History Project in the Works

The history of stock car racing in Emo is being compiled in a new on-line project.

Past-president of the Borderland Racing Association, Anthony Leek says what started out as a book has resulted in the development of hundreds of pages of information that's about to be made public.

"It's basically like a giant newspaper," says Leek, "that has information about individual driver, individual events, organizations that have been involved, sponsors, stuff like that."

Leek says he still gathering information before making the historical project before making the site public.

To assist, you can contact Leek through the Borderland Racing Association's website.

LGA Cuts Concerning

A Minnesota Senator says he has sympathy for International Falls that could see another cut in local government state aid payments.

Governor Tim Pawlenty's decision to make further cuts to L-G-A has angered many municipalities, including the Falls, and Tom Saxhaugh says they have a right to be mad.

"It's a huge part of their (International Falls) budget," says Saxhaugh. "It's a very large amount of services they're going to have to cut unless we can do something about it."

Saxhaugh feels Pawlenty is being swayed to eliminate LGA by cities and who currently don't receive or need the funding.

Health Leaders Recognized

Several employees with the Rainy Lake Medical Centre in International Falls have been recognized by the Centre's Executive Team.

Sue DeBenedet, the director of Patient Financial Services was cited as Leader of the Year for her role in last year's integration of the hospital and clinic.

Six department director were presented with "All-Star" leader awards for their dedication to patient care as well as to their team.

They included: Ann Gross-Resch, Director of Health information Management; Kathy Hughes, Nursing Supervisor; Robyn Pelowski, Clinic Support Services Supervisor; Donita Ettestad, Director of Case Management; Margaret Hyatt, Director of Environmental Services; and Nissa Fougner, Director of the Therapy and Wellness Center.

Economic Good News

Finally, some good news about Ontario's economy which has taken a severe beating for years.

The Conference Board of Canada predicts the province will have the second strongest economy in the country this year and thousands of new jobs to go with it.

While lagging behind B-C, Ontario is expected to outpace the national average for the first time in a decade.

The board predicts Ontario will grow by 3.5 per cent this year.

The board says the credit for the turnaround will go to the auto sector which should have double-digit growth.

Ontario is projected to gain about 74-thousand new jobs this year.

Jail Time Sought

The Crown is going to ask today for a jail term for a man who admits he stood by while his severely depressed wife took her own life in a northern Ontario motel.

The prosecutor admits 47-year-old Peter Fonteece is no "Dr.Kevorkian,'' but says his failure to call for help after his wife Yanisa took 40 sleeping pills warrants jail.

Fonteece is to appear in a Thunder Bay court today for a sentencing hearing after pleading guilty to criminal negligence causing death.

The body of 38-year-old Yanisa Fonteece was discovered in a Super8 Motel room last February after her husband phoned 9-1-1.

Retirement Home Regulation

The McGuinty government is going to start regulating retirement homes, just as the province's aging population starts to head into them.

Seniors Minister Gerry Phillips says he will introduce legislation this spring that will ensure all retirement homes meet certain standards.

Phillips declined to divulge any specifics since the legislation is still being drafted but an agency to oversee them is a possibility.

The bill will include minimum safety and care standards and a resident's bill of rights.

There are about 750 retirement homes in Ontario housing about43-thousand residents.

Retirement homes aren't regulated in Ontario like nursing homes,which receive government funding to provide medical care to elderly patients.

They do have to meet provincial fire and building codes, abide by tenant protection laws and meet public health and food safety rules.

Push for Via Rail Again

The move is on again to bring back passenger rail service to the southern parts of northwestern Ontario.

Thunder Bay MP Bruce Hyer plans to introduce a private members motion on the issue when parliament resumes and feels the time is right to restore service.

"One is because of greenhouse gases," says Hyer. "Rail is far more energy efficient than cars or buses. Secondly bus service has been dwindling in the north and we badly need rail service as an alternative."

Via Rail currently runs on CN Rail's northern line.