A Waterloo man who was with his wife when she committed suicide has pleaded guilty to criminal negligence causing death in Thunder Bay.
Forty-seven-year-old Peter Fonteece entered the plea yesterday in Superior Court, while a second charge of assisted suicide was withdrawn.
The charges against Fonteece stem from the death of his38-year-old wife Yanisa Fonteece in a Thunder Bay hotel room on February 3rd.
Court heard Yanisa Fonteece took dozens of sleeping pills, had several drinks and told her husband not to call for help until she was dead.
Court heard that two days before, the couple left Waterloo for a better life.
Peter Fonteece couldn't work due to a lifelong vision impairment,while his wife recently lost her job.
The couple left Waterloo on February 1st, reaching Thunder Bay the next day, where their car's heater broke down.
Yanisa Fonteece ended her life in the hotel room, knowing they wouldn't be able to afford the car repairs.
Court heard Peter Fonteece attempted suicide himself three times after her death, without success.
He'll be sentenced in February.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Fewer Tests for Lead in 2010
There will be fewer tests looking for lead in the town of Fort Frances' drinking water next year.
A lack in the number of samples exceeding provincial standards for lead is allowing the town to reduce its sampling from 54 sites to 25.
It will still cost the municipality about 34-thousand dollars for four rounds of testing.
Of the nearly 350 samples taken in 2009, only eight showed higher than normal levels of lead.
A lack in the number of samples exceeding provincial standards for lead is allowing the town to reduce its sampling from 54 sites to 25.
It will still cost the municipality about 34-thousand dollars for four rounds of testing.
Of the nearly 350 samples taken in 2009, only eight showed higher than normal levels of lead.
Cost for Natural Gas Goes Up
Expect to pay slightly more for natural gas in the new year.
The Ontario Energy Board has approved a modest increase impacting Union Gas customers in the Fort Frances area.
Union Gas says the increase will mean an extra four to 50-dollars on the annual bill.
The company sites a higher price for natural gas and transportation costs as reasons for the hike.
The Ontario Energy Board has approved a modest increase impacting Union Gas customers in the Fort Frances area.
Union Gas says the increase will mean an extra four to 50-dollars on the annual bill.
The company sites a higher price for natural gas and transportation costs as reasons for the hike.
New Riverside Fundraiser
Riverside Foundation for Health Care has put forward its wish list for the new year.
Chair Deanne Cunningham says they're in the process of raising $25-thousand dollars for a Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure Respiratory Support System for LaVerendrye Hospital.
"This is equipment for treating patients with respiratory distress and heart failure," says Cunningham. "It's a much needed piece of equipment. To date, we've raised about $10,000."
Cunningham says it was doctors that recommended the need for the equipment.
He's hoping they will achieve their fundraising goal by the early part of the new year.
Chair Deanne Cunningham says they're in the process of raising $25-thousand dollars for a Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure Respiratory Support System for LaVerendrye Hospital.
"This is equipment for treating patients with respiratory distress and heart failure," says Cunningham. "It's a much needed piece of equipment. To date, we've raised about $10,000."
Cunningham says it was doctors that recommended the need for the equipment.
He's hoping they will achieve their fundraising goal by the early part of the new year.
Christmas Storm Expected
A major storm is gathering strength in the western United States, and is headed for the Borderland.
The National Weather Services in the U.S. has issued a winter weather warning for all of Minnesota.
Snow is expected to begin across central and northeastern Minnesota tomorrow morning, spreading northward toward International Falls and Fort Frances.
The snow is expected to become heavy at times on Christmas Eve and continuing into Christmas night.
Environmental Canada says we could see between 15 and 25 centimetres while the National Weather Service says total snow accumulations could be between 10 to 14 inches with some locally heavier likely for areas near Lake Superior.
Strong winds and falling snow may result in blowing and drifting snow, reducing visibility on area highways making travel hazardous.
Stay current with the latest weather information regarding this developing storm by listening to B-93.
Local Sports for Tuesday December 22
International Falls Broncos boys basketball team defeated Littlefork-Big Falls 72-61.
Shawn Filipiak led the team with 14 points.
On the ice, the Broncos girls hockey team beat Babbitt-Embarrass 5-3
International Falls Broncos boys hockey team will look to end a 2-game losing streak with a game in Bemidji tonight.
The Lumberjacks have also lost their last two games.
Shawn Filipiak led the team with 14 points.
On the ice, the Broncos girls hockey team beat Babbitt-Embarrass 5-3
International Falls Broncos boys hockey team will look to end a 2-game losing streak with a game in Bemidji tonight.
The Lumberjacks have also lost their last two games.
Legionnaires New Scam Target
Plans for a new book about the Royal Canadian Legion has become fodder for a new scam circulating northwestern Ontario.
OPP and the Kenora Legion say someone is attempting to scam veterans and widows by offering to sell forms to provide their stories for the book about legions in Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario.
Legion officials says that form is free and can be obtained by calling your local branch.
OPP and the Kenora Legion say someone is attempting to scam veterans and widows by offering to sell forms to provide their stories for the book about legions in Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario.
Legion officials says that form is free and can be obtained by calling your local branch.
Report Cards Axed
Ontario is cutting out its fall report card in the latest move against marking children early and on a rigid scale of letters or numbers.
Instead, educators will be looking at new ways to evaluate students.
Ontario's teachers' unions have pushed for the elimination of the fall report card which they say comes too early in the school year for teachers to make useful judgments.
Instead, educators will be looking at new ways to evaluate students.
Ontario's teachers' unions have pushed for the elimination of the fall report card which they say comes too early in the school year for teachers to make useful judgments.
Lakers Get Breaks
Fort Frances Lakers Junior A hockey club will some breaks from the town of Fort Frances.
Town councillors agreed to a number of concessions aimed at helping the community-owned hockey club.
They include a reduction in ice rental rates and membership fees to the pool.
Town councillors agreed to a number of concessions aimed at helping the community-owned hockey club.
They include a reduction in ice rental rates and membership fees to the pool.
I. Falls Budget Approved
A 17-per cent increase in the property tax increase will greet International Falls taxpayers in the new year.
Chair of the city's finance committee councillor Cynthia Jaksa says the increase could have been hired had the city not made some changes to services.
"We did do what we could for responsible cutting of city services," says Jaksa. "We did eliminate two police officers this past year and held our wage increases to 0 per cent. We are continuing to think strategically how to control costs."
Jaksa say the increase covers a shortfall in funding caused by recent cuts in state aid funding.
Chair of the city's finance committee councillor Cynthia Jaksa says the increase could have been hired had the city not made some changes to services.
"We did do what we could for responsible cutting of city services," says Jaksa. "We did eliminate two police officers this past year and held our wage increases to 0 per cent. We are continuing to think strategically how to control costs."
Jaksa say the increase covers a shortfall in funding caused by recent cuts in state aid funding.
Council Looks at Budget Numbers
Fort Frances councillors got their first look at the town's preliminary operating and capital budgets for 2010.
Currently, the town is looking at a deficit of about $400-thousand in the operating budget.
Almost $11-million in capital spending is also proposed for 2010.
Council will hold its first meeting on the proposed budget January 18.
Currently, the town is looking at a deficit of about $400-thousand in the operating budget.
Almost $11-million in capital spending is also proposed for 2010.
Council will hold its first meeting on the proposed budget January 18.
New Fence Rules in Place
There are new rules regarding fences in the town of Fort Frances.
Councillors approved a new fence by-law at their meeting last night, which Chief Building Official Rick Hallam says addresses issues identified in the previous one.
"We've relaxed the requirements and the height of a fence within a site triangle," says Hallam, "because we are looking at the uncontrolled intersections and the safety aspects as opposed to a controlled intersection which has lights or a four way stop."
Hallam says fences or hedges in those areas can now be as high as four feet.
The new by-law does not currently include the need for a permit, but Hallam says it is being considered with a recommendation coming to council sometime in the new year.
Councillors approved a new fence by-law at their meeting last night, which Chief Building Official Rick Hallam says addresses issues identified in the previous one.
"We've relaxed the requirements and the height of a fence within a site triangle," says Hallam, "because we are looking at the uncontrolled intersections and the safety aspects as opposed to a controlled intersection which has lights or a four way stop."
Hallam says fences or hedges in those areas can now be as high as four feet.
The new by-law does not currently include the need for a permit, but Hallam says it is being considered with a recommendation coming to council sometime in the new year.
OPP to Deliver Donations
Family and Children Services for the Rainy River district has found some help in getting some 4,5000 kilograms of children clothing, diapers and food to donation Pikangikum First Nation.
Executive Director Vik Nowak says members of the Ontario Provincial Police have stepped forward with assistance to move the items.
"That's a tremendous relief," says Nowak. "because we were struggling trying to find someone who could get the donations right into the community. As you know, it's kinds of isolated and remote and the only way to get there in the winter time is by ice road or by plane."
Nowak says OPP will provide vehicles and personnel to help deliver the donations early in the new year.
Executive Director Vik Nowak says members of the Ontario Provincial Police have stepped forward with assistance to move the items.
"That's a tremendous relief," says Nowak. "because we were struggling trying to find someone who could get the donations right into the community. As you know, it's kinds of isolated and remote and the only way to get there in the winter time is by ice road or by plane."
Nowak says OPP will provide vehicles and personnel to help deliver the donations early in the new year.
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