2009-04-13
12:31:42
In a couple of weeks, it'll be the end of the line for Passport On-Line.
Passport Canada says it will stop accepting online applications at the end of the month. The move to cancel the service follows complaints from Canada's privacy commissioner about sloppy security and an embarrassing online security breach more than a year ago.
2009-04-13
12:30:45
Christine Elliott picked up a couple of endorsements today in her bid to become the new Ontario's Progressive Conservative leader.
Both Janet Ecker and David Tsubouchi _ cabinet ministers in the Ernie Eves and Mike Harris governments _ say they'll vote for Elliott. Elliott _ the wife of federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty _ is one of four declared candidates vying to replace John Tory as party leader.
The others are Tim Hudak, Frank Klees and Randy Hillier.
2009-04-13
12:29:55
More than 200 claims for unemployment insurance were made in Koochiching County during the month of March.
According to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, that's almost double from February's figure of 104.
2009-04-13
12:28:48
The Ontario Provincial Police will be on the lookout for drivers who fail to wear their seatbelts.
The OPP's Spring Seatbelt campaign gets underway this week, and officers will be checking for proper seatbelt use. The annual campaign also targets children's car seats.
The blitz will run from Wednesday through to April 26.
2009-04-13
12:27:42
The proposal to move the tugboat Hallet and fire tower is also up for discussion at tonight's council meeting.
That project also faced opposition at last week's meeting - most aimed at the fire tower with some councillors suggesting it not be saved.
Also tonight, the Northwest Youth Action Alliance will be recognized for its promotion of no-smoking at the Memorial Sports Centre. The town recently changed its by-laws to prohibit smoking in front of the centre's doorways.
The public portion of tonight meeting begins about 5:45 p.m.
2009-04-13
12:24:58
Monday night's Fort Frances town council meeting could have a very large audience on hand.
Members of the Library Board are expected to be joined by members of the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce in a show of support when council decides if it will move forward on the new Library and Technology Centre.
President Cathy Emes says council should proceed.
"All of the time and effort and fundraising that's gone into it," says Emes, "as well as the need for a new library. It's not just the library, it's the technology centre, that's important for the community."
Council deferred making a decision on a construction contract at a meeting last week after some councillors expressed concern with the town's commitment toward the project estimated at little more than a million dollars.
2009-04-13
07:21:55
Members of the Men's Sunset Country Bowling team captured the team title at the Northern Ontario provincial 5-pin bowling championships held in Dryden on the weekend.
The team, which included Fort Frances' Andrew Stamarski, defeated a team representing the North Bay area.
2009-04-13
07:17:41
The Medical Officer of Health for the Northwestern Health Unit is settling into to his position just fine.
Doctor James Arthurs has been the region's acting chief medical officer since January 1st, and says its been a rewarding experience so far.
"I'm really having a good time," says Arthurs, " and enjoying learning more about where Kenora fits into the northwest, where the northwest fits in with the province and how all of us need to work together for better health for all of us who live here"
Arthurs is not sure when the "acting" part of his title will be removed. The Minister of Health still has to confirm his appointment.
2009-04-13
06:57:28
Minnesota’s elk management plan will be the focus of an upcoming public meetings to be held by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in Greenbush.
The D-N-R says the plan will address population levels, crop depredation and hunting season management of wild elk in northwestern Minnesota.
Elk are native to the state but faced near extinction in the early 20th century.
2009-04-13
06:56:30
Five years after Ontario eliminated Grade 13, only 69 per cent of students completed the four-year high school program in four years.
The Education Ministry reported a 77 per cent graduation rate for Ontario high schools last month, but that included students who go back for a fifth year.
Education Minister Kathleen Wynne says both graduation rates are good news because they show more students are completing high school.
2009-04-13
06:53:46
Confederation College has scored high marks from its graduates and the companies who hire them.
A survey conducted by College's Ontario says almost 87 per cent of the graduates were satisfied with the education received at the college. Eight per cent seemed pleased with the overall quality of services, programming and resources available.
Almost 98 per cent of employers, the highest of any college in Ontario, expressed satisfaction with the quality of the educational preparation of Confederation's graduates.
2009-04-13
06:52:03
Two projects in the Koochiching County area are among this year's work planned by the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
This July, M-DOT will begin replacement of a bridge on Highway 11 in Clementson at a cost of $2.9 million dollars.
M-DOT also plans to dismantle the historic Silverdale Bridge on Highway 65 in August. The bridge will be moved to the St. Paul area where it will reconstructed as a recreational trail bridge.
2009-04-13
06:50:57
Koochiching County is receiving some federal dollars to assist with area emergency food and shelter programs.
The county received almost $12,000 through the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board and another $5,600 in federal stimulus dollars.
The money will be disbursed among local service agencies.
2009-04-13
06:46:29
The Rainy River District School Board is planning to seek tenders this week on the new Robert Moore School.
Manager of Plant operations, Raymond Roy says prospective contractors will have about a month to make their submissions. Roy says site preparation continues.
"We've elected to use a strategy known as pre-loading," says Roy. "We've preloaded the site of the new school. This generally that will consolidate the soils. We had two options to do the current pre-load option or go with piles."
Roy says because of the soils, using piles would have driven up the cost of construction significantly. Construction of the school could begin as early as this June.
2009-04-13
06:43:56
The fate of two projects in Fort Frances could be decided Monday night when town councillors gather for their regular meeting of council at the Civic Centre.
Council will review a Fort Frances Library Board recommendation to accept a tender with Aurora Construction for the building of the new library and Technology Centre at a cost of $3.7 million. At a special meeting last week, some councillors expressed concern with the town's commitment of a about a million dollars toward the total budget of $4.7 million.
Council is also expected to discuss a proposed contract to refurbish and relocate the tugboat Hallet and fire tower. At last week's meeting, some councillors felt the fire tower should not be saved. Tonight's meeting begins at about 5:45
2009-04-13
06:42:50
The town of Fort Frances is headed to court this week over Pither's Point Park.
Legal representatives for the town will be asking a court judge Wednesday to consider a notice of motion that would allow the town the ability to continue operating the park until litigation between area native bands and the federal, provincial and municipal governments is resolved, or for as long as an Ontario Order in Council that declared the area a park - remains
The notice of motion was filed in court last week. A 99-year leased signed by the town is set to expire at the end of this month.
