Fort Frances Posties Walk the Line

Twenty-one unionized workers at the Fort Frances post office are among those on the streets because of a lock-out by Canada Post.

Local union president Sandra Lange says for the most part, the local public is understanding of what's taking place.

"It seems that most people are because they sure seem to support us, " says Lange. "I guess they're paying attention. Anyone who came into the post office we had nothing but support. Same on the picket line. We're getting a lot of honking and waves."

Lange says the lock-out will actually force Canada Post back to the bargaining table.

The federal government has served notice it will implement back-to-work legislation if the two sides don't settle their differences through negotiations.

Strategic Plan Discussions Today

Fort Frances council sits down today at Sunny Cove Camp to come up with a new strategic plan.

CAO Mark McCaig says it will serve as a blueprint for council over the next four years.

"So we put timelines and benchmarks that we monitor on an ongoing basis," says McCaig, "and we try to wrap everything up during the term of council or at least begin the initiative during the term of council."

McCaig says ideas from the public and a variety of town committees will be part of today's discussions.

Border Funds Spending Questioned

Thunder Bay Rainy River MP John Rafferty isn't giving up the fight for Northwestern Ontario's border communities taking up the issue in the House of Commons.

"For our communities, tourism is a key part of the economy, "says Rafferty. "Yet, the government diverted $50 million from the border infrastructure fund to beautify communities in the minister's riding, using the fund as a private wish list, while ignoring border regions like northwestern Ontario."

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird disputes the funds were misspend.

Board Test Results Released

Eighty-per cent of students from the Rainy River district who wrote the standardized literacy test this spring met or exceeded the provincial standard.

Results for individuals boards were released yesterday.

Atikokan had the highest rate of success among the district's three high schools at 83 per cent.

Rainy River High School had 81 per cent while 79 per cent of Fort Frances High students successfully completed the test in March.

Tuitions Increase

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system is moving ahead with a budget that would raise tuition an average of nearly 4 percent at its 25 two-year colleges, including Rainy River College in International Falls.

Chancellor James McCormick says requests to hold the line at 3 per cent were not possible because the system is expected to lose nearly 11 per cent in state funding.

Fire in Minnesota Watched

Authorities in Minnesota are keeping an eye on a forest fire smoldering in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

The fire, near Gaskin Lake, 20 kilometres northwest of Grand Marias, is about six acres in size.

The strategy is to let the fire burn to the south and west of the lake while limiting its spread on the north side.

It was reported by campers in the area, but it's not clear how it started.

Canada Post Workers Locked Out

(Canadaa Post workers on line in Thunder Bay last week - CJUK photo)

Rotating strikes at Canada Post have given way to a lockout of workers in urban areas.

The Crown corporation made the decision after almost two weeks of rotating walkouts.

Canada Post says the walkouts were becoming too expensive.

The post office and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers are said to remain "far apart" on several key issues, with no progress being made at the bargaining table.

OPP Reviewing Community Services Initiatives

The new policing contract with the town of Fort Frances has forced the OPP to re-think its community services strategies.
Police, in the past, have been involved or helped start programs.

Detachment Commander Inspector John Kendrick says that will change with changing staff levels.

"What's that basically had us do is review our current programs that we have in place to make sure that we're getting basically the most bang for the buck for the community," says Kendrick, "and ensuring that our Community Services is hitting the mark."

Kendrick says the primary focus will be partnerships that have an element of policing or public safety.

Policy Institute Taking Shape

The Northern Policy Institute is taking shape.

The think tank is to help create economic development initiatives for the region.

Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle says it's mandate has been identified.

"Based on what northerners have told us," says Gravelle, "is to develop and promote proactive evidence-based purpose-driven policy options that deepen the understanding about the unique challenges and opportunities in northern Ontario and support the sustainability development and long-term economic prosperity of northern Ontario."

Gravelle discussed the institute during a conference in Thunder Bay yesterday.

Internet Safety Being Discussed

Cyber-bullying and Internet safety will be the focus of a public meeting in Atikokan tonight.

The event at St. Patrick's School is the outcome of a recent school survey.

OPP Constable Anne McCoy says it's just as important parents know what they're children are doing on-line.

"Some of the parents are now familiar at all with social networking sites such like Facebook and YouTube," says McCoy. "What we're doing is we're encouraging them to get educated about them. Take a class or have their kids teach them. Sit down with them at the computer and get them to show them the websites they're visiting."

McCoy says similar sessions could be coming to other communities in the future.

Solar Projects Not Concerning

The Fort Frances Power Corporation is welcoming the increase in the number of solar projects to the area.

The latest is at Fort Frances High School.

The Corporation's CEO Jorge Ruppenstein says each project gets thoroughly tested.

"Before any of theses projects get off the ground we actually do what's called a connection impact assessment," says Ruppenstein. "where we do a computer simulation of the effect that an installation like this would have on our plant with respect to safety and electrical performance."

The high school project is the first to involve the Corporation directly.

New Website for Area Women

There's another way for Northwestern Ontario women to connect.

Executive Director of PARO Centre for Women's Enterprise Rosalind Lockyer says they've created a new website.

"We as women in the north want to have something special where women can go every day and interact with each other or help each other," says Lockyer. "Not only to build a business or advance their careers, but also to help their communities.

The website was funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

Missing Girl

Provincial Police are seeking the public assistance in locating a missing girl from Young Star House north of Emo.

16-year-old Belinda Paishk was last seen Monday morning when she caught a school bus to go to high in Fort Frances.

The 5'2" First Nation girl was last seen wearing a black shirt with a skull on it, jeans and a lip ring.

Visitor Restrictions Imposed

Visitor restrictions have been imposed at Rainycrest Long Term Care.

Officials says its because of an increase in the number of confirmed cases of gastroenteritis.

Only family members of residents of the home will be permitted with visits limited to the residents room.

All group programming and a BBQ for staff and volunteers planned for yesterday was also cancelled.

Think North Forum

A conference on northern Ontario's economy happened Tuesday in Thunder Bay.

Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle says the Think North Summit is the next stage in implementing the northern growth plan.

"This is a true planning session," says Gravelle. "One where we expect to have significant input from many experts, but also from northerners themselves, on where we go next."

Municipal and business leaders from the Rainy River district were also in attendance.

Mining Forum

Thunder Bay hosted a mining forum Tuesday.

Co-Chair Michael Fox says it brought together first nations, mining companies and the provincial government.

"Having these forums and making people more aware how to get involved and move forward on a community economic development agenda for the aboriginal communities as well as Thunder Bay, looking for new opportunities will help create that awareness," says Fox.

A spokesperson with the Province also provided an update on changes to mining act regulations.

Operation Corridor

Transport drivers will have to be extra attentive on the road as Operation Corridor is being rolled out today.

OPP Sergeant Shelley Garr says police will join a number of agencies in the 24-hour blitz.

"The Ontario Provincial Police, the Ministry of Transportation, the Ministry of Environment will be cracking down on aggressive commercial truck drivers and unsafe commercials vehicles that are travelling on our highways," says Garr.

Garr says they will also be watching for seatbelt infractions and distracted drivers.

Canadian Tug of War Team Named

A list of Canadians celebrities pulling for Fort Frances in the July 2 Pulling for Peace tug of war with International Falls has been released.

Fort Frances Mayor Roy Avis will captain the team that includes former CFLers Jack Cameron and Bill Low and former NHLers Dave and Mike Allison.

They'll go up against an Amercan squad that includes six former members of the Minnesota Vikings.

Here's a list of the celebrities for both teams.

CANADA

• Roy “Ace” Avis, Fort Frances mayor

• Paul “Foot Pedal Down” Ryan, Fort Frances councillor

• John “Italian Stallion” Albanese, councillor

• Ken “Polka Dot” Perry, councillor

• Andrew “Flying Finn” Hallikas, councillor

• Rick “Weed Man” Wiedenhoeft, councillor

• Mark “Cheeze” McCaig, Chief Administrative Officer, town of Fort Frances

• Glenn “Leftie” Treftlin, city clerk, town of Fort Frances

• Doug “Mork” Brown, Public Works manager, town of Fort Frances

• “Fabulous” Faye Flatt, town planner, town of Fort Frances

• Frank “The Good” Sheppard, town fire chief, town of Fort Frances

• Dave “The Enforcer” Montgomery, Fort Frances High School football coach

• Jack “The Hammer” Cameron, Canadian Football League

• Bill “The Undertaker” Low, Canadian Football League

• Mike “Red Dog” Allison, National Hockey League

• Dave “Big Red” Allison, National Hockey League player, coach

• John “Relentless” Rafferty, MP, Thunder Bay-Rainy River

• Howard “Hitman” Hampton, MPP, Kenora-Rainy River

• Ian “Simmer” Simpson, Fort Frances High School vice principal

• Al “The Muscle” McManaman, Fort Frances High School principal


UNITED STATES

• Captain Matt “The Motivator” Blair, Vikings alumnus

• Shawn “The Muscle” Mason, Falls mayor

• “Pumped Up” Paul Eklund, Falls City Council

• Gail “Running Wild” Rognerud, city council

• Cynthia “Jumping Jaksa Flash,” city council

• Brian “The Brawn” Youso, Koochiching County sheriff

• “Giant” Jake Youso, Holy Cross College hockey player

• “Mighty” Matt Youso, United States Hockey League player

• “Flamin’” Frank Youso, Vikings alumnus

• “Benchwarmer” Bob Lurtsema, Vikings alumnus

• Greg “Coffin Corner” Coleman, Vikings alumnus

• “Stunning” Stu Voigt, Vikings alumnus

• “Thundering” John Swain, Vikings alumnus

• “Dangerous” Dione Wessels, American Strongman Corp., president, female athlete

• Mary “Mad Dog” Casanova, Ranier author

• “Slim” Jim Oberstar, former 8th District congressman

• U.S. Sen. Amy “Armstrong” Klobuchar

• U.S. Sen. Al “Funnyman” Franken

• State Rep. Tom “The Annihilator” Anzelc

• State Sen. “Toughman” Tom Saxhaug

Missing Man Found

OPP have located the body of a missing American man on Lake of the Woods.

The body of 69-year-old Richard Hermann of Illinois was found by an OPP marine unit Sunday on the lake's shore near Morson.

Hermann and another man, 73-year-old James Wealther, went missing May 23 during a fishing outing on the lake.

Wealther's body was found the next day.

Search in Boundary Waters Canoe Area

Minnesota authorities are searching the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness for a missing Wisconsin Man.

23-year-old Ty Sitter was reported missing early Friday after failing to return to his camp from a canoe outing at Swan Lake.

His canoe was found upright and unoccupied, with about 4 inches of water in it.