Pennies Gathered For Leukemia Research

Supplied photo

Students at Rainy River Community College have gathered their pennies in support of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

A fundraiser promoted by the College's Student Senate this month brought in $227.49 for blood-born cancer research.

The Pennies for Patients included a battle of the sexes component with the women collecting $112 to the men's 105.

Condo Project To Get A Further Review

A proposed condominium project for Fort Frances is going to get a further review by town council.

 

Thunder Bay-based Northern Superior Structural Solutions is proposing a 24-unit project on Front Street.

 

Mayor Roy Avis says the idea will get look over from its various committees first before council makes a firm decision.

 

Company officials are currently promoting the project on its website as "The Vu by the River. "

Job Cuts At DSSAB

The Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board is reducing staff.

Three full-time positions are being eliminated.

The Board says the reductions reflect the economic pressures faced by municipalities who, in part, fund the agency.

It last cut positions in 2012, when six in the Social Housing Program were eliminated.

Mauro Named Municipal Affairs Minister

Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro is the province's new minister of municipal affairs and housing.

The announcement coming from  Premier Kathleen Wynne as part of a wider cabinet shuffle.

Mauro says it came as a bit of surprise, but is ready to hit the ground running.

Mauro calls it a big hill to climb with a tremendous amount to learn but looks forward to the challenge.

The shuffle was precipitated by the departure of Linda Jeffrey.

The former Municipal Affairs Minister announced yesterday she was leaving provincial politics to make a run for mayor of Brampton in this falls municipal elections.

Jeffrey was first elected to Queen's Park in 2003, holding a number of cabinet portfolios under former Premier Dalton McGuinty along the way.

Premier Not Saying When Budget Is Coming

Premier Kathleen Wynne continues to evade opposition demands for a provincial budget.

In Question Period yesterday, the Premier did outline what her government spending priorities will be.

Wynne says infrastructure spending, skills development and training and a youth jobs strategy is among her government's focus.

Gas Up The Snowblower, Again

Brace for more snow.

Environment Canada says a system, tracking from the U.S. is expected to bring snow to across northwestern Ontario tonight and into tomorrow.

Atikokan and area to the east are expected to receive the greater amounts with about 5 to 10 cm expected for the Atikokan area.

Lesser amounts are predicted for areas west.

Drivers Want Highways Improved

Research being released by the five companies responsible for plowing Ontario's highways is  showing that Ontarians want the government to make roads safer.

The survey, conducted in early March, shows that the majority of 1,500 drivers questioned feel the government should increase spending on highway maintenance.

The study also shows that Ontarians find roads to be in worse shape that they were 3 years ago by a 2-to-1 margin - 3-to-1 in Northern Ontario.

Another Job Fair In Fort Frances

The offer of jobs continues in the Rainy River district.

CN Rail plans to hold another job fair in Fort Frances April 2.

A similar event held in February attracted considerable interest and a number of applicants.

The region has also been visited by representatives from at least three pulp and paper companies in the past month, trying lure former workers laid off from Resolute Forest Products.

RRFDC Moving

Staff at the Rainy River Future Development Corporation is moving.

The regional economic development agency is relocating to the second floor of the same building that houses the Northern Lights Credit Union and the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce.

It will open its new office April 7.

To accommodate the move, it will close its Scott Street location April 3 and 4.

Residents Warming to Getting Flu Shot At Drug Store

File photo

It appears getting a flu shot at the local pharmacy is catching on in Ontario.

More than 750-thousand people opted to get the free flu shot at a pharmacy this past season.

That's triple the number over last year when pharmacies were given provincial approval to administer the shot.

Man Arrested For Trying To Steal Truck

A 24-year-old Fort Frances man faces several charges after trying to steal a pick-up truck from a locked compound.

The man was sitting in the truck at the back of a Fort Frances commercial property when OPP arrived last Thursday evening.

After some time in trying to get the doors unlocks, the man began to physically resist officers trying to get him out of the truck before eventually taking him into custody.

Name Your Worst Road

Just in time for pot hole season.

The Canadian Automobile Association is once again launching it's Worst Roads campaign.

Over the next four weeks, Ontario motorists are invited to vote online for roads or city streets in most need of repair.

You can log onto worstroads.ca to nominate a road in our area.