2009-04-22
12:46:30
A member of the Falls High School Speech team is a state champion.
Anna Remus took first place at the State tournament on the weekend in the Category of Original Oratory.
The grade 12 student has been a member of the school's speech team for the past five years.
2009-04-22
12:45:21
The Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors now has a full compliment.
David Ashworth, of Domino's Pizza, was elected to the board yesterday.
He fills a seat on the board that had been vacant since last fall's elections.
2009-04-22
12:44:11
With more than 300 wildfires already reported this spring, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is urging residents to take extra precautions to protect their property from fire damage.
Homes close to evergreens and the tall grasses of prairies or marshes are most at risk.
Jean Bergerson, information officer with the Minnesota Interagency Fire Center, says advanced preparations are very important for making sure homes or cabins survive an approaching wildfire.
"Be sure to think about clearing overhanging branches, trees and brush close to your home and stacking firewood away from your house," says Bergerson. "These simple actions can make your home or cabin less-fire prone."
Bergerson added that if a wildfire starts or comes near your property be sure to call 911 and let the professionally trained firefighters battle the blaze.
2009-04-22
12:42:56
A Fort Frances manufacturing firm is one of 250 Ontario companies to benefit from some provincial dollars.
Norfab Building Components is among recipients receiving funding through the province's SMART Program.
The program helps small and medium-sized manufacturers purchase new machinery and technology to remain competitive.
2009-04-22
12:37:34
Canadian Blood Services kicks off its spring blood donor clinics this afternoon at the Fort Frances High School.
A clinic will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and again tomorrow afternoon (12 noon to 3:00 p.m.) and evening (5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.)
Community Development Coordinator Harvey Heather says they hope to collect 400 donations and attract at least 40 new donors.
New donors are asked to pre-book by calling 1-800-to-donate (1-800-236-6283).
2009-04-22
12:36:27
Premier Dalton McGuinty isn't prepared to declare a state of emergency in Attawapiskat despite complaints that noxious fumes are sickening residents in the remote aboriginal community.
Residents say they have been suffering from headaches, nausea and other ailments since an elementary school - which sat atop the remains of an underground diesel leak - was torn down in March.
McGuinty says it's up to the federal government to take the lead in Attawapiskat because it's their responsibility.
2009-04-22
12:35:47
Premier Dalton McGuinty says he has no plans to pour cash into a pension safety net designed to protect workers when their plans go bust.
Earlier this month, McGuinty said there was not enough money in the fund to cover G-M retirees should their company go bankrupt.
He says there are other pensioners who have seen their nest eggs dry up and it wouldn't be fair to make them bail out auto workers.
2009-04-22
12:34:16
Get your hands off those cellphones Ontario drivers - a new law that bans using hand-held devices to talk, email, or send text messages while behind the wheel was passed today.
The new rules, which don't come into effect immediately, include a fine of up to $500 as the province joins other jurisdictions in cracking down on drivers using the devices.
The law doesn't affect the use of hands-free devices such as Bluetooths or using cellphones for 911 calls, but it does include portable video games, MP3 players and DVD players. Global positioning systems will be allowed, as long as they're properly secured to the dashboard.
There are no demerit points attached to the bill - unlike in other provinces - but drivers who place others at risk by using one of the banned devices can also be charged under existing careless driving laws. Ontario is the fourth province to enact such a ban, following
Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec and Nova Scotia.
2009-04-22
12:22:08
A Fort Frances businessman is speaking out in opposition to town council's decision NOT to accept a construction contract for the new library and technology centre.
Alan Tibbetts says council's vote last week failed to show good leadership for the future. And he's tendered his resignation from the the town's economic development advisory committee, the Fort Frances Business Improvement Association and two related committees.
"I feel they don't have a vision for any growth for Fort Frances," says Tibbetts, "and as an ordinary citizen, if council is not leading, then I'm not prepared to work on behalf of council either."
Tibbetts says even if council reverses its decision, he has no plans to withdraw his resignations.
Council is to discuss the library project at a meeting this afternoon.
2009-04-22
07:23:52
A change in the schedule for today's events at the Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts.
Due to a scheduling conflict, this afternoon's programme at the Townsend Theatre has been moved to this morning beginning at 9:00 a.m.
Yesterday, the second day of piano competitions was highlighted by performances from Caitlin Sande who captured first place honours in two events. Here is a list of all winners from Tuesday.
FESTIVAL RESULTS, PIANO DIVISION, Tuesday, April 21, 2009
CLASS P803
First – Ursula Chojko-Bolec
Second – Cameo Harrison
CLASS P703
First – Caitlin Sande
Second – (TIE) Kimika Alexander and Alexis Sharp
CLASS P603
First – Audrey Chojko-Bolec
Second – (TIE) Courtney Bethune and Anika Alexander
CLASS P607
First – Caitlin DeBenetti
Second – Anika Alexander
CLASS P804
First – Jackson Gillon
Second – Courtney Peters
CLASS P807
First – Courtney Peters
Second – Ursula Chojko-Bolec
CLASS P706
First – Caitlin Sande
Second – Kimika Alexander
CLASS P606
First – Anika Alexander
Second – Caitlin DeBenetti
CLASS P1403
First - Raymond Polz
CLASS P003
First – Tori Sheppard
CLASS P001
First – Katie Hicks
Second – (TIE) Tori Sheppard and Brandon Pelepetz
CLASS P004
First – Malikai Morrisseau
Second – (TIE) Sarah Hillier and Brandon Pelepetz
CLASS P002
First – Brandon Pelepetz
Second – Malikai Morrisseau
CLASS P014
First - Martina Morrisseau
2009-04-22
07:20:35
The Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce won't be looking for its Quest for its Best at this year's Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship.
Manager Dawn Booth says the popular singing competition is being moved to the Memorial Sport Centre at the end of June.
"We we're working with the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship," says Booth. "We hosted Quest with them since 1999. We used to do Quest as part of the winter carnival. We were just looking at ways to change things up this year and create some new excitement."
Booth says this year's event won't be just for singers. The chamber has decided to open it up to dance and comedy, hopping to attract a wider range of competitors.
Meantime, Kiddie Quest will be held separately in the fall.
2009-04-22
07:18:52
Lottery officials are replacing or refunding tickets consumers bought during a three-hour period on Monday because of a computer glitch.
The wrong draw date was printed on 92 out of more than 560-thousand tickets sold between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. -- which makes them null and void.
None of the affected tickets were sold in the Rainy River district, but the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation says one Super 7 and one Lotto 6-49 ticket were purchased in Kenora.
2009-04-22
07:17:24
Experts say Ontario has the toughest anti-pesticide rules in the country now that its ban on the chemicals has taken effect.
More than 80 ingredients and 250 products are now prohibited from being sold or used for cosmetic purposes _ with few exceptions such as golf courses, farming and forestry. Quebec is the only other province that has similar anti-pesticide laws, but experts say its rules don't go as far.
The weed killer 2-4-D is banned in both provinces, even though it has been deemed safe by Health Canada. That could put Ontario in the legal crosshairs of an international trade dispute.
Dow AgroSciences -- which makes 2-4-D -- is challenging Quebec's ban under the North American Free Trade Agreement. It says the ban violates Canada's obligations under the trade
agreement because it has no scientific basis.
Environment Minister John Gerretsen says he's not worried about the possibility of legal action. He says the government made the right move by banning the chemicals to protect public health.
2009-04-22
06:57:08
The province's new mining act is about to introduced at Queen's Park.
Mines Minister Michael Gravelle says the legislation will be brought forward in the next couple of weeks.
"It's been a remarkable consultation process with the stakeholders," says Gravelle, "from the mining side, from municipalities and from the aboriginal, metis and Inuit people as well. The consultations have wrapped up. In a couple of weeks, you can expect the introduction of the legislation.
Gravelle says he wanted to ensure there would be clarity to the process and feels the new act will do just that.
2009-04-22
06:53:13
Natural Resources Minister Donna Cansfield says lower hydro rates is not the only answer to helping the ailing forest industry.
Some critics who point to Manitoba where lower rates are helping its forest industry. But Cansfield says since Manitoba's industry is not as large as Ontario's, its an apples and oranges comparison.
"Manitoba virtually has a minimal forest industry to say the least," says Canfield. "Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia are the main drivers of the forestry sector in Canada. Again, it's the suggestion that its all about electricity. If that were the case, we wouldn't have the problem with Abitibi in Quebec."
Cansfield says resolving the crisis is far more complex and will take the efforts of a lot of people before the industry can turn around.
2009-04-22
06:52:14
Fort Frances town councillors may get a clearer understanding what the bankruptcy protection of AbitibiBowater will mean to the town.
C.A.O. Mark McCaig and town treasurer Laurie Witherspoon will be providing councillors with an update during a closed door session later today.
AbitibiBowater, the town's largest taxpayer, received protection from its creditors on the weekend.
2009-04-22
06:50:31
There will be more talk about the new library and technology centre today. This time, project manager Brian Avis will reiterate his thoughts about the project to members of town council this afternoon.
Monday, Avis told members of the library board it needs to know how much council is willing to contribute to the project before deciding a next step. Some councillors have suggested the town match dollar-for-dollar the amount of money raised by the board. Right now, that would equate to about $850 thousand.
Also this afternoon, councillors will get another look at the town's proposed operating and capital budgets, along with a proposed contract regarding the relocation and refurbishing of the tugboat Hallet and fire tower.
The meeting begins shortly after 4:00 p.m. at the Civic Centre.
