A new casino hotel and conference centre will officially open this week in the Red Lake, Minnesota Reserve, north of Bemidji.
The new Seven Clans Casino is the second casino in the state to be built with all native funds, using a 31-million dollar loan Shakopee Mdewakanton Dakota Community, which runs Mystic Lake casino.
The complex is bringing 100 new full-time and part-time jobs to one of the poorest areas in Minnesota, with most of those jobs held by tribal members.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
OPG Fine
Ontario Power Generation has been fined one-hundred thousand dollars after pleading guilty to a violation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
The violation related to a January 2008 workplace injury at its operating station in Atikokan in which an an employee suffered burns to his hand, arm and chest in January 2008 after shining a flashlight into an electrical unit that caused an arc flash of electricity.
It was revealed in court that the worker used a bypass key to circumvent a lockout system and opened the hatch door while the equipment was still energized.
A Ministry of Labour investigation found that the key used to bypass the system was available to all workers.
The violation related to a January 2008 workplace injury at its operating station in Atikokan in which an an employee suffered burns to his hand, arm and chest in January 2008 after shining a flashlight into an electrical unit that caused an arc flash of electricity.
It was revealed in court that the worker used a bypass key to circumvent a lockout system and opened the hatch door while the equipment was still energized.
A Ministry of Labour investigation found that the key used to bypass the system was available to all workers.
Local Sports for Tuesday January 19
Fort Frances Lakers begin an eight-game home stand tonight with a game against the Sioux Lookout Flyers.
Game time at the Ice for Kids Arena is 7:30 p.m.
International Falls Broncos girls hockey team hosts Lake of the Woods at Broncos Arena beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Broncos boys basketball team hosts Hibbing - 7:30 p.m. at Falls High School - while the girls team travels to Tower-Soudan.
Last night in local girls hockey, the Rolling Lake Lightning tied Kaemingh Esso 2-2.
Emma Noga and Annalise Hayes did the scoring for their respective teams with two goals each.
Another local curling team in in position to vye for a provincial title.
Isaac Keffer finished with a 3-and 1 record at the Northern Ontario Curling Association's bantam boys inter-regional playdown in Thunder Bay on the weekend to earn one of two spots to the provincial event in Longlac next month.
On the girls side, Samatha Mueller of Fort Frances and Myan Miller of Stratton fell short in their bids to advance.
Game time at the Ice for Kids Arena is 7:30 p.m.
International Falls Broncos girls hockey team hosts Lake of the Woods at Broncos Arena beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Broncos boys basketball team hosts Hibbing - 7:30 p.m. at Falls High School - while the girls team travels to Tower-Soudan.
Last night in local girls hockey, the Rolling Lake Lightning tied Kaemingh Esso 2-2.
Emma Noga and Annalise Hayes did the scoring for their respective teams with two goals each.
Another local curling team in in position to vye for a provincial title.
Isaac Keffer finished with a 3-and 1 record at the Northern Ontario Curling Association's bantam boys inter-regional playdown in Thunder Bay on the weekend to earn one of two spots to the provincial event in Longlac next month.
On the girls side, Samatha Mueller of Fort Frances and Myan Miller of Stratton fell short in their bids to advance.
Shared Costs Sought
The town of Fort Frances will be looking to the area school boards from some help in covering the costs of two proposed capital projects.
The town will again ask the school boards for a share in the cost of relocating the tennis courts to St. Francis Sports Fields - costing about half-a million dollar dollars.
It will also look for shared cost in replacing the stage floor at the Townsend Theatre.
The town will again ask the school boards for a share in the cost of relocating the tennis courts to St. Francis Sports Fields - costing about half-a million dollar dollars.
It will also look for shared cost in replacing the stage floor at the Townsend Theatre.
McDonald's Fundraising Figures
There's been a good show of support for McDonald's fundraising efforts for Haiti at its restaurants in Fort Frances and International Falls.
In the Fort, Seven-hundred and fifty dollars was raised for Doctors Without Borders through Friday's coffee sales.
Another five-hundred dollars was raised for the Salvation Army from the Hotcake sales on Sunday.
While in the Falls, six-hundred and 25 dollars was raised through both the coffee and hotcake sales for the Salvation Army.
Another $600 was collected by the Salvation Army's kettles at the restaurant.
All three restaurants will again be raising money through the sale of its Hotcakes this Sunday.
In the Fort, Seven-hundred and fifty dollars was raised for Doctors Without Borders through Friday's coffee sales.
Another five-hundred dollars was raised for the Salvation Army from the Hotcake sales on Sunday.
While in the Falls, six-hundred and 25 dollars was raised through both the coffee and hotcake sales for the Salvation Army.
Another $600 was collected by the Salvation Army's kettles at the restaurant.
All three restaurants will again be raising money through the sale of its Hotcakes this Sunday.
Cabinet Changes
Premier Dalton McGuinty has promoted four new faces to the Ontario cabinet and dropping three veterans in one of his largest shakeups ever.
Among the new faces are Carole Mitchell as the new minister of agriculture and Linda Jeffrey taking over natural resources from Donna Cansfield.
Brad Duguid becomes the new minister of energy and infrastructure, while Attorney General Chris Bentley will add Duguid's old aboriginal affairs portfolio to his duties.
Jim Bradley moves from transportation to municipal affairs and housing, Kathleen Wynne moves to transportation while former agriculture minister Leona Dombrowsky takes over education.
Michael Gravelle remains as Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry.
Among the new faces are Carole Mitchell as the new minister of agriculture and Linda Jeffrey taking over natural resources from Donna Cansfield.
Brad Duguid becomes the new minister of energy and infrastructure, while Attorney General Chris Bentley will add Duguid's old aboriginal affairs portfolio to his duties.
Jim Bradley moves from transportation to municipal affairs and housing, Kathleen Wynne moves to transportation while former agriculture minister Leona Dombrowsky takes over education.
Michael Gravelle remains as Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry.
Community Safety Zone on Hold
A proposal to establish a community safety zone in the west end of Fort Frances has yet to find its way into this year's budget.
Last fall, members of Safe Communities Rainy River and the town's active transportation committee suggested the zone around J.W. Walker School, St. Francis School and Fort Frances High School as a way of improving pedestrian safety.
But town councillors say more information regarding costs and funds are needed before a decision can be made.
Last fall, members of Safe Communities Rainy River and the town's active transportation committee suggested the zone around J.W. Walker School, St. Francis School and Fort Frances High School as a way of improving pedestrian safety.
But town councillors say more information regarding costs and funds are needed before a decision can be made.
Sunny Cove Upgrades
The town of Fort Frances is proposing $130-thousand in improvements to Sunny Cove Camp this year.
That would cover a number of electrical, mechanical and structural upgrades and changes to make facilities more accessible.
The town is also pegging operating costs at about $54-thousand which is about the same when the Camp was operated by the Fort Frances Kiwanis Club.
The town took ownership of the Camp in a deal with the Kiwanis late last year.
That would cover a number of electrical, mechanical and structural upgrades and changes to make facilities more accessible.
The town is also pegging operating costs at about $54-thousand which is about the same when the Camp was operated by the Fort Frances Kiwanis Club.
The town took ownership of the Camp in a deal with the Kiwanis late last year.
Waste Management Concerns
Declining revenues and higher operating costs for waste management within the town of Fort Frances is among issues impacting the budget.
Councillor Ken Perry says the town needs to find ways of generating revenue through recycling to help offset costs.
"We can't keep paying $4.00 a bag for recycling and $2.00 a bag for dumping garbage at the dump," says Perry. "It's going to get worse and worse."
Perry says there is some interest in the community to do a pilot project, but the proponent has yet to make his proposal public.
Councillor Ken Perry says the town needs to find ways of generating revenue through recycling to help offset costs.
"We can't keep paying $4.00 a bag for recycling and $2.00 a bag for dumping garbage at the dump," says Perry. "It's going to get worse and worse."
Perry says there is some interest in the community to do a pilot project, but the proponent has yet to make his proposal public.
Budget Work Underway
Fort Frances town councillors got down to business last night on the 2010 budget.
New numbers show a shortfall in the operating budget of about $530-thousand which Treasurer Laurie Witherspoon said is partly due to a change in provincial tax ratios.
"When I gave council the information in December I didn't have the new starting ratios the province was going to give us," say Witherspoon. "What I gave you was the estimates based on the 2009 tax rates."
Some reduced costs to proposed projects has trimmed the capital budget from $10.8 million in December to $10.
New numbers show a shortfall in the operating budget of about $530-thousand which Treasurer Laurie Witherspoon said is partly due to a change in provincial tax ratios.
"When I gave council the information in December I didn't have the new starting ratios the province was going to give us," say Witherspoon. "What I gave you was the estimates based on the 2009 tax rates."
Some reduced costs to proposed projects has trimmed the capital budget from $10.8 million in December to $10.
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