Fort Projects To Get A Second Look

Some Fort Frances projects that have been on the shelves for a while could get a dust off.

Chief Administrative Officer Mark McCaig says the town's received a lot of attention recently from the province, and to a lesser extend the federal government, about the latest shutdown of the Resolute Forest Products mill.

He says now might be a good time to review some of the work projects it's wanted to do and seek some financial support from government.

McCaig says approval could help create some jobs and economic growth to the community.

Council looking at discussion potential projects during its budget meeting next week.

Girls Retreat Wins

The program coordinator of the "I Am Awesome, And I Know It" is feeling good today.

The regional self esteem and empowerment retreat for women has received $45-thousand after being selected one of the grand prize winners of the Aviva Community Fund contract.

The retreat also received an additional $5,000 for making to the final round.

Coordinator Renee Martin-Brown says it will be used to help expand the program.

The first retreat, held in Nestor Falls last year, attracted 19 young girls across across northwestern Ontario.

Kenora Family Survived Ordeal In Bush

A Kenora family is back home safe after spending three nights stranding in the bush on the weekend.

The family, which included two children aged 6 and 10, had left Kenora January 18th for a week of trapping north of Minaki, but on their return Saturday, they encouraged mechanical problems with one of their snow machines while the other got stuck.

OPP say they had survival gear that made it possible to build a shelter and light a fire and enough food to survive until they were spotted by a pilot who'd been asked to help look for them.

Veterans Call For Minister's Resignation

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Veterans who were in Ottawa to argue against the closing of their regional offices left a brief, emotional meeting with Veterans Affairs Minister Julian Fantino visibly frustrated and calling for his resignation.

Eight office, including one in Thunder Bay, will close this Friday.

Fantino called the meeting candid, but video shows the Minister and veterans trading testy exchanges.

Right To Work Campaign Reaches Northwestern Ontario

Unifor brings its "Right at Work" campaign to northwestern Ontario today.

President Jerry Dias says they're using an event in Thunder Bay to speak out about the threats to basic labour rights and what action unions can take.

Unifor is concerned about a federal bill, the union believes will make it easier to decertify unions in the federal sector on the basis of biased voting rules.

Pension Advisory Group Formed

Ontario has taken another step towards developing its own pension plan.

A technical Advisory Group has been created to advise government on how to strengthen retirement income security for people across the province.

They join former Prime Minister Paul Martin who was brought in as an advisor last week.

Smoking Ban in Foster Homes Sought

Debate is going on in Minnesota on a proposed bill that would ban smoking in foster homes.

It reached the House Health and Human Services Policy Committee yesterday.

The bill's author and Committee Chair Tina Liebling says many children in foster care are already suffering from at least one chronic medical condition and should be protected from secondhand smoke.

The bill now moves to the House Early Childhood and Youth Development Policy Committee.

Area Leaders Seek Proclamation

Another effort is being made to get the heads of State in Canada and the United States to declare July 2nd as Peaceful Borders Day in Fort Frances and International Falls.

The day coincides with the communities Peace Pull Tug of War.

Fort Mayor Roy Avis and Falls Mayor Bob Anderson have signed at letter to be sent to Prime Minister Harper and President Obama.

Harper has signed the declaration the past two years, but it has yet to get attention in Washington.

Grocery Store Destroyed By Fire

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Fire has destroyed a grocery store in Ignace.

The blaze at Gramma's Supermarket started around 2:30 Tuesday morning.

Mayor Lee Kennard who owned the store for five years calls the fire devastating.

No injuries are reported and the cause isn't known at this time.

Sledder Found

Two snowmobilers are recovering after spending a chilly night on Lake of the Woods.

RCMP initiated a search Monday after being informed the day before about the two being overdue from a fishing trip near Birch Point on the Lake's western shore.

They were eventually located in Roosevelt, Minnesota.

RCMP says the two had spent the night in the bush after becoming disoriented by blowing winds.

One the men eventually walked to a nearby home where he contacted his father's employer who called police.

Both were picked up, but the one man had to be taken to hospital in Roseau for treatment of frostbite.

Minimum Wage Action Promised Soon

The Ontario government says it will bring forward a plan in the near future on how it will address the minimum wage.

An advisory panel recommends it increase based on the province's inflation rate with the first to be retroactive to 2010 when the $10.25 an hour rate was frozen.

Labour Minister Yasir Naqvi says they're are reviewing its recommendations and will bring their plan forward shortly.

State Of Emergency Declared In Minnesota

A shortage of propane and other heating fuels in Minnesota has prompted Governor Mark Dayton to declare a Peacetime State of Emergency.

The measure allows the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to activate the Minnesota Emergency Operations Plan.

The State is also asking President Barack Obama to restrict exports of propane and natural gas until the shortage eases and that more supplies be trucked from Texas.

Fines Issued Against Contractors

The Ministry of Transportation has penalized maintenance contractors clearing provincial highways in northwestern Ontario for not meeting winter maintenance standards.

Carillion Canada and Integrated Maintenance and Operations Services in the Thunder Bay region and Transfield Services in the Kenora-Rainy River were penalized.

The MTO will not say how much the penalties were, but do describe them as "significant financial consequences."

Fort Frances Supports Heritage Designation Proposal

Fort Frances council is giving its support to an effort to designate a water route between Thunder Bay and Rainy River under the Canadian Heritage River System.

A group is working toward making a submission to a panel for review by this March.

Rainy Lake Conservancy's Stephen Challis says the Voyageur's Boundary Waterway Route will help draw awareness of the route's significance to the region.

Challis also sees the designation playing a part in Fort Frances's branding exercise.

Fire In Ignace

There's been a major fire in Ignace.

The blaze at a grocery store on Highway 17 has forced a closure of the highway there.

Traffic is being routed through the community.

No other details are available at this time.

Increase To Minimum Rate Suggested

Ontario is being told the up the minimum wage.

An advisory panel suggests it be increased based on Ontario's annually inflation rate, the first to be retroactive to 2010 when it was frozen at $10.25 an hour.

Labour and social groups welcome the news, but would still like the new starting rate be at $14.00  an hour.

Hyer Named Green's Deputy Leader

Thunder Bay MP Bruce Hyer has new responsibilities.

He is now the Deputy Leader of the Green Party.

Hyer joined the Greens in December, a year after leaving the NDP over differences with leader Thomas Mulcair.

Relays For Life Set To Go

Residents across northwestern Ontario are being encouraged to help get behind one of eight relays for life to be held this summer.

Fort Frances organizers helped kick off the major fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society by announcing its event will be held in June.

The Society's Regional Manager Maria Cabral says a partnership will continue to see some of the money raised staying in this region.

Of the $77-thousand raised last year, more than $31-thousand was given to Riverside Health Care Facilities to purchase necessary equipment.

This year's goal has been set at $75-thousand.

There will also be a Relay For Life event in Rainy River

Cold Weather Persists

Bundle up, again.

It's going to be another cold day with wind chills of minus 40 C to minus 45 C across the Borderland.

The cold temperatures aren't setting any weather records, but Meteorologist Bill Laidlaw says it has been a few years since we've had weather patterns such as those experienced.

A bitterly cold Artic air mass is entrenching all of northern Ontario and much of Minnesota leading to weather advisories again in both areas today.

Water Tower Sound

No major concerns for the water tower in Fort Frances.

An inspection of the tower by Minnesota-based KLM Engineering last November found some minor defects, but none that require any immediate attention.

It's the first inspection since the town did some work on the interior of the tower in 2010.

The engineering firm says that work is holding up well.