Teachers Request Conciliator

The union representing elementary teachers in the Rainy River district is requesting conciliation to help negotiate a contract with their employeer.

Trevor Bowles, local president of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation, says the legislation forcing teachers to accept a wage freeze and benefit cuts is leaving them no choice but to take this route in its talks with the Rainy River District School Board.

Bowles says they've had one meeting with the local board to exchange proposals with more talks planned for next week.

Portage Avenue Underpass Floods

Motorist may want to use caution when using the Portage Avenue underpass this morning.

A quanity of water has pooled in the area.

Water can also been seen bubbling up from a storm drain.

The road is not closed.

Crews with the town of Fort Frances public works department are on the scene.

User Fees Going Up In Fort Frances

The cost to access a variety of programs and services offered by the town of Fort Frances will go up next year.

Mayor Roy Avis believes the one per cent hike across the board, including for fees at the Memorial Sports Centre, is fair.

The increase does not impact charges to sewer and water rates.

That will be discussed by town councillors at a later date.

No Federal Plans For McGuinty

Dalton McGuinty isn't going to run for the federal Liberal leadership after all.

Instead, the Ontario premier wants to look for challenges outside of politics altogether.

McGuinty says he decided not to run after talking to family and other supporters.

Area Liberals Not Concerned With Timing of Leadership Convention

Northwestern Ontario Liberals don't seem too concerned a leadership convention to select a replacement for outgoing Premier Dalton McGuinty is just three months away.

The party's regional vice-president Anthony Leek says the January 25th date allows business at Queens Park to resume quickly.

Natural Resources Minister Michael Gravelle, who's giving some consideration to running, says the short time frame may favour high profile candidates.

Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro says the short turnaround will help to get uncertainties about the party's leadership out of the way.

Riding Liberals Meet

Kenora-Rainy River provincial liberals will sit down today in Kenora.

The association is holding its annual general meeting.

Executive elections and discussion on the upcoming leadership convention are among the highlights of the gathering.

Limited Flood Damage At Fort High

Only minimal damage is being reported following a waterline break on the weekend at Fort Frances High School.

School board officials says a coupling let go causing water to spill into a crawl space.

No other parts of the school were effected.

Crews had repairs completed in time for Monday's school opening.

New Panel Examines Health Care

A Fort Frances woman is giving our area a voice in seeking change to Ontario's health care system.

Cathy Emes is one of 32 people selected to an advisory panel created by the not-for-profit group The Change Foundation.

Emes says the group is trying to bring a variety of interests together in trying to redesign the Health Care plan for Ontario that works for both the patient and all of the providers.

The group met for the first time last month where they had a chance to express their concerns to the province's Associate Health Minister.

Resolute Confirms Shutdown

Resolute Forest Products says 345 employees will be impacted when it takes production down at its kraft and paper mills in Fort Frances later this month.

Both mills will be temporarily halted for two weeks beginning October 28th

Resolute cites market conditions as the main reason.

The company says the halting of a contract for pulp with Boise's mill in International Falls is also seen as having an impact.

Fundraiser A Success

Another huge fundraiser for the Rainy River Health Care Committee for the construction of the locum house in that community.

Over $6,500 was raised at an harvest dinner on the weekend held at the Rainy River Evangelical Covenant Church.

The event included a dessert auction.