Gas Tax Money Advanced

Area Municipalities are getting an advance in their federal gas tax money they're to receive over the next four years.

Fort Frances will receive $497-thousand of the nearly two-million to be received by 2014.

The town is earmarking the money towards second phase of road improvements along Portage Avenue.

That work is to begin May 10.

Handwashing Survey

A new survey indicates Ontario hospital workers still aren't washing their hands as often as they should before entering a patient's room.

They're supposed to scrub up every time they deal with a patient -- but the latest provincial survey suggests they fail to do so about a third of the time.

According to Ministry of Health Data, staff at Riverside Health Care Facilities were hand washing 60 per cent of the time before making contact with patients and 66 per cent afterwards.

Fire Situation Eases

The weekend weather appears to have help ease the forest fire situation in northwestern Ontario.

The Ministry of Natural Resources reports no new fires yesterday and just three active.

There has not been a reported fire in the Rainy River district since April 24.

A similar situation in northern Minnesota where the fire danger has been downgraded to a low rating.

Just one new fire was reported yesterday, that in the area of Sandstone, north of the Twin Cities.

Education Week

It's education week in Ontario.

Education Director for the Rainy River District School Board Heather Campbell says this year's theme is "Preparing Our Students for Future Success" will be celebrated at all schools this week.

Here are a list of events at schools

Donald Young School
- On May 3, Donald Young School is hosting a Pow Wow;
- On May 4, there is a Book Fair and Hoops for Heart activity;
- The Book Fair continues on May 5 in addition to a spring school assembly and litter-less lunches;
- Students will participate in Jump Rope for Heart on May 6;
- On May 7, there is a Speech contest, and school-wide book buddies activity.

Crossroads School
- On May 5 there is a School Council pancake breakfast for students and staff; a DARE graduation ceremony for Grade 6 students, and The Lavallee Volunteer Fire Department, assisted by Wayne Riches from the Fort Frances Fire Department, will be doing a presentation for students on fire safety;
- The school’s Speech contest will be held on May 7.

F.H. Huffman School
- On May 4 at Huffman School, Lunch with an Author is from 12:30-1:05;
- On May 5, Community member are reading with students from 9:30-10:30;
- May 6 is Jump Rope for Heart from 11:15-12:30;
- Festival highlights are on May 7 with Senior Kindergarten, and Grade 1-2 from 12:00-12:30.

J. W. Walker School
- J. W. Walker School Council is holding a pancake breakfast on May 4 from 7:30-8:45 AM;
- May 4 is Multicultural School Spirit Day, and there is a JK Mother's Day Tea;
- On May 5, there is a Book Fair, and another JK Mother's Day Tea;
- On May 6, two teams of students to a Bridge Building Competition at Fort High; Grades 6 to 8 students will attend a Korean presentation;
- Lunch With an Author and a Book Fair are also on May 6;
- The school’s drama club will be performing the production Mirror, Mirror at the school on May 6 at 7 PM, and on May 7 at noon and at 7 PM. Tickets are $5.00 per person;
- The School Speech Contest is on May 7 at 9:15 a.m., and the SK class is taking a trip to Loweys.

McCrosson-Tovell School
- This week at McCrosson-Tovell School there is a Police/Fire Safety presentation; Spirit week activities; Jump Rope for Heart; a swapping clothes drive; Nelson Mandela activities; and a French Café.

Mine Centre School
- Mine Centre School is hosting a Book Fair this week from May 3-7;
- May 3 is PJ Day;
- May 4 is Hat Day, and Open House for Parents;
- May 5 is Crazy Hair Day, and Fitness-Earth Day;
- May 6 is Wear a Tie Day, and Bike Safety lessons;
- On May 7, students are encouraged to wear Purple and Orange, and to donate Toonies for Autism.

North Star Community School
- This week at North Star Community School, Senior Kindergarten to Grade 6 students are making masks, tissue paper flowers, origami boats and dragonflies, and participating in drama workshops;
- Students are challenged to read 4,500 books over a 7-night challenge. If they succeed, on Friday, May 7, Mrs. Labossiere will dress in a chicken suit all day, and parade down Main Street at lunch hour with a sign that says, “North Star students read “eggs-actly ___ books during Education Week”. One student per class will be chosen to parade with her.
- There is a Student Talent Show on May 5 at 6:30 p.m. in the gym.

Riverview School
- At Riverview School students are encouraged to wear their school colours - royal blue & gold - on May 3;
- A Heritage House Visit for Grades JK to Grade 2 is at 10:00 on May 4;
- May 5, is Twin Day and this is also Town of Rainy River Cleanup Day for students;
- On May 6, students are encouraged to wear green in support of environmental awareness. Grade 7 & 8 students are participating in the bridge building activity at Fort Frances High School;
- Jump Rope for Heart is at noon on May 7;
- All week, there will be infromation regarding Nelson Mandela shared on the announcements.

Robert Moore School
- At Robert Moore School on May 4 and 5, students are attending dress rehearsals of the school’s Annie musical production;
- Performances are on May 5 and 6 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $5.00 per person and will be available at the door.
- May 5 is also the date of the school’s speech contest;
- On May 7, there are playground games, and Lunch with an Author for JK to Grade 3 students.

Sturgeon Creek School
- On May 3, there is a Speech contest at Sturgeon Creek School;
- The school is hosting its spring concert on May 5;

Sturgeon Creek Alternative Program
- Sturgeon Creek Alternative Program students are participating in the Pitch-In School and Community Cleanup on May 4;The school assembly and Grandparents’ Day is on May 5;
- On May 6, there is a School Council meeting.

Atikokan High School
- At Atikokan High School, an Employment Centre booth will be set up all week during lunch break;
- This week, a Student Success Computer lab will be open for career exploration with career sites and online surveys;
- Representatives from Lakehead University will be at Atikokan High School on May 3. This meeting is for Grade 11 students interested in attending Lakehead University, and Grade 12 graduates who will be attending the university next year.
- On May 3, there is a Military Band Music performance at Grayson Hall;
- On May 5, there is a Grade 8 parent transition meeting;
- The Grade 11 GIS and Travel and Tourism classes travel to Ely and Minneapolis from May 5 to 8.

Fort Frances High School
- The Fort Frances High School Parent Council meeting is on May 3;
- The Canadian Forces Band is performing on May 4;
- May 5 is the Magnus Theatre Co-op Display Day;
- May 6 is the Grade 7-8 Bridge Building Competition;
- May 7 is Fort Frances High Staff Appreciation Day.

Rainy River High School
At Rainy River High School this week, there is a library display promoting resources for Boys Literacy and Reluctant Readers; a Peer Mentor orientation for Grade 9 students; a Youth Action Alliance display and presentation; a Pottery/Stain Glass Workshop for Technology students; and a First Nation art presentation.

HST in Place

The harmonized sales tax has arrived for some Ontario residents.

Saturday was the day that consumers in both Ontario and British Columbia started paying H-S-T on a number of services that are to be delivered after July 1st.

That includes such things as theatre packages, airplane tickets and gym memberships.

Many people fear it will drive up the cost of services that were previously exempt from provincial sales tax.