More power problems for the Rainy River district this morning.
Hydro One spokesperson Danielle Gauvin says the outage impacts residents between Fort Frances and Rainy River.
"We had 3,770 customers without power," says Gauvin. "The extremely cold weather conditions overloaded one of the transformers."
The outage occurred short after 7:30 a.m.
Hydro One was able to restore power to effected areas within an hour.
The outage did impact some area schools, but none were closed by the public or catholic boards.
However, some bus companies did not run or were running late because of the weather.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Cold Day for Torch Relay Through NWO
The Olympic torch relay has a long and cold day ahead in northwestern Ontario.
The day starts with a visit to Fort William First Nation and the Bombardier plant in Thunder Bay before heading on to Kakabeka Falls.
The relay then heads to Upsala, Ignace, Dryden, Vermilion Bay and ends the day in Kenora.
This afternoon, Fort Frances campus manager Anne Renaud will carry the torch for a short distance through Vermilion Bay.
Thousands lined the streets in Thunder Bay yesterday and many sang ``O Canada'' when the torch arrived at the Terry Fox Lookout.
DriveTest Workers Back to Work
DriveTest workers, including those in Fort Frances, are expected back to work this morning after a long strike.
Workers have ratified a new contract after a strike that had prevented many Ontario residents from getting new drivers' licenses or renewals since August.
Some 590 DriveTest employees walked off the job August 21st after talks with their employer, Serco, collapsed.
Workers have ratified a new contract after a strike that had prevented many Ontario residents from getting new drivers' licenses or renewals since August.
Some 590 DriveTest employees walked off the job August 21st after talks with their employer, Serco, collapsed.
Fort Mayor Pondors Budget
A new budget will be one of the first major issues tackling the Fort Frances town councillors in 2010.
Mayor Roy Avis is hoping any tax increase will be modest.
"I would like to see us stay as close to zero as possible," says Avis. "I know the index is 1.8 per cent, but if we can maintain that or less we have to look at our services. We might have to restrict services slightly, but if we do that it becomes a light hardship on resident in the community so we have to balance that."
Council will begin its budget deliberations January 18.
Mayor Roy Avis is hoping any tax increase will be modest.
"I would like to see us stay as close to zero as possible," says Avis. "I know the index is 1.8 per cent, but if we can maintain that or less we have to look at our services. We might have to restrict services slightly, but if we do that it becomes a light hardship on resident in the community so we have to balance that."
Council will begin its budget deliberations January 18.
Weather Records Set
Bitterly cold air that spread across northern Minnesota and northwestern Ontario over the weekend broke weather record in International Falls.
Temperatures in International Falls hit 37 below F both Saturday and Sunday morning.
Saturday's low broke the mark of 34 below F set both in 1979 and 1968 while Sunday's low passed the previous record for January 3rd set back in 1911 by one degree.
Temperatures in International Falls hit 37 below F both Saturday and Sunday morning.
Saturday's low broke the mark of 34 below F set both in 1979 and 1968 while Sunday's low passed the previous record for January 3rd set back in 1911 by one degree.
Power Outage Hits District
Nearly four-thousand Hydro One customers in the Rainy River district were left without lights and some without heat for a few hours last night.
A hydro spokesperson says the cold weather was to blame, causing a piece of equipment on a main line to malfunction.
This caused the entire district, including the town of Fort Frances, to go dark shortly after 7 p.m.
The outage in the Fort lasted for only about 15 minutes while Hydro One crews were able to restore power to the rest of the district by midnight.
A hydro spokesperson says the cold weather was to blame, causing a piece of equipment on a main line to malfunction.
This caused the entire district, including the town of Fort Frances, to go dark shortly after 7 p.m.
The outage in the Fort lasted for only about 15 minutes while Hydro One crews were able to restore power to the rest of the district by midnight.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Local Sports for Thursday December 31
Fort Frances Muskies boys hockey team ended its appearance at the Hilltopper Classic with a 3-2 shoot out win over Appleton Wisconsin.
The Muskies went undefeated in three games.
Jordan Christianson had a hat trick - all unassisted - and Brett Musich scored once as International Falls beat Richfield 4-2 for third place in the Class A bracket of the Kiwanis Festival in Rochester.
The Broncos girls hockey team finished second at the Sertoma Shootout in Rochester after dropping a 3-2 decision to Central Wisconsin Storm in the final.
Mackenzie Raboin and Ashley Bahr scored for the Broncos.
In high school basketball, the Broncos boys team fell 75-65 to Roseau at the Can-Am tournament final.
Shawn Filipiak led the team with 25 points.
Falls High School boys swim and dive time finished third at a tournament hosted by the Broncos.
First place showings were earned by Alex Henningson in diving and Joe Baron in both the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle swims.
Ryan Faragher has been selected to play in the North American Hockey League Top Prospects tournament in Ann Arbor Michigan next month.
The event showcases the league's best players to U-S College and NHL scouts.
The former Fort Frances Sabre, who now plays for the Bismark Bobcats, is among the top goaltenders in several league categories this season.
The Muskies went undefeated in three games.
Jordan Christianson had a hat trick - all unassisted - and Brett Musich scored once as International Falls beat Richfield 4-2 for third place in the Class A bracket of the Kiwanis Festival in Rochester.
The Broncos girls hockey team finished second at the Sertoma Shootout in Rochester after dropping a 3-2 decision to Central Wisconsin Storm in the final.
Mackenzie Raboin and Ashley Bahr scored for the Broncos.
In high school basketball, the Broncos boys team fell 75-65 to Roseau at the Can-Am tournament final.
Shawn Filipiak led the team with 25 points.
Falls High School boys swim and dive time finished third at a tournament hosted by the Broncos.
First place showings were earned by Alex Henningson in diving and Joe Baron in both the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle swims.
Ryan Faragher has been selected to play in the North American Hockey League Top Prospects tournament in Ann Arbor Michigan next month.
The event showcases the league's best players to U-S College and NHL scouts.
The former Fort Frances Sabre, who now plays for the Bismark Bobcats, is among the top goaltenders in several league categories this season.
December Weather
Despite the huge dump of snow on the Christmas weekend, December will not go down as the snowiest on record in International Falls.
A total of 21 inches or about 53 centimetres, of the white stuff has fallen this month, making it the tenth snowiest on record.
The snowiest December was back in 1992 when the Borderland was covered with a total of 43 inches or 109 centimetres
A total of 21 inches or about 53 centimetres, of the white stuff has fallen this month, making it the tenth snowiest on record.
The snowiest December was back in 1992 when the Borderland was covered with a total of 43 inches or 109 centimetres
Parliament Prorogued
Opposition MP's are accusing Prime Minister Harper of abusing his power by suspending Parliament.
The commons won't return to business until March which Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty says it makes no sense.
"When parliament gets prorogued we're stopped from doing the business we need to do," says Rafferty. "There's still lots of other business yet to do in the meantime, but its non-democratic to do that and it appears he's making it a habit."
Rafferty says the delay is Harper's attempt to avoid discussion on the Afghan detainee issue.
Rafferty noted Harper imposed similar action a year ago to avoid a possible non-confidence vote and election.
Tax Cuts Coming
There should be some good news in paycheques starting next month.
Revenue Minister John Wilkinson says almost all Ontario residents will get a modest income tax cut starting in 20-10 because of the new harmonized tax.
But Kevin Gaudet, of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, says no matter how the government tries to spin it, the single 13 per cent tax will hurt consumers.
Revenue Minister John Wilkinson says almost all Ontario residents will get a modest income tax cut starting in 20-10 because of the new harmonized tax.
But Kevin Gaudet, of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, says no matter how the government tries to spin it, the single 13 per cent tax will hurt consumers.
Mayor's Look Back
Mayor Roy Avis says 2009 was a challenging one for the town of Fort Frances.
In a year-end interview with B-93, Avis says the recession and AbitibiBowater's decision to seek bankruptcy protection had the biggest impacts on the community.
"With those happening, it reflected quite a bleak picture within the community for quite some time," says Avis, "but we have banded together and we came up with a very good year end and that reflects on the citizens of this community wanted to get together and work as a whole."
Avis says the town was fortunate to see its major employer continue to operate while others around it shutdown or took lengthy downtime.
Avis also points to a busy construction season causing some challenges for area motorists in 2009, but was pleased to see the end of work at the Portage Avenue underpass which took three years to complete.
In a year-end interview with B-93, Avis says the recession and AbitibiBowater's decision to seek bankruptcy protection had the biggest impacts on the community.
"With those happening, it reflected quite a bleak picture within the community for quite some time," says Avis, "but we have banded together and we came up with a very good year end and that reflects on the citizens of this community wanted to get together and work as a whole."
Avis says the town was fortunate to see its major employer continue to operate while others around it shutdown or took lengthy downtime.
Avis also points to a busy construction season causing some challenges for area motorists in 2009, but was pleased to see the end of work at the Portage Avenue underpass which took three years to complete.
OPP on Watch Tonight
Residents across the borderland will be celebrating in their own way tonight the end of a year and the first decade of the 21st century.
But the OPP want you to do it in a safe manner.
Constable Anne McCoy says they'll be continuing to maintain a zero tolerance approach towards drinking and driving this new year's eve.
"We're trying to encourage people to take the initiative to not drink and drive," says McCoy. "We want them to plan ahead. If you're going out with your friends and family during the holiday season we want you to make smart decisions. Not drink and drive."
To date, over 61-hundred vehicles have been stopped in RIDE spotchecks in the Rainy River district since the end of November resulting in two charges and three licences suspensions.
But the OPP want you to do it in a safe manner.
Constable Anne McCoy says they'll be continuing to maintain a zero tolerance approach towards drinking and driving this new year's eve.
"We're trying to encourage people to take the initiative to not drink and drive," says McCoy. "We want them to plan ahead. If you're going out with your friends and family during the holiday season we want you to make smart decisions. Not drink and drive."
To date, over 61-hundred vehicles have been stopped in RIDE spotchecks in the Rainy River district since the end of November resulting in two charges and three licences suspensions.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Keith Named to Olympic Team
Former Fort Frances native Duncan Keith is headed to the Olympics.
Keith, who played part of his minor hockey career in the Fort, was among 23 players named to Canada's men's hockey team at a ceremony in Saskatoon.
Executive Director Steve Yzerman says Keith's selection was an important part of the defensive corp.
This will be Keith's second appearance in International hockey competition, having suited up for Canada at the 2008 World Hockey Championships.
Others from northwestern Ontario selected include Dryden's Chris Pronger who will serve as an assitant captain, Kenora's Mike Richards and Eric Staal of Thunder Bay.
Keith, who played part of his minor hockey career in the Fort, was among 23 players named to Canada's men's hockey team at a ceremony in Saskatoon.
Executive Director Steve Yzerman says Keith's selection was an important part of the defensive corp.
This will be Keith's second appearance in International hockey competition, having suited up for Canada at the 2008 World Hockey Championships.
Others from northwestern Ontario selected include Dryden's Chris Pronger who will serve as an assitant captain, Kenora's Mike Richards and Eric Staal of Thunder Bay.
Two Face Fraud Charges
Two people charged with defrauding two Thunder Bay companies of more than a quarter million dollars are due in court in February.
Kerry Wirkkunen is charged with fraud, theft, forgery and mischief while Jaye Wirkkunen is charged with fraud and possession of stolen property.
The charges stem from a two-month investigation into fraud at ABP Constructors and another company.
Kerry Wirkkunen is charged with fraud, theft, forgery and mischief while Jaye Wirkkunen is charged with fraud and possession of stolen property.
The charges stem from a two-month investigation into fraud at ABP Constructors and another company.
Private Carrier Preferred by Government
The provincial government is rejecting calls to extend Ontario Northland bus service into northwestern Ontario.
Next month, Greyhound will be reducing service in parts of the region.
Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle says he'd rather see private bus company take over lost routes.
"When there is a private sector carrier," says Gravelle, "if not two, but one at least for sure that has an interest in taking over that service, I think we support the company that wants to do that."
The provincial government now subsidizes bus service to northeastern Ontario to the tune of $25-million a year, and some opposition members feel northwestern Ontario deserves similar treatment.
Next month, Greyhound will be reducing service in parts of the region.
Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle says he'd rather see private bus company take over lost routes.
"When there is a private sector carrier," says Gravelle, "if not two, but one at least for sure that has an interest in taking over that service, I think we support the company that wants to do that."
The provincial government now subsidizes bus service to northeastern Ontario to the tune of $25-million a year, and some opposition members feel northwestern Ontario deserves similar treatment.
Lakers Ownership Group Confident
Those in charge of operating the Fort Frances Lakers junior A hockey club are confident the team's fortunes will turn around in 2010.
Attendance has not been as strong as expected, but president Milt Strachan (STRANN) says its not discouraging them from keeping junior A hockey in tact.
"We made a commitment to make this work," says Strachan. "We were under the gun. We had a couple of weeks to get prepare and get things rolling. To this point we've done well. We're not in any trouble."
Strachan says they may end the season with a small operating loss, but will have much more time to prepare for next season.
Attendance has not been as strong as expected, but president Milt Strachan (STRANN) says its not discouraging them from keeping junior A hockey in tact.
"We made a commitment to make this work," says Strachan. "We were under the gun. We had a couple of weeks to get prepare and get things rolling. To this point we've done well. We're not in any trouble."
Strachan says they may end the season with a small operating loss, but will have much more time to prepare for next season.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Local Sports for Tuesday December 29
Area high school hockey teams won their opening games at tournaments in Duluth and Rochester.
The Fort Frances Muskies boys hockey team blanked Proctor 5-0 in the opener at the Hilltopper Classic in Duluth.
Nick Jourdain had a pair with Brendan Cawston, Tyson McLean and Donovan Cousineau getting the others.
The Muskies face Edgewood tonight.
At the Rochester Kiwanis Hockey tournament, International Falls Broncos defeated Albert Lea 6-1.
Jordan Christianson scored twice for the Broncos.
Jon McDonald, Willie Corrin, Alex Bruess and Dylan Farmer added singles.
Broncos face Rochester Lourdes in a semi-final game this evening.
On the weekend, the Broncos edged the Muskies 4-3 Saturday at the Ice for Kids Arena.
Jon McDonald scored twice for the Broncos with singles from Michael Bounds and Jordan Christianson.
Dustin Brown, Matt DePiero and David Chambers scored for the Muskies.
In an alumni game, the Muskies squad defeated the Broncos alumni 10-5 on Saturday while the current Muskies girls hockey team beat a Muskies alumni girls team 8-4 on Sunday.
Broncos girls hockey team, also in a tournament in Rochester, defeated the MSO IceBergs 10-6.l
Sydney Gordon led the way with 4 goals.
MacKenzie Raboin had a hat-trick.
Broncos play St. Paul's Academy tonight.
In Roseau, the Fort Frances Muskies girls hockey team fell 6-3 to host Roseau in a tournament played in that Minnesota city.
Muskies will face Lake of the Bears Bears in their second game later this morning.
In high school basketball, Hanna Heibel chipped in a team high 16 points to lead the Broncos girls basketball team to a 54-25 thumping of Proctor in the opener of the Proctor Holiday tournament.
Broncos play Denfield this afternoon.
For the second time this season, Ben Gordon is back in the American Hockey League.
The International Falls native was loaned to the Toronto Marlies by the Reading Royals of the East Coast League.
In October, Gordon played two games with the Providence Bruins.
The Fort Frances Muskies boys hockey team blanked Proctor 5-0 in the opener at the Hilltopper Classic in Duluth.
Nick Jourdain had a pair with Brendan Cawston, Tyson McLean and Donovan Cousineau getting the others.
The Muskies face Edgewood tonight.
At the Rochester Kiwanis Hockey tournament, International Falls Broncos defeated Albert Lea 6-1.
Jordan Christianson scored twice for the Broncos.
Jon McDonald, Willie Corrin, Alex Bruess and Dylan Farmer added singles.
Broncos face Rochester Lourdes in a semi-final game this evening.
On the weekend, the Broncos edged the Muskies 4-3 Saturday at the Ice for Kids Arena.
Jon McDonald scored twice for the Broncos with singles from Michael Bounds and Jordan Christianson.
Dustin Brown, Matt DePiero and David Chambers scored for the Muskies.
In an alumni game, the Muskies squad defeated the Broncos alumni 10-5 on Saturday while the current Muskies girls hockey team beat a Muskies alumni girls team 8-4 on Sunday.
Broncos girls hockey team, also in a tournament in Rochester, defeated the MSO IceBergs 10-6.l
Sydney Gordon led the way with 4 goals.
MacKenzie Raboin had a hat-trick.
Broncos play St. Paul's Academy tonight.
In Roseau, the Fort Frances Muskies girls hockey team fell 6-3 to host Roseau in a tournament played in that Minnesota city.
Muskies will face Lake of the Bears Bears in their second game later this morning.
In high school basketball, Hanna Heibel chipped in a team high 16 points to lead the Broncos girls basketball team to a 54-25 thumping of Proctor in the opener of the Proctor Holiday tournament.
Broncos play Denfield this afternoon.
For the second time this season, Ben Gordon is back in the American Hockey League.
The International Falls native was loaned to the Toronto Marlies by the Reading Royals of the East Coast League.
In October, Gordon played two games with the Providence Bruins.
Beer Store Crashed
Three people are in custody after a vehicle was driven through the front of a Beer Store outlet in Thunder Bay early Monday morning and five to ten cases of beer taken.
Thunder Bay Police later found the vehicle at a house where two women and a man - between 18 and 20 years old - were taken into custody without incident.
Thunder Bay Police later found the vehicle at a house where two women and a man - between 18 and 20 years old - were taken into custody without incident.
Gun Registry Scrapped in 2010
The MP for the Kenora Riding believes there is enough support to dismantle the controversial long-gun registry.
A private members bill has gone through first reading and is now being reviewed at a Committee level.
Greg Rickford hopes to see the end to registry early in 2010.
"It's my hope that the committee, particularly the Liberals, don't do a two-face about-face and try to delay it at committee," says Rickford. "I anticipate later this winter to vote on it a second time."
Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty has also said he would continue to support the bill until its conclusion.
A private members bill has gone through first reading and is now being reviewed at a Committee level.
Greg Rickford hopes to see the end to registry early in 2010.
"It's my hope that the committee, particularly the Liberals, don't do a two-face about-face and try to delay it at committee," says Rickford. "I anticipate later this winter to vote on it a second time."
Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty has also said he would continue to support the bill until its conclusion.
Border Programs Get Review
Heightened security concerns are prompting Ottawa to rethink programs to help people in remote communities easily cross the border into Canada.
An internal Canada Border Services Agency review says three programs will be revamped at a significant cost to taxpayers.
The programs were established before 9-11.
They involve the pre-screening of people who cross the border into isolated areas of central and eastern Canada, mostly for leisure or access to cottages.
Usually people must swipe a card to cross and are videotaped.
But the federal evaluation says the programs raise a number of security concerns.
An internal Canada Border Services Agency review says three programs will be revamped at a significant cost to taxpayers.
The programs were established before 9-11.
They involve the pre-screening of people who cross the border into isolated areas of central and eastern Canada, mostly for leisure or access to cottages.
Usually people must swipe a card to cross and are videotaped.
But the federal evaluation says the programs raise a number of security concerns.
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