Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Job Fair in I. Falls

Job seekers in the International Falls area will get some help today.

Sheila Demenge of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development says the Community Resource and Job Fair is designed to help people learn more about the area's employment and education opportunities.

"We have manufacturing, retail and industry, and health care," says Demenge. "There's a wide range of businesses that are represented. We also have a few of the community colleges in the area coming and a few of the area's community resources."

The event at the Backus Auditorium is free to the public and goes from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.

What Hooks You Here?

A group of local artisans want to know what hooks you here.

Pam Cain says the public is being invited to the Fort Frances Museum today to assist on a collaborative design for the What Hooks You Here project.

"We have a group of rug hookers involved who will take the design - develop it - and then bring the project to the community so that they actually do the rug-hooking," says Cain, "and create a final project that may have three panels to it that shows the design of What Hooks You Here."

The today's event goes from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Renovations Funding

Three area agencies are receiving provincial funding for a variety of repairs, renovations and upgrades to their facilities.

Community Living Fort Frances is getting $44-thousand.

Atikokan and District Association for Developmental Services will receive about $46-thousand. dollars.

Riverside Health Care Facilities will use $8-thousand.

Plant Conversion on Schedule

(Ontario Power Generation Photo)

Ontario Power Generation says it’s still on track to convert the Atikokan Generating Station from coal to biomass in 2012.

Spokesperson Ted Gruetzner says there are some key things that still need to be complete.

"One is the engineering modifications for such things as storage and fuel handling," says Gruetzner. "The other is putting place a supply contract for the fuel itself. Third is a power purchase agreement with the Ontario Power Authority."

Gruetzner says tests focusing on the feasibility of burning biomass are now completed.


HST on Therapy


There's a warning today from the NDP about the harmonized sales tax and therapy for autistic children.

Leader Andrea Horwath is demanding the government come clean about whether the new tax will apply on I-B-I therapy.

Horwath says that would rub salt in the wound for parents who are already dealing with long wait lists for the treatment.