2009-04-24
08:11:49
Steve Arpin will start 18th in today's running of the ARCA-ReMax 250 at Talladegga Superspeedway today.
His qualifying time of 52.007 seconds was about 7/10 of a second off the pace of pole sitter Tom Hessert.
Today's race goes at 4:00 p.m. central time and can be seen on Speed-TV.
2009-04-24
08:10:47
Fire hydrants in the city of Littlefork are being flushed today.
The Littlefork Water Department will be performing the work this morning.
Officials says water users may experience some changes in their water pressure and may notice a slight discolouration of the water while the works is being done.
2009-04-24
07:56:25
A triple win yesterday at the Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts.
Christina Empey captured three first place honours during the piano competitions.
Those competitions wrap up today at Knox United Church.
Here as the results from Wednesday and Thursday
FESTIVAL RESULTS, PIANO DIVISION, Wednesday, April 22, 2009
CLASS P806
First – Rachel Lipinski
Second – (TIE) Cameo Harrison and Jackson Gillon
CLASS P506
First – Sarah Bagacki
Second – Kaitlyn Chiasson
CLASS P406
First – Jared Bethune
CLASS P403
First – Jared Bethune
CLASS P503
First – Kacia Veldhuisen
Second – (TIE) Scott Barker and Lorianne Dueck
CLASS P407
First – Jared Bethune
CLASS P507
First – Lucas Koomans
Second – Kacia Velhuisen
CLASS P307
First – Raymond Polz
Second – Beth Layne Ward
CLASS P1301
First – Callahan Wiedenhoeft
Second – (TIE) Katelyn Bruyere and Nicholas Veldhuisen
CLASS P012
First – Connor Pocock
Second – Jacob Gustafson
CLASS P013
First – Connor Pocock
Second – Alex Veldhuisen
CLASS P011
First – Jacob Gustafson
Second – (TIE) Emma Dawn Romanetz-Harland and Danni-Mae Mainville
CLASS P1502
First - Tianna Veldhuisen
Second – Moriah Carradice
CLASS P1503
First – Kacia Veldhuisen
FESTIVAL RESULTS, PIANO DIVISION, Thursday, April 23, 2009
CLASS P050
First – Callahan Wiedenhoeft
Second – Caley Wynter Harland
CLASS P103
First – Cara Sane-Calder
Second - (TIE) Justis Gauthier and Arthur VanAel
CLASS P203
First – Jordan Bruyere
Second – Julia Quast
CLASS P303
First – Jilayne Derksen
Second – Raymond Polz
CLASS P202
First – Jordan Bruyere
Second – Jazmine Coral-Hope Gauthier
CLASS P102
First – Arthur VanAel
Second – (TIE) Caitlyn Rittau and Cara Sane-Calder
CLASS P107
First – Caitlyn Rittau
Second – Justis Gauthier
CLASS P207
First – Jazmine Coarl-Hope Gauthier
Second – (TIE) Julia Quast and Jordan Bruyere
CLASS P1003
First – Christina Empey
Second – Brittany Beyak
CLASS P903
First – Lauren Davis
CLASS P907
First – Meagan Empey
CLASS P1007
First – Christina Empey
Second – Brittany Beyak
CLASS P904
First – Alicia Adair
Second – Danyelle Kora and Meagan Empey
CLASS P1005
First – Christina Empey
Second – Brittany Beyak
CLASS P902
First – Alicia Adair
CLASS P901
First – (TIE) Danyelle Kora and Lauren Davis
Second – Alicia Adair
CLASS P1304
First – Lauren Davis
Second – Courtney Peters
2009-04-24
07:54:38
Ontario has a new chief medical officer of health.
Doctor Arlene King takes over her new post in June. She is currently director general of the Centre for Immunization and Respiratory Infectious Diseases at the Public Health Agency of Canada.
She takes over from Doctor David Williams, who had been serving as Ontario's acting chief medical officer of health. Williams will now return to his post as associate chief medical officer.
2009-04-24
07:48:50
The province is about to act on some of the key recommendations of the Rosehart Report.
The report - which identified ways of improving the northern Ontario's economy - was released more than a year ago. Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle says expect some announcements soon.
"When it was brought forward by Dr. Rosehart, it responded to the needs of northeastern and northwestern Ontario," says Gravelle. "This, the timing is more important than ever before."
Gravelle says other parts of the Rosehart report have already been implemented, such as lower business education taxes and increased funding for winter roads and northern highway maintenance.
2009-04-24
07:48:12
Public elementary occasional teachers with the Rainy River District School Board have a tentative agreement.
The deal must still be ratified by the 85 members of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario.
But union president David Clegg says the agreement recognizes the experience and qualifications the teachers bring to the classroom.
2009-04-24
07:47:13
There will be a new principal at Fort Frances High School this fall.
Al McManaman will take over the position now held by Gord McCabe who's moving to be principal at Crossroads School. It's one of several staffing changed announced the Rainy River District school board.
Elsewhere, Crossroad's acting principal Donna Kowalski returns as its vice-principal.
Peg Keffer, acting principal at Donald Young and Nestor Falls schools, becomes a vice-principal as Fort Frances High.
Jennifer Baker goes from the vice Principal of Donald Young and Nestor Falls Schools to that at J-W Walker.
And Vice Principal of Robert Moore School, Leslie Barr-Kellar will replace Brenda Ferris-Hyatt who is retiring as principal of Mine Centre.
2009-04-24
07:45:39
Thunder Bay-Rainy River M-P John Rafferty is being criticized for not showing in the House of Commons Wednesday during a Bloc Quebecois motion in support of the federal long-gun registry.
The motion passed 143-136. Kenora Conservative M-P Greg Rickford says he's disappointed and upset northern Ontario New Democrats didn't take a stand to get rid of the gun registry.
Rafferty says he wasn't in the House because he was busy with forestry business and the vote came just before a scheduled meeting with CUPE.
2009-04-24
07:42:20
The Township of Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls is marching to the beat of its own drummer.
While many municipalities are looking at raising taxes, Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls council has reduced them. Mayor Bill Thompson says the overall tax rate will drop 12-per cent this year.
"The council decided last fall that with the increase in municipal property assessment, properties in Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls went up considerable more than the province average," says Thompson, "we would negate that increased by reducing taxes an equivalent amount."
Thompson says combined with the education taxes, he estimates the average homeowner will see their tax rate drop about 10 per cent.
2009-04-24
07:39:40
Ontario's tourism Minister Monique Smith admits its going to be a challenging time for tourist operators in northwestern Ontario.
Some operators have already stated they won't be opening this year. Smith says the province is trying to help the industry as best it can.
"We have invested $2.3 million over the next couple of years with our northern stakeholders on the Northern Ontario Marketing Strategy," says Smith. "We're developing tools to assist in their web presence. A lot of people are moving to the web in their travel searches."
Smith says the operators should also be able to tax advantage of tax cuts to small businesses introduced earlier in the provincial budget.
