Another batch of school test results are out through the province's Education Quality and Accountability Office.
They show between 30 and 40 per cent of students in Grades 3 and 6 do not read, write or do math at the provincial standard.
In addition, only 38 per cent of Grade 9 students scored at or above provincial standards in applied math.
The council's Marguerite Jackson says the results show many students have difficulty keeping up as they progress through school.
Results for individual schools and school boards are to be released next month.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Fatal Fire Victim Still Unknown
OPP are still trying to determine the identity of a man who perished in a house fire in Pickle Lake on the weekend.
A post-mortem will be conducted today in Toronto.
Police and the Fire Marshall's Office continue to investigate the cause of the blaze.
In an unrelated incident, a 19-year-old woman who was watching the Saturday's fire has been arrested and charged with breach of an undertaking.
A post-mortem will be conducted today in Toronto.
Police and the Fire Marshall's Office continue to investigate the cause of the blaze.
In an unrelated incident, a 19-year-old woman who was watching the Saturday's fire has been arrested and charged with breach of an undertaking.
Preliminary Hearing Underway in Kenora
A preliminary hearing for the two people charged in the death of a 43-year old Kenora man is underway in Kenora.
Kenneth Ivall and Angela Duschene, also of Kenora, face second degree murder charges in connection with the death of Edward Wilson.
Wilson's body was discovered by C-P rail employees on the tracks behind a city motel late March.
Ivall and Duschene also face charges of attempt to obstruct justice and mischief.
Kenneth Ivall and Angela Duschene, also of Kenora, face second degree murder charges in connection with the death of Edward Wilson.
Wilson's body was discovered by C-P rail employees on the tracks behind a city motel late March.
Ivall and Duschene also face charges of attempt to obstruct justice and mischief.
Park Upgrades Funded
Some upgrades to an area park are in store.
Big Grassy and Onigaming First Nations will use $100-thousand dollars in provincial money to upgrade Assabaska Ojibway Heritage Park, located on the southeast corner of Lake of the Woods.
The work includes the development of new campsite, the installation of a water reservoir and upgrades to the boat launches and roads.
Big Grassy and Onigaming First Nations will use $100-thousand dollars in provincial money to upgrade Assabaska Ojibway Heritage Park, located on the southeast corner of Lake of the Woods.
The work includes the development of new campsite, the installation of a water reservoir and upgrades to the boat launches and roads.
Minister Meetings Productive
The meetings were brief, but productive.
Fort Frances Mayor Roy Avis led a delegation of municipal councillors to Ottawa last week to the annual Association of Municipalities of Ontario meeting where they met with some members of the McGuinty cabinet.
Avis says a meeting with the Transportation Ministry's Parliamentary assistant Linda Jefferies was held to discuss the province's decision to announced roads funding at the height of the local construction season.
"It puts us in undo hardship for ourselves and the contractor," says Avis. "It also is hard to award a contract at this time for completion in the fall. We stressed that we must know earlier in the fall and come up with a program where were not left to hand out to dry."
Pither's Point Park was a topic of discussion during a meeting with Ontario's Aboriginal Affairs Minister Brad Duguid.
Avis says their discussion with the Minister was productive.
"We had very good dialogue and a good exchange of ideas. We left him with the idea that Fort Frances is always open to communication over this very sensitive manner."
Both the municipality and area native bands reach an agreement earlier this year to allow park to remain open this year, even though a 99-year lease signed by the town expired in May.
[CLIP] 18 seconds OC: to dry.
Avis says they also meet with Aboriginal Affairs Minister Brad Duguid regarding Pither's Point Park.
Fort Frances Mayor Roy Avis led a delegation of municipal councillors to Ottawa last week to the annual Association of Municipalities of Ontario meeting where they met with some members of the McGuinty cabinet.
Avis says a meeting with the Transportation Ministry's Parliamentary assistant Linda Jefferies was held to discuss the province's decision to announced roads funding at the height of the local construction season.
"It puts us in undo hardship for ourselves and the contractor," says Avis. "It also is hard to award a contract at this time for completion in the fall. We stressed that we must know earlier in the fall and come up with a program where were not left to hand out to dry."
Pither's Point Park was a topic of discussion during a meeting with Ontario's Aboriginal Affairs Minister Brad Duguid.
Avis says their discussion with the Minister was productive.
"We had very good dialogue and a good exchange of ideas. We left him with the idea that Fort Frances is always open to communication over this very sensitive manner."
Both the municipality and area native bands reach an agreement earlier this year to allow park to remain open this year, even though a 99-year lease signed by the town expired in May.
[CLIP] 18 seconds OC: to dry.
Avis says they also meet with Aboriginal Affairs Minister Brad Duguid regarding Pither's Point Park.
Official Plan Work Continues
The town of Fort Frances continues its work on a review of its official plan.
The plan gives guidance to the town on development in the community.
Town planner Faye Flatt says consultants helping with the review will be in the community next week for a series of workshops and public meetings being planned.
Flatt says a first draft of the new official plan is also expected out next week.
The plan gives guidance to the town on development in the community.
Town planner Faye Flatt says consultants helping with the review will be in the community next week for a series of workshops and public meetings being planned.
Flatt says a first draft of the new official plan is also expected out next week.
Gas Tax Money Used on Roads
The town of Fort Frances says it will use its share of federal gas tax revenue toward the cost of repairing roads and sidewalks along the Victoria, Nelson and Portage Avenue areas.
The town received 489-thousand dollars from the program this year.
The total cost of the reconstruction project is $5.4 million, with about two-million already being covered through provincial grants.
The project is on track to be complete by mid-September.
The town received 489-thousand dollars from the program this year.
The total cost of the reconstruction project is $5.4 million, with about two-million already being covered through provincial grants.
The project is on track to be complete by mid-September.
Lake Levels Discussed
There were mixed feelings how water levels are being managed on Rainy Lake.
About forty people attended a meeting by the International Rainy Lake Board of Control in International Falls last night.
The board's U.S. engineering advisor Ed Eaton says nature played a big role on lake levels this year.
"Spring and early summer inflows were strong this year," says Eaton. "That was due to a combination of the record-setting precipitation over the winter from the November to March period and above normal, but not extraordinary, persistent spring rain fall."
Some property owners, who suffered shoreline damage this year, felt the board's so-called "upper rule curve" which set optimum lake levels over the year were set to high.
Others felt the board was doing a good job managing levels.
About forty people attended a meeting by the International Rainy Lake Board of Control in International Falls last night.
The board's U.S. engineering advisor Ed Eaton says nature played a big role on lake levels this year.
"Spring and early summer inflows were strong this year," says Eaton. "That was due to a combination of the record-setting precipitation over the winter from the November to March period and above normal, but not extraordinary, persistent spring rain fall."
Some property owners, who suffered shoreline damage this year, felt the board's so-called "upper rule curve" which set optimum lake levels over the year were set to high.
Others felt the board was doing a good job managing levels.
Local Push for Junior A Hockey Team
A return of junior A hockey to Fort Frances has now become a local effort.
This after word that a potential sale of the Fort Frances Sabres by the Thunder Bay ownership group failed.
Wayne Strachan, who coached the team in the Superior International Junior Hockey League, says he and the team's scouting director Grant Perrault have launched a campaign to make the team a community-owned and operated.
"I definitely think the community, even the district, can rally around this," says Strachan, "could rally around this and do something like the Sioux Lookout Flyers have went and successfully now operated their for a year and a half now. They have stability beyond next year and it's all community funded and owned."
Strachan is hoping to secure at least 15 sponsors and 75 season ticket holders within the next two weeks to start the season.
Anyone want to help can call Wayne at 276-1831 or Grant at 276-1625.
This after word that a potential sale of the Fort Frances Sabres by the Thunder Bay ownership group failed.
Wayne Strachan, who coached the team in the Superior International Junior Hockey League, says he and the team's scouting director Grant Perrault have launched a campaign to make the team a community-owned and operated.
"I definitely think the community, even the district, can rally around this," says Strachan, "could rally around this and do something like the Sioux Lookout Flyers have went and successfully now operated their for a year and a half now. They have stability beyond next year and it's all community funded and owned."
Strachan is hoping to secure at least 15 sponsors and 75 season ticket holders within the next two weeks to start the season.
Anyone want to help can call Wayne at 276-1831 or Grant at 276-1625.
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