New Council Committee Formed

The mayor of Fort Frances says the town is working diligently to minimize the impact felt by the  indefinite idling of the kraft mill and a paper machine at Resolute Forest Products.

Roy Avis says he's forming a council sub-committee under his direction to look at the town's economic future under his direction.

Avis says council's also had talks already with Natural Resources Minister Michael Gravelle; Northern Development Parliamentary Assistant Bill Mauro and company officials.

Regional Airport Concept Still On Table

Fort Frances town council is giving the go ahead to continue pursuing a regional airport initiative with area municipalities.

A pitch will likely come when area municipal leaders gather for the annual meeting in January.

Concerns Expressed With New Homes' Size

A Fort Frances councillor is objecting to the size of homes the town will permit in a new planned subdivision.

Council gave approval last night to the rezoning of the former Huffman School site to allow of sixteen new lots.

Councillor Ken Perry worries the town's being too restrictive by imposing a minimum size on homes to be built.

A one story home must be 15-hundred square feet with a two story unit coming in at 12-hundred and 50 square feet.

Water Park Requested

Jenna Mose

A couple of Grade 5 students are calling on Fort Frances council to consider the development of an water park.

They made their pitch in essays as part of a contest held during Local Government Week.

Jenna Mose of Robert Moore School proposes the park be indoors.

Destiny Morrisseau, also of Robert Moore, suggests a park similiar to the one in Emo.

Teacher Strikes Hit Northwestern Ontario Schools

EFTO File

Elementary school teachers one day strikes over Bill 115 hit a little closer to our area today.

Public schools in the Kenora, Dryden, Red Lake and Sioux Lookout area, as well in Niagara, are the targets.

Premier Dalton McGuinty said yesterday the teachers are striking over money.

But their union maintains it is trying to roll back legislation that gives Queen`s Park the power to impose a new collective agreement.

College Hires Interim Dean

Rainy River Community College is hiring a new Interim Dean.

Elena Favela will begin her new position January 7.

She's currently serving as a counsellor at Anoka Technical College.

No Request For Funds Being Made

Riverside Foundation for Health Care won't be asking for money this winter.

The Board has decided not to issues its annual Christmas appeal letter.

Chair Livia Lundon says they decided to give the district a break following the phenomenal generosity received in the campaign for the new digital mammography unit.

$650-thousand was raised in six months.

Electric Car Travels Northwestern Ontario

Paul Noonan photo

A Saskatchewan based group is helping to educate the public on electric cars.

Officials with Sun Country Highways is travelling the country in an electric car, to newly installed charging stations, including one here in Fort Frances.

Vice President Chris Misch says their tour is to show it's possible to run the cars anywhere.

The charging station is located at the La Place Rendez-Vous.