Explosion Reported At Mill

Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Service were called to an incident at Resolute Forest Products biomass boiler.

Officials say a dust explosion occurred inside the building this morning leading to a small fire that has been extinguished.

It's believed one person may have been taken to hospital with unknown injuries.

Minister Questioned On Winter Road Maintenance

A call to scrap the contracts given out to plow Ontario's highways.

Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. Sarah Campbell says Transportation Minister Glen Murray recently talked about putting road maintenance back into the hands of the public sector.

Campbell says given recent fines and complaints from the travelling public it time.

She's also calling on Murray to stand behind a promise he made in the fall to visit if conditions weren't being met.

Murray says the province has added more plows on the roads and the word he's getting from Mayors he's spoken with is that winter road maintenance is getting better.

Distracted Driving Fine Going Up

You may want to think twice now when talking on your cell phone or fiddling with that MP3 player while behind the wheel.

The Province has increased the fine for distracted driving from $150 to $280.

OPP Sergeant Shelly Garr says it's become a huge problem in northwestern Ontario.

The higher fine comes into effect March 18th.

OFAH Rallying Support For Modified Bear Hunt

The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters wants residents to speak up about plans to bring back the spring bear hunt.

The Liberals are proposing a partial return with the hunt to take place in eight wildlife management units this year.

OFAH's Mark Ryckman says animal rights activists are ramping their efforts to oppose the hunt, so they've decided to do the same to drum up support..

Comment to the Environmental Bill of Rights Registry must be made before March 7.

Moose Numbers Down

The number of moose in northeastern Minnesota continues to be on a downward spiral.

The Department of Natural Resources says an estimated 43-hundred animal were spotted in an aerial survey in January - close to last year's number, but more than half that identified in 2006.

A number of studies are currently underway to understand the reasons behind the decline, looking at such things as wolf predation, habitat, disease and climate change.

Fuel Tax Concerns

Concern is being expressed in Koochiching County about a plan aimed at raising money for road improvements in Minnesota.

 

A coalition wants the State to add a 5 per cent tax on the wholesale price of fuel.

 

County Commissioner Wade Pavleck sees it only being passed onto the consumers already struggling.

 

The County intends to write the Governor and its State reps to show its opposition to the proposal.

Fuel Tax Increase Concerns

 

Salad Recall

There's been recall a bagged salad sold at Safeway stores across northwestern Ontario.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says Signature Cafe, Fresh 'n Delicious and Nester's Own Brand Caesar Salad products have been recalled by the company due to a possible Listeria contamination.

Currently, there have been no reported illnesses associated with the recall.

Recalled products

Brand	Product	Size	UPC	Codes
Signature Cafe	Chicken Caesar Salad	140 g	0 58200 13145 1	Best Before dates up to and including MR01
Signature Cafe	Chicken Caesar Salad	300 g	0 58200 13119 2	Best Before dates up to and including MR01
Fresh 'n Delicious	Ceasar Salad	100 g	Starts with 2 06430	Best Before Dates up to and including FEB 28/14
Fresh 'n Delicious	Ceasar Salad	205 g	Starts with 2 06419	Best Before Dates up to and including FEB 28/14
Fresh 'n Delicious	Chicken Ceasar Salad	280 g	Starts with 2 06422	Best Before Dates up to and including FEB 28/14
Nester's Own	Ceasar Salad	100 g	Starts with 2 06430	Best Before Dates up to and including FEB 28/14
Nester's Own	Ceasar Salad	205 g	Starts with 2 06419	Best Before Dates up to and including FEB 28/14
Nester's Own	Chicken Ceasar Salad	280 g	Starts with 2 06422	Best Before Dates up to and including FEB 28/14

Solar Project Eyed In Koochiching County

Koochiching County is going ahead with at least the application process for a solar project of its own.

It's looking for State help to install solar panels on the roof of the Forestland Annex building.

If approved, the bulk of the project's costs would come from the Made in Minnesota Solar Incentive program, but the County would still have to contribute $45-thousand.

School Bus Cancellations

BUS CANCELATIONS

Here is a list of school bus cancellations

MM230 - Murray McDonald

SM235 - Shane McDonald

BN245 - Bruce Neilson

MN 250 - Darryl Dyck

MN 251 - Maury Neilson

KJ220 - Keith Jolicoeur

Northwest Bay elementary and secondary buses

Dimit Bus Line routes DB100, DB101, DB102, DB103, DB104, DB105, DB106, DB107, DB110, DB111 and DB 112

DB108 & DB109 (Kindergarten buses) are running

Iron Range routes

IR302 Herman Rodriques

IR 304 - Stacy Bragg

IR 306 - Nancy Allen

IR 308 - Karen Kellar

IR 312 - Michelle Brusven

IR 307 - Reef Point portion only

Stanjikoming F.N. - Brian Wayash

Red Gut Bay buses

Big Grassy to Rainy River H.S. - Jodi Goliquer

BJ 215 - Bob Johnson

BJ 216 - Kaylene Johnson

Seine River handicap bus

BR 260 - Bill Romyn

FK 2225 - Fred Kropelin - is running two hours late