"Lame Duck" Legislation Sought

The chair of the Rainy River District School Board says it's time school boards be included in "lame duck" legislation.

It restrict the decision making by municipal councils if most elected officials aren't returning in an election year.

Mike Lewis says it would have prevented the previous board from making the decision that's led to Fort Frances trustee David Kircher being found to have breached the trustee code of conduct.

"It was legal," says Lewis, "but I don't think it was ethical. Particularly since only two trustees (knew) they were the only two returning to the board because it was after the election. If this was a municipal council they would not have been allowed to do that because it's a lame duck."

Lewis says he's written several Ministries and all three Party Leaders requesting the changing.

Full Day Kindergarten Expanded

(Rainy River District School Board photo)

The provincial government is providing funding to both the Rainy River District School Board and the Northwest Catholic District School Board to expand full-day kindergarten.

The funding has been earmarked for Robert Moore School in Fort Frances and Sacred Heart School in Sioux Lookout.

Classes at Sacred Heart will begin in the fall of 2012.

The public board had previously decided to move up the start of the Robert Moore program to this fall by covering the start-up costs itself before provincial funding kicks in.

Detachment Opens

Treaty Three Police Service has opened its new detachment in the Rainy River District.

Police Chief Conrad Delaronde says the move from offices in Emo to Couchiching First Nations adds more visibility to the communities they directly serve.

"We're not the the police service of jurisdiction of Emo," says Delaronde. "We weren't part of the community, so to speak, to serve our communities and provide that policing service out of there. It will have a significant impact in our ability and the people taking ownership of the Police Service building. They actually own it and we're the occupants."

Twenty officers policing First Nations between Seine River and Big Grassy work out of the detachment.

Booze Law Changes

Police are raising concerns over plans to relax Ontario's liquor laws.

The changes include allowing people to wander freely at festivals with a beer in hand, and permitting booze to be served at weddings and charity fundraisers until 2 a-m.

But some chiefs of police say that could encourage underage drinking, create a logistical nightmare for officers and unsafe environments for families.

Canadian Red Cross Month

March has been designated Canadian Red Cross Month.

It kicked off yesterday with a flag-raising ceremony in Fort Frances.

Communication Services Coordinator Ammie Gumany says they're putting out a call for more volunteer assistance.

"We're still in desperate need of volunteers especially for the Disaster Management Assistance program," says Gumany. "We need a certain number of individuals to make up a team. We're also looking to recruit and that training is free."

Those interested can contact the Dryden and District branch of the Red Cross.