Bears Problems Expected Early

The weather may be nice, but it may bring about an unexpected problem - bears.

Linda Wall of the Ministry of Natural Resources' Bear Wise program says don't be surprised if they come into town sooner than later.

"Bears will be coming out of their dens earlier," says Wall. "They will be looking for food and the food won't be available. We are anticipating that we're going to see a spike in human-bear conflicts quite earlier in the season."

Wall asks that you remove bird feeders from your yard as a precaution.

Rafferty Goes to You-Tube

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty is turning to You-Tube to help get his message out.

He's creating a new weekly video that will be posted each week to answer constituents' questions.

"What I'm hoping is going to happen is people are going to watch this," says Rafferty. "They can send in an e-mail. They can phone in if they have any comments, questions or concerns that I can deal with in these video records later on week-by-week."

The first video was posted Friday.

Summer Jobs Available

The province's summer jobs for youth program is back.

Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle says the goal this year is to have more students hired.

"Last year we managed to have 5,900 young people employed," says Gravelle. "This year our goal is to get it up to 6,200.

Employers have until April 30 to apply for subsidies.

Green Tax

Starting in May Ontarians will have a new fee added to their hydro bills.

The extra four-dollars a year is help raise $53-million to fund the Liberal government's new green energy program.

The government says the money will pay for home energy audits and a program that helps industrial and commercial firms switch to solar power.

But critics complain it's another burden to consumers who will soon see their hydro bills rise because of the harmonized sales tax.

Atikokan Defends Request

The Mayor of Atikokan is defending his decision to seek a change in how much money municipalities contribute to the Rainy-River District Social Services Administration Board.

Dennis Brown says the current balanced formula requires his community to pay more then they should.

"Fort Frances choose to make up because of a loss of assessment by increasing their tax ratio," says Brown, "whereas Atikokan choose to go the other way because we are constantly trying to attract businesses and we don't want increase the taxes."

Fort Frances opposes the costing formula proposed by Atikokan say it mean higher costs for the town.

The Board is to discuss the idea at its meeting next month.

Library Update Tonight

(Fort Frances Public Library Photo)

Fort Frances town councillors are to receive an update on the new Fort Frances Public Library at their regular meeting of council tonight.

Library Board Chair Joyce Cunningham is also expected to update council on fundraising efforts for the new library which opens in June.

And the decision to allow catered weddings at Sunny Cove Camp will also get another look tonight.

Owner of La Place Rendez-Vous, Paul Noonan had asked council to reconsider its decision, saying the move would hurt negatively on those now providing such services.

The public portion of tonight's council meeting begins at about 6:25 p.m.

Call to Open Rainy Lake Hotel

An area businessman wants the town of Fort Frances to explore the possibility of re-opening the former Rainy Lake Hotel.

Mario Galluzo, president of Causeway Insurance, says he's like to see the former hotel renovated into a facility that helps foster the development of small businesses.

"Many small businesses in the region are basically working out of their homes," says Galluzzo, " and this would be a great opportunity one - to bring some stimulus to Scott Street in renovating it - and two - providing a place for small businesses that everyone seems to be targeting to start and grow."

Galluzzo believes there may also be government funding to assist in the renovation.

The hotel has been closed since 2005.