Dog Walk Successful

2009-06-01

13:12:15

The Fort Frances waterfront went to the dogs yesterday.

Twenty canines and their owners took to the Waterfront for the annual Purina Walk for Dog Guides put on by the Voyageur Lion's Club and the Fort Frances High School's Leo Club.

Organizer Kendall Richardson says the event proved to be their most successful to date.

"It was a great turnout," says Richardson. "We had the greatest number of walkers and financial support this year than we've had over the past four events."

More than $2,400 was raised which all goes to supporting the Lions Foundation of Canada and its Dog Guide programs.

 

Truck Driver Faces Drug Charge

2009-06-01

13:11:36

A truck driver has been charged after police in Thunder Bay seized ecstasy pills from the cab of a transport.

Police seized about 140-thousand pills in plastic bags from a truck at McKevitt Trucking last week.

A 31-year-old Brampton man is charged with a single count of drug possession for the purpose of trafficking.

High School Drug Sweep

2009-06-01

13:11:06

A drug sweep of Thunder Bay high schools has resulted in charges against 14 girls and boys ranging in age from 14 to 18.

Thunder Bay police spokesman Chris Adams says officers seized mainly marijuana.

Police laid 15 charges for drug possession, two for trafficking and one for breach of release conditions.

Forest Fire Hazard Remains Low

2009-06-01

13:10:13

Just one new forest fire reported in the West Fire Region over the weekend.

The fire, which has now been extinguished, occurred in the Kenora District late Saturday afternoon.

The forest fire hazard remains low across all sections of Northwestern Ontario.

 

New Fire Training Centre

2009-06-01

13:07:35

A new training centre is working well for the Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Service.

The Service is utilizing a building at the Fort Frances airport which serves as a back-up centre for the emergency control group.

Fire chief Gerry Armstrong says the site is allowing them to provide the training area firefighters need.

"We have our capability, which is a requirement of NFPA, to do live fire training," says Armstrong. "We can now do smoke, fire and rescue training. We have a simulated gable roof set up out there where we can send up people to do ventilation which is a requirement."

Armstrong says financial and manpower support from the Ministry of Natural Resources allowed the department to have the building fixed up to meet its needs

 

LCBO Workers Strike Date

2009-06-01

13:06:35

The union representing liquor store workers has set June 24 as the day they'll walk out if they don't have a new contract.

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union says it doesn't feel the Liquor Control Board of Ontario is bargaining ``seriously.''

But a LCBO spokesman says the strike deadline isn't necessary and the agency is committed to reaching an agreement.

The OPSEU contract with the LCBO expired on March 31.

 

More Schools Closing

2009-06-01

13:05:50

A new report from People for Education says 146 schools may be slated to close as a result of low enrolment.

It includes plans by the Rainy River District School Board to close Huffman and move students to the new Robert Moore School in Fort Frances.

Annie Kidder, the executive director of the organization, says the closures can hit smaller towns particularly hard, because they rely on the schools as community hubs.

But Education Minister Kathleen Wynne says school boards were in desperate need to make local decisions after a two year moratorium on school closures was lifted.

Adoptions Files Open

2009-06-01

13:05:11

Adopted children in Ontario will have an easier way to learn about their biological parents starting today.

That's when new legislation for the disclosure of adoption information takes effect.

Adoptees will be able to apply for copies of adoption orders and birth registrations while biological parents can ask for information from those documents.

The law also ensures files of people not interested in re-connecting remain sealed.

Border Rules in Effect Today

2009-06-01

12:55:49

Anyone crossing into the United States today will must now show a passport or enhanced driver's license.

It's part of new requirements to enter the U-S that kicked in today. Tom Schreiber of the United States Customs and Border Protection Agency says because of the publicity surrounding the new regulations, customs officers aren't expecting many problems.

"We're quite pleased with the rate of compliance that's already ongoing with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative on the northern border," says Schreiber. "We are anticipating some gaps with people who may not cross that often, but we will deal with that on a case-by-case basis."

Schreiber says Americans who don't have their documents won't be denied entry, but they will experience a delay as they will be asked to prove their nationality.