Drug Awareness Campaign

An awareness campaign on the dangers of overusing opioid such as Oxycontin has been launched in northern Ontario.

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health's “No Easy Way Out" project is directly aimed at young people.

Program Consultant Michelle Ott says the numbers of students using drugs for non-medical purposes is significant.

"Two per cent of the students across Ontario reported using non-medical Oxycontin," says Ott. "In northern Ontario that was 3.2 per cent."

Ott says nearly three-quarters of those students reported taking the drugs from family members who were prescribed such medication.

More Forest Fires

Another two forest fires in the Rainy River district over the Easter long weekend.

Both occurred in the Atikokan area with one confirmed as being human caused.

It brings to six, the number of fires, this season, with two still considered active.

Meantime, the Ministry of Natural Resources has set up a new toll-free emergency number to report a forest fire.

It is 310-FIRE.

Candidate for Atikokan Trustee

A retired school principal is seeking election to the Rainy River District School Board.

Mike Lewis is hoping to represent Atikokan on the board.

Lewis was also a chair with the former Atikokan School Board.

Vote By-Mail Considered

Public school board voters in the Rainy River District's unorganized areas may get the chance to vote by mail this fall.

The Rainy River District School Board is looking at the option for voters in the election of trustees.

The board had contracted services to an organized municipality in the past for polling stations, but a report by its finance committee says with many communities going to mail-in ballots themselves, polling stations may not be an option this year.

Trustees are to vote on the issue at their meeting tomorrow.

Tennis Courts on Hold?

Plans to build new tennis courts in Fort Frances this year may have to put on hold.

The town was hoping to share the costs of building the courts with the Rainy River District School Board.

The board's finance committee is suggesting the board not move forward with the request at this time.

The Northwest Catholic District School Board had agreed to a part of the project by supplying the land for the courts at St. Francis Field.

Snowmobile Accident

Police have recovered the body of a Cochrane Ontario man who died in a snowmobile accident on Saturday on a lake north of Longlac.

Forty-eight-year-old Lucien Dubeault was a passenger on a snowmobile which plunged through thin ice.

OPP officers rescued two other people, one of them the driver of the snowmobile that went into the water.

Save Our Smiles

The Northwestern Health Unit wants to Save Our Smiles.

Program Manager of Children's Clinical Services Dawn Sauve says it's an awareness campaign for Dental Health Month that suggests following healthy practices can eliminate tooth decay.

"There are three main messages," says Sauve, "healthy habits, healthy foods and healthy rewards. When you think of health foods we think of limiting sugary snacks and drinks, choosing fresh foods and vegetables and making water or milk your first choice. Eating healthy foods is a great way to keep your teeth and body healthy."

Health Unit staff will be promoting the campaign to children with visits to schools during the month.