Rotating Strikes Hit Rainy River District Today

There will be no school for public elementary students in the Rainy River district today.

Their teachers will be involved in a one-day strike in protest over legislation threatening to impose a contract on them.

No pickets will be up at schools though.

Teachers with the Rainy River District School Board intend to gather at the Memorial Sports Centre in Fort Frances before picketing the board office.

Teachers in Atikokan will rally in front of MPP Bill Mauro's constituency office.

They're also going to be wearing black armbands in memory of the victims of the school shooting in Connecticut.

Public Elementary Schools Closed

The Rainy River District School Board is closing all of its elementary schools because of the strike action being taken by its teachers.

Board chair Mike Lewis says there's no way possible to keep kids safe without teachers on the job.

Busing for elementary students have been cancelled.

Buses that pick up catholic students are still operating as are those for high school students.

All secondary schools will be open.

The board's elementary schools are scheduled to re-open for classes tomorrow.

Several Motor Vehicle Accidents Reported On Weekend

A busy weekend for Ontario Provincial Police in the Rainy River district following a fresh fall of snow that included freezing rain.

OPP were called to more than ten motor vehicle accidents since last Thursday.

Most were due to weather and road conditions, but police say were preventable.

They're reminding motorists to drive according to the weather conditions.

Suspicious Death In Kenora

OPP are still looking into what they are calling a suspicious death in Kenora on the weekend.

The body of an unidentified man was found Saturday inside a home that sustained minimal damage in a fire.

Big Industry Continue To Enjoy Break On Electricity Rate

The provincial government is extending it's Northern Industrial Electricity Rate for another three years.

The program provides a lower costing electricity rate to mining and forest industry companies.

Roger Barber of Resolute Forest Products says things would be grim for his company if the Province didn't extend the program.

The program providing $360-million to keep the program in place for another three years.

Change Made To Northern Ontario Travel Grant

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell is clarifying statements she made recently about the northern Ontario Travel Grant.

Campbell had expressed concern about the doubling of the distance requirement, only later to learn it was a change made five years ago.

But Campbell says there is a new requirement for the accommodation portion of the grant that took effect December 1.

Patients who travel out of the community to access health services must now submit receipts to be eligible.

The province had beefed up the travel grant a hundred dollars for travel a few year ago.

Campbell says many patients who stay will relatives won't be eligible for the money that often helped offset other costs.

Snowarama Set For Atikokan

Snowmobilers are wanted to help support Easter Seals.

Snowarama kicks again in Atikokan January 26.

Rhonda Harrison of Easter Seals says it's a tradition that the Atikokan event is the first of the year in Ontario.

The event helps raise money for Easter Seals who use it to assist children with disabilities and their families.

Pledge forms can be obtained on the Snowarama website or by calling the Easter Seal's office in Thunder Bay.