Crimestoppers Numbers Up

Crime Stoppers of Northwestern Ontario and Northern Minnesota is showing some impressive numbers in the first three months of 2010.

Coordinator Doug Anderson says there's been large increases in tips received, cases cleared and rewards issued.

"January started strong and February kind of followed suite," says Anderson. "March was a little slower than the first two month, but all-in-all, when you compare things to last year where up all across the board so we're very please."

Anderson says continued media support and initiatives such as an improved website and a new Facebook page are helping increase the organization's public profile.

High Dollar Good News to U.S. Businesses

The Canadian dollar continues to hover just above or below parity with its American cousin.

Betsy Jensen, president of the International Falls Chamber of Commerce, says that can only lead to more Canadians travelling across the border.

"International Falls businesses prosper when the dollar is more equal," says Jensen, "because we have more (Canadian) shoppers over here with their dollar worth just as much as ours. We look at it as a good thing."

Jensen says its too early to tell if the dollar is having an immediate impact, but is seeing a few more Ontario plates at local gas stations.

More Energy Projects on the Way

The Ontario government is reportedly poised to start awarding just over $8 billion dollars in renewable energy projects to dozens of companies.

Sources say the government is awarding contracts to entities ranging from first nations communities to major corporations who will develop wind, solar and run-of-river hydro projects.

It's not immediately know if any of the projects are slated for the Rainy River district.

Prescription Changes

People in Ontario will soon pay less when getting their prescriptions filled after the province announced it will scrap an allowance pharmacists receive on generic drugs.

But that isn't sitting well with pharmacists who say the compensation is not enough.

Shoppers Drug Mart says it is strongly opposed to the changes and believes they will have a direct negative impact on pharmacy services and patient care.

Seven Generations Anniversary

An anniversary today for the Seven Generations Education Institute.

It's been 25 years since it was set up to provide education and training opportunities for Aboriginal people.

Director of Post Secondary Education programs Laura Horton says much has changed over time.

"Ten Chief originally started it and named it the Rainy Lake Ojibway Education Authority back in 1985," says Horton. "Over the years the name has been changed, our work has expanded, but always its our ten First Nations at the center of it all.

A sunrise ceremony and public tours of its facility at Couchiching First Nation will be held to mark the event.

All events are open to the public.

Voyageur's Celebrates

Voyageur's National Park celebrates its thirty-fifth anniversary today.

The park is hosting a variety of event throughout the month, but tonight it will hold an open house for the public at the Rainy Lake Visitor Center with former and current employees on hand.

This free event goes from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Encore Winner

A Sioux Narrows resident is happy he said 'yes' to Encore when he purchased his Lotto Max ticket back in February.

Tyler Cole Marquis during his extra one-dollar decision into a reward of $100-thousand dollars.

The self-employed contractor and new father plans to pay off his mortgage.

The winning ticket was bought at Dalseg's Fine Foods in Nestor Falls.

New Education Director Named

(Left: Board Chair, Dan Belluz with Heather Campbell, Director of Education - courtesy Rainy River District School Board)

The Rainy River District School Board has promoted from within for its new director of education.

Heather Campbell takes over from Jack McMaster who left last month for a position with the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board.

"I've first of all privileged and honoured and really excited to work with the board of trustees and staff of the Rainy River District School Board to continue enhancing student success for our students," says Campbell.

Campbell has been an educator for the past fourteen years, the last four as the board's Superintendent of Education.

Vote By Mail Accepted

Public school supporters living in the Rainy River District's unorganized areas will vote by-mail this fall in the election of school board trustees.

Trustees with the Rainy River District Board gave approval to mail-in balloting at their meeting last night.

The board had contracted services to area municipalities in the past for polling stations, but with many communities going to mail-in ballots themselves, polling stations were as not seen an option this year.

Mercury Poisoning Study

A protest is expected outside Queen's Park today by activists demanding more be done to deal with mercury poisoning at a FirstNations reserve in northwestern Ontario.

A study released yesterday suggests the health effects of mercury poisoning at Grassy Narrows are worse now than in the 1970's.

Activists are calling for permanent mercury monitoring through an environmental centre in the community and tougher federal mercury guidelines.

The study says mercury dumped into the Wabigoon River between 1962 and 1970 continued harming area residents as recently as 2004.

Raw Sewage into River

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is looking into an incident in which raw sewage was pumped into the Rainy River.

Acting on a recent complaint, a DNR conservation officer found a septic tank being pumped into a ravine running into the river near Baudette.

The property owner claimed his drain field had not worked for some time and that bringing it up to code would cost to much.

The DNR's Soil and Water Bureau is investigating.

Bids for Forests Received

The forest allocation competition for eleven million cubic metres of fibre in Ontario has come to a close.

Forestry Minister Michael Gravelle says a number of companies have placed bids, some on the value-added side of the industry.

"A lot of the new entrants did not have access to a wood supply," says Gravelle, "so the goal is to try to find some way of evening the playing field."

Gravelle expects to announced recommendation within six months.

Library Grant

The town of Atikokan has received an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant for upgrades to its library.

The more than $20-thousand will be used to purchase and install new energy efficient doors and windows in the children's area.

March Weather Recap

March 2010 is going down in history as the least snowiest ever in the Fort Frances area.

For the first time ever, no snow was recorded at area weather stations.

Geoff Coulson of Environment Canada says combined with warmer than usual temperatures, snow levels diminished by the middle of the month.

The average temperature for the month came in at 1.1 C., breaking a 10-year-old record high by more than a full degree.

Tax Increase Considered

Homeowners in Fort Frances could be faced with a 2-point-4 per cent tax increase.

But a decrease in the education portion of the tax bill and a change in assessment could result in some residential ratepayers paying less.

Mayor Roy Avis says he's pleased with the figure.

"I was hoping for two per cent," says Avis, "but at 2.4 per cent it's well within the scope of what we wanted to accomplish this year."

However, taxes could increase another one per cent if municipalities vote in favour of a change in how share the costs of social services administered by the Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board.

That vote comes next week.

Councillors also trimmed the capital budget by about 57-thousand dollars at their budget meeting last night.

It includes holding off on replacing the stage at the Townsend Theatre, installing new light standards on Scott Street and painting of the overpass on Portage Avenue.

The town is proceeding with an upgrade to the water system at Sunny Cove Camp, improvements to its recycling building and the purchase of equipment to help firefighters better identify hazardous materials.

Relay for Life Meeting

The planning for this years Relay for Life in Fort Frances begins tonight.

Committee member John Homer says anyone interested in being a part of this year's fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society is invited to a meeting at the La Place Rendez-Vous.

"What the meeting is for is anybody who wants to put in a team," says Homer, "or wants to know anything about Relay for Life, if your a business and you want to sponsor, if you want to volunteer or be a committee member. It's open to anybody."

Tonight's meeting begins at 6 p.m.

Relay for Life will happen June 25 at Pither's Point Park.

Contact North Study

Contact North is having more than just an educational impact in northern Ontario.

A Lakehead University study says the distant education and learning network generates between $9 and $16 million to the economy.

President Maxim Jean-Louis says that is impressive.

"It was really internally for us at Contact North to have a good sense of what impact that we've having," says Jean-Louis. "Also we wanted everyone in the region (to understand the impact) because the reason why Contact North is providing these services is to stem the out-migration."

Contact North has 94 access centres, including one in Fort Frances, creating 245 full-times

Golf Season Opens

It's an early start to the golf season in Fort Frances.

Kitchen Creek open its fairways to golfers for the first time yesterday.

President Faye Flatt says it may be the earliest opening ever.

Flatt says green fees are also being lowered to reflect the early opening.

The driving range at Heron Landing is also open with the rest of the course to open at a later date.

Weekend Fire

A garage and house were destroyed in a weekend fire in Alberton township.

It occurred on Hill Road Saturday afternoon.

The exact cause is not know, but fire officials say it started in the garage with the wind fanning the flames to two vehicles parked outside and the nearby home.

About about fourteen firefighters from Alberton were joined by another ten from the LaVallee township fire department in battling the blaze.

New C.A.O.

The City of Kenora has appointed from within as its new chief administrative officer.

Karen Brown, the city's manager of finance, replaces Bill Presentanz who is retiring in August.

Brown has been employed by the city for the past eighteen years.

Stolen Bikes Handed Out

Some Ontario children will be getting bicycles once allegedly stolen by a Toronto theft ring run by former bike shop owner Igor Kenk.

He was sentenced to 30 months in jail last December after pleading guilty to bicycle theft and to six drug possession charges.

Police are distributing about 70 bikes and more than 1,000 bike parts and locks today to a pair of Toronto centres for at-risk youth.

Experts will help kids assemble and repair the pieces into complete bikes, which will then be donated to the community.

About 300 bicycles and parts are also being sent to a native agency in Thunder Bay and North Spirit Lake, north of Dryden.

Motorcycle Safety

With warmer weather, more people will be taking their motorcycles out for a spin, but Ontario Provincial Police are urging bikers to be cautious.

The warning comes after a man died in a motorcycle on the weekend in southern Ontario while street racing.

Police says officers will be keeping an eye on sport motorcycles speeding and driving dangerously.

Drug Awareness Campaign

An awareness campaign on the dangers of overusing opioid such as Oxycontin has been launched in northern Ontario.

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health's “No Easy Way Out" project is directly aimed at young people.

Program Consultant Michelle Ott says the numbers of students using drugs for non-medical purposes is significant.

"Two per cent of the students across Ontario reported using non-medical Oxycontin," says Ott. "In northern Ontario that was 3.2 per cent."

Ott says nearly three-quarters of those students reported taking the drugs from family members who were prescribed such medication.

More Forest Fires

Another two forest fires in the Rainy River district over the Easter long weekend.

Both occurred in the Atikokan area with one confirmed as being human caused.

It brings to six, the number of fires, this season, with two still considered active.

Meantime, the Ministry of Natural Resources has set up a new toll-free emergency number to report a forest fire.

It is 310-FIRE.

Candidate for Atikokan Trustee

A retired school principal is seeking election to the Rainy River District School Board.

Mike Lewis is hoping to represent Atikokan on the board.

Lewis was also a chair with the former Atikokan School Board.

Vote By-Mail Considered

Public school board voters in the Rainy River District's unorganized areas may get the chance to vote by mail this fall.

The Rainy River District School Board is looking at the option for voters in the election of trustees.

The board had contracted services to an organized municipality in the past for polling stations, but a report by its finance committee says with many communities going to mail-in ballots themselves, polling stations may not be an option this year.

Trustees are to vote on the issue at their meeting tomorrow.

Tennis Courts on Hold?

Plans to build new tennis courts in Fort Frances this year may have to put on hold.

The town was hoping to share the costs of building the courts with the Rainy River District School Board.

The board's finance committee is suggesting the board not move forward with the request at this time.

The Northwest Catholic District School Board had agreed to a part of the project by supplying the land for the courts at St. Francis Field.

Snowmobile Accident

Police have recovered the body of a Cochrane Ontario man who died in a snowmobile accident on Saturday on a lake north of Longlac.

Forty-eight-year-old Lucien Dubeault was a passenger on a snowmobile which plunged through thin ice.

OPP officers rescued two other people, one of them the driver of the snowmobile that went into the water.

Save Our Smiles

The Northwestern Health Unit wants to Save Our Smiles.

Program Manager of Children's Clinical Services Dawn Sauve says it's an awareness campaign for Dental Health Month that suggests following healthy practices can eliminate tooth decay.

"There are three main messages," says Sauve, "healthy habits, healthy foods and healthy rewards. When you think of health foods we think of limiting sugary snacks and drinks, choosing fresh foods and vegetables and making water or milk your first choice. Eating healthy foods is a great way to keep your teeth and body healthy."

Health Unit staff will be promoting the campaign to children with visits to schools during the month.

Fire Season Underway

(Ministry of Natural Resources photo)

It has the makings of a busy fire season for the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Today marks the official start to the fire season in northwestern Ontario, but fire crews have already been called into service to deal with brush fires.

Fire Information Officer, Debbie McLean says they are prepared for the worst.

"We don't really tend to make long term predictions on what an early and dry spring would mean for the summer season," says MacLean, "but we dealing at this point in time with a high to extreme hazard."

A ban on burning in organized municipalities within the Rainy River district is still in effect.

Meantime, the fire danger in much of Minnesota remains high.

Eight new fires were reported yesterday in the northeast part of the state.

The Department of Natural Resources did ease burning restrictions in Koochiching County, although a burning permit is still required.

Sunshine List Revealed

The list of public sector employees in the Rainy River district earning over $100-thousand has changed.

The 2009 list, released by the province yesterday, is shorter than previous years with some employees showing a drop in earnings.

Wayne Woods, CAO of Riverside Health Care Facilities, is among the highest paid in the district, but his 2009 salary of $228-thousand is a drop from the $245-thousand reported in 2008.

Riverside had a total of six employees on the so-called sunshine list which is down from the ten the year previous.

The Rainy River District School Board had nine employees earning over the province's magic figure, two fewer than 2008, while the Northwest Catholic District Board reported a total of eleven employees earning over $100-thousand.

Sponsor Back

The Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship has a key sponsor back for its event in 2010.

Lund Boats of Canada is back on board for a sixteenth straight season.

Chair Tom Fry calls Lund an icon in tournament fishing in northwestern Ontario, and is happy to have the company back to showcase its boats at this year's event.

Park Celebrates 35th

Minnesota's only national park is celebrating its thirty-fifth anniversary this year, and special events today.

Voyageurs National Park was authorized a national park on April 8, 1975.

Chief of Interpretation Tawnya Schoewe says the anniversary is an important one.

"It's a pretty big deal," says Schoewe, "we hope not just to the staff, but to the public as well. We're very proud to be a part of the national park system and proud to celebrate it with all of the local gateway communities and America in general."

Today there are special displays at the park's Rainy Lake Visitor Center and at the International Falls Public Library.

An official recognition of the park's anniversary will happen next Thursday.

More Records Set

For the second straight day, a new weather record has been set in Fort Frances.

Yesterday's high of 19 C beat the old mark for March 31 of 16 C set in 1990.

Atikokan reached a high of 18.6 C, eclipsing the old mark of 14.9 C established back in 1986.

The high of the day was in Thunder Bay where the thermometer reached 23.8 C or 74 F.

Pension Bill Proposed

A northwestern Ontario MP is looking to protect workers pensions.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River's John Rafferty has introduced a bill in the House of Commons which would secure underfunded pension plans.

"The workers have invested in their retirements," says Rafferty, "and been expecting certain retirement income after working several for many years at mills. In the last few years especially, mill workers say to themselves 'I always though they were secure' but they're finding out they're not."

Rafferty says the recent issue surrounding pensions for workers with AbitibiBowater convinced him for the need to bring forward a private members bill.

Minimum Wage Hike

Minimum wage in Ontario is up as of today.

It now stands at $10.25 an hour.

Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle says the reason for the increase is to help those in need.

"It's part of our poverty reduction strategy in the province of Ontario," says Gravelle. "We want to find the best ways we can to help those people who are most vulnerable be able to manage their lives in a better way."

The minimum wage in Ontario has increased almost 50 per cent since 2004.

Man's Death Investigated

The Northwestern Health Unit confirms it’s looking into the death of a Fort Frances man to determine if it’s linked to a rare form of Creutzfeldt- Jakob's disease.

Director of Health Protection Arlene Lesenke says this form of disease is not linked to a another form contracted by eating tainted meat from cattle.

The unidentified man died last week.

No Decision Yet on Extra Trustee

The Northwest Catholic District School Board will wait until April to decide where an extra seat on the board will go.

The board received approval in February to expand its number of trustees to eight this fall and was to discuss the issue at its meeting on the weekend.

The board requested the additional trustee following the amalgamation with the Atikokan Roman Catholic District School Board last fall.

New Tennis Courts Proposed

The Northwest Catholic District School board is giving its support behind the proposed development of new tennis courts in Fort Frances.

The board has agree to enter into a joint venture with the town of Fort Frances and the Rainy River District School Board that would allow the courts to be developed at St. Francis Sportsfield.

The Catholic Board would provide the land while the town and public board would split costs of development, estimated at $400-thousand.

The pubic board has yet to formally discuss the proposal.

Retirement Home Regulations

Ontario is moving to regulate retirement homes for the first time ever.

Gerry Phillips, the minister responsible for seniors, says new legislation will create a regulatory authority with the power to license and inspect retirement homes.

Unlike Ontario nursing homes, which receive government funding to provide medical care to elderly patients, retirement homes are privately operated and until now have not been regulated.

Burning Restrictions

The fire danger in Minnesota has prompted an expansion of burning restrictions in some parts of the state.

No burning permits were being issued Carlton, St. Louis, Itasca, and Aitkin Counties while permits are being allowed only under special circumstances in Koochiching and Pine Counties.

There have been more than 280 fires in the state this year.

Weather Records

A twenty-year-old weather record was shattered in Fort Frances yesterday.

A high of 19.7 degrees C eclipsed the old record for March 30 of 15 C set back in 1990.

The warm temperatures also led to records in Dryden and Red Lake.

Fire Ban Imposed

(Ministry of Natural Resources Photo)

A ban on burning is being imposed by municipal fire services across the Rainy River district.

Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Service's Fire Chief Gerry Armstrong says an early drying trend is pushing up the fire hazard in the district.

"The next few days the prediction for weather is warm, windy and very dry," says Armstrong. "Our recent experience in the last couple of day, from the Fort Frances area west, there's been a number grass and brush fires that we've had to control."

Armstrong says burning permits previously issued are also being temporarily cancelled.

Early Start to Fire Season

(Ministry of Natural Resources Photo)

The official start of the Forest Fire season is Thursday, but fire crews with the Ministry of Natural Resources have already been busy.

There have been four fires in the Rainy River district over the past week.

Fire Information Officer Debbie MacLean says conditions are right for more fires to occur.

"Because we haven't got any new green grass or growth or vegetation," says MacLean, "so its basically dry and dead vegetation. Compound that with the dry winter that we had and that the fact the we have pretty well snow-free conditions right now, we can say any source of open flame can be the potential of a wild fire."

The MNR has not imposed a burning ban of its own, but is recommending people not burn until conditions are more favourable.

Sioux Lookout Youth Dead

A 17-year old youth has been killed in a snowmachine accident in the Sioux Lookout area.

Police say Cody Gale of Sioux Lookout was driving a snowmobile Saturday night on Pelican Lake when his machine broke through the ice.

An OPP Marine Unit and Emergency Response team located his body the next day.

Police say Gale and two other youth were snowmobiling on the lake when two of them decided to enter open waters to try their hand at "water skipping."

Thin Ice

Ice conditions on Lake of the Woods continue to deteriorate.

Conservation officers with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources say travel on the lake is becoming increasingly dangerous in places.

They report a number of ATV's breaking through the ice, but no injuries were reported in any incident.

U.S. Man In Custody

A U.S. man is in custody in Thunder Bay after he was stopped in an alleged quest to buy a five-year-old boy.

Thunder Bay police arrested 56-year-old Patrick Molesti of Georgia on Friday at the Greyhound Bus terminal.

Georgia police says they were acting on an anonymous tip that a man was trying to buy a five-year-old boy over the Internet.

Molesti faces one count of sexual exploitation of children.

CCAC Deal

Worker with NorthWest Community Care Access Centre have a new contract.

The members of the Canadian Auto Workers union voted 80 per cent in favour of accepting a new three year deal.

It will see them get a total wage increase of six per cent and improvements in benefits.

Diversity in the Workplace

Diversity in the workplace will be the focus of a workshop today in Fort Frances.

It's being hosted by the Fort Frances Chiefs Secretariat.

Spokesperson Lincoln Dunn says it's an opportunity for participants to discuss how diversity impacts their organizations.

"It's going to be an opportunity for them to explore diversity within their own organizations," says Dunn, "and to increase their awareness how attitudes and believes of other employees have value and worthy of respect."

Dunn says the workshop will also discuss the importance of having a diverse workforce.

Roller Derby Team Planned

A local resident is looking for people interested in being part of a new women's roller derby team in Fort Frances.

Crystal Caul, who skated with a team in Thunder Bay, says it's something that's open to anyone over the age of nineteen.

"There's lots of women in their fifties who play roller derby," says Caul. "Women in their early twenties and all play as a team. You can be 98 pounds or 250 pounds. There's a position for every body type and every age."

An information session for those interested will be held Saturday, April 10 at the Super 8 Motel beginning at 6:30 p.m.

McGuinty Request Wage Freeze

Premier Dalton McGuinty is urging police officers and fire fighters to step up and help the province climb out of the red.

Last week's budget spelled out plans to freeze the wages of more than one-million Ontario public-sector workers.

McGuinty says municipal workers should also have their wages frozen.

But labour experts and municipal leaders say because unionized workers have a right to go to arbitration, a wage freeze is unlikely.

Welfare Rules Change

Ontario's social services minister is tweaking welfare rules in the wake of outrage over the elimination of a Special Diet Allowance in last week's budget.

Madeleine Meilleur says the rule changes are being made ''to show good faith'' and that the government has listened.

In the budget, the Liberal government ended a program that provides up to 250-dollars per month for some people on social assistance.

Passport Compliance

The close proximity to the border may be a factor in many Fort Frances residents heeding the call to get a passport.

A study by the Toronto Star reveals almost 79-per cent of area residents had a passport six months after new U-S passport rules went into effect - the highest among northwestern Ontario communities.

Just 60 per cent of residents living to the west of Fort Frances have passports, while the number falls to 52 per cent in communities east of town.

Lake of the Woods Water Quality Study

A new water quality project is being launched for Lake of the Woods.

A number of First Nations communities around the lake are working together on the project.

Spokesperson Ryan Haines says they're now trying to secure the necessary funding.

"Funding from Lake of the Woods Sustainability Foundation would roll out this fall," says Haines. "This coming winter would be spent looking at existing water quality data, looking at aerial and satellite photos identifying high priority areas."

Haines says also they're hoping to secure funding from municipal and federal sources.

Local Projects Tracked

Just two-hundred jobs have been created in the Rainy River district through the provincial government's stimulus program.

Thrity-five projects received just over $6-million last year.

The figures are released in a new government website intended to track the progress of infrastructure projects.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton says he's not that surprised by the job numbers.

"A lot of the capital, so-called stimulus projects announced as a way of fighting back against the recession in fact don't create a lot of jobs," says Hampton. "That's the just some of the choices that were made."

The province's site also indicates that as of October, about a third of the district's projects had not yet started.

Tibbs Files Nomination Papers

The town of Fort Frances has its first candidate for this fall's municipal election.

Sharon Tibbs has filled her nomination papers to seek re-election as councillor.

"I still got the drive and energy to want to do the job for the community," says Tibbs. "Getting on the senior sides of my years, the demographics of the community, I can bring that flavour to the table. It's something I have a passion for and want to continue it."

Tibbs has been involved in municipal politics for sixteen years, broken up only by an unsuccessful mayoral bid in 2003.

Ontario Budget

Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan has tabled his $126-billion budget.

Hospitals will get a 1.5 boost to their base funding while $63.5-million will go to replace federal child care funding.

There is a $310-million increase in post secondary education funding.

Despite a $21.3 billion deficit last year and nearly $20-billion deficit next year, the Liberals won't re-balance the books until 2017-18.

Northern Ontario residents will get some relief from high hydro bills, and companies in the north will be able to access lower electricity rates.

A new, $150-million-a-year program will create a northern industrial electricity rate aimed at reducing hydro prices by 25 per cent for large industrial users.

The budget will also provide low-to middle-income families in the north with an annual energy credit of up to 200 dollars, while singles would get up to 130 dollars.

Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle calls the budget a good one, especially for the north.

It also includes another 10-million dollar increase to the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund.

"We've gone from 60 to 70 to 80 to 90-million," says Gravelle, "and there's a commitment to go to $100 million next year. This is incredibly important to northern Ontario communities and businesses that are able to access the funds."

$770-million will be also spent to fix up highways in northern Ontario.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton was not as warming to the budget.

He says the introduction of lower power rates is good news, but have come too late for many mills now closed.

"If you actually do the numbers all that it will do is ensure that the hydro bills for OSB mill, sawmills and paper mills won't increase over the next three years," says Hampton. "The troubles is that those bills are already too expensive and that why so mills have shutdown."

Hampton says the hydro credit for homeowners won't even cover the cost of the HST when it comes into effect this July.

More than one million Ontario public sector workers got some bad news in the budget --notice of a salary freeze.

The budget imposes an immediate pay freeze on public sector managers, and vows not to fund salary increases for unionized public workers when their contracts expire.

3-G Deal

3-G wireless is coming to the Rainy River district.

TBayTel is partnering with Rogers to give all of northwestern Ontario improved wireless services.

TBaytel President Don Campbell says customers are the big winners.

"We're going to be providing to call customers in the region expanded services, expanded access to hand-sets and content and worldwide roaming," says Campbell.

Rogers customers will have the same coverage as TBaytel and while TBayTel customers will have access to the Rogers network and the latest new phones.

Officials expect services in the Rainy River district to come online by the early part of 2011.

Fort Frances Trio Advance to National Event

Three Fort Frances High School students will head to Ottawa in May to push their business case for a funeral home.

They're among thirty school groups across Canada that won the right to compete in a business planning competition for native youth sponsored by Business Development Bank of Canada.

Grade 12 student Stephen Mitchell says they now have to push their plan at the national event.

"We have to set up a booth,"says Mitchell, "like we have a real-live business. We have to have pamphlets to hand out and a logo in front of the booth. Basically to try to sell what you have to the people that come by. Some of them might be judges, but they don't really tell you."

It's the first time students from Fort Frances have participated.

Joining Mitchell in Ottawa will be Max Calder and Ryan Strachan.

K. I. Legal Expenses

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton wants the province to cover the legal expenses of a remote first nation community that was involving in a mining dispute with Platinex.

In the legislature yesterday, Hampton says Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation should be given the same consideration the province provided to the mining company.

"If the McGuinty government has $5 million for Platinex Inc., a company that showed no respect for First Nation rights, no respect for treaty rights," says Hampton, "will the McGuinty government do the fair, reasonable and decent thing and also compensate the First Nation, a very poor First Nation, for the more than $700,000 in legal costs they incurred in defending their constitutional rights?"

Hampton says the K-I band was forced to take money from its housing, recreation and education budgets to pay for its legal costs.

Mining Agreement

Six Treaty Three First Nations have signed a mineral exploration agreement with Sudbury based Canadian Arrow Mines.

The agreement formally recognizes the company's exploration activities in several locations around Dryden, Sioux Narrows and east of Fort Frances.

It also provides for employment and business contracts for the communities residents and compensation for any impact the company's work will have on aboriginal and Treaty rights.

Kenora Mayor Not Seeking Re-election

There will be a new mayor elected in the city of Kenora.

Current Mayor Len Compton says he won't be seeking re-election this fall after serving just one term.

Compton gave no reason for his decision.

Former Mayor Dave Canfield, defeated by Compton in the last election, and former Kenora councillor Andrew Poirier, have indicated their intention to seek the mayor chair.

Supervising Coroner Appointed

A northwestern Ontario physician has been appointed the Regional Supervising Coroner for northern Ontario.

Dr. Michael Wilson will take on his new responsibilities next month, overseeing the region's forty investigating coroners.

Wilson, who's worked in Nipigon as a family and emergency physician for the past decade, is also an Associate Clinical Professor at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.

Flights Added

Delta Airlines is adding additional flights this summer at Falls International Airport.

Beginning June 10, Delta will add a 7 a.m. flight out of the Falls and an 8:30 p.m. return from Minneapolis-St. Paul.

The move restores a schedule the Falls Airport Commission had requested since Delta went to just afternoon slights last September.

The schedule will return to two flights in September, but the commission is hoping Delta will maintain the early morning and late evening flight.

Warning Issued

Authorities in International Falls are issuing warnings to residents there of plans by a level 3-sex offender to live in the community.

28-year-old Michael Duane Johnson is set to be released from prison and move to the Falls on April 2.

According to the Department of Corrections, Johnson has a history of sexual contact with girls age 12 to 14.

Atikokan Rejects Mail-In Balloting

Voters in Atikokan won't be allowed to mail-in their ballots in this falls municipal and school board elections.

Township council voted against the idea of mail-in ballots at their meeting this week.

Mayor Dennis Brown was among those who saw no good reason to allow them.

"One of the purposes of the mail-in ballots is to try and get more participation at voting time," says Brown, "but in Atikokan that hasn't really been a problem. In the last four elections the voter turnout has been well over 50 per cent."

Brown says the cost of providing mail-in ballots would have also increased the cost of holding the election.

NCDS Expands

A new program forcing Northern Community Development Services in Fort Frances to expand locations.

Coordinator Cathy Emes says the Workforce Literacy and Essential Skills program is aimed at helping people better improve their literacy skills.

"International Literacy has developed this system where there's five levels of literacy," says Emes. "Everybody who comes to our organization will be tested and we will work with them on the areas they need help in."

NCDS is hiring four additional employees to deliver the program at a new office at 242 Scott Street beginning in early April.

Budget Day in Ontario

We'll find out today what the McGuinty government has in store for Ontarians when it tables its budget.

Some details have already leaked out, including funding for20-thousand new spaces at colleges and universities starting this September.

Premier McGuinty has also promised the budget will include special help for northern Ontario residents who have been hit hard by the recession.

The budget is also expected to include money for day-care spaces, to make up for a federal subsidy that ends next month.

Hugh Dennis Recognized

A number of area residents gathered at Fort Frances High School last night to show their appreciation for the outgoing coordinator of the Rainy River District Substance Abuse Prevention Team.

Hugh Dennis says his past three years with the SAP-Team have been very rewarding.

"To work in the district with seniors and young people and the Substance Abuse Team as a group has been fabulous," says Dennis. "Obviously it's been a work of passion, but its also been very, very rewarding."

An end in provincial funding is forcing the SAP-Team to continue without a full-time coordinator.

Northern Help On the Way

Premier Dalton McGuinty is promising some relief for the north in tomorrow's budget.

McGuinty wouldn't go into details about the exact measures northerners can look forward to, but says they will go beyond anything announced in the throne speech.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says it's about time the government came up with some sort of plan for the north, but adds this attempt will likely be seen by northerners as a last-ditch attempt by Liberals to show they care about communities they have ignored for years.

Day Care Funding Possible

The Toronto Star says this week's Ontario budget will include $63.5 million to save 76-hundred subsidized daycare spaces.

Sources say Finance Minister Dwight Duncan will use tomorrow's budget to announce the Liberals will replace federal funding that runs out April 1st.

Premier Dalton McGuinty says he is ''very reluctant'' to evict kids kids from quality daycare spaces and challenges for their families and parents.

He says it's "not an easy challenge'' to make up for the federal subsidy, but it will be addressed in the budget.

Parking Lot Concern

Concerns are being expressed with the new parking lot behind St. Mary's Church being turning into a playground for skateboarders and road hockey.

Church officials are asking the town of Fort Frances to erect signs in the lot prohibiting sports activities from taking place.

A letter to the town indicates such activities are already occurring and continued use cause further problems.

Warning: Thin Ice

OPP say the public should be weary about going on still frozen lakes and rivers.

Constable Anne McCoy recent weather should be caution for concern.

"Just be aware that we are late into our winter season," says McCoy. "We're getting into spring and the thaw is starting. We want people to be aware that they have to take extra precaution when they're venturing onto ice surfaces."

American authorities report at least two ATV's and one vehicle have broken through the ice on Lake of the Woods in recent days.

Poop and Scoop Enforced

The town of Fort Frances says it will be enforcing a by-law that requires owners to pick up after their animals while in parks and the waterfront.

CAO Mark McCaig says the problem appears to have gotten worse.

"I just remind everyone that there's a $75.00 fine for not cleaning up," says McCaig, "and we will be enforcing it in the next little while because it's going worse a little bit over this past winter so we will be addressing it."

McCaig says pet owners should show consideration for others by helping to keep area's clean.

Portal to be Launched

A new website aimed at attracting more immigrants to northwestern Ontario is to be launched later today.

The Northwestern Ontario Immigration Portal is the largest online collaborative immigration resource of its kind and will show case participating communities, including those in the Rainy River district, to potential immigrants.

Travel Grant Concerns

The NDP says dozens of people in northern Ontario are being forced to cancel appointments with specialists because of delays in government-funded travel grants.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton says the government is dragging its feet rather than helping northerners who must travel hundreds of kilometres in order to see a specialist.

"There are literally dozens and dozens of families who are being forced to cancel medical specialist appointments in places like Thunder Bay or Winnipeg," says Hampton, "because when they call the northern health travel grant office, the office says, 'No, we're not even going to deal with your application until after 10 weeks.' This puts people in a very difficult position."

Health Minister Deb Matthews says she was unaware of the problem and would look into it.

One Teen Still Missing

Two of three teens from the Training and Learning Centre in Watten Township who disappeared during an outing in Fort Frances have been found.

Police say they're still searching 14-year-old Sarah Kaityn Smith.

Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to contact police.

Duncan Keith Recognized

The Winter Olympics are long over, but former Fort Frances resident Duncan Keith’s contributions to Canada’s gold-medal winning hockey team are still be recognized.

Deputy Mayor Sharon Tibbs says Keith proved to be an ideal role model during a recent television interview.

"He's a product of our minor hockey," says Tibbs, " and he spoke very highly of this community and the hockey opportunities that he had here."

Council will forward a letter congratulating Keith and thanking him for portraying such a positive image.

Missing Snowmobiler

An American man is missing and presumed drowned after a snowmobile broke through the ice on Lake of the Woods north of Morson.

OPP say two men were travelling on snowmobiles in the area of Goose Neck Narrows on Sunday when one of the machines broke through the ice.

Sixty-eight-year-old Fred Bisel of Eagle Bend, Minnesota, is missing.

Brett Resources Take Over

A Quebec mining company is looking at taking over Vancouver-based gold explorer Brett Resources.

Osisko Mining is offering an all-share deal worth about 372-million dollars.

Brett is currently conducting explorations activities in the Hammond Reef area north of Atikokan.

The deal must still be approved by its shareholders, but the company's board of directors is recommending acceptance.

Missing Teens Sought

OPP are looking for three missing teens from the Training and Learning Centre in Watten Township.

Police says 15-year-old Reeva Chiefson, 14-year-old Tia Raylene Medicine and 14-year-old Sarah Kaityn Smith were on a Centre visit to Lions Park in Fort Frances Sunday when the three ran away from staff.

All three girls have ties to the Fort Frances area.

Anyone with information about the missing girls is urged to contact police.

Extra Employee Added

There will be an additional employee working at the Fort Frances Public Library and Technology Centre when it opens this June.

Library Board Chair Joyce Cunningham says a $109-thousand grant is allowing for the hiring of a technology coordinator on a two-year contract.

"It will enable us to hire a person with the expertise and skills to fully develop the technology centre," says Cunningham.

The individual, yet to be hired, will also work with the library in Rainy River.

The funding comes from Ontario Library Service North and Southern Ontario Library Service.

Library Project Nears an End

(Fort Frances Public Library Photo)

Construction of the new Fort Frances Public Library and Technology Centre is about 87 per cent complete.

Community Services Manager George Bell says the project is also on budget even with about 26 change orders.

"We had $232,150 in our contingency," says Bell. "This leaves us with $126,739 remaining to complete the project."

Bell expects much of the project to be complete by the end of April with the exception of landscaping.

Limited Number of Weddings Permited

Only a few weddings will be permitted this year at Sunny Cove Camp.

Four weddings, booked after council voted to allow such events, will proceed.

Councillor Andrew Hallikas would have liked more.

"We can't evaluate the impact on local business without having some data," says Hallikas, "and trying it for a year and looking at it at the end of the year would allow us to do that."

The owners of La Place Rendez-Vous had said catered weddings at the camp placed the town in direct competition with the private sector.

Council Walks Out on Council

Fort Frances councillor Ken Perry walked out of last night's council meeting after being refused a reimbursement of expenses incurred during at a recent meeting in Toronto.

No reason for the decision was publicly stated, but Perry later told CFOB-News it related to a return air flight from last month's Ontario Good Roads Conference.

Perry left from Toronto for a vacation in Las Vegas after the conference, instead of returning back to Winnipeg.

Perry says he was simply seeking the money the town saved by the change in flight, but was told he was not eligible because he did not incur any one-of-pocket expenses.

Bears Problems Expected Early

The weather may be nice, but it may bring about an unexpected problem - bears.

Linda Wall of the Ministry of Natural Resources' Bear Wise program says don't be surprised if they come into town sooner than later.

"Bears will be coming out of their dens earlier," says Wall. "They will be looking for food and the food won't be available. We are anticipating that we're going to see a spike in human-bear conflicts quite earlier in the season."

Wall asks that you remove bird feeders from your yard as a precaution.

Rafferty Goes to You-Tube

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty is turning to You-Tube to help get his message out.

He's creating a new weekly video that will be posted each week to answer constituents' questions.

"What I'm hoping is going to happen is people are going to watch this," says Rafferty. "They can send in an e-mail. They can phone in if they have any comments, questions or concerns that I can deal with in these video records later on week-by-week."

The first video was posted Friday.

Summer Jobs Available

The province's summer jobs for youth program is back.

Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle says the goal this year is to have more students hired.

"Last year we managed to have 5,900 young people employed," says Gravelle. "This year our goal is to get it up to 6,200.

Employers have until April 30 to apply for subsidies.

Green Tax

Starting in May Ontarians will have a new fee added to their hydro bills.

The extra four-dollars a year is help raise $53-million to fund the Liberal government's new green energy program.

The government says the money will pay for home energy audits and a program that helps industrial and commercial firms switch to solar power.

But critics complain it's another burden to consumers who will soon see their hydro bills rise because of the harmonized sales tax.

Atikokan Defends Request

The Mayor of Atikokan is defending his decision to seek a change in how much money municipalities contribute to the Rainy-River District Social Services Administration Board.

Dennis Brown says the current balanced formula requires his community to pay more then they should.

"Fort Frances choose to make up because of a loss of assessment by increasing their tax ratio," says Brown, "whereas Atikokan choose to go the other way because we are constantly trying to attract businesses and we don't want increase the taxes."

Fort Frances opposes the costing formula proposed by Atikokan say it mean higher costs for the town.

The Board is to discuss the idea at its meeting next month.

Library Update Tonight

(Fort Frances Public Library Photo)

Fort Frances town councillors are to receive an update on the new Fort Frances Public Library at their regular meeting of council tonight.

Library Board Chair Joyce Cunningham is also expected to update council on fundraising efforts for the new library which opens in June.

And the decision to allow catered weddings at Sunny Cove Camp will also get another look tonight.

Owner of La Place Rendez-Vous, Paul Noonan had asked council to reconsider its decision, saying the move would hurt negatively on those now providing such services.

The public portion of tonight's council meeting begins at about 6:25 p.m.

Call to Open Rainy Lake Hotel

An area businessman wants the town of Fort Frances to explore the possibility of re-opening the former Rainy Lake Hotel.

Mario Galluzo, president of Causeway Insurance, says he's like to see the former hotel renovated into a facility that helps foster the development of small businesses.

"Many small businesses in the region are basically working out of their homes," says Galluzzo, " and this would be a great opportunity one - to bring some stimulus to Scott Street in renovating it - and two - providing a place for small businesses that everyone seems to be targeting to start and grow."

Galluzzo believes there may also be government funding to assist in the renovation.

The hotel has been closed since 2005.

Calls for Proposals Issued

(Left: Ontario Power Generation photo)

Ontario Power Generation is moving quickly on the next phase of conversion of its coal-fired generating plant in Atikokan.

Spokesperson Ted Gruetzner says they've put out a call to potential suppliers of the material they want to burn at the plant.

"We're asking suppliers to give us some pricing on about 90-thousand tonnes of fuel," says Gruetzner.

Gruetzner says they hope to have a preferred supplier in place by the end of the year.

The plant's conversion is to take place in 2012.

Mining Protest Ends

First Nations are ending their blockade of airstrips used by mining companies eager to study the Ring of Fire chromite deposit, 500 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay.

The First Nations say they're willing to work with the province and the province and mining companies to ensure their concerns are addressed.

The aboriginal leaders say a visit by Mines Minister Michael Gravelle to their communities factored into their decision to end the three-month long blockade.

Natural Gas Rates Increase

Union Gas Customers in Fort Frances and northwestern Ontario can expect to pay more for natural gas next month.

Vanda Wall of the Ontario Energy Board says Union Gas has been given approval to raise rates effective April 1.

"Union forecast an an increase to the price of natural gas in the next quarter," says Wall, "and there was also a price gas adjustment. What that is, is the difference between what Union forecast it was going to pay in the last quarter and what it actually paid. The total result is an annual increase of about $134.00 for customers in the Fort Frances rate zone."

There is also a slight change in the transportation costs.

HST Meetings

Another meeting in Fort Frances is planned to help businesses better understand the HST.

Two seminars are planned for next Thursday at the Rainy River Future Development Corporation's office on Scott Street.

Because seats are limited, the Corporation is asking those wanting to attend to call its office to first register for the free events.

Safeway Back on Board

(Left: Aric Supinski teamed up with Mike Salvador and Reid Norine in 2009 to reel in 11.11 pounds of bass to win the Kids-Pro Tournament)

Canada Safeway has stepped forward once again to be the major sponsor of the Kid-Pro tournament at this year's Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship.

The event, which brings together young anglers with tournament pros will be held July 18.

It's the fourth straight year Canada Safeway has sponsored the event.

Ski Tour Still a Go

Organizers say they're going ahead with a planned cross-country ski tour through Quetico Provincial Park tomorrow.

Chris Stromberg says despite a lack of snow, ski trails that cross still frozen lakes are still save.

Some portages will have to be made on trails that don't have snow.

Participants are to gather at Little Falls Recreation Centre in Atikokan tonight at 7 p.m. for an event briefing.

Search Continues

The Alzheimer's Society of Kenora-Rainy River continues its search for a new executive director.

Margaret Schoenville stepped down after eleven years to take on a position with a Manitoba College.

Board Chair Bill Naturkach says they're currently short-listing potential candidates.

"Our next meeting is this coming Sunday," says Naturkach. "Then will follow that will interviews and then selection and negotiation with a selected individuals, but we optimistic that it shouldn't be too long."

Naturkach is encouraged by the strong interest for the position.

Child Care Protest Today

Children along with their parents are planning to rally today at the legislature demanding the McGuinty government maintain child-care funding in the budget.

Andrea Calver of the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care says Ottawa's funding for child-care subsidies is running out and the provincial Liberals aren't planning to top it up in the March 25 budget.

She says child-care centres may be forced to close as a result.