The Leader-Post from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada • 1

Saskatchewan consumers buying cars, light trucks. D1 VEHICLES SELLING RINGING MEMORIES Red Sox members receive championship rings. Cl REGINA, SASKATCHEWAN BREAKING NEWS AT LEADERPOST.COM $1.19 GST TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2012 A DIVISION OF POSTMEDIA NETWORK INC. STOBBES MURDER TRIAL BEGINS ger of her left hand had been severed. How she died and how she came to be in the familys tan Crown Victoria is now the focus of a two-month trial that began Monday in Winnipeg.

Mark Stobbe, her husband of seven years, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder. Seventy-six witnesses are to testify for the Crown in its case, which Crown attorney Wendy Dawson de Dawson told jurors that Stobbe killed his wife late Oct. 24, 2000 with a hatchet, striking her 16 times in the head as the two fought in the backyard of their River Road home. Trying to protect herself, Rowbotham raised her hands, but the blows came anyway. The index finger and tip of her baby finger on her left hand were chopped off, Dawson said.

See STOBBE, A2 scribed as largely circumstantial, but should leave jurors without any doubt whos responsible. The jurors determining Stobbes fate there are 14, including two alternates spent the day first getting an outline of the prosecutions case from Dawson and later being led through a large booklet of photos taken by RCMP of the familys St. Andrews home and the car where Rowbothams body was found. RCMP DISTRACTED DRIVER COURSE SUMA Wall stresses frugal outlook ANGELA HALL LEADER-POST Premier Brad Wall is downplaying expectations in advance of this springs provincial budget, telling municipal leaders that government revenue faces some pressures despite a strong economy There are fiscal challenges for us here in this province, even as we experience economic growth and prosperity, Wall said to delegates Monday at the annual Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) convention. As the government prepares to release its third-quarter update for the current budget year.

Wall said some drop-off is expected in corporate income tax revenue. The premier also said potash revenue expectations have softened, but he expected that was on a temporary basis. Those realities are posing revenue challenges for the province, he said. We have work to do in the government to make sure the budget is balanced. Well get the job done but it does inform all decisions were making heading into the budget cycle, Wall said, speaking later to reporters.

In the mid-year fiscal update released last November, the province showed it was on track for a narrow $25 million surplus in the general revenue fund despite added costs to deal with flooding. On a summary financial basis, which incorporates all areas of government including the Crown corporations, the projection was for a deficit. The premier said he wanted to reinforce with community leaders who are eager for flmdmg to help deal with infrastructure projects that challenges need to be met while being mindful of budget constraints. Even as he touted what he called the Saskatchewan advantage, citing population growth and a low unemployment rate, Wall said fiscal responsibility is the most important element of the governments growth agenda. See WALL, A2 PS Agreement 40063379 liiipigil I'196QQQ001'II BY BRUCE OWEN WINNIPEG FREE PRESS WINNIPEG A barefoot Beverly Rowbotham was found slumped dead in the back seat of the family sedan with her skull split open, the doors open and the keys still in the ignition.

A pair of white socks and slip-ons sat on the floor. As RCMP combed through the car they also found that the middle fin STARS On target for spring takeoff PAMELA COWAN LEADER-POST As helicopter air medical service gets closer to landing in Regina, an expert who has been involved in helipad development in other jurisdictions will assess the Regina General Hospitals roof as a landing pad. "When you consider safety for patients and the crew, safety for folks on the ground, whether that be the hospital site or the surrounding neighbourhoods, certainly the planning to date is leadmg in the direction of a rooftop helipad, said Deb Jordan, executive director of acute and emergency services with the Ministry of Health. "If you look at most other major urban built-up areas where a helicopter air medical service operates, helipads on rooftops or sometimes theyre cantilevered off the side of a building tend to be used more often. Structural and engineering work must be done to determine the feasibility of that option.

Jordan debunked the rumour that parking spots at the General would be razed to make room for the helicopter to land on the ground at that site. Until a permanent site is found, the helicopter air ambulance service will land at the Regina International Airport and patients will be taken by ground ambulance to the General. See STARS, A2 Today's Weather High 4 Low -8 G1 if )' tera Leader Post reporter Kerri Benjoe tries a stint at driving and texting at the same time under the watchful eye of RCMP Cpi. Shelley Doncaster on a state-of-the-art simulator at the RCMP Training Academy on Monday. Texting and driving? Uli-uh WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Mark Stobbe officer shouting at me to text a family member, friend and colleague different messages, and my driving skills became virtually nonexistent Two of my runs ended in a collision.

Fortunately, I hit only objects and not other virtual vehicles or cyclists. See DISTRACTED, A2 (Prime Minister Stephen Harper) knows I have a different viewpoint than he does. He respects that I respect he has a different viewpoint, Trost said. Ive been an MP approaching eight years now. Im not the sort of one that looks over my shoulder 247 I dont sweat that stuff See TROST, A2 Horoscopes D6 Sports Cl TV Listings B8 Weather CIO KERRY BENJOE LEADER-POST I like to text I do it a hundred times a day.

Its my connection to friends and family It can be, "HL how or "Whatcha up Simple, right? was to practice driving and texting in one of the RCMP driving simulators. I got into my simulator, buckled up, turned the ignition and shifted into drive. Interestingly, I had difficulty handing the simulated cruise through town without distraction. Add in a cellphone and an POLITICS Trost questions party discipline However after participating in the RCMPs distracted driver course, I can honestly say "I cant text and drive! The day started off like every Monday, but on this one members of the media were invited to participate in a special distracted drivers event hosted by the RCMR The first task of the day FEDERAL (IIARPER) KNOWS I HAVE A DIFFERENT VIEWPOINT THAN IIE DOES. BRAD TROST OM, Trost said other western democracies such as Britain and the United States are mature enough to have more Arts Life B1 Business D1 City Province A3 Classified D4 of JASON WARICK THE STARPHOENIX SASKATOON Saskatoon-Humboldt Conservative MP Brad Trost is questioning the ironclad party discipline that prevails in Ottawa, saying it stifles debate and prevents independent thinking.

In a recent commentary aired on News Talk 650 CK- vigorous debates within parties. Contrast that to Canada, where party discipline is ironclad, Trost said. "If everyone in a party thinks the same on every issue, not a lot thinking is going on. In an Interview with The StarPhoenix on Monday, Trost said he isnt worried about the consequences of speaking out Comics B7 Crossword D7 Death Notices D4 Forum A8.