AbitibiBowater is planning further cost cutting at some of its Canadian mills.
CEO Richard Garneau says with the Canadian dollar hovering around par with the U.S. greenback, the company needs to have a similar cost structure on both sides of the border.
Garneau declined to identify the targeted mills or indicate how much more costly they are to operate than their U.S. counterparts.
Atikokan Mayor Dennis Brown isn't giving up hope on Atikokan Forest Products.
The mill, located at Sapawe which closed in 2008, is now in receivership.
Brown believes it's a mill that can easily reopen.
"It's a very modern mill," says Brown. "Mr. Buchanan and his group spent a lot of money over the years and I'm sure it's going to be an asset for another organization, another company to purchase and continue operating."
Brown says the town's willing to work with the receiver to help find a buyer and get former employees back to work.
Fort Frances town councillors sit down today to begin discussing the 2011 budget.
The preliminary operating budget is at about $21-million while the capital budget is sitting at almost $8.5 million.
The figures, though, don't include costs for such things as town's levy to the Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board, a policing cost increase or a fire department arbitration award.
Northwestern Health Unit's medical officer of health says the new strain of flu concerning health officials this year isn't causing much concern to this area yet.
H3N2 has strained medical services elsewhere.
Doctor James Arthurs says because of its inactivity here people shouldn't avoid getting the flu shot.
"I think this is our opportunity to encourage people to go out, if they haven't already gotten their flu shot vaccination," says Dr. Arthurs, "we would certainly encourage them to do that."
Arthurs says this year's flu shot includes a vaccine to combat the new strain.
The Northwestern Health Unit and Canadian Cancer Society have once again teamed up to offer the Annual Driven to Quit Challenge.
Society Spokesperson Naomi McNeill says a number of prizes are for grabs for smokers who butt out for the month of March.
"Such Honda Hybrids, a five-thousand dollar vacation get-a-way and buddy prizes as well," says McNeill.
Visit any Health Unit office or go on-line at http://www.driventoquit.ca/ to register.
An Atikokan area mill is among four Buchanan-owned mills that have entered bankruptcy proceedings.
Atikokan Forest Products is now in receivership.
Company spokesperson Yves Fricot says it's too soon to say if it will be a positive move.
"The mills closed about three years ago," says Fricot," and it's everybody's hope, ours, the unions and our employees, that we might be able to hang through this downturn and ultimately reopen the mills and put people back to work."
Atikokan Forest Products closed in 2008.
The Steelworkers Union will be looking to obtain severance for former workers.
Analysts are looking for big things from Rainy River Resources this year as the junior exploration company recently closed a $75-million financing and released its latest drilling results.
The company, which is developing a gold project north of Barwick, says the infill drilling results also opened up new areas for potential expansion.
RBC analyst Stephen Walker says ongoing results will be the prime catalyst driving share prices until the company releases its resource update this spring.
(CN Rail photo)
(Rainy River Futures Development Corporation photo)
The Northwest District Catholic School Board has received the go ahead from the province to expand St. Michael's School to allow for the full-day kindergarten this fall.
Education Director Mary Catherine Kelly says the Ministry of Education has confirmed the over $622-thousand for the project at the Fort Frances school.
"The board will renovate two existing classrooms so that it adds two additional square footage," says Kelly. "Then we have two classrooms that will be expanded even further to create kindergarten full-day classrooms across from the current kindergarten classrooms."
Work is expected to begin this spring.
The town of Fort Frances is again going to allow a limited number of weddings at Sunny Cove Camp this year.
Councillor Andrew Hallikas says they're permitting just four during the non-traditional wedding months as part of an ongoing evaluation of the service at the town owned camp.
"We had allowed up to four weddings last year, I think only two actually happened," says Hallikas. "We're still in early days and seeing how it goes because it is a good resource for the entire community."
The town put a limit on the number of weddings last year after complaints it was going in direct competition with the private sector.
(Dr. James Arthurs (r) speaking to area mayors in 2009)
(Dr. Eva Olsson speaking Tuesday at Fort Frances High School)A return visit to the Fort Frances yesterday by holocaust survivor Dr. Eva Olsson.
Olsson is visiting schools across the district to talk about her experiences and how we can combat hate and bullying.
The 86-year-old says it starts with parents teaching their children about proper attitudes now.
"Because we want to see them when we see them as adults," says Olsson. "They're going to replace us. They're going to be leaders, some of the them, and I want to be sure I won't be disappointed what I send out there."
She's at Atikokan High School today and returns to St. Michael's School in Fort Frances tomorrow.
Area municipal officials believe the advocacy work of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association is paying off.
Acting president and Atikokan Mayor Dennis Brown says NOMA's ability to speak directly to provincial cabinet ministers allowed them to tackle several issues of concern in 2010.
"From all of these meetings we've noticed some changes made for the betterment," says Brown. "We have the ability to meet with the ministers when there is a need to do and we'll continue to do that in 2011."
Brown feels with a provincial election on the way, NOMA will like get increased attention from all parties.
A partner in the company Atikokan Renewable Fuels says they've been forced to lay off most of their employees because they are still waiting for a wood allocation from the Province.
Ed Fukushima says the process is flawed and he's disappointed.
"It's problematic, "says Fukushima. "If there's a deadline set it should be met. We've got a major investment up there in Atikokan. It cost us to heat the building which is not producing any income. We're paying taxes up there and we have potential jobs for some northerners. There's no reason why this project shouldn't go forward."
The plant proposes to make pellets for Ontario Power Generation, but Fukushima says time is working against them.
Treaty Three Police Service is hoping to have their new detachment at Couchiching First Nations up and running in the near future.
Chief Conrad Delaronde says they are just putting the finishing touches to the facility.
"We should be taking possession of it hopefully in the early part of the new year," says Delaronde. "It's almost done. It's on Agency One land and it's going to be out southern detachment serving communities in that area."
Delaronde says they also want to expand their drug unit and enhance their administrative services in the new year.
Minnesota's Department of Natural Resources has unveiled its plan to slow the spread of zebra mussels and other aquatic invasive species.
It includes additional conservation officers to inspect boats and other vehicles that spread invasive species as well as increased fines for violations.
It will be presented to state lawmakers on Friday.
(City of International Falls photo)
Some International exposure over the weekend for International Falls and its Ice Box Days.
Chamber president Faye Whitbeck was the guest Saturday on a London, England based radio program to talk about the event.
Whitbeck says the hosts inquired mostly about turkey bowling, comparing the frozen birds to actual bowling balls and wondering where you placed your hands.
(Fort Frances High School teacher Shane Beckett explaining Natural Helpers Program at recent Rainy River District School Board meeting)
(Voyageurs National Park photo)The Park says thin ice conditions are preventing other trails from opening.
The Alzheimer's Society of Kenora and Rainy River Districts is trying to raise awareness of the disease in 2011.
Executive Director Lynn Moffatt says a new survey suggests that 23 percent of baby boomers don't know some of the early signs of the disease.
"Some of the ten warning signs are memory loss that effect day to day abilities," says Moffatt. "Difficulty performing regular and familiar tasks such as preparing a meal or playing a game even."
Moffat says the risk of getting the disease also increases with age.
The Grand Chief of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation is traveling to New Zealand next week.
Stan Beardy will be taking part in a conference that will look at environmental issues.
He'll be one of the panel speakers representing first nations living in the boreal forest.
Shaw Cable will be sending its Internet customers warnings about illegal downloading.
Warner Brothers Entertainment is apparently asking Shaw to send emails advising customers that it is illegal to download copyrighted music and movies.
Shaw president Peter Bissonette says the company is simply complying with a copyright agreement between all broadcast distributors and copyright holders.
Easter Seals is putting out a call for participants to this year's Snow-a-rama in Atikokan.
The January 29 event is a one hundred kilometre ride allowing snowmobilers to raise money for Easter Seals kids programs in northwestern Ontario.
Rhonda Harrison of the Easter Seals Thunder Bay office says it's one of their signature events.
"Atikokan is like the second biggest of all of Ontario," says Harrison. "It's one of the original Snow-a-Rama events. It's quite a following. It has people coming from all over to participate."
Registration and pledge forms can be found by going to the website http://www.snowarama.org/
