Friday, July 31, 2009

Non-Profit Infrastructure Bucks Available

The federal and provincial governments are giving non-profit organizations an opportunity to tap in some infrastructure funding.

Under a new program, both the feds and the province will cover 2-thirds of any project approved.

Non-profit organizations would have to cover the remain construction costs.

They have until August 18th to submit applications.

Job Growth Task Force Formed

Minnesota legislators are forming a bi-partisan task force to look at ways of creating job growth in the state.

The task force will be charged with developing a plan for the 2010 legislative session that will build on this past session’s job-growth initiatives.

The task force is expected to begin meeting in August, with chairs and membership to be announced next week.

Golf Classic a Go

American and Canadian golfers will join together to help raise money for the Rainy Lake Medical Centre Foundation.

About 120 golfers will participate in the seventh annual golf classic at the Falls Country Club today.

Foundation director Sage Johnson says money raised goes towards the construction of a new facility.

Over the last two years, about $45,000 has been raised.

Chapple Heritage Recognized

Chapple Heritage Days goes this weekend.

It's taking place at the farm of Steve and Joan Both.

Chair of Chapple's Heritage Committee Rilla Race says it's an opportunity to celebrate the area's heritage.

"We've been doing this since 2000," says Race. "It started actually in 1999 with our Chapple centennial. Since that time we've just had a weekend and its our ninth year.

Among the events include a bonfire on tonight, and a tractor parade, a wood loading demonstration and saddle horse events tomorrow.

While the event is free, Race says they use it to raise funds for the operation of the Chapple Museum in Barwick.
The event is also used

Old Flares Wanted

Ontario Provincial Police are giving area boaters an opportunity to discard old marine flares in a safe manner.

For a one week period beginning tomorrow, boaters can bring the flares to any OPP detachment.

Sergeant Shelly Garr says its important to regularly check the expiry date of those flares.

"It's an issue of safety," says Garr. "Sometimes we receive quite old marine flares. We don't want these things lying around on people garages or just in storage. We'd rather have them brought to a safe place and have them disposed of in a safe manner."

Flares collected will be transported to a facility in Quebec for disposal.

Airport Worries Eased

Officials at the airport in International Falls are trying to ease travellers concerns about Delta Airlines announced plans to end air service.

Delta announced earlier this month it would cease service as it seeks assistance under a federal subsidy program to continue air services at several small airports, including the Falls.

Chair of the International Falls-Koochiching County Airport Commission Bob Anderson says the move is just the first step in the process, and will result in more consistent service at the airport over the long-term.

New Mill Manager

There will be a new manager at Boise's mill in International Falls.

Bert Brown takes over the position effect tomorrow.

Brown has been at the mill since March 2008, and its operations manager since last October.

Current manager, Terry Ward, who is also Vice-president of Minnesota Operations, is being relocated to the company's headquarters in Idaho as the new Vice-president of Supply chain.

Park Protest Planned

There are more protests planned at some provincial parks in southern Ontario this weekend.

Student workers plan to stop vehicles to inform park users vacation and holiday pay is being denied to 3,400 high school, college and university students working for the province this summer.

Students received such pay in the past, but the government said this year the Crown is exempt from that section of the Employment Standards Act.

That decision also impacts students working at parks in northwestern Ontario, but there are no plans yet for any protests.

Portage Avenue Underpass Closure Revised

A planned closure of the Portage Avenue underpass has been extended.

The town of Fort Frances says the underpass will be closed beginning next Tuesday at 9:00 a.m., reopening Friday August 7th at 4:00 p.m.

Initial closure plans called for that section of Portage to be shutdown beginning Wednesday to replace the sanitary sewage line.

The underpass will be open to one lane of traffic this weekend.

More Firefighting Help to B.C.

More forest fire fighting resources from Ontario are being dispatched to fire-ravaged British Columbia.

The Ministry of Natural Resources says over 230 firefighters and support staff will leave for the west coast from Sudbury and Dryden tomorrow. About half will come from northwestern Ontario.

It's the fourth deployment this month and brings to 570 the number of MNR personnel to head to B.C.