Health Survey of Students Released

Junior and senior high school students in northern Ontario are more likely to be overweight or obese than there counterparts in southern Ontario.

Doctor Robert Mann of the Center for Addiction and Mental Health says that finding in a recent survey was somewhat surprising.

"I was a bit surprised," says Dr. Mann, "because I see the difference in the kinds of opportunities that young people have to go out and participate in unsupervised and unstructured physical activity outside in the north as compared to say in a dense, crowded, urban environment."

Mann says the survey also found a high number of students, 30 per cent, showing high rates of physiological stress.

Marriage Services Expanded

The town of Fort Frances will now offer civil marriage services in other communities.

New fees were put in place this week in response to a number of requests from non-resident couples seeking the town's marriage services.

The fees for services done in town range from $375 to $437.

Marriages performed outside the town will cost $490 plus extra costs for travel and time.

Atikokan EDC Receives Funds

The federal government is contributing $375-thousand to the Atikokan Economic Development Corporation.

The money allows the agency to offer new and existing small and medium-sized businesses repayable loans, equity and loan guarantees.

Similar funding last year helped the Corporation assist more than 17 area businesses and maintain 48 jobs.

Eye Van Visits Fort Frances

The Canadian National Institute for the Blind's Eye Van visits Fort Frances this week.

It will be located at Rainycrest Long Term Care beginning today until July 23rd.

Along with eye care services, specialized diabetes educators will be on site to provide diabetes screening.

The Fort Frances Community Clinic will also be providing lower leg assessments today and next Wednesday.

Outreach Program Gets Funds

Lakehead University will be providing science classes to kids across Northwestern Ontario for another three years.

The university received $36,000 in grant money for its outreach program.

L.U. student Brenda Magajna says the program is designed for grades 7 to 12.

"We're trying to give them a feel for what kind of things they could be doing if they went into the field of science and biotechnology," says Magajna. "We do an outbreak activity where all they are doing is exchanges pieces of paper and we discuss how germs are spread. So we're talking a little of epidemiology."

In the past, the workshops have been held in Fort Frances, Dryden and Atikokan.

Roller Derby Planned For September

The first ever roller derby game to be played in Fort Frances is being planned for this fall.

Officials with the Fort Freakshow Derby Dolls have set September 11 as a tentative date for their first game.

An opponent has yet to be determined.

Meantime, the Derby Dolls will continue fundraising efforts with its Black and Blue Ball scheduled for this Saturday night at the Fort Frances Legion.