Woman Charged In Assault

A woman has been arrested in connection with a stabbing in the International Falls area.

Koochiching County Sheriff's office says a 52-year-old man was stabbed several times with a knife at a home on County Road 99 short after 1:30 a.m. yesterday.

He was taken to Rainy Lake Medical Center for treatment.

48-year old Tracy Nuthak is in custody and faces a charge of Second Degree Assault.

OEB Should Watch Gas Prices

Provincial NDP is suggesting the Ontario Energy Board monitor gasoline prices.

Critic France Gélinas says while there's an expectation northerners will pay more for gas at the pumps than in southern Ontario, a recent jump in prices has her wondering if its bordering on opportunistic price gouging.

Gelinas says a good start to ensuring fair, stable and predictable fuel prices might be mandating the Ontario Energy Board to watch prices.

Infrastructure Fund Promoted

The federal government says its ready to help small communities in Ontario rebuild.

Transport Minister Lisa Raitt promoted the Conservative's New Building Canada Plan to municipal leaders attending the Ontario Good Roads Conference in Toronto yesterday.

The 10-year plan proposed to spend 70 billion dollars on infrastructure.

Raitt sees the plan ensuring small communities have stable, long-term access to funding for infrastructure projects.

Government's Commitment To Mining Questioned

The Progressive Conservatives are questioning the Liberal government's commitment to mining in the province.

Vic Fedeli says after the Victor diamond mine was developed, the province imposed a mining tax and he wonders if history could repeat itself in the Ring of Fire.

Fedeli says in 2003 Ontario was ranked number one in mining, now we are number 16.

No Word On Casino Yet

Still no indication from the provincial government if and when a casino might be developed in northwestern Ontario.

A request for proposals for the Ontario North Gaming Bundle closed almost a year ago.

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation had said it wanted to see new casinos in the Kenora and North Bay areas, adding to existing casinos in Thunder Bay, Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie. 

Minnesota Legislators Back To Work

Teresa Boardman photo

How to better support Minnesota's nearly 700-thousand family caregivers is among the issues to be debated as the 2014 Legislature opens today.

State director of AARP Minnesota Will Phillips says they're supporting efforts that help those with economic security and workplace flexibility

The estimated value of unpaid family caregivers to the Minnesota economy is nearly nine-billion dollars annually.

Hockeyville Voting Area Set Up

Proponents of Fort Frances' bid to the Kraft Hockeyville contest say they'll have a specific voting area if they make it to the next round of the contest.

It will be set up at the Memorial Sport Centre.

Officials say the arena will also be open during the duration of voting.

An announcement of the sixteen communities to advance in the contest will be made during Hockey Night in Canada March 8.

Fort Frances Gets Audience With Provincial Ministers

A number of issues impacting Fort Frances will be discussed in Toronto this week.

Mayor Roy Avis and Councillor Ken Perry are among those at the Ontario Good Roads Conference.

The duo have meeting with a number of provincial cabinet ministers.

They started with discussions yesterday with Transportation Minister Glen Murray over winter road maintenance and connecting link funding.

They're also schedule to meet with Finance Minister Charles Sousa and Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle.

MPAC Changes Forthcoming

The Province is taking action against the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation.

The government is directing the Ministry of Finance to develop an action plan to implement 26-changes to improve the property assessment system.

Dryden Mayor Craig Nuttall, who led the campaign for change, says it's a long time coming.

Several northern Ontario mayors called for changes are the assessed value of area mills were dramatically reduced, leading to huge tax rebates for the companies and fewer tax dollars for municipalities

The Ministers of Finance and Municipal Affairs are also calling for a comprehensive, independent performance evaluation of MPAC.

No Gas Shortage Concerns From Union Gas

No worries of a shortage of natural gas for users in northwestern Ontario.

The colder than usual winter has increased demand.

Union Gas' Andrea Stass says they have amble supply to meet that demand.

New prices come out in March, but Stass says any change will likely still be below market price because the company purchases on longer-term contracts that helps keep consumer costs down.

Nominations Announced

A total of 42 nominations have been made for the upcoming Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce's annual business awards.

Those awards will be handed out March 6.

Here is a list of all nominees.

Business of the Year - Sponsored by: B93.1 The Border

Betty’s of Fort Frances
Saulteaux Consulting and Engineering
From the Grind Up
Gillons' Insurance Brokers
Cloverleaf Grocery

Customer Service Award (Individual) - Sponsored by: Good Impressions Printing
Kerry Zucchiatti, 93.1 The Border
Zac Manty, Webb's Power Shack
Adrian Chapman, Investors Group
Alicia Desserre, Simplicity Hair & Body Shop
Donna Lowey, Lowey's Green House
Laureen Luchka, Boston Pizza

Customer Service Award (Business) - Sponsored by: TD Canada Trust
RBC Royal Bank
Tonic Tattoo
Lowery's
Betty's of Fort Frances
Fort Frances General Supply
Northwoods Gallery & Gifts
Tompkins Home Hardware

Employee of the Year - Sponsored by: The Westend Weekly
Christine Krueger, Fort Frances Dental Centre
Elizabeth Petkau, Rainy River Meats
Duane Hicks, Fort Frances Times
Jay McFarlane, Plaza Lanes

Business Woman of the Year - Sponsored by: Professional Women’s Network
Donna Lowey, Lowey's Greenhouse
Jennifer Horton, Curvy Chick/ Chick With A Camera
Grace Cridland, Gillons’ Insurance Brokers
Paula Jensen, Shear Serenity
Jackie Lampi-Hughes, Energy Fitness

Entrepreneur of the Year - Sponsored by: Rainy River Future Development Corporation
Ben Morelli, From the Grind Up
Chad Jackson, Pro-Shine
Paula Jensen, Shear Serenity
Tyler Nordin, Just 4 Fun Power Sports

Home Based Business Award - Sponsored by: M.L. Caron Electric
Inga Friesen, Merge 2
Ken Hawrylak, Digital Dr
Nicke Baird, Chelsey Simpson and Heather Bridgeman, Smashing Tea
Miles Kupila, Kupila's Sound Centre
Diane Gibson, Gibson Design

Small Business Trainer of the Year Award - Sponsored by: NCDS

Ted DeBenetti, A Buck or Two
Bobbie Parker, Mr. Sub
Ben Morelli, From The Grind Up
Dennis Roach, D.J. Roach Electric

Tony Beyak Memorial Volunteer of the Year Award - Sponsored by: the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce
Kayne Shaw
Leslie Danielson

The Award Ceremonies will take place at La Place Rendez Vous.

This year's event will be hosted by comedian Ryan McMahon of Fort Frances.

Tickets can be purchased at the Chamber Office.

Fort Frances Youth Selected As QP Page

A Fort Frances youth has been selected to be a page at Queen's Park.

Mira Donaldson, a grade 7 student at Robert Moore School, will be among a number of other young people who will deliver messages to MPP's, meet key parliamentarians and learn about Ontario's government.

Donaldson applied back in November, completing a 700 word essay as part of the application process.

She'll attend orientation at the end of this week and start her duties as page for a month beginning March 17.

Johnson No Longer Party Candidate

A candidate for the Progressive Conservatives has been removed from running in Thunder Bay Superior North in the next provincial election.

Tamara Johnson says she has removed by the party.

The announcement comes following statements Johnson made on Facebook, regarding businesses on the Fort William First Nation.

The PC Party has not yet commented on Johnson's statement.

Vaccines Are Safe

File photo

Vaccines are safe and have a low risk of adverse reactions.
That according to a report on Vaccine Safety in Ontario.

It says of the nearly 8-million doses of vaccine administered by the province's health professionals in 2012, about 630 adverse reactions were reported.

The majority were mild, such as pain, redness or swelling.

Only 56 people encountered more serious reactions