Canada Day Festivities in Doubt

This year's Canada Day and Fun in the Sun activities in Fort Frances could be in doubt.

Monday, council committed five-thousand dollars towards events, but member Scott Turvey says that's half of what the organizing committee wanted.

"If we don't get cash sponsorship from the business community or a private investor within two weeks, we will be, as a committee, giving Fun in the Sun back to the town in order for it to do whatever the town can do." says Turvey.

Turvey says past events have encountered shortfalls picked up by the committee, something they can no longer afford.

Connecting Link Funding Pondered

A provincial program to help municipalities pay for improvements to roads that link with the provincial highway system remains a big mystery in the minds of Fort Frances town council.

Town has been banking on the money to do a major upgrade of Scott Street, but councillor Paul Ryan says the fate of the program remains uncertain.

"It was supposed to be in the Northern Growth plan," says Ryan. "I've read the Northern Growth plan at least twice and it's not in there. Are they going to call it something else or they're looking at it. It seems to have fallen through the cracks. It's every unfortunate."

Road improvements were a topic of discussion at the recent Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association conference, but councillor Rick Wiedenhoeft says most of the emphasis was on twinning the Trans-Canada Highway.

Rail Safety Week

Local drivers might be forced to stop at a railway crossing today as part of Rail Safety Week.

Railway police are conducting safety blitzes at crossings right across the country.

National director of Operation Lifesaver Dan Di Tota says they may be inconvenient, but they're designed to make motorists think twice every time they approach crossings.

"Day after day they go over these crossings there are no trains and then there's the one day the trains show up," says Di Tota. "They can't allow for complacency to set in."

Today's blitz will occur in Couchiching with another planned tomorrow at the crossing on McIrvine Road in Fort Frances.

Olive Branch in Drug Battle

Health Minister Deb Matthews says some pharmacists are willing to sit down and talk about the government's proposed changes to Ontario's prescription drugs system.

Matthews says she's eager to speak with pharmacists angry over the plan to slash generic drugs costs and come up with some sort of agreement.

But that small step is unlikely to end the ongoing battle, since a coalition of community pharmacies, which has been the strongest opponents to the changes, still disagrees with the proposals.

Many Driven to Quit

A number of smokers in the Kenora and Rainy River District were driven to quit.

Figures released by the Canadian Cancer Society show 465 individuals made the attempt to quit smoking during the month of March as part of its Driven to Quit Challenge.

That's almost double the number who participated in the contest in 2008.

Seatbelt Blitz Numbers Released

Provincial police say a large majority of motorists in northwestern Ontario are getting the message about wearing their seatbelts.

Sergeant Shelley Garr says a recent seatbelt blitz did lead to 180 charges, compared with 312 in the 2008 campaign.

"The spring seatbelt campaign is increasing public awareness," says Garr. " It does seems to be working. When you look at 180 compared with 312 there's a substantial difference and that's a good thing."

The 10-day blitz also resulted in 12 charges for improperly installed child seats.

Rock'n' For a Reason

A number of local celebrities will be Rock'n' for a Reason this weekend.

Riverside Health Care's Teresa Hazel says they'll be taking part in a new fundraiser for the La Verendrye Hospital Auxiliary during the Home and Leisure show.

"We have to give some credit to the Rainy River Hospital Auxiliary because they've done it as well," says Hazel, "and they're letting La Verendrye use it here in Fort Frances. They're getting volunteers and special guests to rock on a rocking chair for an hour to raise money."

Sixteen individuals will be taking part and will be asked for pledges from the public.