita basis. Police believe the body of a man who has been missing there for several months has been discovered and murder charges have been laid against his son.
What about Cochin? A dozen cabin owners there are reporting break-ins this month.
So, be generous to those brave trick or treaters as they take back the streets for one evening this year.
