Rail Bridge Operation Changes Proposed

The U.S. Coast Guard is looking to impose new rules governing the operation of CN Rail's bridge connecting Fort Frances with Rainer, Minnesota.

Bridge program manager Scott Striffler says they're proposing the bridge be manned 24 hours a day during the summer month.

"In our proposed regulation would have someone at the bridge between May 1 to October 15 each year," says Striffler. "The remainder of the year, people would still be able to get a bridge open with 12-hour notification."

Striffler says public concerns prompted the Coast Guard to put forward the proposed regulation.

The public can comment on the proposal until January 26.

Depot Gets Too Much Use

The new recycling collection depot in Fort Frances appears to be working too good.

Bins, allowing residents to drop off materials at any time of the year, filled to capacity over the weekend.

Operations and Facilities Manager Doug Brown says that led to some additional cost for the town to empty them.

"On Saturday I had to have a guy come in at a four-hour call out to empty the depot," says Brown. "Then on Sunday I had to do the same thing. I don't know if its a Christmas rush because of all the stat holidays and the schedule changes."

Brown says he's not discouraging people from using the depot, but resident should make ever effort place their recycling at the curb on their regular pick-up days.

Lawsuit Dismissed

(Rainy River Futures Development Corporation photo)


The Rainy River Cattlemen's Association is starting 2011 without legal action hanging over its head.

The Association says a lawsuit launched by its former barn manager Russell Richards has been dismissed by the courts.

Richards launched the suit against the Association and several board members after being dismissed from his position in 2007.

In dismissing the case, the Association says the judge also ordered Richards to pay financial compensation for defamation of two board members.

Duguid Pans NDP Energy Proposal

Energy Minister Brad Duguid is calling out NDP Leader Andrea Horwath.

Horwath recently suggested the province scrap the H-S-T from hydro and home heating bills.

Duguid says that wouldn't help as much as his party's plans.

"Well she's missed the boat there," says Duguid. "The Clean Energy Benefit does more than that and provides greater savings to consumers than if we were remove the HST off the bills."

Duguid says the clean energy benefit provides 10 per cent off hydro bills while the HST is only 7.

Premier Pre-Campaign Speech

Premier Dalton McGuinty is trying out his election pitch for the October provincial vote.

The premier painted a rosy picture of Ontario's future under the Liberals in a speech to a business crowd yesterday in Kitchener.

He touted his government's education and green energy policies, and emphasized the lack of labour unrest since the Liberals took over from the Tories in 2003.