Help for Drug Abusers Needed

The provincial government is being asked to do something about the rate of prescription drug abuse in northwestern Ontario.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP. Sarah Campbell says even though oxycontin will no longer be manufactured, the problem won't disappear overnight.

Health Minister Deb Matthews says help for those addicted to prescription narcotics is part of the province's addictions and mental health strategy released several months ago.

Canada Day Committee Seeks Volunteers

The group responsible for Canada Day celebrations in Fort Frances is again facing a manpower shortage.

It's been on ongoing issue for the Fun in the Sun committee.

The group has met four times since last fall, but a spokesperson says a lack of volunteers is impacting their ability to plan events for July 1st.

Another meeting will be held a week from today.

City Renews Contract with Lobbyist

The city of International Falls has renewed a one-year contract with a lobby firm to act on its behalf in Washington.

City councillor Tim McMcBride says the firm has been very beneficial to the city helping with issues effecting Voyageurs National Park and the Falls International Airport.

The $24-thousand fee is the same amount paid when the city first hired the firm last year.

Council Meeting Going to the Net

Residents of International Falls will soon be able to watch their city councillors in action over the Internet.

The city is planning to have council meetings video taped and posted to the web for future viewing.

Councillors agreed at their meeting last night to expend 31-hundred dollars for the necessary equipment.

Falls Mayor Gets Appointment

The mayor of International Falls has been appointed to a Minnesota transportation advisory committee.

Shawn Mason says the group will be tasked with making recommendations to government on where funds set aside for road improvements should be spent.

New District Maps

There a new look to the legislative district maps affecting Koochiching County.

The new House and Senate districts for the County include in an area that takes in much of northeastern Minnesota towards Lake Superior.

Current maps have the districts extending southward to include a portion of Itasca County.

Help to Find Missing Aboriginal Children

A new effort is being launched to alert First Nations communities across Canada about what they can do to find missing aboriginal children.

The Canadian Centre for Child Protection is now using its website as a central place for parents and communities to assist.

It works in conjunction with police searches for children who have disappeared.

NDP Membership Grows

A historic number of New Democrats will be eligible to vote for the new party leader next month.

The party says membership has swelled by more than 50 per cent to over 128-thousand.

Over 28 per cent of its members are from Ontario.

Jiggly Found

A happy conclusion to the case of Jiggly Jaquar.

The hand puppet that helps kindergarten students at J.W. Walker School in Fort Frances learn the alphabet has been found with the help of the OPP.

Teacher Andrea Domanski credits the efforts of students for getting Jiggly back to the school.

Apparently Jiggly was at the vet where she had three little "j's."

Students were given a demonstration by OPP canine handler Chris Halverson and his partner Diesel who played a part in finding Jiggly.

New CAO Selected

The Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board has its new chief administrative officer.

Dan McCormick, who's been serving in an interim capacity since the last summer, has been appointed to the post full time.

McCormick is also manager of the Board's Land Ambulance services.

Privatization Concerns

Ontario's government workers' union is sounding the alarm over the Liberal's plans to privatize Service Ontario.

Melissa Pearson, a local rep with the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, says northern Ontario centres could be hit hardest.

Pearson says area residents rely heavily on SeviceOntario offices which she says have been moneymakers for the provicne.

Queen's Park Resumes

MPP's return to Queen's Park Tuesday

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell says health care and job creation are among issues her constituents want raised.

Campbell also expects the Drummond Report to dominate debate over the next few weeks.

More Donors Wanted

The Canadian Blood Services is putting out a call for new donors from northwestern Ontario.

Spokeperson Harvey Heather says they're looking for at least one-hundred thousand new donors across the country each year for the next five years.

Heather says the Fort Frances area has been one of their bright spots with about 20 per cent of donors at the last clinic being new faces.

Torch Run Set

Step by Step photo

A torch run to raise the awareness of organ and tissue donation will come to the Rainy River district next month.

Chief Executive Officer of Step-by-Step George Marcello says they want to see at least one million people become members of a provincial registry.

The run is set for March 7.

ECEs Join CUPE

Early childhood educators with the Rainy River District School Board are now members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

All four agreed to join the union following a vote last week week.

The employees work with classroom teachers as part of the early learning program in schools in Fort Frances and Atikokan.

Teen Faces Attempted Murder Charge

A Fort Frances teenager is facing several charges including attempted murder following an incident Thursday night at the Lakeview Trailer Park.

OPP were initially called to the area around 6 p.m. about a missing boy.

Family members later informed police he had been located, but was in possession of a gun.

It was later determined that a family member was shot at, but was not injured.

The 14-year-old was eventually located inside a home at the park and taken into custody without incident.

Water Levels Low

A lack of any significant moisture this winter is having an effect on levels on Rainy Lake.

Matt DeWolfe of the International Rainy Lake Board of Control says levels actually began falling out of the  regulated range since last summer.

DeWolfe says levels should return with the preferred range soon only because the range itself also drops at this time of the year.

Couchiching Elections

Chuck McPherson has been returned as Chief of Couchiching First Nation.

McPherson beat out seven other challengers.

Christine Jourdain, Dick Bird, Dan Mainville, Ed Yerxa, Dave Bruyere and Bugsy Morrisseau were elected councillors.

No Apologies from John Rafferty

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty is offering no apologies for supporting the government's bill last Wednesday to end the long-gun registry.

Rafferty says his vote was based two surveys conducted with constituents.

Rafferty doesn't believe he'll face consequences for his vote as suggested by NDP's interim leader Nicole Turmel.

NOVA Project a Go This Summer

Some scientific research into the existence of neutrinos is expected this year at a facility south of International Falls.

Some equipment is still being constructed at the NOVA project at Ash River.

Supervisor William Miller expects an expansion of the workforce soon.

Officials had wanted to build the facility near Mine Centre, but couldn't get the support from the Canadian scientific community or governments