Friday, July 3, 2009

Case of Fraud in Fort Frances Area

Fort Frances OPP have issued a warning after a local man was bilked more than $28 hundred in an apparent scam.

Police say the man responded to a letter that claimed he owned outstanding goods and services taxes and that if he sent the money through a money wiring service, he would receive a prize.

The letter also came with a 1-866 number.

Emergency Access Changed

Road work near LaVerendrye hospital has resulted in another change to the access of the hospital's emergency ramp.

Effective today, the ramp will only be accessible from Front Street.

Signage has been posted.

4th of July Events in International Falls

There will be plenty of celebrating in International Falls this weekend.

Tomorrow is America's 233rd birthday and there is a host of activities planned at Smokey Bear Park.
One of the highlights will be the annual 4th of July Parade which begins at 1 p.m. and travels from the football field on 12th Street and in the downtown area.

This year's Grand Marshalls include recently retired International Falls Chief of Police Chris Raboin and Police Captain Daryl Waller and former Koochiching County Sheriff Duane Nelson.

Shooting Victim Identified

The victim of last month's shooting in the Osaburgh Lake area has been identified.

But the name of the 30-year-old Peterborough man is being withheld at the request of his family.

Pickle Lake O-P-P were conducting an investigation when they encountered the man.

The Special Investigations Unit says a police firearm was discharged during a confrontation and the man was killed.

Hudak Attacks Tax Merger

The new leader of the Progressive Conservatives has a warning for renters across Ontario.

Tim Hudak says tenants are going to be paying about several hundred dollars more when the province merges sales taxes.

He's urging people to sign an online petition to stop the merger.

The government says it is offering sales and property tax credits to renters to lighten the load.

But Hudak dismisses those efforts as an attempt to "bribe" taxpayers with their own money.

Health Facilities Merger Official

The merger of the Falls Memorial Hospital and the Duluth Clinic-International Falls is now official.

Staff joined with members of the community yesterday to celebrate the integration of the two medical facilities now know as the Rainy Lake Medical Centre.

CEO Brian Long says the aim is to strengthen the area's health care services.

"We hope it means a more comprehensive and capable medical centre drawing upon both organizations coming together in a more collaborative and effective deliverer of health care to the community that we serve," says Long.

Long says one of the goals is the building of a new hospital.

Senator Visits International Falls

Tourism, economic development and health care will be focus of discussions between International Falls area officials and U-S Senator Amy Klobuchar this morning.

As part of those talks, the Minnesota representative at Capital Hill is promoting a bill that would help market the US tourism industry.

Klobuchar says northern Minnesota has been particularly hurt.

"Not only because of the economy," says Klobuchar, "but since 911 when all these strict rules took place for good reasons, but we've gotten so far behind on processing visas and improving travellers coming in for legitimate reason, that we've lost 20 per cent of the international travel market to other countries."

Klobuchar says US is the only country that doesn't have a focus or ad campaign for tourism.

Rowe Verdict Rendered

A former Anglican minister and Scout leader in northern Ontario has been found guilty of seven more sex charges.

But Ralph Rowe is still expected to be freed from prison.

Rowe, who was serving a three-year sentence for similar charges when his sixth prosecution began in April, is scheduled to be paroled today.

Yesterday, a Kenora judge imposed a one-year term to be served concurrently, leaving Rowe's initial parole date intact.

First convicted in 1988, Rowe has been prosecuted six times for a string of sexual assaults across the region.

Some Connecting Link Money Arrives

It's part of the money the town of Fort Frances is looking for.

The province announced yesterday almost $140 thousand dollars through its connecting link program for improvements to Central Avenue and a portion of Scott Street.

That project was completed last year, but Operations and Facilities Manager Doug Brown says a problem with the asphalt requires the area to be repaved.

Meantime, the town is still awaiting word on three other projects submitted under the same program.

They include a study on the feasibility of a walkway on Kings Highway near Legion Park, upgrades to the traffic lights on Kings Highway and the road improvement to Scott between Reid Avenue and Colonization Road East.