After making more than 700 impressions over the years, the search continues for ideas that showcase Ponoka’s history.
Mike Rainone’s weekly feature Reflections has been a staple of the Ponoka News for a couple of decades and the former editor is hoping to find more viewpoints to express and enlighten readers.
“Reflections has come to the point where it’s hard to get stories,” he explained.
“I can put them together, I can go through the history books, but I need some more ideas. I want to keep going because people like to read it and like to know about our history.”
Rainone added he needs more people to get him those ideas, whether it’s a high school reunion, a significant anniversary, people and businesses that have been around for some time or his personal favourite — sports teams.
And it doesn’t necessarily have to be just in Ponoka. Rainone’s work covers Ponoka County and the various little districts it encompasses such as Mecca Glen, Crestomere and Usona.
“I’m looking for present things that I can dwell on, to salute someone that has done well here or elsewhere, someone who has volunteered for a long time or just something that started sometime ago and turned out good for someone,” he stated.
An example of what he is looking for are the stories he has written about Ponoka hockey players that made the NHL and what they are up to now.
“It can also be about clubs or organizations that have served the community going back some time,” added Rainone.
“And my stories, I keep them as positive as I can because that’s what it is all about. Salute the history because they are the ones who put together and are helping us into the future,” he stated.
“I love it. Being able to sit down to put stories together about my hometown where my parents lived for years and I spent 55 years living in. I love doing this because I continue to get a lot of feedback on it.”
As for where the ideas come from, it doesn’t matter as long as the story has that Ponoka area connection. In fact, he continues to receive tips from around the world.
“Just send me an idea and I can put it together. I’ve gotten ideas through email from the U.S. and other areas, so just send me a picture or something. I can work with people or sit down with them and get it done,” Rainone said.
He also acknowledged the staff at both the Ponoka News and the Fort Ostell Museum for all of the support he has received, adding Reflections and Remember When would not be nearly impossible to accomplish without them.
Got an idea, photography or suggestion for either of his historical retrospectives, contact the Ponoka News office at (403) 783-3311 or reach out via email at either editorial@ponokanews.com or to Rainone at jrainone@telus.net.