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ESSEX POLICE SERVICE WELCOMES NEW RECRUITS Vets move to investigation division THIS WEEK'S COMMUNITY PROFILE: Ravens head coach Glen Mills LAURA MATTHEWS SHINES AT CANADIAN OPEN Finishes tournament 10 over par See NEWS Page 3 See COMMUNITY Page 12 See SPORTS Page 15 $1.00 "Serving Essex and Community Since 1896" (GST included) Whole Number 6199 Registration No. 08565 Volume 127 No. 33 Phone: 776-4268 Fax: 776-4014 723-2290 · ESSEX Wednesday, August 16, 2006 http://essexfreepress.reinvented.net Windsor, Essex still in need of doctors BY SARAH FISHER Over 100 new physicians began working in Essex County in the past three years, but the influx still does not match the need for doctors, members of a physician recruitment office reported to Essex County Council Aug. 9. Joan Mavrinac, the head of the regional physician recruitment office, and Ronna Warsh, the general manager of social and health services for the City of Windsor, provided the report. The pair gave council an update on recruiting achievements since the office was formed through a cost sharing arrangement with Windsor in 2003. Mavrinac reported that since it was created, the office has recruited 107 physicians to Windsor and Essex County, including 39 general practitioners, 10 psychiatrists, three critical care specialists and two neurosurgeons. "In 2003 Windsor/Essex was identified as the most under-serviced area in the province," Mavrinac said about reports from the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. "At the time the area had roughly 50 percent of the family practitioners needed according to the population and 20 percent of the psychiatrists." The economic impact of bringing one new physician to the area is $497,000 a year and creates 2.4 "direct and indirect" jobs, Mavrinac said. During the same time period that 107 physicians were recruited, 66 physicians left the area because of retirement or a move to another community. The rate of attrition and the loss of local physicians to other areas of the country or the U.S. will continue to contribute to a severe shortage of doctors in the region, council was told. "Unfortunately, we continue to be critically under serviced because of the population growth and physician attrition," Mavrinac said. "Basically over the last 10 years our population has increased by about 80,000. ... While we recruited 107 physicians, 66 also left the community which leaves us a net of 41 physicians since the committee started three and a half yeas ago." Mavrinac estimated that the Windsor area is short by about 200 physicians for its population size. The physician recruitment office operates with an annual budget of $220,000. SEE RECRUITMENT REPORT, 6 LOG CUTTING ­ Gilbert Beaulieu, left, and Rodger Beaulieu, right, operate an antique drag saw during the 22nd Annual Essex County Steam and Gas Engine Show at Co-An Park in McGregor Aug. 12. Beaulieu's father found the saw thirty years ago scattered in a forest in Northern Ontario. Since it's been restored, the Beaulieu brothers have been utilizing the saw to cut logs. Steam and gas engine show features antique cars, tractors BY DANIEL SCHWAB Hundreds flocked to the Essex County Steam and Gas Engine Show at Co-An Park in McGregor Aug. 11-13, to enjoy the biggest exhibition so far in the 22-year history of the event. "Every year we're growing more," said Evelyn Baker, president of the Steam and Gas Engine Club for the past six years. Baker said the club began planning for the show this time last year. "Our members have been working their hearts out," she said. "We're already planning for next year's show." The event turned back the clock for antique lovers, featuring a variety of old fashioned tractor displays and farming demonstrations. resident Morris Amherstburg Kurzuk showcased 52 antique tractors during the show. The oldest machine in Kurzuk's collection dates back to 1928, but his pride and joy is a newly restored steam engine that runs on air. The machine was considerably rusty and in less than running condition when Kurzuk began working on it last year. "Now it looks brand new," he said. "Everybody seems to be really impressed." This year's feature was Ford machinery. Al Bald, of Essex, showed off his 1919 replica of a Model-T Ford. Bald started building the three-quarter-size model in 2001, when it was nothing but an axle and frame. SEE STEAM SHOW, 7