Friday, October 2, 2009

Boaters use Caution in Voyageurs

Boaters travelling the waters in and around Voyageur's National Park are being advised to use extreme caution.

The park will be removing hazard markers and buoys it maintains from the water beginning tomorrow.

Park officials have also issued an advisory that hunting and trapping within the park boundary's is prohibited.

They add they'll be enforcing federal regulations which carry a maximum penalties up to $10,000 or 6 months in jail for misdemeanour violations and $20,000 or 5 years in jail for felony convictions.

Mining Deal

An Arizona company conducting exploration activities in the Mine Centre area has reached a joint venture agreement for its properties.

Q-Gold Resources' deal with Upper Canyon Minerals allows that B.C. based firm to earn up to 49 per cent interest of two large prospective gold exploration tracts in northwestern Ontario in exchange for $1.2 million in cash, work and shares over the next three years.

The properties include 13-hundred acres near Mine Centre that includes two former Isabella and Golden Star gold mines that were active in the late 1890's.

Outage Impact Expands

Sunday's power outage in Fort Frances is now going to have some impact on Hydro One customers living west of the community.

The power will be out between Fort Frances and Rainy River for about 10 minutes beginning at 9 a.m. and again at 7 p.m. Sunday.

Hydro One says the outages are related to the maintenance work to be done at an area transformer and would be brief in the outlying areas.

The blackout in Fort Frances is still scheduled to last six hours.

Fire Victim Identified

The name of the resident who died in Wednesday evening's fire at the Lakeview Trailer Court has been identified.

64-year-old Aldon Morphet was discovered in the mobile home on Palmcrest Drive by members of the Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Service.

A post mortem is to be conducted at Thunder Bay Regional Health Science Centre today.

The cause of the fire that destroyed the home is still under investigation by the Ontario Fire Marshall's office.

Cancer Walk Planned

Residents in International Falls are being encouraged to walk tomorrow in support of local cancer patients.

A community cancer walk will take place at Bronco arena.

One of the organizers Wendy Mayer says they're doing it to raise money for travel expenses.

"Most of us that are on the community are post cancer survivors," says Mayer, "and we felt this was a real need for the community. We realize we can't help in all areas, but travel is the biggest due to our location so we wanted to do something to help raise funds for transportation."

The event begins at 9 a.m. with registration at 8:30 p.m.

Cost is 5 dollars and the event is open to anyone.

H1N1 Concerns Eased

Ontario Health Minister David Caplan is trying to allay concerns that a second wave of the H1N1 flu virus may have arrived in the province -- a month before a vaccine will be offered.

He says officials won't know for sure whether the second wave has arrived until medical tests confirm it's H1N1 flu.

Some health officials in southern Ontario says they're already seeing some cases which is an indication the new wave is already here.

Legal Aid Boycott Concerns

Some Crown attorneys are expressing concern that a legal aid boycott by some criminal lawyers will lead to miscarriages of justice.

The lawyers are engaged in a boycott of Legal Aid to press for higher fees -- they now get between 77 and 96 dollars an hour.

Some Crowns say they fear some serious cases, including homicides, may go to inexperienced junior lawyers.

The prosecutors plan to ask judges to intervene if needed to have incompetent lawyers removed from the cases.

Outage Impacts Elsewhere

Sunday's outage is also expected to impact residents living Big Island First Nation, Couchiching, Halkirk, Red Gut and Watten.

Two brief 10 minutes outages at 9 a.m. and again 7 p.m. Sunday will impact Hydro One residents in Alberton, Crozier, Miscampbell, Roddick and Woodyatt.

Be Prepared for Outage

The Fire Chief for the Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Service says Sunday's planned black-out is a good time for local residents to test their own emergency preparedness plans.

Electricity in Fort Frances will be shut off for six hours beginning 9 a.m. Sunday.

Gerry Armstrong says while not an true emergency, it is an example of what residents could face.

"Just take the opportunity to review some of the procedures you may have," says Armstrong, "in place within your home regarding the lack of electricity for such things as heating or cordless phones that won't operate during a power outage."

Emergency officials says residents should also have kits that allow one to get by without essential services for at least 72 hours.