Council Ready to Help Club

Fort Frances councillors says they'll willing to work with the International Early Iron Car Club.

The club cancelled its annual Scott Street Show and Shine, alleging a lack of co-operation by the town.

Councillor Andrew Hallikas say no one on council was even aware there were problems.

"In all of this, I don't think one person on council is aware that (the club) had grievances with us or that (the club) was upset," says Hallikas. "To my knowledge, nobody from the club has talked to anybody on council."

In the past, the club's event was, in part, organized with the assistance of the Fort Frances Downtown Business Improvement Association.

Among the club's concerns was the process it took last year to obtain a lottery license used by the Fort Frances High School auto club.

Sewage Plant By-Passed

The town of Fort Frances was forced to by-pass its sewage treatment plant Sunday of nearly 37-hundred cubic metres of partly-treated waste water.

Operations and Facilities Manager Doug Brown says while a rainstorm was partly to blame, the system still sees groundwater that doesn't need treatment.

"We've got to figure out how to eliminate this stuff," says Brown. "This is our biggest restriction in the town, from a growth point of view, how we're taxing the sanitary sewer system treatment process."

Brown says homeowners should not be dumping groundwater from their sump pumps into the sewer system.

Gas Prices Discussed in Ontario

Ontario's opposition parties are hoping to make rising gas prices an election issue.

Gasoline prices have shot up almost 25 per cent since late last year.

Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak says he will consider options such as removing the H-S-T from gasoline

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath wants prices regulates.

The Liberals reject both ideas.

Teacher not to 'Friend' Students

The Ontario College of Teachers is telling teachers not to "friend'' students on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.

They're also being told to avoid exchanging private texts, phone numbers, personal e?mail addresses or photos of a personal nature with students.

A spokesperson for the College says e-communication and social media can offer exciting teaching experiences but there are serious risks of misunderstandings or abuse.

College Simulator

(B-93 News Director Randy Thoms tries his hand at operating a back-hoe with Confederation College's new heavy equipment simulator)

Students enrolled in the heavy equipment operator program at Confederation College's Lake of the Woods campus have a new tool to practice their skills.

I.T. director Cathy Tysz says new computer software simulates the operation of a equipment such as a back-hoe, saving money and wear and tear on the real thing.

"According to the instructor, he spends nearly $200 a day on diesel fuel with the students in the cab moving the bucket left and right, up and down" says Tysz. "Now they can sit and can actually simulate it and the other students can learn by watch it on screen."

Instructor Brian Degagne helped build a unit incorporating the soft to provide a more real operating experience.

Ultimate Fishing Town Voting Begins

Voting begins today to help find the Ultimate Fishing Town in Canada and the United States.

Nestor Falls and Fort Frances are nominated for the World Fishing Network's contest in Canada.

International Falls is seeking the U.S. title.

The first round of voting begins at 11 a.m. CST and ends May 3.

Festival Results for Monday April 11

Taylor Shouldice was the big winner in the first day of vocal performances at the Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts.

Shouldice picked up four first place finishes.

Competitions continue this morning at the Townshend Theatre beginning at 9:30.

Here's a list of all winners from Monday

FESTIVAL RESULTS - VOCAL DIVISION, Monday, April 11, 2011

CLASS V101
FIRST - Naomi Carradice

CLASS V102
FIRST - Carmen Hebert
SECOND - Star Jewell Martin

CLASS V103
FIRST - Jillian Armstrong

CLASS V145
FIRST - McKenna Begin
SECOND - Faith Pollard

CLASS V146
FIRST - Alyssa VanDrunen
SECOND - Maggie Gauthier

CLASS V147
FIRST - David Loney
SECOND - Natasha Peters

CLASS V107
FIRST - Taylor Shouldice
SECOND - Kennedy Latimer

CLASS V108
FIRST - Jessica Whalen
SECOND - Phoebe Firth

CLASS V221
FIRST - Naomi Carradice, Lemuel Carradice, Moriah Carradice

CLASS V184
FIRST - Katelyn Shortreed

CLASS V115
FIRST - Jillian Armstrong

CLASS V154
FIRST - Isaac Firth

CLASS V119
FIRST - Kennedy Latimer

CLASS V157
FIRST - John Jankiewicz

CLASS V138F
FIRST - Phoebe Firth
SECOND - Jessica Whalen

CLASS V161
FIRST - Emma Dykstra
SECOND - McKenna Begin

CLASS V162
FIRST - Maggie Gauthier
SECOND - Isaac Firth

CLASS V163
FIRST - David Loney

CLASS V131
FIRST - Taylor Shouldice

CLASS V132
FIRST - Phoebe Firth
SECOND - Jessica Whalen

CLASS V207
FIRST - Taylor Shouldice
SECOND - Alyssa VanDrunen

CLASS V210
FIRST - Phoebe Firth
SECOND - Greta Fedoruk

CLASS V168
FIRST - Callahan Wiedenhoeft

CLASS V169
FIRST - Emma Dykstra
SECOND - Faith Pollard

CLASS V170
FIRST - Taylor Shouldice
SECOND - Isaac Firth

CLASS V171
FIRST - Ericka Tymkin
SECOND - David Loney

CLASS V172
FIRST - Katelyn Shortreed
SECOND - Jessica Whalen