Town Officials Meet With Resolute

Officials with the town of Fort Frances have managed to talk with the president and CEO of Resolute Forest Products about the future of the mill in Fort Frances.

That meeting came Wednesday while Richard Garneau and senior members of the company's management team were in Thunder Bay.

Mayor Roy Avis calls the meeting very good, noting the company is researching potential products, but will take time to complete.

Avis says they'll continue to dialogue with Resolute and assist however it can.

Police Asked To Schools In International Falls

Students and staff at public schools in International Falls will have Police on hand for the last day of school heading into the Christmas Break.

Superintendent of Independent School District 361 Nordy Nelson says they asked police to attend the final couple of days in light of last week's school shooting in Connecticut.

Nelson says their schools are safe and the police helps ease fears and stem rumours.

Since yesterday, Police have been on site before and after school and during the lunch period. 

Nelson says schools have always had doors locked other than the front door, but the board will look at how to improve safety for students further in the new year.

Board Action To Keep Schools Safe

The Rainy River District School Board has a number of safety initiatives in place for its schools.

Education Director Heather Campbell says most of its schools are fitted with video cameras, some installed this past summer.

Campbell says staff across the district have also been involved in Threat/Risk Assessment training.

The board also works closely with OPP in developing plans.

More Education Protests Threatened

School support workers are joining teachers in threatening to stage a one-day protest if the governing Liberals force a collective agreement on them in the new year.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees represents custodians, educational assistants and others.

December 31st is the deadline for education workers to negotiate new collective agreements with school boards.

First Nations Protests

First Nations are Idle No More.

Couchiching First Nation will be the latest site of aboriginal protests over federal Bill C-45 and support of hunger striker Chief Theresa Spence of Attawapiskat.

Treaty 3 Grand Chief Warren White says everyone needs to fight the passing of the bill.

Today's protest begins at noon at the Multi-use facility in Couchiching before marching toward Fort Frances downtown.

Rainycrest Still Restricting Visitors

Visitor restrictions at Rainycrest Long Term Care will now have an impact on Christmas at the home.

Those restrictions went into effect last week because of an outbreak of gastroenteritis.

As a result, a dinner planned for Christmas Day for residents has been cancelled.

Only family members are being allowed to visit, permitting they don't any flu or cold-like symptoms.

McDonald's Reopens Tomorrow

The public will get its first look at a remodelled McDonald's Restaurant in Fort Frances this weekend.

The Restaurant is scheduled reopen its doors tomorrow.

A grand opening is planned for January 5 with a special appearance expected from Ronald McDonald.

Small Businesses Receive

Some provincial funding for a couple of small businesses in the Rainy River district.

Rainy River Cereal, based out of Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation, has received over $47-thousand from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund to continue marketing and developing its product.

Finland Corners has received over $44-thousand for an expansion of its business along Highway 71 in Chapple Township.

International Falls Planning For Bass Tournament

International Falls is preparing for its annual bass fishing tournament.

The 9th annual event is scheduled for late August.

Committee member Marty Cody says their big accomplishment this past summer was finding a way, with the help of the Fire department, to clean live wells, meeting State laws regarding the control of invasive species.

Cody says the planning committee will start meeting in early January.

Changes To FFCBC In Works

Organizers with the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship are making some changes to next summer's fishing tournament.

The entry fee has been dropped from $1,000 to $800.

Organizers are also considering a move back to the waterfront.

The event was relocated to the Memorial Sports Centre two years ago because of financial and manpower considerations.

Power Corp. Opposes Amalgamation Suggestions

A new report suggesting sweeping changes to Ontario's electrical distribution system isn't being greeted warmly by the Fort Frances Power Corporation.

The report, issued last week, suggests voluntary amalgamation of municipal utilities, saving the province more than a billion dollars over ten years.

Chair of the Power Corp. Doug McCaig doesn't see bigger being better for our area.

McCaig doesn't believe the report recognizes the regional differences faced by northern Ontario electricity distributors.

Education Minister Issues Warning To Teachers

Education Minister Laurel Broten is advising the union representing public elementary school teachers to focus on local bargaining, not on more job action.

The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario is planning to announce its next steps in its ongoing labour dispute with government tomorrow.

Teachers around the province have been participating in one-day rotating strikes for the past two weeks.

Broten warns any strike action after December 31 will be illegal.

Skywest Now Serving International Falls

Skywest Airlines has started flying out the International Falls Airport.

The Utah-based air carrier officially took over the route from Delta last weekend.

Spokesperson Wes Horrocks says for flying public, there's really little change.

Skywest if providing two daily round trip flights with a 50 seat Bombardier CRJ200, connecting with other Delta flights out of Minneapolis.

Energy Efficiency Designation For Falls Building

The city of International Falls has been received an significant energy efficiency certification for its development of Voyageur National Park's headquarters.

The city received Silver status from the U.S. Green Building Council under its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program.

It's the first building constructed in International Falls to receive LEED certification.

Advice Available To Resolute Workers

Some help today for workers impacted by the idling of the kraft mill and paper machine at Resolute Forest Products mill in Fort Frances.

The Communication, Energy and Paperworkers Union has set up information sessions at the Legion in Fort Frances to provide workers with advice on employment, training and education opportunities.

Representatives from Service Canada, NCDS and the provincial Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities will be on hand first at 1:30 p.m. and again at 7 p.m.

Walmart Helping Salvation Army Today

Your donation to the Salvation Army's Christmas Kettle at Walmart could be a little extra special today.

Walmart Canada is once again planning to match donations collected today up to a maximum $100-thousand.

World Vision Gift Catalogue Still Open

A Chicken might not be a gift item on your Christmas list, but it's something you can buy to help someone living in an underdeveloped country.

Genevieve Barber of World Vision Canada says it's not too late to consider making a purchase from its Gift Catalogue on behalf of someone on your list.

Items ranges from farm animals, clothing, school supplies to medicine.

Barber says the donation, which is tax deductible, includes a card explaining how its helping.

Last year, nearly $8-thousand in gift items were purchased by Fort Frances area residents.

Here's a link to that catalogue - https://catalogue.worldvision.ca/Gifts/Forms/Home.aspx?mc=4237251&lang=en

Teachers To Outline Future Job Action Tomorrow

The union representing Ontario elementary school teachers is expected to discuss its next steps in its ongoing labour action later this week.

The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario is planning a news conference for Friday.

The event caps off two weeks of rotating one-day walkouts by the teachers, who say they are protesting legislation that allows the government to ban strikes and impose contract agreements on teachers.

Three People Hurt in Crash

Three people are recovering from injuries following an accident on Highway 11, west of Fort Frances Tuesday.

OPP say a pick-up truck lost control and slid into the path of another oncoming pickup about 15 kilometres west of town.

The 54-year-old male driver and a 51-year old female passenger from one truck and the 29-year-old driver of the other were transported to LaVerendrye Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

S.I.U. Clears OPP Officier

An OPP officer in Red Lake has been cleared of any wrongdoing in the death of man in that northwestern Ontario community early last month.

The province's Special Investigation Unit concluded its investigation by saying the 35-year-old took his own life, but there was no police contact or involvement at the time of his death.