New Role for Native Leader

The province has appointed former Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief John Beaucage to help it address the needs of aboriginal children and youth.

Beaucage will give the province advice on aboriginal child welfare issues for one year.

He'll also help with discussions between the government and First Nations leaders.

Community Garden Planned

The town of Rainy River is starting a community garden.

Andrew Hartnell says they're working with the Northwestern Health Unit in getting the garden started.

"We've just started this last year," says Hartnell. "We built our shed and got the garden going and it will be in full swing this summer."

Hartnell says prospective gardeners can contact the Health Unit in Rainy River to participate.

It will be set up on land near Riverview School.

A similar project is planned in Fort Frances in the town's north end.

New Chaplain

There will be new Chaplain at Rainycrest Long Term Care.

Reverend Wayne McIntosh replaces the Fort Frances home's long-time Chaplain John Chornoby.

McIntosh is Pastor at St. John's Anglican Church in Fort Frances.

Film in Festival

A Fort Frances independent film producer is taking his latest production on the film festival circuit.

Andrew George's "A Good Indian" looks at the issue of racism, and he's now entered it in an on-line festival.

"It's on Babelgum," says George. "Babelgum Film Festival was started a few years ago by Spike Lee. It's been pretty popular so I uploaded it there and it's been doing well. It's been in the top ten of views for the past week. Go check it out and rate it. The rating is really the big thing."

George says he's hoping to take the 8-minute film to more traditional festivals in the future.

To watch this video go to: http://www.babelgum.com/5000616/good-indian.html

Highway Expansion Plans Announced

The province has announced its planned for a partial twinning the Trans Canada highway between Thunder Bay and Nipigon.

Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle says work will start this year on the first phase of twinning the highway.

Once all phases are complete, a continuous 33-kilometre four-lane divided highway heading east out of Thunder Bay, costing one-billion dollars, will be in place.

Motorboat Fines

Four American residents have been fined a total of $1,000 for using a motorboat in Quetico Provincial Park.

The men were charged last May after MNR Conservation officers came across them leaving the park with their boat and motor in tow.

Motorboats are not permitted in Quetico, except in the Lac La Croix and Beaverhouse area.

Atikokan Museum Grant

Some provincial support for the Atikokan Centennial Museum.

The museum will use just over 17-thousand dollars towards its operations.

The money is through a government program that provides annual funding to museums to support Ontario’s heritage.

FITS Committee Seeks Help

(Left: Scott Turvey addressing town council for help with this year's Canada Day events)

A volunteer committee tasked with organizing Fun in the Sun and Canada Day Celebrations in Fort Frances is seeking some help from the town.

It's asking for ten thousand dollars for the fireworks display.

Committee member Scott Turvey says they can no longer do it by themselves.

"We struggle with a lack a lack of resources, lack of funding, lack of untapped fundraising ideas, lack of members, and a lack of new, fresh ideas and people to make that happen," says Turvey. "We have seriously contemplated folding for at least the last five years, if not more, and 2010 is no exception."

Turvey says much of its revenue in the past has come from fundraising and government grants, but that grant it has receive isn't known until the last minute.

Pay Hike Reviewed

A planned pay hike for members of Fort Frances council is going to get another look.

Mayor Roy Avis asked for the review in light of recent comments made by Premier Dalton McGuinty.

"The recommendation from the government is that our union employees have to take a hard look at maybe a two-year wage freeze at the end of their existing contracts," says Avis. "With that I'd like to see council recommend that it goes to the administration and finance committee for a review."

The increase in councillor salaries is schedule to take effect following this fall's municipal elections.

Bigger Legislature?

There could be another 18 members added to the Ontario legislature to match planned additions to the House of Commons.

Premier Dalton McGuinty says if the federal government moves ahead with 30 new Members of Parliament, he'll have to consider a similar move in Ontario.

NDP's Andrea Horwath says some of those new seats should be set up in northern Ontario.

More Fire Activity

A forest fire near Atikokan was among eight new fires that sprung up across the Ministry of Natural Resources West Fire region over the weekend.

The fire is classed as under control after burning about seven hectares.

The hazard in the Rainy River district is listed as moderate.

Volunteer Fair Planned

Organizations looking to attract new members are being invited to participate in a volunteer fair planned by the Fort Frances Volunteer Bureau.

Karen Mitchell says the April 26 event at the Fort Frances High School is aimed at showcasing local groups to area high school students.

"Anybody that needs volunteers for anything can set up a booth, their pamphlets and a sign-up sheet," says Mitchell. "There's a lot of students calling (the Bureau) for volunteer works for their hours at school and they're not getting any because they can't find anywhere to volunteer. You need 40 hours to graduate so this will help them too."

Organizations or groups interested are being asked to call the Volunteer Bureau before April 23.

Money Received

After learning last month they'd won a million dollars, ten employees with North Air Taxi in Fort Frances have now received their money.

The win was from an Encore draw from last year.

Company owner Paul Bock says the workers are using the money in a variety of ways.

"One lady gave it to her three children and kept $25-thousand for herself," says Bock. "Somebody else gave it to their grand kids for school. One fellow is buying a new truck and doing some home renovations. Another used it to pay off their all their debts and says its the first time they've been out of debt in 37 years."

Despite having a little extra spending money, all of the employees are still working.

Festival Results Day 1

The opening day of the Rainy River District Festival of the Arts brought three multiple winners in piano.

Abigail Lucke earned three first place finishes.

Anika Alexander also earned three firsts, one in a duet with Sara Bagacki.

Alexis Sharpe was a double winner.

Piano performances continue today the Townsend Theatre and tonight at Knox United

Church.FESTIVAL RESULTS, PIANO DIVISION, Monday, April 12, 2010

CLASS P1001

First – Christina Empey

CLASS P901

First – Meagan Empey
Second – Ursula Chojko-Bolec

CLASS P801
First – Alexis Sharp

CLASS P802
First – Alexis Sharp
Second – Caitlin Sande

CLASS P902
First – Ursula Chojko-Bolec
Second – Meagan Empey

CLASS P1703
First – Sara Bagacki and Anika Alexander
Second – Caitlin Hogan and Katilyn Chiasson

CLASS P1704
First – Chelsea Carlson and Rachel Lipinski
Second – (TIE) Cameo Harrison and Shane Beck tied with Meagan Empey and Christina Empey

CLASS P701
First – Anika Alexander
Second – Courtney Bethune

CLASS P702
First – Anika Alexander
Second – Katelyn Shortreed

CLASS P707
First – Audrey Chojko-Bolex
Second – Anika Alexander

CLASS P1404
First – Krista Emond

CLASS P1403
First – Raymond Polz

CLASS P001
First – Tori Anne Toriseva
Second – (TIE) Cassidy Martin and Jenaya DeBenetti

CLASS P011
First – Abigail Lucke
Second – (TIE) Naomi Carradice and Andrew Loney

CLASS P012
First – Naomi Carradice
Second – Abigail Lucke

CLASS P015
First – Abigail Lucke
Second – Naomi Carradice

CLASS P013
First – (TIE) Gemma Friesen and Sara Gamache

CLASS P023
First – Lemuel Carradice
Second – (TIE) Jenna Mack and Mika Kooistra

CLASS P014
First – Abigail Lucke
Second – Madison Krikke

CLASS P024
First – Macy Anderson
Second – (TIE) Jacob Gustafson, Conner Pocock and Jillian Armstrong

Tax Filings Urged

The Ontario government is urging low-income earners to file tax returns.

Revenue Minister John Wilkinson says people who don't have to pay tax can still collect significant rebates by filing.

Among rebates are sales tax credits worth up to one-thousand dollars for a family.

The province is launching a month-long ad campaign encouraging people to file costing taxpayers $2.7 million.

Census Forms Filed

The U-S Census Bureau says participation in this year's Census is on track to surpass that in 2000.

Sixty-Five per cent of all Americans have filled the 10-question form first sent out in March.

A total of 72 per cent filled out Census forms in 2000.

In Minnesota, seventy-four per cent of residents have filled out the form while participation rate in Koochiching County is 61 per cent.

Festival Underway

The two-week long Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts kicked off this morning at the Townsend Theatre with performances in piano.

Jane Duerkson, a member of the Manitoba Conservatory of Music and Arts, is this year's piano adjudicator.

Area pianists continue to take centre stage this afternoon at the Townsend Theatre and tonight at Knox United Church begin at 6 p.m.

All events are open to the public.

Rainy River Resources Appointment

Rainy River Resources has named an individual to oversee the environmental assessment and permitting of its gold project near Emo.

Kyle Stanfield will serve as the company's Director of Environment and Sustainability.

Stanfield will also be responsible for working with area First Nations and municipalities.

Feds Help Remote Communities

(Ian McKenzie photo)

There is relief for some First Nation communities in remote parts of northwestern Ontario.

The federal government is providing $3.8 million in fuel-delivery subsidies.

Kenora M-P Greg Rickford says it helps remote communities deal with the deteriorating winter-road situation.

Rickford says they're now working with communities leaders on how to distribute the money.

Stabbing Death

A 45-year-old man from the Onigaming First Nation is dead following a stabbing incident.

Treaty Three Police say it happened last Thursday in a home in the community near Nestor Falls.

The man's name has not been released.

Health Plan Released

A plan to improve the health care system in northwestern Ontario has been drafted by the Local Health Integration System.

Interim CEO Laura Kokochinski says one of the goals is to provide health services as close to home as possible.

"We are certainly responsible to ensure that services are available to people," says Kokochinski. "The long-term care homes are trying to be very responsive when they have people from outside of the community. For example, the Fort Frances long-term care home has put Skype which is available right at the bed side."

The three year plan also includes ideas to reduce reduce wait times in hospital emergency departments and improving health care for aboriginal people.

Renters Get Help

A report says renters will be protected from rent increases due to the harmonized sales tax.

Sources say the province will close a loophole that would have let landlords apply for above-guideline rent hikes based on the 13 per cent tax on utilities.

Instead, new HST costs for utilities will be reflected in rent only as they affect the Consumer Price Index, which is used to calculate rent increases.

Hydro Increase Planned

Some hydro customers will see their electricity bills go up 11.6 per cent over the next year.

Hydro One has won approval to raise its distribution rates on May 1, and again on January 1 of next year.

The utility estimates the increase will add $4.25 a month to a typical residential customer this year, and a further $1.30 next year.

Council Meeting Tonight

Presentations on this year's Fun in the Sun festivities, operations at the water treatment plant and economic development activities will be given to Fort Frances town councillors at their regular meeting tonight.

A previous request by St. Mary's Church to halt sporting activities on a parking lot behind the church also comes back to table.

The public portion of tonight's meeting begins at about 5:45 p.m.

Rail Workers Contract Reached

(Canadian Pacific Railway photo)

Canadian Pacific Railway and the union representing workers that build and maintain track and machinery have reached a tentative three-year contract.

No details have been released.

There is no word on when a ratification vote by union members will be held.

Ontario Man Arrested

Winnipeg police have arrested an Ontario man on child pornography charges.

Police say a man, who was working in Kenora, brought a computer into a repair shop last October to get a problem fixed.

While working on the computer the technician found suspected images of child abuse and called police.

Thirty-four year old Eric John Maillard is charged with possessing child pornography and accessing child pornography.

Blood Donor Clinics Next Week

The Canadian Blood Services is returning to Fort Frances next week.

Blood donor clinics are planned for next Wednesday and Thursday

Spokesperson Harvey Heather says hoping for at least 350 donors.

"We always encourage people to call 1-888-2DONATE," says Heather. "That's 1-800-236-6283 to make an appointment. It certainly goes a lot smoother for everyone. It takes a little bit less time if you make an appointment, but we do have a some walk-in spots available as well."

More than six hundred units of blood were collected at clinics last year, about one hundred shy of amount donated in 2008.

Relay for Life Taking Shape

Eight teams have signed up for this year's Relay for Life event in Fort Frances.

It's planned for June 25.

Those interested in participating can do so by registering on line at www.cancer.ca/relay.

The first meeting of team captains will be held April 27.

Businesses Get Funds

The Ontario government is helping to launch thirteen private sector businesses through its Northern Entrepreneur Program.

Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle says it shows a little assistance from the taxpayer is sometimes needed to help the economy

"I think it reflects the fact that there are people out there who have those great ideas," says Gravelle. "With some help from the government and their own resources they can create businesses."

Fort Frances NXT Pro Sports Distributing, makers of a new neck guard for young hockey players and the Attention Joint were among those to receive funding.

Worker Wins Case

An employee with Boise Cascade in International Falls, fired for failing a company drug test last year, has been awarded his job back by the Minnesota Bureau of Mediation Services.

The man had disclosed taking a prescribed medication for pain, but the test identified a different type of narcotic in his system.

The arbitrator found the drug was found through an improperly administered test.

He also concluded that the man may have taken the drug for which had no prescription unintentionally, "clearly believing" it was the medication he'd been prescribed.

Regional Unemployment Rate Increases

Another 18-thousand jobs were created in Canada last month, but they were all part-time, and not enough to budge the jobless rate from 8.2 per cent.

In Ontario, the economy added 10-thousand jobs in March, causing a drop in the provincial unemployment rate by 0.3 percentage points to 8.8 per cent.

In northwestern Ontario, the rate increased went from 6.7 in February to 7.3 per cent.

MPP Questions Energy Annoucement

Some questions are being raised about the province's eight billion dollar green energy plan.

One-hundred and 84 new contracts for green-energy projects were approved yesterday by the provincial government.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton suggests many of the projects could be held up because of Canadian content regulations.

"What we're all ready finding is that many of the projects, even though announced, are having trouble sourcing the goods and services to meet the Goods and Services content level, says Hampton.

Four projects in the Rainy River Districts were given the go-ahead yesterday, while several other await approval.

Consumers will also face higher electricity bills as part of an yesterday's plan to create more renewable energy in Ontario.

There will be a one per cent increase or an additional five dollars per month on hydro bills by 2012.

Premier Dalton McGuinty says that's a small price to pay for the creation of clean power and thousands of jobs.

More Depots Sought

The agency overseeing a program to recycle old electronic equipment isn't giving up on efforts to create more collection sites in northwestern Ontario.

The program was set up a year ago.

Carol Hochu of the Ontario Independent Electronic Stewardship admits they've had some difficulties in setting up depots in northwestern Ontario.

"First of all it's purely voluntarily," says Hochu, "so we can't enforce or make anybody to be collector of the waste electronics. I guess its just a challenge to get the word out about the program and to find companies that are interested and willing to be collector."

The only depots currently in northwestern Ontario are in Thunder Bay.

Pharmistics Express Concern

Pharmacy retailers say Ontario's plan to scrap pharmacy allowances for generic drugs will inflict suffering on the industry as pharmacists slash jobs and services.

Ben Shenouda of the Independent Pharmacists of Ontario says pharmacists would have to cut hours to cut costs and some wouldn't survive.

He fears about 400 to 600 of Ontario's 32-hundred independent pharmacies could close if the plan becomes law.

Forest Fire Update

There have been no new forest fires since last weekend, but the fire hazard in the Rainy River district still remains high.

The Ministry of Natural Resources says the warmer than normal temperatures and moderate winds are both contributing to the hazard.

Many municipalities and First Nations communities have implemented fire bans since the start of the fire season April 1st.

To date there have been 22 fires across northwestern Ontario - six in the Rainy River district.

Lawsuit to Proceed

A class action lawsuit against George Brown College in Toronto has received certification from a judge to proceed.

Former students of the school's international business management program are alleging it didn't have to ability to confer the industry designations it promised.

The suit represents 119 former students.

B-93 Facebooks

B-93 has joined the social networking site Facebook.

Listeners and computer user can now go to B-93 Borderland's Best Music for news and sports headlines, contest details and local information.

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.