570News Blog: Kate Stockmann

Yesterday a St.Thomas man was sentenced to four years in prison for sexually abusing his daughter live on the internet.

 Like many people who have emailed the 570 news centre, I don’t think this sentence goes far enough.

That poor little girl will never be the same. Her life is forever changed because of this dispicable crime.  I believe that to harm a child in that way is worse than murder, and I believe it should be treated that way by the justice system.

I would like to see a minimum penalty of 25 years in jail imposed on these offenders.  Some may argue pedophiles have a mental illness and that should be considered in sentencing them. Then I say they can serve that 25 years in a mental health facility.

 We, as a society have the responsibility to protect those who cannot protect themselves.

 Kate

Snow. It’s what makes us Canadian. We shovel it, we complain about it, and deep down I think we love it.

 It brings out the best and worst in us. While many people were getting into crashes this past weekend, others were using it as a chance to do a good deed.

I saw people helping neighbours dig their cars out of their driveways, stopping to help a stranded motorist and even heard of people shoveling out the driveway of an elderly neighbour.

You can’t help but smile when you hear kids laugh and remember the days when you struggled into your snow pants to run out and play.

 It also makes this time of year feel just a little more festive. It makes a bustling kitchen that much more cozy.

So as you’re cursing having to scrape off your car for the 20th time, stop and enjoy being Canadian.

 Kate

Have you ever had a pinched nerve? I stretched the other day, just your average first-thing-in-the-morning stretch and something in my neck popped.

It felt like my neck and shoulder were in a vice. I’ve never experienced pain like it. My left hand even began to tingle.

It brought me to a dilemma that I’m sure nearly everyone in Waterloo Region has had in the last year. Am I in enough pain to see a doctor? The answer was yes. Aspirin was not cutting it and it was nearly impossible to get through a newscast without tears in my eyes.

 However, what I couldn’t face was the 6 hour wait in the ER. Sure it’s not always that long, but with my luck I knew I’d be sitting there with nothing to ease my pain for hours and I just couldn’t face it.

 So I did what doctors hate. I consulted Dr. Internet and diagnosed myself.  Google revealed my only sure fire cure, was time. There would be little a doctor could do but prescribe stronger drugs.  So I treated myself with combination of over the counter pain medications, warm baths and a heat wrap.

While I’m still in pain, I can stand it and it’s improving. But I have to say, it’s a sad state of affairs when I’ll trust my health to a computer rather than risk hours of agony waiting for the help of a professional.

Kate