New College Program In Place

Confederation College has received funding to offer a new pre-apprenticeship program in automotive and heavy equipment mechanics at its campuses in Fort Frances and Kenora this spring.

Don Bernosky, executive director of Innovation and Skills Development says it addresses a demand for the program.

"We haven't offered this particular program at all in Fort Frances," says Bernosky. "We offered it a number of years ago in Kenora. It's an opportunity to be able to build the foundation and get the necessary skills and knowledge to be able to pursue a career in automotive and heavy equipment mechanics."

The $275-thousand in government money allows the College to offer the program for 40 weeks beginning at the end of May.

Debates Planned

At least two candidate debates are being planned for the Rainy River District this month.

April 19 will see the Thunder Bay-Rainy River candidates in Stratton.

The next day they will be in Fort Frances for a debate organized by the Chamber of Commerce.

All of the candidates but Conservative Maureen Comuzzi-Stehman have confirmed their attendance.

Former LHIN CEO Salary Questioned

The salary of a former government health agency CEO is taking centre stage.

Gwen Dubois-Wing made $276 thousand last year as the head of the Northwest Local Health Integration Network, but held left in February.

Board Chair Jan Beazley won't say why.

"Our CEO contracts are negotiated between the CEO and the board," says Beazley,"including any seperation packages that may be applicable. It's a human resource issue and the details of the contract are confidential."

The reason Dubois-Wing left the position has never been made public.

Building Code Change Concerns

The chief building official with the town of Fort Frances is opposing a change to the provincial building code.

The change will allow builders to connect non-potable water services to an existing municipal line.

Rick Hallam says it opens the door for toxins getting into the local water system.

"It could have anything in it," says Hallam, "from chemicals that are spilled, noxious or toxic, even to excrement from animals to human. We don't know. You have no control over what goes into that non-potable water supply."

Hallam is making his opposition known in a submission to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

News Mine Centre School Name Selected

A committee, tasked with finding a name for the new elementary school in Mine Centre, is recommending it remain Mine Centre School.

In a report to Rainy River District School Board trustees, the committee says there were lots of suggestions offered, but submissions put forward by students interested it the most.

Their submissions focused on the historical aspect of Mine Centre School.

Trustees are to vote on the proposed name at their meeting tomorrow.

Rafferty Opens Office

One of the first candidate campaign offices to open in Fort Frances happens tonight.

NDP incumbent John Rafferty will hold an official opening for his office on Mowatt Avenue tonight at 7 p.m.

Dry March

March turned out to be a dry month for much of the Rainy River district.

Statistics compiled by Meteorologist Bill Laidlaw show Fort Frances received 16 millimetres of precipitation in March, almost two-thirds of its normal for the month.

Atikokan's precipitation of almost 9 millimetres was about 80 per cent below normal.

Festival Starts Today

The 71st annual Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts gets underway today.

Piano competitions begin at the Townshend Theatre at 9 a.m. and later tonight at Knox United Church.

All events are open to the public.

Pennies for Play Carnival

Purple Pride was well on display Saturday in International Falls.

A group, trying to raise money for new playground equipment at Kerry Park, staged a football-themed carnival at Falls High School.

Three former Minnesota Vikings were on hand to lend their support.

Doug Sutherland, a member of the famed Purple People Eater defence, travelled from his home in Duluth to take part.

"It's giving back to the communities," says Sutherland, "and meeting some of the fans who were fans back then and new fans. It's just fun to be around."

Frank Youso, an original member of the first Vikings team, lives in International Falls.

He says the Pennies for Play campaign is a great initiative.

"I think it's wonderful," says Youso. "I think we need this. I think the playground at Kerry Park is run down and we'd like to build it up again. It's my pleasure to help."

Fellow alumni Matt Blair also attended.

Former Teacher Pens Second book

(Author Frank Maraj (l) with Randy Thoms and family)

A former Fort Frances High School teacher is out with his second book.

Snapshots II continues an autobiography Frank Maraj's first told in an early book.

"After the demand for the book, I though I would chronicle the university years," says Maraj. "So this book specifically addresses the events while I was a student at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay."

The book will soon be available at select stores in the Fort Frances area.

$100,000 List Grows

The number of public service employees in the Rainy River District who earned over one-hundred thousand dollars last year has grown.

The so-called Sunshine list was released yesterday by the province.

The Rainy River District School Board leads with twenty employees earning over the salary threshold, compared with nine reported in 2009.

Riverside Health Care Facilities has eight on the so-called sunshine list, compared with five in 2009.

Here is a list of some of public service workers identified

Northwest Catholic District School Board
Alvin Cesiunas, Superintendent of Education, $134,675.97
Teresa Dennis, Principal, $110,697.86
Guy Durand, Principal, $106,306.83
Ronald Fryer, Principal, $100,031.76
Christopher Howarth, Superintendent of Business $134,675.97
Brendan Hyatt, Principal, $100,938.78
Mary Catherine-Kelly, Director of Education, $184,670.45
MArk Lugli, Principal, $110,697.86
Joanne Querel, Assistant to the Superintendent, $121,046.93
Margot Saari, Principal, $110,697.86
David Sharp, Student Success Leader, $121,046.90


Rainy River District School Board
Jennifer Baker, Vice-Principal, $100,964.81
Leslie Barr-Kellar, Principal, $109,487.81
Heather Campbell, Director of Education, $166,748.24
James Chorney, Principal, $105,490.44
William Daley, Principal, $110,609.10
Paul Elliott, Teacher, $162,454.44
Darryl Gannon, Principal, $107,090.40
Pegeen Keffer, Vice-Principal, $104,823.96
Donna Kowalski, Vice-Principal, $100,023.50
Gary Lipinski, Teacher, $119,535.60
Donald McBride, Vice-Principal, $100,934.50
Gord McCabe, Principal, $115,209.85
Al McManaman, Principal, $119,131.77
Lucina Meyers, Principal, $106,253.15
Laura Mills, Superintendent of Business, $148,991.11
Kendall Olsen, Principal, $106,253.15
Sylvia Parker, Assistant to the Director, $124,500.79
Ian Simpson, Vice-Principal, $104,004.05
Casey Slack, Superintendent of Education, $131,138.10
Dianne Thompson, Principal, $112,402.13
Kerri Tolen, Principal, $106,253.15


Town of Fort Frances
Mark McCaig, Chief Administrative Officer, $129,285.70

Atikokan General Hospital
Marie Comell, Laboratory Manager, $103,068.90
Kim Cross, Assistant Executive Director, Finance, $103,568.81
Wayne Smith, Assistant Executive Director, Patient Care Services, $104,704.40
Robert Wilson, Chief Executive Officer, $185,764.48

Riverside Health Care Facilities Inc.
Edith Bodnar, Administrator, Rainycrest Long-Term Care Facility, $110,413.68
Debbie Canfield, Registered Nurse, $103,680.90
Shelley Gustafson, Registered Nurse, $107,518.45
Lori Maki, Executive Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, $156,610.02
Marna Martin, Registered Nurse First Assist, $113,319.92
Tammy McNally, Manager of Care, Rainy River Health Centre, $100,721.30
Dianna Whalen, Registered Nurse, $101,964.20
Wayne Woods, President/Chief Executive Officer, $228,000.02


Family & Children's Services of the Rainy River District
Vik Nowak, Executive Director, $114,260.83


Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board
Donna Dittaro, Chief Administrative Officer, $147,603.40

Arts Centre Looks at Bankruptcy

The volunteer board responsible for the operations of the Atikokan Arts Centre is considering filing for bankruptcy.

Chair Jada Siegfried says with the centre having run out of funds, the group is left with little choice.

"We would much prefer the building to stay open and the vision of the Arts Centre continue," says Siegfried. "Unfortunately, the funding isn't there for a qualified artistic director and staff to administer the programming and day-to-day operations."

Siegfried says it's likely assets will be sold off and the building eventually closed.

She says the facility, though, will remain available until then to groups wanting to use it, but without staff on site.

More Downtime at AbitibiBowater

There will more downtime for workers at the AbitibiBowater mill in Fort Frances.

The company reports operations will be curtailed for two weeks begin May 2nd.

The mill is currently in the middle of a shutdown that began Monday.

A previous two-week shutdown of the paper machines happened in February.

Poor market conditions are being blamed.

North West CCAC Workers in Strike Position

Workers with the North West Community Care Access Centre are poised to hit the picket lines April 18.

Conciliated talks between the Ontario Nurses Association and the Centre broke off yesterday.

Wages are at the heart of the dispute.

The union says the Centre's case managers and care coordinators are the lowest paid in the province.

Six nurses work out of the office in Fort Frances.

Merger Plans Delayed

Most of the groundwork is done, but it will still be at least a couple of months before a merger of child aid agencies in the Kenora and Rainy River district is complete.

Chair of Family and Children's Services Rainy River Bob McGreevy says they're still awaiting word that the province will take care of Rainy River's debt.

"For a couple of years, FACS has accumulated a debt," says McGreevy, "and before the amalgamation could go forward, we wanted to have that debt eliminated. We anticipate an announcement from in the next coupe of days from the Ministry that they have resolved that debt issue."

McGreevy says approval will allow both boards to cast a final vote on the merger.

Forest Fire Season Underway

Today is the official start to the forest fire season in Ontario. Ministry of Natural Resources spokesperson Debbie Maclean says they're anticipating a quiet start in northwestern Ontario. "We have slightly above average snow fall," says Maclean. "It likes that trend is going to continue with cold, wet weather in April. It's looking like a quiet start to the fire season in 2011." Maclean notes the average number of fires in the northwest Region has dropped in the past few years.

FedNor Dollars Awarded

Two Atikokan group have benefited from recent FedNor money.

The money to the Atikokan Economic Development Corporation and the Friends of Quetico was quietly announced last Friday, prior to the federal election.

The EDC received about half-a-million dollars for loan programs accessible by small and medium sized businesses.

The Friends of Quetico received about $25-thousand to hire a youth intern.

New Bridge Rules Approved

New rules governing the operation of CN Rail's drawbridge connecting Fort Frances with Rainer will go in place at the end of April.

Federal approval has been given a U.S. Coast Guard regulation that forces CN to man the bridge 24 hours a day between May 1st and October 15.

The bridge will open for vessels the remainder of the year with 12-hours advance notice.

It's currently operated remotely, but public complaints led to the Coast Guard taking action.

CN opposed the rule, citing limited requests for the bridge to open.

Solar Panel Project Clarified

Fort Frances town councillors have a clearer understanding of a project to place solar panels on some municipal buildings.

Corey Watson of Solar Logix met with councillors this past week.

He says the ability to sell power-produced back at 80 cents per kilowatt hour is based on peak usage.

"During peak hours, (users) actually paying over a $1.80," says Watson. "It's actually $1.86 at prime hours of consumption. So this steady rate of 80.2 cents is actually occurring right when the prime hours of peak consumption are occurring."

Watson predicts the rate will drop to about 40 or 50 cents in the near future.

Liberals Accussed of Ignoring the North

The Opposition at Queen's Park is on the attack for what they say is a lack of commitment to northern Ontario in this past week's provincial budget.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says the Liberals have done nothing in the way of job creation.

"Families in the north were expecting a budget that would address the loss of value-added jobs, the higher cost of living and the soaring electricity rates that people in the north are facing," says Horwath. "But instead of action, they got the same old tired rhetoric."

Horwath is also critical of cuts to the Ministries of Natural Resources and Aboriginal Affairs.

Boshcoff In

Ken Boshcoff has made it official.

The Liberal candidate for Thunder Bay-Rainy River has filed the necessary paperwork with the District Returning office in Thunder Bay to run in this May's federal election.

Boschoff simply says "The race is on."

Grade 10 Students Attend P.A.R.T.Y.

(LaVerendrye Hospital's emergency department was one of the stop in Grade 10 students visit to hospital)

A group of grade 10 students got a close-up look yesterday at what the impact of an tragic accident can have.

A visit to LaVerendrye hospital in Fort Frances was part of a prevention program called P.A.R.T.Y. - Prevent Alcohol Related Trauma in Youth.

Paramedic John Beaton, who started the program here, says it teaches young people to make smart choices.

"The term we use is a ripple effect," says Beaton. "The choice you make, how it effects everybody else, your family and friends, you don't realize those choices you make on a short notice how effects everybody so we're trying to get them to make smart risks."

Students also heard from emergency personnel and accident survivors.

Daffodil Sales Kick Off Today

The Canadian Cancer Society is asking area residents to help join in the fight against cancer by buying daffodils.

Fundraising Coordinator Margaret Saville says this year they're selling both daffodils and daffodil pins.

"Throughout Red Lake, Sioux Lookout, Kenora and Fort Frances there will be live daffodil sales," says Saville. "The pins are in Ignace, Rainy River and Ear Falls."

Saville says they've also started the planning for this summer's Relays for Life, including an event schedule for Fort Frances.

Tests Written Today

It's an important day for Grade 10 students across the Rainy River District.

Students at Atikokan, Fort Frances and Rainy River High Schools will write the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Tests.

The passing the test is a prerequisite for graduating high school.

Treatment Centre Supported

Area service providers are backing the need for an addictions treatment centre in the Rainy River district.

It's one of the conclusions to a survey conducted by the Rainy River District Women's Shelter of Hope

Researcher Connie Terlesky hopes the findings lead to a centre being built.

"We have an investor that is willing to put in a significant amount of money towards building a centre in Atikokan," says Terlesky. "I know there are others on that same path. I say who ever gets there first, lets band together and get it done."

Agencies also suggested a need for more programs aimed at men-only.

MMAH Supports Fort Frances

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing appears to be supporting the town of Fort Frances in its dispute over the funding of the Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board.

In a response to the town's concerns, the Ministry states in a letter that the benefit to area municipalities from the province taking on more of the costs to social services program amounts to over $918-thousand this year.

Fort Frances is to see a benefit of $420-thousand.

The DSSAB has reportedly stated the savings are only a fraction of those dollars.

Ontario Budget Details

Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan has unveiled the budget that will take the Liberals into the October provincial election.

Here are the highlights:

-- no new tax increases, decreases or tax credits for taxpayers or businesses.

-- program spending in 2010-11 was 2.6 billion dollars lower than forecast at 13.3 billion dollars; spending projected at 13.8 billion for fiscal 2011.

-- belt-tightening measures aimed at 1.5 billion dollars in savings over three years; includes major agencies cutting 200 million by 2013-14 and trimming 15-hundred civil service jobs starting next year.

-- deficit projected to fall to 16.3 billion dollars in 2011-12, down 400-million from previous year; balanced budget not forecast until 2017-2018.

-- creation of 60-thousand new university and college spaces by 2015-16.

-- 15 million dollars over three years to expand breast cancer screening programs to cover an additional 90-thousand women at high risk.

-- risk management program to help grain and oilseed farmers deal with volatile commodity markets made permanent; new programs for livestock and fruit and vegetable farmers.

-- 12.8 billion dollars in 2011-12 for infrastructure spending on roads, bridges, sewers and other projects.

-- economy forecast to grow by 2.4 per cent this year and 2.7 per cent next year.

Ontario Budget Reaction

The budget includes a $10-million dollar increase to the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund.

Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro says it's good news for the region.

"That fund for northern Ontario only, that at $60 million in 2007, now as a result of today's announcement, it at $100-million annually," says Mauro.

Mauro feels announcements for health care and education will also benefit the Northwest.



Kenora-Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton says the budget really brings nothing to northern Ontario.

Hampton feels the budget is more good news for people in southern Ontario. "The government was really talking to Bay Street," says Hampton. "Really talking to people in Toronto. That's where the corporate tax cuts are aimed."

Hampton is disappointed the budget provides no relief to high hydro rates, but includes cuts to the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Rainy River College Threatened

The Minnesota House has passed a higher education budget bill that cuts funding for the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities systems.

Democrats say the bill threatens the future of small colleges such as Rainy River Community College in Internatinoal Falls

UFO???

(Sandra Allan photo)

Some residents are talking about a strange object that appeared in the night sky over Fort Frances Monday night.

Sandra Allan, who took photographs, says it hovered in the south in an area over the AbitibiBowater mill for nearly half an hour before it disappeared.

"And it had lights. There was pink, yellow, white and green lights," says Allan. " In another picture it was rounded and the lights were evenly separated."

Some residents in Couchiching also reported seeing the object.

Reunion Planned

A grade 9 class from the former Westfort High School in Fort Frances is planning to reunited this summer.

Teresa Hazel, a former student, says the 1980-81 class was one of many that experience a unique school setting.

"Until about a year past our year, Westfort was exclusively for Grade 9," says Hazel. "That was kind of a unique position to be in because all of the kids from all of the different elementary schools came to grade 9 and had a year just on their own."

The committee is now in the process to contacting the 270 former students for the July reunion.

Fire Department Changes

The town of Fort Frances is downsizing its fire department. The number of full-time firefighters will drop from eight to six Fire Chief Frank Sheppard says the department is also moving to a platoon-style deployment model. "Rather than an overall response, it will be more of a reasoned response," says Sheppard. "For example, if there was a vehicle accident, there would be far fewer people responding to that initially." Sheppard says the change gives firefighters the ability to upgrade manpower and resources as needed.

Council Staying with Option 2 on Policing

It appears Fort Frances town councillors will stay with their decision to accept a policing contract with the OPP that will see the town pay for two fewer officers. Councillors reopened their discussions over the contract last night. Councillor Rick Wiedenhoeft feels satisfied that the level of policing provided won't change. "It still must meet with adequacy and effectiveness of the OPP," says Wiedenhoeft. "I don't think we have to be concerned about when we make that reduction of 1.5 officers that we're still going to be well serviced in this area." It was noted the town would have to raise taxes almost four per cent to maintain the existing contract with 18 officers on patrol.

Call for Locals to Participate

The Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship would like to see more local anglers participate.

Speaking to town councillors last night, chair Gord Watson says the field for this July's event is two-third's full, but most of the 81 teams are from out of the district.

"We still don't have the local support we're looking for," says Watson. "The prize structure was structured to intrigue more local anglers. It hasn't done so yet. We hope it will in the near future."

Tournament officials met with several town committees last week to discuss a host of requests for this year. Watson says they're working hard to ensure the tournament continues.

Drug Busts

Three separate drug investigations in the Rainy River district have resulted in the seizure of thousands of dollars worth of illegal drugs and charges against one man.

A 57-year-old resident of Rainy River faces trafficking charges after OPP seized nearly $4,500 worth of prescription pills and a large quantity of cash.

A search of two other homes in Rainy River and Emo led police to finding 34 marihuana plants and 860-grams of dried marihuana valued at $5,200.

No charges have yet been laid in those cases.

Green Party Candidate in Running

The Green Party has announced its Candidate for Thunder Bay-Rainy River.

Former research scientist Ed Shields says with science based jobs in our future, Parliament is in need of someone with his expertise.

"I just thought we that need scientists in Parliament," says Shields. "I looked and there's no PH.D. scientists in Parliament. We have all of these issues that deal with science that we need to be worked on yet none of the Parliamentarians have any experience in that."

Shields says northwestern Ontario has great potential for jobs in the bio technology industry.

Budget Day in Ontario

It's budget day in Ontario, but the McGuinty Liberals won't be filling today's budget with pre-election goodies designed to entice voters on October 6. But Finance Minister Dwight Duncan is planning to deliver a budget that doesn't contain any new hikes or cuts.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River Riding Candidates in Place

The campaigning has started for the federal election candidates in the Thunder Bay-Rainy River riding. Voters got to the polls May 2nd. Incumbent MP John Rafferty says he's ready. "There's no secret to my strategy," says Rafferty. "It's the same strategy I always used. That's to knock on as many doors as possible, stand in front of as many post offices as possible, meet as many constituents as possible and see what happens at the other end." Rafferty sees the issue of government ethics to be top of mind on voters. The riding's Liberal Candidate is prepared to regain the seat he lost to Rafferty in the last federal election. Ken Boshcoff says it will be a matter of time before his campaign team in place and he's opening campaign offices throughout the riding. "You have to be prepared both psychologically and physically," says Boshcoff. "I am that. It's just a matter of responding with a volunteer group and that's coming together very nicely." The former area MP says representation will be the key issue in the riding. Maureen Comuzzi-Stehmann carries the Conservative banner in Thunder Bay-Rainy River. t's her first campaign, but is eager to help the Tories win the riding by showcasing projects helped by programs initiated under Prime Minister Harper. " We're going to go after the Economic Action plan and reinforce the good work he's done for this region," says Comuzzi-Stehmann. "It's amazing that northwestern Ontario has gotten so much attention." Comuzzi-Stehmann says her team is already in place and has her campaign headquarters set up in Thunder Bay.

School Survey

The Fraser Institute's annual ranking of schools is again putting northwestern Ontario school near the bottom.

Spokesperson Michael Thomas says the rankings, based on the province's standardize test results, alert officials of the need for improvement.

"There may be issues at the heart of it that are not easily understandable by looking at the report card," says Thomas. "We want the whole community to come together to look at ways to improve student achievement."

North Star Community School in Atikokan tops all Rainy River district schools, but some schools honoured by the very group responsible for the tests are left out of the survey.

Bass Tournament Back on Agenda

Members of the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship will be back at town council tonight.

Their appearance comes following a week of talks with various town committees over a number of requests for this year's tournament.

Council is also to hear presentations from the Downtown Business Improvement Association and Solar Logix, the company offering to help set up solar panels on some municipal buildings.

No Chronic Wasting Disease Found

Minnesota's search for additional evidence of chronic wasting disease continues to come up empty. So far, 665 adult deer have been tested in southeastern Minnesota. The Department of Natural Resources began the tests after a deer infected was found near Pine Island last fall. The DNR will end its tests this week.

Federal Election Looms

Political mountains may have to move if we're to avoid a spring election.

It appears the government will fall on a Liberal non-confidence motion, chiding the government for showing contempt for Parliament.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River John Rafferty says he's voting in favour of that motion.

"I don't believe this government has been very ethical," says Rafferty. "I certainly don't believe they've been accountable or transparent - two things they campaigned on in the last election and in the election before."

Rafferty doesn't see any last-minute ditch efforts to avoid the inevitable.

Survey Studied Next Week

A survey conducted by the Rainy River District Women's Shelter of Hope is finding a high misuse of prescription drugs in our district.

Executive Director Donna Kroocmo says area service providers will come together next Tuesday to discuss the results.

"I think it will give us a lot of good information going forward as to the gaps in service that we have in our district to address some of these issues," says Kroocmo. Possibility that will give us good information to write proposals to fill in some of these gaps."

The survey was done to identify the key symptoms leading to abuse.

School Fees Explained

Provincial public schools will find out today what they can charge students in extra fees.

Some schools have charged students hundreds of dollars.

The new guidelines will also require boards to track their fundraising and corporate participation in schools.

NCDS Renovates

Some new facilities for Northern Community Development Services.

Executive Director Jennifer Greenhalgh says renovations to their Fort Frances location provides space for employers to meet with prospective employees.

"A lot of outside agencies do not have an office and quiet space to meet clients," says Greenhalgh. "They often become our clients after that so we realized there was a real need for a place for employers who want to conduct interviews and don't have an established office space."

The $160-thousand dollars worth of work was offset in part by provincial funding.

Cost to use NCDS facilities is free.

Murder Suspect Dies

A police investigation into a murder in northern Ontario is now turning into a coroner's inquest.

Dwane Turk of Thunder Bay died while being held in custody in North Bay.

Turk was charged with second-degree murder in the death last week of 32-year-old-Christopher Jean, near Elk Lake, North of Sudbury.

Jean was also from Thunder Bay.

Former Mayor Charged

The former mayor of Kenora will appear in court in May on impaired driving charges.

74-year-old Len Compton was arrested early yesterday morning after O-P-P pulled over a vehicle in downtown Kenora.