Friday, February 19, 2010

Fur Numbers Released

Fur trappers in northeastern Minnesota caught more animals overall during the 2009 season.

Numbers released by the Department of Natural Resources show a 13 per cent increase with trappers taking in more marten, otter and bobcat than the year before.

Trappers, who registered in International Falls, reported catching 13 more marten than in 2008, but the numbers were slightly lower for fisher, otter and bobcat.

Officer Charged

An Ontario Provincial Police superintendent has been charged with submitting fraudulent expense claims.

Forty-six-year-old Glenn Trivett is also accused of fraudulently accepting money, a loan and the use of a watercraft.

At the time of the alleged offences he was the manager of the First Nations Policing Section of the provincial police.

Trivett, who has been on the force for 24 years, has been suspended from duty and will appear in a Barrie courtroom March 24.

Border Arrests

Two men have been arrested in separate incidents at area border crossings last week.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Warroad port of entry refused an 38-year-old Manitoba man from entering the U.S. last Thursday after determining he had outstanding arrest warrants.

The man was escorted to Canada Border Services where he was later turned over to the RCMP.

The next day, U.S. officers arrested an American man at the Grand Portage port of entry after learning he had been reported AWOL from the United States Marine Corps.

Unclaimed Prize Available

You may want to check around for those lost lottery tickets.

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation says a $100-thousand ENCORE prize from a March 6, 2009 draw remains unclaimed and the ticket was sold in northern Ontario.

Players have one year from the original draw date to claim their prize.

Bookstore Changes

A new agency will take over the management of three visitor bookstores at Voyageur's National Park.

Jefferson National Parks Association assumes the role held by the non-profit Lake State Interpretive Association for the past 34 years.

As part of change over, the bookstore at the Rainy Lake Visitor Centre has been closed to review inventory and reorganize.

It will re-open in mid-April.

Thunder Bay Girl Moved to Winnipeg Hospital

A three-year-old Thunder Bay area child, who has serious injuries police deem suspicious in nature, has been moved to a Winnipeg hospital.

A Thunder Bay police spokesperson says the young girl was taken there for further treatment.

The youngster suffered her injuries Tuesday at her rural area home.

Police continue to investigate.

Abattoir Opens

Operations at the new Rainy River Regional Abattoir are now underway.

The new facilities took in its its first animals on Wednesday.

Seven beef cattle and four sheep went through the abattoir located in Emo.

Water Meters Proposed

A Liberal backbencher says it's time Ontarians started paying the full cost of having safe drinking water to help pay for much needed upgrades to pipes and other infrastructure.

David Caplan, a former health minister, says his private member's bill follows up on leftover business from the inquiry into the tainted water tragedy that killed seven people in Walkerton in 2000.

The bill calls for metering of all water usage so people pay the full cost of water and waste-water services, which Caplan admits will mean homeowners will see higher bills.

He says water bills would work out roughly to the same amount people currently pay for high-speed Internet service, which is about $50 a month.

Caplan says his bill would also mandate public ownership of water, which he believe is ``critically important'' given moves around the world to privatize water supplies.

Private member's bills rarely become law in Ontario, but Caplan says he hopes the government will adopt the ideas in its own legislation if his bill isn't approved.

Common Voice Responds to Growth Plan

A northwestern Ontario group has submitted a host of recommendations for the province to consider as part of the proposed Growth Plan for Northern Ontario.

The more than 140 recommendations from Common Voice Northwest were contained in a 172-page document presented recently to Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle.

Chair George Macey says the creation of a Public Policy Institute for Northern Ontario is key.

"It's not decision making," says Macey. "It's just to have some northern people putting some input into northern policy where it's formulated in Queen's Park. It's the next step."

Macey says they also want a new Secretariat formed to help carry out the Growth Plans recommendations.

Lac La Croix Supports Power Project

The chief of Lac La Croix First Nation says its important a proposed hydro-electric project near his community proceed.

The band is working with a Southern Ontario firm on the "run-of-the river" 6.4 megawatt project and held an open house in Fort Frances yesterday.

Chief Leon Jourdain says the project is both socially and economically important to his community.

"Right now are people are surviving on programs and government grants," says Jourdain. "That's not a live for any people. So we're looking ahead and taking on these types of projects so we can stabilize our economy for our grandchildren."

Jourdain says they're now working on a power purchase agreement with the province and hopes construction can begin this fall.