A strong bond rating is allowing the city of International Falls to move ahead with the construction of a new headquarters for Voyageur's National Park and an amphitheatre along the Rainy River waterfront.
Moody's has given the city at A1 rating on a bonding issue that will be used to pay the $8.9 million price tag for the project.
A long term lease with the National Park Service will cover the bond.
Construction could begin within the next two weeks.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Black Knot Present
The presence of a fungal disease commonly known as Black Knot has forced the city of International Falls to cut down a number of trees.
City officials says the disease is effecting mostly Canadian Chokecherry trees and is believed to have been spread from wild or cultivated plum and cherry trees.
The city is now asking homeowners to check trees in their yards for signs of the disease.
Native Population Studied
A new study on the demographics of northwestern Ontario's native population.
Spokesperson Alexis Mantell says Ontario Trillium's Foundation says their key finding was that the area's aboriginal population is getting younger and growing at a faster rate than other sectors.
"Between 2001 and 2006 the number of aboriginal people grew by 21.5 per cent," says Mantell. "That clearly outpaces overall population in the area of just 0.1. per cent."
Mantell says the study did not look at the reasons behind changes in demographics.
Spokesperson Alexis Mantell says Ontario Trillium's Foundation says their key finding was that the area's aboriginal population is getting younger and growing at a faster rate than other sectors.
"Between 2001 and 2006 the number of aboriginal people grew by 21.5 per cent," says Mantell. "That clearly outpaces overall population in the area of just 0.1. per cent."
Mantell says the study did not look at the reasons behind changes in demographics.
CFOB Looking to Reach Atikokan
CFOB could be broadcasting back into the town of Atikokan this summer.
It's owners, Northwoods Broadcasting, is seeking government approval to restore the signal.
Atikokan is now serviced by CKDR, our sister station in Dryden.
But company vice-president Jim McMullin says meetings with residents and businesses showed Atikokan has stronger ties with Fort Frances and would be better served by restoring the original service from CFOB.
Wait Lists Plaque Local Area
Local officials say it's better than other parts of Ontario, but area children who require mental health services are still having to wait between four to six months for services.
Troy Clink of Family and Children Services Rainy River says the fact provincial funding has increased just once in the past fifteen years hasn't helped.
"What that has done is really limited the services," says Clink, "because if you're not getting any funding increases, your not able to have as many as mental health staff available to kids which in turn creates the wait list."
As part of Children's Mental health awareness week, FACS is hosting free bowling in Atikokan and in Fort Frances later this week.
Swear Jars Set Up
The Canadian Mental Health Association wants area residents and businesses to set up "swear jars" this week.
Nancy Daley-Fulton says it's aimed to educating people how the use of certain words perpetuate the stigma associated with mental illness.
"We all commonly interject words like crazy, nuts, loony or psycho, into our everyday language as a way of explaining having a bad day or how somebody is effecting our behaviour," says Daley-Fulton. "It's just trying to make people aware of those words because they do have a detrimental effect on people with a mental illness."
The money collected will go to the Association's STEP Centre food program.
Catholic Education Week
Catholic Education is being celebrated in schools across northwestern Ontario.
Education Director for the Northwest District Catholic School Board Mary-Catherine Kelly says this year's theme is "Rejoicing in Hope."
"What we're trying to do is celebrate what's good about catholic education," says Kelly, "and let our public know about the distinctiveness of a faith-based catholic education school system. Each day we're going to celebrated hope in hearts, in our homes, in our schools, in our communities and in our world."
A number of events are planned in area schools.
More Energy Conservation Needed
Ontario's environmental commissioner says if the province is serious about energy conservation it should focus on ways to cut down the consumption of gasoline and other transport fuels.
Environmental Commissioner Gord Miller says the government's``ad-hoc'' plan is too focused on electricity conservation and doesn't address ways to conserve other forms of energy.
Yet transportation fuel costs and consumption are rising to unsustainable levels, and the government should be investing in transit and consider moving toward rail delivery instead of transport trucks where reasonable.
Miller says he's disappointed with a recent delay in transit expansion in Toronto, saying it sends the wrong signal on energy conservation.
Hospital Salaries Changed
Chief executive officers at Ontario hospitals will soon see their salaries tied to performance targets that result in better outcomes for patients.
The Liberal government is introducing legislation today that it says will make health-care providers and executives accountable for improving patient care.
The bill will also require hospitals to create quality committees and annual quality improvement plans.
The Liberal government is introducing legislation today that it says will make health-care providers and executives accountable for improving patient care.
The bill will also require hospitals to create quality committees and annual quality improvement plans.
Area Officer Charged
Ontario Provincial Police have charged one of their own in connection with two domestic dispute cases that occurred last Thursday and Friday.
His name nor the detachment where the seven-year OPP veteran works are being released in order to protect the name of the victim.
The officer, who was off duty at the time, will appear in Fort Frances court June 7 on two charges of assault.
Forest Tenure Changes Launched
The McGuinty government is proposing sweeping changes to the way wood cutting licences are awarded.
Effectively, large forestry companies would have their current licences scrapped and they'd have to start over.
Forestry Minister Michael Gravelle admits the changes are bold.
"When the Premier asked me to take on the responsibilities of forestry, I felt as a northerner it was important that we try to work to take on measures that were in the best long-term interest of the forestry sector."
Public hearings on the proposed changes start in Thunder Bay May 18.
Race Relations Explored
Relations between native and non-native people in Fort Frances is part of a research project conducted by a Harvard University student.
Jeff Dennis, a sociology student, says its an issues that hasn't received a lot of attention in the past.
"There's a lot of research about health issues and economic development issues," says Dennis, "but nobody's really studied the relationships between the two communities and I think that's so important for the future of the district and region."
Part of his research included a photovoice project where he asked people to take photos that reflected project's theme.
They were recently on display at the Fort Frances Museum.
Jeff Dennis, a sociology student, says its an issues that hasn't received a lot of attention in the past.
"There's a lot of research about health issues and economic development issues," says Dennis, "but nobody's really studied the relationships between the two communities and I think that's so important for the future of the district and region."
Part of his research included a photovoice project where he asked people to take photos that reflected project's theme.
They were recently on display at the Fort Frances Museum.
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