Province Interested in Law School

A plan by Lakehead University to establish a law school in Thunder Bay will get a look by the provincial government.

Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, John Milloy says he'll be looking at how Lakehead's proposal will benefit First Nations communities and the economy.

Tuition will start at about $12-thousand, higher than existing schools.

Youth Justice Program

A new youth justice program is about to be offered across the Kenora and Rainy-River District.

Coordinator of the Dryden and District Youth Justice Bill Hovi says the goal is to deal with youth who commit crimes outside a normal court setting.

"It diverts young people between the ages of 12 and 17 away from a formal court setting," says Hovi, "and into a community-based volunteer-led conference program where victim and offender are encouraged to come together to repair any harm that was done."

The program is facilitated by volunteers who were trained on the weekend in Dryden.

Eagles Nests Identified

Voyageurs National Park has identified 75 bald eagle nests in the park this year.

Park officials say 37 of them were seen with adults incubating eggs, up slightly from last year's count.

The park has restricting public access to areas near the nests while temporarily closing four camping and houseboat sites.

Atikokan Arena Fundraising

The push continues to get a new arena built in Atikokan.

A local fundraising committee is hoping to raise at least $200-thousand towards costs.

Spokesperson Mike McKinnon says it's important to show community support for the project.

"By raising $200-thousand I think we send that message to everyone," says McKinnon, "that, Yes, the community's behind this 100 per cent. The community's wants this and if we're asking others to make a major investment in our community, I think it's only reasonable that we make a major investment in our community."

McKinnon says local dollars raised may also help leverage government support.

Mining Industry Benefits Explored

The Rainy River Future Development Corporation wants to see a bigger role for Fort Frances in the region's blossoming mining industry.

Client Services Manager Geoff Gillon says part of their work is exploring the potential for local businesses.

"It's something we have to look at as a community," says Gillon. "It's something as the Economic Development organizations we'd like to promote and bring more of these opportunities to our local businesses."

Gillon says they're also looking at a conference that would bring business leaders together with industry officials.

Another Sawmill Goes Bankrupt

Another Buchanan sawmill has entered bankruptcy proceedings.

McKenzie Forest Products filed for bankruptcy protection on April 26 after learning the Hudson sawmill had not secured a wood supply from the province.

Meantime, work continues on the proposed purchase of the former Atikokan Forest Products mill.

A scheduled hearing in Toronto will again look at the possible transfer of a forest license to Eacom Timber of Montreal.

Growth Plan Attacked

Provincial NDP are attacking the Liberal Government's Northern Growth Plan.

Northern Development Critic Gilles Bisson believes the Liberals short changed the region with it's plan.

"You tied no money to the plan that you announced a few months ago," says Bisson. "What you’ve essentially done is developed a plan to make a plan. People in northern Ontario are quite specific: What are you going to do when it comes to the investments that are needed to build the infrastructure necessary to support the communities—both on the physical side, in terms of infrastructure, and the social infrastructure that needs to be dealt with?"

Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle defends the plan saying there's strong investment behind it.

Triplets Born at Emo Area Farm

(Supplied photo)

A beef cattle farm north of Emo is site of a rare birth in the industry.

A cow gave birth to triplet calves Tuesday night on the farm owned by Wayne Flatt.

Flatt says there was no indication three were on the way after she gave birth to the first calf.

"I went back to the house and wait for an hour or so and I went out again and then I saw two calves out their," says Flatt. "I figured she was going to have two and then I looked around and there was another lump I could see in the distance and there was a third one."

Flatt says all three were born identical markings.

Kings Bay Resumes Exploration

King's Bay Gold Corporation is resuming a drilling program on a potentially gold-bearing property near Nestor Falls.

The Winnipeg-based exploration company says it follows up on work that was stopped last November due to weather.

The company says its also has plans to carry out further exploration at its other sites located near Fort Frances, Sioux Lookout and Ignace.

Trustees to Rethink Contract Decision

Trustees with the Rainy River District School Board are to consider a motion next month that calls for contract amendments made by the former board to be rescinded.

The Atikokan Progress reports LaVallee township trustee Ralph Hill presented notice of the motion at last week's board meeting in Atikokan.

An increase in severance packages for both the board's education and finance directors was approved by the previous board last November.

Hill stated that while they can't unilaterally change the terms of the contract, approval of the motion would send a clear message trustees do not support the previous board's action.

Treat Assessment Training Goes to Atikokan

Educators from Atikokan will be among participants at a threat assessment training session in Atikokan Wednesday.

Mark Allen of the Canadian Centre for Threat Assessment and Trauma Response is providing the training and says it's about prevention and keeping schools and communities safe.

"It's about addressing that issue," says Allen, "understanding that while it's rare and that our schools are still very safe here in Ontario, that it's just something that does happen occasionally and a lot can be done to prevent these things if we're looking at the right aspects and working together."

While mostly educators are involved, Allan says the sessions can also be valuable tools in stemming workplace violence.

Strategic Planning

Fort Frances town council is set to embark on the development of a new strategic plan.

CAO Mark McCaig says this year the public will have an opportunity to provide input.

"We're going to ask for either written submissions from the general public with ideas or initiatives that we can consider," says McCaig. "We'd take those in written submission or at the regular council meeting of June 13."

Council will hold its own planning session June 16 at Sunny Cove Camp.

Hydro Rate Protest

Opposition members continue to grill the Premier over soaring hydro bills.

At Queen's Park Tuesday, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says a recent protest in Dryden shows Ontarians are getting fed up.

"The Premier may want to ignore people in communities like Dryden" says Horwath, "but it’s clear that Ontarians will keep telling this government that they reject his hydro policies."

Horwath says the policies have only crippled average citizens and created expensive bonus structure for CEO's.

New Area for State Senator

Koochiching County could lose its long-time State Senator under a proposed redrawing of the district's electoral boundaries.

District 3 Senator Tom Saxhaugh says a redistricting plan would see him representing a much different area.

"I would no longer be representing Koochiching County or Lake of the Woods County," says Saxhaugh. "I would be in southern Itasca and I'd be going already the way down to Benton County which is close to St. Cloud."

Saxhaugh doubts, though, the Governor will accept the plan.

Mom to Mom Sale

A unique sale this weekend in Atikokan will be held to help local families and a youth organization.

Spokesperson Keira Lacosse says the Mom to Mom sale allows residents to sell off their used baby, children or youth items to those who need them.

"So we'll have people just coming and buying whatever they happen to need," says Lacosse, "whether its clothes the next season for their kids or toys for summer or whatever things that interest them they can barter for."

Lacosse says they're using the event as a fundraiser for the local youth centre.

Baudette Advances

Baudette is the only area community that's still in the hunt to be named World Fishing Network's Ultimate Fishing town.

The Minnesota community is among twenty finalists for the American title.

No northwestern Ontario advanced in the Canadian contest.

Rainy River Features on Fishing Program

The town of Rainy River will get a national audience next week.

The town and it's Walleye tournament will be the subject of an episode of the Dimestore Fisherman that will air on Wild TV May 20.

It's host Jim Hoey and a television crew were in the community last fall to film the episode.

Canada Day Committee Pitches Funding Request

The Fort Frances Canada Day Committee has presented its case for $10-thousand in bridge funding from town council.

Chair Teresa Hazel says the festival is a worthy investment, but the committee is doing its part to attract additional funding.

"We do have a request letter going out to businesses, service clubs and individuals to ask for their help this year in sponsoring," says Hazel. "The Eisenhauers, who are well known community couple, have already come forward with a donation."

Hazel says the money from the town would be paid back as funding from other sources was obtained.

Community Safety Zone Approved

Fort Frances council has given approval to implementing a community safety zone in the town's west end.

Despite a recommendation from OPP that it be in place year round, councillor Rick Wiedenhoeft says it was felt the zone would be more effective to have the zone in place during the school year for now.

"We can always revisit this if it doesn't work for the summer months," says Wiedenhoeft. "Right now. let's start relatively small. See if it works and build it around the school year, the school days and the school kids."

The zone still needs provincial approval before it can be implemented.

Budget Passed

The final tax bills for 2011 will be coming to property owners in Fort Frances by the end of June.

Town council formally approved the budget last night.

Residential ratepayers will see on-average a 2.5 per cent tax increase.

The first installment of the bills must be paid by July 29.