Sunday, February 27, 2011

OPP to Meet with Town Council

Ontario Provincial Police plan to make a presentation to Fort Frances town councillors to help them understand policing costs and the level of service provided.

Speaking at this morning Police Service Board meeting, Acting Inspector Steve Shouldice has offered to bring in the person in charge of contracting policing to help answer the town's questions.

It came as the board reviewed a town resolution asking for clarification on the OPP's manpower requirements.

Shouldice says the 20 officers assigned to Fort Frances is based on calls for service.

Loverboy Concert Update

Ticket sales for this summer's Loverboy concert in International Falls are reportedly going well.

City councillor Tim McBride is anticipating a sell out.

"We printed 3,000 tickets," says McBride. "Our goal is to sell 2,300 because we know we can put them in the bowl and on the outside a little bit. Comfortably and visibly we feel we can put in 3,000 in the peripheral of the Amphitheatre."

The Canadian rock band will be performing July 2 to help open the new Irvin N. Anderson Amphitheatre.

Abuse Study Launched

A study is underway to look at the needs of victims of abuse in the Rainy River district.

Donna Kroocmo of the Rainy River District Shelter of Hope says they hope to better understand the extent of abuse and the issues behind it.

"we know there's problems of drug abuse, domestic violence and dating violence," says Kroocmo. "Those are the things we traditionally deal with women's abuse issues. But we've expanded now because we know each generational cycle of abuse could also result in drug addiction, alcohol addition and violence in the home and we want to address of of it."

The findings are to be released at the end of March.

Osisko Announces Results


Osisko Mining says the initial results of a drilling program at its Hammond Reef gold project, north of Atikokan, are encouraging.

The company has released the findings from 41 of 324 holes drilled last fall.

All but four intersected significant mineralization.

Further drilling is planned this year with eighteen drills on site.

Student Survey

A survey of Ontario high school students shows the majority think sex-ed classes should include all sexualities, but cellphones have no place in the classroom.

More than 26-hundred students from 69 of the province's 72 school boards took part in the survey organized by the Ontario Student Trustees' Association.

Zane Schwartz, a student trustee who led the project, says students are the best measure of how education policies play out in the classroom.

Pay Freeze Lifted

The city of International Falls is lifting a pay freeze imposed on some of its city workers.

City Administrator Rod Otterness says its removal comes with a wage increase this year.

"City council recognizes that at some point it's important to bring compensation up to appropriate levels," says Otterness. "After two years, beginning with this year, those employee groups will be getting a 2 per cent pay increase."

The increase impacts firefighters, police officers and non-unionized staff.

Smoking Crackdown

The town of Fort Frances is planning to crack-down on smokers who fail to comply with the town's smoking by-law at the Memorial Sports Centre.

Smokers must be at least 9 metres from entrances before they can light up.

CAO Mark McCaig says too many aren't complying.

"If you're inclined to smoke within that distance that's contravening the bylaw, bylaw enforcement officers will be enforcing the bylaw in the next little while," says McCaig, "and it does carry with it a substantial fine."

McCaig says the problem with smokers is more pronounced during weekend tournaments.

New Booze Laws Panned

Opposition leaders say they're not convinced the government is serious about modernizing liquor laws.

The government says it will study a number of changes, such as allowing people to wander freely with drinks at festivals and events.

The opposition says the move is a ploy to distract voters in the lead-up to the October election.

Forest Tenure Legislation Introduced


The Ontario government has introduced legislation that would establish new governance models for managing and harvesting Ontario's forests.

Forestry Minister Michael Gravelle is hoping that overhauling the province's forest tenure system will create more competition and new jobs in the sector.

If passed, the bill would establish local forest management agencies to manage Crown forests and oversee timber sales.

Soldi Ventures Starts Drilling


BC Based Soldi Ventures has started its drilling program in the Rainy River district.

The company's exploring areas around Cameron Lake near Nestor Falls and in the west end of the district.

Both areas are believed to be rich in gold mineralization.

Moose Permits to be Cut


The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources say it will likely cut the number of moose hunting permits in half for this fall's moose season.

That follows the latest moose population survey, which shows moose numbers continuing to decline in northeastern Minnesota.

The DNR is expected to issue just over one hundred permits for the bulls-only moose season.

Former CFOB Employee Honoured

A former CFOB employee is being honored by the Radio Television News Directors Association.

Jim Smalley is receiving a lifetime achievement award from the organization.

Smalley started his career in Dryden before moving to Fort Frances in 1973 where he was an on-air host and read news.

He worked in Regina for the past 40 years.