New Sawmill For Atikokan

A new sawmill for Atikokan.

Resolute Forest Products plans to spend $50-million dollars on the new random-length mill, scheduled to begin production early next year.

President Richard Garneau says along with the creation of 90 new jobs, he sees it helping with it's pulp and paper operations in Thunder Bay and its repositioning of the mill in Fort Frances.


The company hopes to begin construction later this spring, but is still investigating potential sites.

Wood for the mill will come from Resolute's existing forest management units, including the Crossroute Forest which has been a source of fibre to the Fort Frances mill.

Roger Barber, general manager of wood products, says only the premium logs from those areas will be taken for the Atikokan plant with the chips from the sawmill directed to operations in Thunder Bay and Fort Frances.

The announcement is welcome news to the mayor of Atikokan.

Dennis Brown says its great news for the entire region, noting his town is back in the mill business

The former Buchanan owned mill at nearby Sapawe and Proboard closed a few years ago.

Atikokan Renewable Fuels, which is producing wood pellets for Ontario Power Generation's power plant in Atikokan,  is now operating out of the former Proboard site.

School Board Looks To Getting More Clubs Operational

The use of volunteers to oversee high school sports teams could be extended to other Rainy River district school clubs.

Some teams got back to action last week after the Rainy River District School Board established a process that permits volunteers to run teams without teachers.

Education Director Heather Campbell says they are looking at how to help other school clubs.

Teachers aren't getting involved in extra-curricular activities in protest over the government's decision to impose new contacts on them.

ORNGE Hiring

The province's air Air Ambulance service is adding staff to its Thunder Bay Base.

Ornge President, Dr. Andrew McCallum says a third team of paramedics will be added to performing transports on the helicopter.

McCallum says the number of people being hired will be 10.

Worst Of Flu Season At End

Health officials say the worst of the flu season is likely over in Minnesota.

The number of flu-related hospitalizations and outbreaks has dropped for the third week in a row.

Minnesota has seen 112 deaths during this flu season, and over 23-hundred hospitalizations.

Highway Expansion Begins Next Week

If you heading south to Duluth next week, you might encounter some traffic delays in the area of Cook.

Blasting and grading work to extend the four-laning of Highway 53 will begin Monday.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation says the Highway could be closed for short periods times.

Speeds will also be reduced with flaggers controlling traffic as well.

Bus Cancellations For Friday February 1

 Cold weather is having some impact on school buses today.

Just one route has been cancelled so far.

Route MM230 driving by Shelly MacDonald is not running today.