Ainsworth Talks Tomorrw

Ainsworth and the union representing its workers at the mill in Barwick will hold contract talks tomorrow.

The 130 members of the Communication, Energy and Paperworkers Union were set to walk off the job yesterday, but postponed the action late Friday pending the outcome of the discussions.

The union says outstanding issues centre around non-monetary items such as contract language and contracting out.

Natural Resources Minister Disputes NOMA's Claims

Ontario's Natural Resources Minister believe NOMA has jumped the gun when it comes to the "open for business act".

The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association is worried Bill 68 will result in duplication and challenges from special interest groups.

But Linda Jeffery insists its about getting rid of duplication.

"Through the Crown Forest Sustainability Act where trying to make sure businesses only do their work once," says Jeffrey, "and that they provide the documentation we need. We know the forestry sector are actually good stewards of the land. They know how to protect animals and they've been working very closely with us."

Jeffrey was in Thunder Bay last week.

Nestor Falls Leading Ultimate Fishing Town Contest

Nestor Falls is banking on strong support during the nomination period to carry through to the next rounds of the World Fishing Television's Ultimate Fishing Town in Canada contest.

The northwestern Ontario community tops all communities with 115 submissions as of this morning.

Nominator Maureen Hanson of Hanson's Hideaway Lodge says it's proof they deserve the title.

"It is one of our main industry, the tourism industry in our town," says Hanson. "We realize how important fishing is to our economy and we're just very very happy that people have gotten behind it."

Fort Frances and Atikokan also received nominations with voting beginning tomorrow.

Conservative Candidate Selected

It's now official.

Maureen Comuzzi-Stehmann is the Conservative candidate for Thunder Bay-Rainy River.

The announcement was made Friday by Patrick Doherty, President of the Thunder Bay-Rainy River Conservative Electoral District Association.

Comuzzi-Stehmann will most likely face Ken Boshcoff for the Liberals as well as sitting NDP MP John Rafferty in the next federal election.

Child Ident Program Offered

Masonic Lodges in the Rainy River district are giving area parents an opportunity to help their children safe.

Project coordinator Ken McDonald says they'll be carrying out a child identification program at the Rainy River Valley Agricultural Fall Fair this week in Emo.

"Basically they do digitalized photographs, digitalized fingerprints," says MacDonald. "We have hygienists who do a wafer bite of their mouth and a swab. Everything is burnt on to a CD-rom. It is given to the parents and if a child goes missing, they can take it to the police and within thirty seconds it's all over the country, all of the information that's on that child.

There is no cost to participate.

First Riders Program Planned

The start of school is just two weeks away, but area school boards are giving students going to classes for the first time, a chance to ride a school bus.

Darlene Madill of the Rainy River District School Board says a first rider's program will be held this week in Thursday in Fort Frances and next week in Atikokan.

"The first rider program is for kindergarten children," says Madill. "They'll have the opportunity to ride a school bus for the first time and learn about school bus safety rules with their parents at an information session."

Parents interested in having their children take part are asked to first call the board office.