Radio Stations Sale Approved

Two Thunder Bay radio stations are about to become part of the Northwoods Broadcasting family.

The CRTC gave approval today to the sale of Newcap-owned Magic 99.9 and the Giant to Acadia Broadcasting, Northwoods parent company and owners of CFOB.

The stations will join the company's existing stations in Kenora, Dryden as well Fort Frances and those in the Maritimes.

The deal, worth about $4.5-million, is expected to close within the next thirty days.

Greyhound Update

Greyhound Canada is announcing a series of service reductions to its passenger bus service in Ontario.

It says service along the Trans Canada highway will be preserved for now, but there will be frequency reductions.

The changes go into effect as of January 17.

In a release, Greyhound senior vice-president Stuart Kendrick says the company has indicated for months it could no longer sustain current financial losses without making adjustments to its existing operations.

He says the cuts are designed to relieve some of that financial pressure pending the outcome of the federal-provincial-territorial working group which is due to report in September 2010.

Some routes, including those in Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury andToronto will see one of their daily trips cut while the Sunday service will be cut from some routes.

Service between Thunder Bay and Winnipeg routes will remains as scheduled.

J.W. Walker Profiled

A recognition of activities at J.W. Walker School at last night meeting of the Rainy River District School Board.

The school's music program and its environmental film festival were both showcased before trustees.

Principal Bill Daley says the music program is just in its third year and has plenty of support.

"The parents are very supportive of the program," says Daley. "The parent council has fundraised every year to provide money for the band. It's an expensive program to run when you consider a bass drum runs about $3,000."

The schools intermediate band now numbers 42 under the direction of Nicole Thompson.

Trustees were entertained with a few musical numbers before watching a film from last May's environmental film festival and later at a similar event in Toronto.

The school is planning to host another festival in the near future.

Board Elections Held

The current chair and vice-chair for the Rainy River District School board will remain in their positions heading into an election year for all trustees.

Annual elections last night saw Dan Belluz return as chair.

Judy Eliuk will continue as vice-chair.

Eliuk will also continue to serve as the board's representative to the Ontario Public School Board Association.

Elections all three positions are held annual.

A Fort Frances trustee will remain as chair of the Northwest Catholic District School Board.

Anne-Marie Fitzgerald was re-elected to the position in elections held by the board last night.

Cathy Bowen, a trustee from Sioux Lookout, was elected vice-chair.

More Gold Found

Rainy River Resources says its found another potentially large gold deposit in the Rainy River District.

The company says the discovery in the so-called Beaver Pond mineralization area of its property northwest of Emo create a new high priority for a future drilling program.

Rainy River Resources currently has five drill rigs working in the Richardson township properties with one now dedicated to the new find.

CN Rail Offer Arbitration

CN Rail is offering to send just the issue of wages and benefits to binding arbitration in an effort to settle a strike by the railway's locomotive engineers.

The railway had previously insisted that all matters in dispute be sent to arbitration, but the company says it now would be willing to roll back a controversial mileage cap if the union withdraws its work-rule demands.

The 1,700 members of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference have been off the job since Friday.

Food Bank Usage Up

The Ontario Association of Food Banks says there's been a record increase in the number of people turning to food banks in the province since last fall.

The group says the economic downturn has made this its most difficult year, with the number of people served reaching historic highs.

There's been a 19 per cent spike in the number of people turning to food banks since last year _ compared with an increase of 11 percent in 2008 and 10 per cent during the 90s recession.

In all, the association says 375,000 Ontario residents use food banks each month, even though one third of people in those households are employed.

Many food banks have not been able to meet the increased demand,with one in four reducing the amount of food distributed in their hampers.

The group is calling on the province to review its social assistance rules and create a farm donation tax credit for producers who support local food banks.

More Donations Sought

A call for donations for the remote community of Pikangikum First Nation continues in the Rainy River district.

Family and Children's Services Rainy River says support for the campaign has been strong, but many more items are needed.

In particular, the local agency is seeking Enfamil formula with iron, diapers (size 4-6), baby and toddler clothes, children's boots, mitts, hats and snowsuits, and non-perishable food items.

Items can be dropped off at depots set up at grocery stores in Rainy River, Emo and Fort Frances or at FACS offices.

HST Protest Ends

A two-politician sit-in at the Ontario legislature has ended.

Two Progressive Conservatives who'd been refusing to leave the chamber to protest the lack of public hearings over the HST have given up after less than two days.

Bill Murdoch and Randy Hillier admit they can't force the Liberal government to hold public hearings on the merging of the provincial sales tax with the GST next July.

But the two insist their protest wasn't in vain because they've helped people realize the provincial Conservatives oppose the HST.

Murdoch and Hillier have both been suspended until the next session of the legislature, which may not come until after the 2011 election.

Opposition Leader Tim Hudak admitted the protest was approved by the Conservative caucus to try to force the Liberals into allowing public hearings across the province on the new tax.

However, the New Democrats say the Tory protest was aimed at helping the Conservatives distract voters from the fact they once supported harmonization.

Greyhound Bus Service Up in the Air

The fate of Greyhound service in Northwestern Ontario remains up in the air.

The Ontario Highway Transport Board's 90 day deadline ended at midnight, allowing Greyhound to withdraw from the region if it desires.

But Kenora-Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton feels confident bus service will be available to some communities along Highway 17.

However, Hampton says the McGuinty Government hasn't stated if they are in talks with the provider to continue service elsewhere in the northwest.