Earls in Calgary will start a new idea and that is a flat 16% hospitality fee that would be added to your bill instead of tipping. We reached out to some local owners to get their thoughts. Blake Trotter / Owner GM of Browns Socialhouse I think having a 16% flat fee instead of the option of tipping would have a very negative effect on our business.  However if all restaurants were to do this idea then it would be different.  With the oil business being down we have seen a huge difference in sales and this tipping concept would not help anyone. Chad Wahlin / Owner GM of Joe Beeverz and Blu Kitchen and Bar I guess they can call it whatever they want, gratuity or tax, it's ending up in the same place. I couldn't imagine enforcing an automatic gratuity on all guests in our restaurants, especially in a market like Brandon.  On the other hand, it is keeping Earls in the media in a tough market like Alberta right now.... They are following up to their announcement and retraction of them not using Canadian beef, so they are definitely being talked about. I have heard of other restaurants doing this in large markets before, but not an entire chain. It'll be interesting to see the reaction of the guests. Darren Burdeniuk / Owner and Partner of The Dock I don't know. Depends what share of that 16% the servers get. The whole hospitality industry relies on tips. If it decreases the servers take home money they will lose some good servers to the competition. I'd love to hear the rational behind the move to 16%.   Scott Ball You know it depends on how hungry I was lol ..... but I think overall the idea isn't great. Jon Mazer Big parties we would have a fee added regardless (18%) personally as a customer it should be in control of the customer.  It is polite to tip but cheap people will tip 10 bucks on a 350 dollar bill. I can see both sides of it but it is a very aggressive move. We look forward to seeing your response with our online poll http://www.calgarysun.com/2016/07/11/new-calgary-earls-restaurant-ditching-tipping-in-favour-or-16-hospitality-fee  

The final touches have been put into place for this weekends Monsters of Mayhem Show to be held at the Keystone Centre in Brandon, MB. Crews have been building a special facility at the south end of the Keystone Centre grounds which now features bleacher seating and a host of derelict vehicles, sure to be further demolished during the weekends festivities. A total of three shows have been scheduled for July 8th and 9th. Spectators will once again be treated to another explosive event of tire popping, car flipping fun filled with demolition, speed and powerful stunts featuring Outlaws of Motorsports monster trucks. This year's show will feature a special appearance from Galactron vs. Reptar, two cars who transform into robots and battle to save the world! From an earlier press release promoting the event “Westman loved our big, bad monster trucks last year,” said Rob Waloschuk, for Outlaws of Motorsports. “And they’re going to love the addition of the two car robots Galactron and Reptar – they’re out of this world!” Dates/Times Friday July 8, 7PM Saturday July 9, 1PM Saturday July 9, 7PM Outlaws of Motorsports

Westman Youth Football will be holding a fundraising kickoff tomorrow (June 25th) at Crocus Plains for the Boyd Stadium project.  The event is part of the WYFA Championship Day hosted each year. Organizers will be selling 450 each of Rider green and Bomber blue t-shirts for $20.00 each.  Fans of each team are encouraged to head to Crocus Plains and purchase a t-shirt of their favorite team.  They are challenging the public to support the stadium and their respective teams through this endeavor.  Sales of the t-shirts run from 9am-3pm and the winner will be announced after the challenge. They will also be accepting any personal or corporate donations starting tomorrow.  Let’s show support for Westman on this great and deserving project.

A minor accident on Thursday afternoon in Brandon as a semi-truck trailer turning west onto Park Ave from 18th Street crashed into the traffic light pole causing it to tumble to the ground. Traffic along Park Ave and 18th was backed up and police and emergency response units were quickly on hand to investigate and re-route traffic.

A fight by two men in a nearby parking lot, has led to a 27-year-old man being stabbed twice in his upper body on Sunday night in Brandon.  At approximately 2:05 a.m. Brandon Police received a report of a possible stabbing in the 200 block of 17th St N.  Police eventually located the victim at his apartment in the 200 block of 18th St N where he was transported by ambulance to receive treatment and surgery for the puncture wounds.  The injuries are non-life-threating and the identity of the other man involved in the fight is unknown at this time.