Couple Lending Hand to Campaign

Supplied photo

Rainy River couple is helping to promote the financial campaign for a home where visiting physicians can stay while providing temporary medical care in the community.

George Johnson, says he and his wife Nancy want to get the message out by simply visiting others in their home.

Construction of the home is underway with the campaign to raise over $300-thousand recently passing the half-way mark.

Health Care Discussed At Falls Council

Health officials in International Falls are clarifying where health care there and the Rainy Lake Medical Centre is headed.

Essentia Health is proposing a full integration of the hospital under its wing.

Appearing before city council, Essentia's CEO Doctor Daniel Nikcevick says its being pushed by changes in health care.

Rainy Lake Medical Centre's board member Susan Congrave says they do have some concern as its perceived as a potential take over of the hospital with only an advisory board in place.

Essential and the Centre have agreed to continue work on some short term strategies they plan to implement in the next six months.

Specialty WSIB Clinics Requested

A retired Thunder Bay based Orthopedic Surgeon wants the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board to hold specialty clinics in northwestern Ontario.

Dr. Jack Remus says it would given its clients in this area access to specialists, diagnostics and treatment resulting in a quicker return to regular employment.

Remus recently discussed the idea with chair of the WSIB Elizabeth Witmer

Rafferty Supporting Seniors Pension Fight

The fight by a local seniors' group for better protection of pensions and Old Age supplements is expected to get a strong voice in Ottawa.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty met with the group Seniors-Retirees Against Pension and Elder Abuse last week.

He says they deserve government attention.

The group is most concerned with the $1.9 billion shortfall in the pension fund for retired workers at Resolute Forest Products.

Underpass Closure

The Portage Avenue underpass in Fort Frances will be closed for periods of time this week beginning today.

The closure, starting at 7 a,m, this morning,  is necessary to complete the removal of the old sewage pumping station which has been replaced.

The roadway will remain shut until 7 p.m. tomorrow night.

Further one day closures are also scheduled for Thursday and maybe Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days.

New Fire in Quetico

MNR file photo

Another forest fire in Quetico Provincial Park.

The small lightning-caused fire was spotted yesterday at the western edge of Beaverhouse Lake.

Three others are still burning at the southern edge of the park.

All are being observed by the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Tories Want Changes to Abritration Rulings

Ontario's Progressive Conservatives want to force arbitrators to consider a community's ability to pay when they rule on public sector labour disputes.

Leader Tim Hudak says the Liberal government has ignored calls from municipalities to restructure the system so arbitrators consider the financial impact of their decisions.

His party is introducing a private members bill.

Last year, firefighters in Fort Frances were awarded a 16 per cent increase in an arbitrated settlement the town said added an extra $335-thousand to its budget.

MPS BackTo Work

The Tories say they'll be focusing on job creation and economic growth as the fall session of Parliament opens today.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty says seniors, employment insurance and the job loss in northern Ontario will be his focus.

The NDP is also pushing for a  gasoline ombudsman who can look into consumer complaints about high fuel prices.

Terry Fox Run Successful

A huge response to this year's Terry Fox run in Fort Frances.

More than $97-hundred was raised in Sunday's event.

A total of 118 people registered.

Top fundraisers were George Walsh, Aimee Schutte and 7-year-old Samantha McNay who raised nearly 21-hundred dollars.

Highway Relocation Proposed

The Minnesota Department of Transportation has identified potential routes for a realignment of Highway 53 around Virginia and Eveleth.

A section land were the Highway lies between the two cities is owned by Cliffs Resources.

It's given the State notice it plans to terminate a 50 year-old easement agreement.

The MinDOT has until 2017 have the new route in place.