Tuesday Notes

[Scout]

Gregg Drinnan

Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Tuesday . . .
AS MOOSE JAW TURNS: Hi-ho, hi-ho, it’s off to court we go. . . . The Moose Jaw Times-Herald has more on the multiplex mess in Moose Jaw. And it would seem that things aren’t getting any better with a Regina lawyer — what, no qualified lawyers in Moose Jaw? — and his clients booking time in court. . . . The story is right here. . . . And make sure you check out the comments section that follows the story. It just gets better and better. Geez, I mean one writer quotes Joseph Goebbels — yes, that Goebbels — and Abraham Lincoln in the same post. . . . Penticton Warriors?
————————
THE MacBETH REPORT: F Ronald Petrovicky (Tri-City/Prince George/Regina) signed a tryout contract through Aug. 31 with Dinamo Riga (Continental Hockey League). He was with Dukla Trencin (Slovakia Extraliga), MoDo (Sweden Elitserien), and Zug (Swiss NL A) last season, totaling one goal and two assists in 30 games with the three clubs.
————————
THE COACHING GAME: The Kamloops Blazers confirmed Tuesday what was reported here and in The Daily News on Monday. Scott Ferguson and Geoff Smith, both former Blazers and ex-NHL defenceman, have been added to head coach Barry Smith’s staff as assistant coaches. And goaltender coach Steve Passmore, who also played for the Blazers and in the NHL, is returning. The three also represent three Memorial Cup titles and one Stanley Cup. . . . Rob Vanstone, the Regina Leader-Post’s sports columnist, has the latest on the Regina Pats’ search for a head coach. Check it out right here. . . . Chris Hajt has been named assistant coach with the OHL’s Guelph Storm. The son of former NHLer Bill Hajt, Chris played four seasons with the Storm and is a former team captain. He will work under Jason Brooks, who was promoted from assistant coach to head coach to replace Dave Barr, who now is an assistant coach with the Colorado Avalanche. Chris played last season with Balzano HC in Italy. . . . Michael Zuidema of the Grand Rapids Press reports that the AHL's Griffins have hired Curt Fraser as head coach. Fraser, a former NHL player who was the first head coach of the Atlanta Thrashers, replaces Mike Stothers. . . . The Wilkes-Barre Standard-Speaker reports that Todd Richards, head coach of the AHL's Penguins, will be joining head coach Todd McLellan's staff in San Jose. That coaching staff also is expected to include Trent Yawney, the former Chicago Blackhawks' head coach, and video coach Jay Woodcroft. Woodcroft comes over from the Detroit Red Wings.
————————
JUNIOR JOTTINGS: G Tyson Sexsmith of the Vancouver Giants has a signed a three-year entry-level contract with the San Jose Sharks, who selected him 91st overall in the NHL’s 2007 draft. Sexsmith, 19, led the WHL last season in GAA (1.89) and shutouts (9). He has 20 shutouts in his three seasons with the Giants. . . . KING 5 News out of Seattle has done up a story on the Seattle Thunderbirds and their soon-to-be new home. You can get a look at it right here.

Scout

[Scout]

Lawsuit to be launched
CARTER HAYDU
The Moose Jaw Times Herald

Time is up.
The deadline Regina lawyer John Beke gave the City of Moose Jaw to respond to a request from his clients about holding another multiplex referendum has expired. He will now be going to court to try and force Moose Jaw city council to call the vote.
On June 25, Beke, of the firm Balfour Moss, sent the City of Moose Jaw a letter on behalf of five local clients, stating council’s decision to spend approximately $34.5 million on the multiplex project violates the results of a 2006 referendum.
Therefore, Beke’s clients want the city to conduct another referendum, as would coincide with the amendment policy stated in the Cities Act.
After the city did not respond to that letter, Beke sent the city another letter on July 10, setting a deadline of this week for the city to indicate its referendum intentions. Otherwise, he would take the non-response as a refusal to pursue the second referendum.
On Monday, with still no response from council, Beke said he would begin pursuing legal action to force the referendum.
After preparing documents, he will make a Court of the Queen’s Bench application to force the second referendum.
After that application is made, the city will receive a week’s notice of the proceedings, if it goes ahead.
Beke hopes the courts will have heard all the arguments regarding this case by the middle to end of August, provided the courts choose to hear the case in the first place.
Beke is representing Michael and Karen Dolan, Maurice Olsen, Margaret Moran and Gerald Hiebert, who believe council is violating a previously approved referendum bylaw and the Cities Act.
The original 2006 referendum asked people to vote yes or no to the following: “That the city of Moose Jaw re-affirm its financial commitment of $15 million towards the construction of a multiplex facility, consisting of a stadium-style hockey rink with attached curling rink, at an estimated cost of $36.3 million as envisioned in the business plan dated November 2005 from Nustadia Recreation Inc.”
However, during the June 16 council meeting, council approved a $61.287 million multiplex project, which is approximately $19.53 million above the referendum figure.
According to the Cities Act (section 113), there are only three ways a bylaw, passed by referendum, can be amended. One of those ways is letting three years pass, another is if an amendment is necessary for safety reasons and the third way is through another referendum.
However, council can also amend the bylaw if doing so doesn’t “affect the substance of the bylaw or resolution.”

Scout

[Highlander_Yank]

Gregg Drinnan

Tuesday, July 22, 2008
KING 5 News out of Seattle has done up a story on the Seattle Thunderbirds and their soon-to-be new home. You can get a look at it right here.

Scout

Here's a link ...

http://www.king5.com/sports/stories/NW_072208WAB_kent_events_center_TP.7febc99c.html