Wednesday, September 30, 2009

New School Name Sought

The Rainy River District School Board is turning to the community to name its newest elementary school.

It's inviting residents and students to submit their suggestions through the board's website.

The school, to house students know attending Robert Moore and F.H. Huffman schools in Fort Frances, is schedule to open its doors in the fall of 2010.

The board will collect suggested names until January before making a decision in March.

Heritage Project Work Continues

Work continues on the tourism heritage project at the Fort Frances waterfront.

Community Services Manager George Bell says reassembly of the tower is expected next week while some minor repairs are being done to the tugboat Hallet.

Bell says they've also come up with a final design for new banners with four separate themes.

The banners won't be put in place until next spring.

Parking Changes Coming

The town of Fort Frances has taken a step toward getting motorists to use a new parking lot on Nelson Street.

Monday, town council accepted an administration report that will lead towards a ban of on-street parking on Nelson between Victoria Avenue and Portage Street.

Town planner Faye Flatt says parking on Victoria between Front Street and Nelson will be eventually banned as well, but they'll wait for the parking lot to be completed first.

"Until we get that parking lot transferred to the municipality, we're prohibiting parking on Nelson Street on both sides," says Flatt.

The ban on Nelson is expected to take effect following passing of a new by-law at the next council meeting.

Vaccine Changes Planned

The Northwestern Health Unit is following Ontario's lead in how it delivers seasonal flu shots this fall.

While flu shot clinics will be available to those over 65 next month, everyone else will have to wait the December.

Medical Officer of Health Doctor Jim Arthurs says the H1N1 flu shot will be offered first.

"There maybe an increased risk if people get the seasonal flu vaccine prior to getting the H1N1," says Arthurs," especially for people who are under the age of 65. So the plan is to change the phase-in into a three-phase immunization effort."

The H1N1 flu shot will be administered in the region in November.

Family and Children's Services Copes with Funding Cut

Family and Children's Services in the Rainy River district admits staff cuts are still possible as it tries to cope with a $600-thousand dollar budget shortfall.

A cut in provincial funding along with some additional costs in dealing with two children with very high needs in its care has left the agency in a deficit situation for the first time in three years.

Board chair Bob McGreevy says it's forced them to make some immediate cost-saving measures to save services.

"We've initiated some cuts to a number of meetings our staff attends, travel, training," says McGreevy," and we're looking at staffing. We anticipate there might have to be some reductions in staff as well all the while ensuring the level of child protection services remains the same."

McGreevy says they've been in constant talks with the province in hopes of securing at least a portion money lost will be returned.

Meantime, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union is accusing the McGuinty government as treating children living in northern Ontario as "throwaways."

The harsh words come following news of the budget shortfall at Family and Children's Services.

OPSEU President Warren Thomas suggests the Rainy River agency is just the first in a long line of services facing similar funding problems and the government needs to reassess how it funds children and family services in the province.