Death Related to End of Oxycontin Reported

A user of Oxycontin in Northwestern Ontario is dead as the result of a possible overdose of a replacement prescription drug.

Regional Coroner Dr. Michael Wilson says the man was prescribed a higher dose of the substitute drug than he should have received.

Wilson wouldn't say where in the region the incident occured.

He is recommending better communication between physicians and pharmacists.

Water Quality Meeting in International Falls

Efforts to improve water quality of Lake of the Woods and Rainy Lake will be a focus of attention at a conference today in International Falls.

Researchers and Scientists who will attend,are favourable of the International Joint Commission recommendations.

Todd Sellars of the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation says they bode well for the watershed's future.

The IJC's report still needs approval from the Canada and the U.S governments.

Student Trust Land Legislation Worrisome

Koochiching County is worried about the State halting payment in lieu of taxes on so-called student trust lands within the county.

County Land Commissioner Dennis Hummitzch says its part of legislation to change how those lands set up to generate funds for education are managed.

A third of those lands in Minnesota are located within Koochiching County.

Hummitzch says if the legislation goes ahead, the County would lose over half a million dollars.

New Manager Ready for Post

The new Community Services Manager for Fort Frances wants to wait until he's on the job before considering what changes, if any, he'll bring to the position.

Jason Kabel will take over the retiring George Bell April 9.

Kabel makes the move after working in the telecommunications sector for several years.

Torch Run Today

A run to raise awareness of organ and tissue donation makes it way through Fort Frances today.

Members of Step-by-Step will begin the Torch of Life run at Canada Safeway at 10:30 a.m. ending at the Civic Centre at 11:30 a.m..

Members of the public are encouraged to participate.

Uploading Audit Questioned

Fort Frances council is wondering how it's going to explain to government how its using the savings received from the uploading of social services costs.

The Drummond Report suggested municipalities will have to account for those savings.

But Treasurer Laurie Witherspoon says she's not sure how it's going to be done in their case because the town has never seen any of the saving directly.

The province says the town is suppose  to see more than $500-thousand in savings this year alone.

Border Numbers Up

The number of people across the border at Fort Frances was up in January.

The Canada Border Services Agency says more than 50-thousand people in 29-thousand vehicle passed the border in January.

That's a 6 per cent increase in travellers and a 6.5 per cent increase in the number of vehicles compared to January of last yeaer.

Budget Discussions Done.

Some residential ratepayers in Fort Frances can expect an a tax increase of almost 2.5 per cent this year.

Town councillors completed their discussions on the budget last night.

Mayor Roy Avis says it's about as low as they could have gone.

The town will also spend $4.4 million on the capital projects.

Final approval of the budget will come later this month.

DSSAB Dollars Watched

Fort Frances town council will be paying close attention to the amount of money they have to pay to the District's Social Services Administration Board.

A more than $2-million expenditure includes an extra $82-thousand for land ambulance costs if patients must be moved from Rainy River due to its ongoing doctor shortage.

Councillor Paul Ryan doesn't think it should be paid out right way because there's no closure right now.

The town will also ask that the extra levy be is clearly identifed on invoices to ensure it doesn't become a permanent expense.

New Community Services Manager Named

A one-time high school teacher has been named the new community services manager for the town of Fort Frances.

Jason Kabel takes over from the retiring George Bell April 9th.

Kabel started his career as a teacher a Fort Frances High School before relocating to Winnipeg where he became general manager of a techology firm.

He returned to the community a few years working as a contractor for Tech Telcom.

He's also working toward a master's of Business Administration degree.

Coffee Shop Offer

Fort Frances is being eyed as the potential location for another coffee and donut shop.

An offer to establish an outlet of a well-known but unnamed National franchise chain is being made through the on-line site Kijiji.

The offer includes complete training and financing to qualified candidates.

Job Centre Cuts Defended

FedNor Minister Tony Clement is standing by a government decision to cut funding for summer student job centres.

Clement was in Thunder Bay yesterday and says they're offering the same services online.

Clement says there's no need for overhead costs of operating actual offices during the summer.