It was a busy December for Canada Border Services Agency officers at the Fort Frances border.
More than 42,000 travellers were processed with officers having to make a total of eighteen seizures of undeclared or prohibited goods.
In one case, a Canadian resident had their car impounded after failing to declare over a thousand dollars worth of vehicle repairs.
The vehicle was returned after the owner paid out more than $00 in penalties.
In another incident, a Canadian was forced to pay out almost $1,500 after trying to avoid paying the fees on more than a thousand dollars worth of items purchased in the U.S.
The agency says the individual was asked to report inside, but left the property first to drop off the undeclared goods at a nearby parking lot.
Both the goods and the person's vehicle were seized, and later returned when the penalties were paid.
Trustees with the Northwest Catholic District School Board got a recent opportunity to hear from province's education Minister.
Board Chair Anne-Marie Fitzegerald says Leona Dombrowsky spoke recently at a conference in Toronto.
"Minister Dombrowsky shared with us that the focus of the McGuinty government's focus will be on student achievement," says Fitzgerald. "And they're very excited about the response to the full-day every-day junior and senior kindergarten program."
Fitzgerald says based on the Minister's comments, the board is moving in the right direction with respect to student achievement.
The Ministry of Natural Resources is seeking the public's help in solving a number of cases where moose were illegally killed in northern Ontario.
Conservation Officer Ken Ukrainetz says in each case, the moose carcasses were left to rot in the bush.
"People, even know they're supposed to be sure of what they shoot, will make a mistake," says Ukrainetz. "It's definitely taken into consideration if someone does come forward and does admit to shooting the wrong animal."
The MNR is investigating no fewer than twenty cases from this past hunting season, including two near Vermilion Bay and one near Ear Falls.
The Union of Ontario Indians wants area First Nations to participate in the 2011 long form census.
Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee says it's vital that aboriginal residents take part.
"It ensures that adequate funding for priorities like education, health care, economic development both on and off reserve are taken into account with accurate numbers," says Madahbee. "If our First Nations data and information is not included, very little funding comes to the communities."
Madahbee says they've struck a deal with Statistics Canada to hire aboriginals to collect the data from area reserves.
(Insp. John Kendrick speaking recently at Fort Frances town council)
(Town of Rainy River photo)The town of Rainy River wants to become this year's Kraft Hockeyville.
It's entered the contest looking for Canadian communities with strong hockey spirit.
Recreation Director Meaghan Shanks says they're now asking people to submit stories to help it reach the next level.
"There's nothing to lose in putting your name forward," says Shanks, "so I went ahead and put a story in there with some pictures. We've started a Facebook page and we're hoping to have people go there and write some stories."
Submissions are being accepted until January 31st.
(Solar Wall photo)
Some new hunting rules impacting the Kenora and Rainy River districts could be in place this fall.
John Dungavel of the Ministry of Natural Resources' policy branch, says the proposal would restrict where gun owners could have a loaded firearm.
"What this proposal would do if it was implemented would be to restrict the possession of loaded firearms within eight metres of the travelled portion of a roadway," says Dungavel.
Dungavel says concerns from some rural municipalities prompted the Ministry to consider the change.
It is already illegal to shot a firearm from the road or its right of way.
Energy Minister Brad Duguid says Tory Leader Tim Hudak is trying to "hoodwink'' Ontario residents on energy.
Hudak is blaming smart meters, the Green Energy Act and massive subsidies to the foreign company Samsung for causing electricity bills to skyrocket.
Duguid says the real reason is the cost to build a clean, modern reliable energy system for the province.
Ontario Provincial Police and Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs are asking snowmobilers to make smart choices this winter.
This is Snowmobile Safety Week in Ontario.
OPP Sergeant Michael Price says there have already been five snowmobile fatalities this winter.
"Unfortunately our latest fatalities took place on a lake," says Price, "so we're stressing that the safest place to operate a snowmobile is actually on an OFSC trail."
A 55-year-old man died when his snowmachine went through the ice near Kenora last month.
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)
