2009-04-23
08:58:43
A championship title for the Northwest Storm, the region's under-14 girls hockey team.
The Storm defeated Nepean 2-1 in double overtime in Mississauga on the weekend to win the Provincial Bantam Girls Championship. Danielle Jean and Jillian Langtree of Fort Frances were part of the winning squad.
2009-04-23
08:57:29
A member of the Rainy River High School's badminton team has won a NWOSSA title.
Courtney Hanson went five and oh to win the junior singles title in Thunder Bay. Jordan Hanson and Katherine Wetzel finished third in senior's mixed doubles.
2009-04-23
08:56:44
Emergency personnel in the International Falls area will be conducting a test of its ability to respond to a Tornado today.
Officials say the public should not be alarmed if you hear sirens - as it will be a part of the test.
The exercise is expected to conclude later this afternoon.
2009-04-23
08:47:21
A Rainy River High School educator has been recognized by the province.
Laureen Kuzyk, an educational assistant at Rainy River High School, was recently awarded a Premier's Award for Teaching Excellence as an Excellent Support Staff. Kuzyk was singled out for her energy and enthusiasm for education.
She's noted for purchasing used clothes and cutting hair for students who struggle financially, and tutoring students after hours.
2009-04-23
08:24:42
The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association has reached its goal in establishing a bursary for students attending the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.
Chair of the Northern Ontario Medical Education Award Fund Ron Nelson says the $100,000 dollars it set out to raise has been achieved - mostly through municipal donations.
"The majority of that money came from the municipalities," says Nelson, "that back in the day, when we started this, we had just tremendous amount of support with backing dollars to obtain that goal."
Nelson says how the money will be awarded will be determined by Lakehead University and the School of Medicine. While the first graduating class will occur later this year, the first award may no be issued until next year.
"Because of the fall in the stock market, Lakehead University does not want to pay out any bursaries because it takes away from their capital money. The Medical School is looking at its differently."
Nelson says even though its goal was achieved, NOMA will continue to raise money that will be directed toward other medical needs.
2009-04-23
08:23:52
There's a lot of interest in the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.
The school says its received more than 1,800 applications looking for one of 56 spots at either the Thunder Bay or Sudbury campuses. Nearly four-hundred of them have already received interviews.
Letters of acceptance will be issued next month.
2009-04-23
08:22:53
Thunder Bay-Rainy River John Rafferty is continuing his demands for a national forestry strategy.
The NDP forest critic says the strategy, which should include loan guarantees for troubled companies, will help protect thousands of jobs. Rafferty has also tabled a motion asking the government to match a subsidy provided to American pulp-and-paper companies. He says a matching subsidy will provide a level playing field for Canadian mills.
The MP says 45,000 forestry jobs have disappeared in the last two years and thousands more are threatened by the stagnating economy.
2009-04-23
08:19:36
It was a good start for the Canadian Blood Services yesterday.
More than 150 people turned out to the first of three blood donor clinics being held at the Fort Frances High School.
Community Development Coordinator Harvey Heather says the 120 units of blood collected yesterday will help area hospitals.
"This is a big part of our weekly collections that we have for 90 hospitals in Manitoba and northwestern Ontario," says Heather, "including the hospital in Fort Frances. We need about 1,200 donations of blood each week for patients in those hospitals."
The clinics resume this afternoon from 12 noon to 3:00 p.m. and again from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
2009-04-23
07:47:08
A plan to renovate and relocate the tugboat Hallet and fire tower from Pither's Point Park to the waterfront will be decided at Monday's town council meeting
Fort Frances councillors were told yesterday that nearly $100,000 in savings have been made to the original tender price following discussions with the proposed contractor. But councillor John Albanese still insists the million-dollar price tag is a waste of money.
"To be me wasting taxpayer dollars to move the Hallet and the tower.....sorry, I can not support that," says Albanese.
Some councillors feel the project will help boost tourism and further enhance the town's waterfront. Councillor Rick Wiedenhoeft says the work, on the tower especially, will be good for the town.
"The tower is going to be just picked up and moved and still be an ugly piece of junk sitting at the waterfront," says Wiedenhoeft. "It's going to be completely refurbished. It's going to be an attraction."
"I think people are going to want to up there. I think kids are going to want to go up there and look around. I feel that it more so than the Hallet is going to attract people to the waterfront."
2009-04-23
07:42:17
The plan to build a new library and technology centre in Fort Frances has lost some municipal support.
Councillor Sharon Tibbs said during a special meeting yesterday, she can no longer agree to the project going ahead. Tibbs who voted in favour of accepting a construction contract last week, says AbitibiBowater's bankruptcy announcement has swayed her support.
"With that announcement on April 15 and the economic crunch that this municipality is in, I think we should not consider building this library at this time," says Tibbs.
Council heard from project manager Brian Avis regarding his observations surrounding recent debate. Avis delivered the same message to members of the Fort Frances Library Board on Monday. Mayor Roy Avis says there's been a lot of talk about maintaining functionality, but little about ongoing operating costs.
"If council did agree to a dollar contribution, I would hope the building committee not only worry about functionality, but also the ongoing operating costs," says the mayor.
Brian Avis reiterated a need for council to decide how much money it would be willing to contribute to the project, no firm decision was made.
Randy Thoms – News & Sports Director
