Monday, February 22, 2010

Hunting Seasons Proposed

A deer-hunting season for youth is among a dozen new seasons being proposed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

The four-day youth only season would take place in the fall and adults would not be allowed to carry firearms or hunt with them.

The DNR will hold a host of public meetings to gather input on the proposed season, along with other changes to hunting regulations over the next month.

A session in International Falls is planned for March 17.

Construction Firm Fined

A Kenora construction company has been fined $50-thousand after pleading guilty to a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act for a workplace accident at a construction site in Marathon.

Sigfusson Northern Limited was conducted drilling and blasting operations in September 2008 when a worker broke his arm after it got tangled in the drill.

A Ministry of Labour investigation found that none of the three emergency shut-off switches on the rock drill were functional.

Fleury Visit Details Finalized

Details for an upcoming visit to Fort Frances by former NHLer Theo Fleury have now been finalized.

Fleury, who's recently released his autobiography, will be in Fort Frances March 9 and 10 and Atikokan on March 11.

While in the Fort, he'll be speaking school students and at a free public event at the Townsend Theatre on the March 10.

Tickets for the public event can now obtained by calling the Gizhewaadiziwin Health Access Centre or Brent Tookenay at the Rainy River District School Board.

New Gun Laws at Voyageur's National Park

A new law takes effect today that allows visitors to carry firearms in Voyageur's National Park.

The new federal law makes possession of firearms in national parks subject to the firearms laws of the state and communities where the parks are located.

Minnesota laws prohibit the possession of rifles, shotguns or BB guns in public places such as the Park, but park staff say they've been working with government officials to ensure that they clearly understand the provisions of the laws that will now apply to visitors.

Hunting in the park is still prohibited, and guns will not be allowed on the tour boats or in the visitor centres.

Port of Entry Opening

A new U.S. port of entry at Warroad will open tomorrow.

The new facility replaces the existing one on State highway 313 that's nearly 40 years old.

The new port has additional lanes to handle both passenger and commercial vehicles and is equipped with state of the art communications and security equipment.

Forgiveness Not an Option

The head of Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission says forgiveness is not an option for many residential school survivors.

Murray Sinclair says he's been travelling the country and says some survivors tell him there will never be any reconciliation or forgiveness for them.

The head of a national survivors group says that's not surprising.

Michael Cachagee says forgiveness was a concept taught to many by the very churches that ran the schools.

Power Line Project Supported


The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association is asking the Province to not abandon it's plans for new transmission lines in Northwestern Ontario.

President Anne Krassilowsky says they want to see the east of Nipigon to Pickle Lake line move forward as outlined in the Northern Growth Plan.

"Northwestern Ontario has very old transmission lines that are not up to the strength they need to be," says Krassilowsky, "nor have they been upgraded since the 1940's. It means we do need energy as an economic tool in the northwest and we certainly need it to allow expansion of manufacturing or creation of new job opportunities in the north."

NOMA is asking the plan be modified to provide service to Whitesand First Nation, Armstrong and Gull Bay First Nation.

Fort Council Meeting

While almost half of Fort Frances town council is in Toronto, the remaining four will gather tonight for a regular meeting of council.

Policies affecting the use of Sunny Cove Camp and the length of term council appointees can serve on town boards and Committees are among items on the agenda.

The public portion of tonight's meeting begins at about 5:55 p.m.

Fort Councillors in Toronto

Some members of Fort Frances town council will get an audience with several government officials this week.

They're in Toronto for the Ontario Good Roads Association meeting.

While there, Mayor Roy Avis, Councillors Ken Perry and Andrew Hallikas and CAO Mark McCaig have planned meetings with ministers or parliamentary assistants with Northern Development, Mines and Forestry, Tourism and Culture, Transportation, Environment and Aboriginal Affairs over a number of issues effecting the community.