Comfort Care Room Opens

(Ribbon Cutting of new Comfort Care Room)

Riverside Healthcare Facilities has opened a new comfort care room at LaVerendrye Hospital in Fort Frances.

Executive Vice-president Lori Maki says the room, located on the hospital's second floor, is intended to provide comfort to patients suffering with an illness and nearing their end of life.

"A part of the problem in the past has been our rooms aren't been that large," says Maki, "so we can't accommodate families overnight, 24 hours around the clock. The highlight of this particular room is that we have t.v., VCR, fire place, a lot of other amenities. It's decorated in a comfortable home-like environment."

The room was furnished through a variety of donations.

160 Over 50 Challenge

The Ontario Breast Screening Program wants to see 160 women over the age of 50 on Monday October 18.

It's the second year for the 12 hour drop in breast screening day in northwestern Ontario.

Manager of Cancer Screening Lori Della Vedova says there are some perks to getting your breasts checked.

"We know that some women are not aware of our program," says Della Vedova. "It's an awareness opportunity for us to let women know that if they're over the age of 50 with no breast problems or breast cancer they can get screened every two years simply making an appointment themselves. You don't have to go through a family physician."

New clients who participate in the challenge will receive a free "Thingamaboob" and be entered into a draw for a 50 dollar gift card.

Teen Smoking Bill Opposed

The Ontario government plans to stub out a Conservative private member's bill that would make it illegal for teens to buy or possess tobacco products.

Health Promotion Minister Margarett Best says the Liberals don't want to make criminals out of teens who smoke.

Conservative MPP Gerry Martiniuk says it should be illegal for people under 19 to possess or consume tobacco products, not just illegal to sell cigarettes to teens.

Money Workshops Planned

Programs to help individuals with money matters will soon be available to residents in the Rainy River district.

Fort Frances-based NCDS will help carry out programs for the Social and Enterprise Development Innovation, a national non-profit organization.

Manager of its Transitions Centre Cathy Emes says a number of sessions will take place.

"There's a session on budgeting," says Emes. There's a session on credit. There's a session on credit ratings and credit reports and things like that."

The first workshop happens at the Centre next week.

Keep Your Eyes on the Road

Provincial police are urging drivers to keep their eyes on the road and to put down that cellphone.

OPP have laid more than 5,100 distracted driving charges since February.

It's been illegal to drive while talking or texting using a handheld device since then and violators face a 155-dollar ticket.

Baudette Fire Remembered

(Minnesota Historical Society photo)

A massive forest fire that destroyed the city of Baudette one hundred years ago, leaving more than forty dead and thousands homeless will be remembered during events starting today.

Marlys Hirst, executive director of the Lake of the Woods Historical Society Museum, says they will start festivities with a sounding of the fire alarms tonight.

"At 6 o'clock the sirens will sound in Baudette," says Hirst. "Then there will be a fire truck procession down Main Street. That is a combination of old and new fire trucks from surrounding towns as well as Baudette. They include the Forestry department and fire departments."

The parade will include 100-year-old Helga Smith, the only known survivor of the fire, as the Grand Marshall.