Librarian Wins Provincial Award

(Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre photo)


The chief librarian and C.E.O. of the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre has won a distinguished award from the Ontario Library Boards' Association.

Margaret Sedgwick is being awarded the W.J. Robertson Medallion for outstanding leadership in the advancement of public library services.

She's to receive the award when at an event in Toronto in February.

Sedgwick is the first northwestern Ontario recipient since former Atikokan Librarian Doris Brown earned the award in 1997.

Final Shopping Day for Christmas

It's the final shopping day before Christmas, and retailers in both Fort Frances and International Falls are reporting brisk business this week.

Most stores though will close early today so time for last minute shoppers will be precious.

In the U.S., the National Retail Federation predicts that holiday spending will reach $451.5 billion dollars this year.

That would be the biggest year-over-year increase since 2006.

Don't Drink and Drive

Ontario Provincial Police are warning party goers to not drink and drive.

Sergeant Ken Mantey says the message is simple.

"We don't want to have any more victims of drinking and driving," says Mantey. "It's 100 per cent preventable and that's why it's important."

O.P.P. will be out in force this holiday weekend.

Slippery Roads in Borderland

O.P.P. are reminding motorists in the Borderland to drive carefully this morning.

Freezing rain is reported in parts of the district, making roads very slippery.

Police says motorists should reduce their speed and drive according to road conditions.

Drive Safe on Roads

Area highways can be pretty busy during the holiday season and the OPP are reminding the public to take their time.

Constable Carol Michtics says road conditions can change quickly.

"Plan your trip before starting out," says Michtics. "You can visit the Ontario Ministry of Transportation's website for road conditions or call 1-800-268-4686 for the current road conditions."

Michtics says make sure you dress for the weather and drive according to the road and weather conditions.

Fort Frances Student to Visit Africa

While most students are enjoying their Christmas break a grade 10 student at Fort Frances High School is already looking ahead to his summer vacation.

Dexter Fischuk is hoping to travel to Africa to take part in a humanitarian program sponsored by the group International Volunteer H.Q.

"I want to go to Kenya to teach music at an orphanage for a month," says Fischuk. "I'll have experience of what that country is like. When I come back I'm planning to go to schools across the Rainy River district and speaking about it."

Fischuk is now in the process of raising the $3,000 needed to pay for his trip.

Donations Head North

Fort Hope and Pickle Lake children will be having a Merry Christmas this year thanks to the Nishnawbe Aski Police.

Thousands of dollars of toys were delivered to both communities.

Twelve-hundred pounds of donations were sent to Fort Hope, and over 3-thousand dollars worth of toys made it up to Pickle Lake.

NORAD Watching Santa

The North American Air Defence Command is ready to keep Santa Claus safe as he travels around the world tonight.

NORAD is responsible for keeping the airspace safe in North America, and tracks Santa's movements every Christmas Eve.

Lt. Stacey Knott says NORAD's fighter jets will intercept him to wish him a safe journey.

"We are going up and meeting him with our fighter aircraft to make sure that he travels safely across our country," says Knott, "and then kind of tipping the wings to him, to say 'hello' from our jets."

Children can also track Santa's movements by going to NORAD's website as well.

CDAT Stats Released

Nearly half a million dollars in illegal drugs were taken off the streets in the Rainy River district as a result of investigations by the Fort Frances Community Drug Action Team in 2010.

Much of it was marijuana, but police also seized quantities of prescription drugs, ecstasy and cocaine.

O.P.P. Constable Anne McCoy says the team's work is making a difference.

"We had over 41 Controlled Drugs and Substances Act charges laid," says McCoy. "We had over 23 Criminal Code charges and there were 10 Controlled Drugs and Substances Act search warrants."

The team was formed just over a year to focus on the area's illegal drug trade.

Home Care Services Expanded

Riverview Manor in Rainy River is among three facilities in the Kenora and Rainy River districts that will receive funding to expand home-care services.

Northwestern Independent Living Services will use $120-thousand to provide its services to residents living in the home.

Executive Director Kristen Miclash says it allows seniors to remain in their communities longer.

"We're really excited to be develop this project in partnership with the Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board," says Miclash. "In this new project we have the opportunity to provide a bitter higher care needs for higher care need people because four of the units have been modified."

The funding is through the Northwest Local Health Integration Network's Aging at Home Initiative.

Apartments Get Go Ahead

The town of Fort Frances has given the green light for construction of a 10-unit residential complex in the town's north end.

Councillors this week approved a zoning by-law amendment for the project proposed by the Fort Frances Native Urban Wahkaiganun Corporation at the intersection of York Avenue and Eighth Street West.

Construction is expected to begin in the spring.