2009-04-24
08:11:49
Steve Arpin will start 18th in today's running of the ARCA-ReMax 250 at Talladegga Superspeedway today.
His qualifying time of 52.007 seconds was about 7/10 of a second off the pace of pole sitter Tom Hessert.
Today's race goes at 4:00 p.m. central time and can be seen on Speed-TV.
2009-04-24
08:10:47
Fire hydrants in the city of Littlefork are being flushed today.
The Littlefork Water Department will be performing the work this morning.
Officials says water users may experience some changes in their water pressure and may notice a slight discolouration of the water while the works is being done.
2009-04-24
07:56:25
A triple win yesterday at the Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts.
Christina Empey captured three first place honours during the piano competitions.
Those competitions wrap up today at Knox United Church.
Here as the results from Wednesday and Thursday
FESTIVAL RESULTS, PIANO DIVISION, Wednesday, April 22, 2009
CLASS P806
First – Rachel Lipinski
Second – (TIE) Cameo Harrison and Jackson Gillon
CLASS P506
First – Sarah Bagacki
Second – Kaitlyn Chiasson
CLASS P406
First – Jared Bethune
CLASS P403
First – Jared Bethune
CLASS P503
First – Kacia Veldhuisen
Second – (TIE) Scott Barker and Lorianne Dueck
CLASS P407
First – Jared Bethune
CLASS P507
First – Lucas Koomans
Second – Kacia Velhuisen
CLASS P307
First – Raymond Polz
Second – Beth Layne Ward
CLASS P1301
First – Callahan Wiedenhoeft
Second – (TIE) Katelyn Bruyere and Nicholas Veldhuisen
CLASS P012
First – Connor Pocock
Second – Jacob Gustafson
CLASS P013
First – Connor Pocock
Second – Alex Veldhuisen
CLASS P011
First – Jacob Gustafson
Second – (TIE) Emma Dawn Romanetz-Harland and Danni-Mae Mainville
CLASS P1502
First - Tianna Veldhuisen
Second – Moriah Carradice
CLASS P1503
First – Kacia Veldhuisen
FESTIVAL RESULTS, PIANO DIVISION, Thursday, April 23, 2009
CLASS P050
First – Callahan Wiedenhoeft
Second – Caley Wynter Harland
CLASS P103
First – Cara Sane-Calder
Second - (TIE) Justis Gauthier and Arthur VanAel
CLASS P203
First – Jordan Bruyere
Second – Julia Quast
CLASS P303
First – Jilayne Derksen
Second – Raymond Polz
CLASS P202
First – Jordan Bruyere
Second – Jazmine Coral-Hope Gauthier
CLASS P102
First – Arthur VanAel
Second – (TIE) Caitlyn Rittau and Cara Sane-Calder
CLASS P107
First – Caitlyn Rittau
Second – Justis Gauthier
CLASS P207
First – Jazmine Coarl-Hope Gauthier
Second – (TIE) Julia Quast and Jordan Bruyere
CLASS P1003
First – Christina Empey
Second – Brittany Beyak
CLASS P903
First – Lauren Davis
CLASS P907
First – Meagan Empey
CLASS P1007
First – Christina Empey
Second – Brittany Beyak
CLASS P904
First – Alicia Adair
Second – Danyelle Kora and Meagan Empey
CLASS P1005
First – Christina Empey
Second – Brittany Beyak
CLASS P902
First – Alicia Adair
CLASS P901
First – (TIE) Danyelle Kora and Lauren Davis
Second – Alicia Adair
CLASS P1304
First – Lauren Davis
Second – Courtney Peters
2009-04-24
07:54:38
Ontario has a new chief medical officer of health.
Doctor Arlene King takes over her new post in June. She is currently director general of the Centre for Immunization and Respiratory Infectious Diseases at the Public Health Agency of Canada.
She takes over from Doctor David Williams, who had been serving as Ontario's acting chief medical officer of health. Williams will now return to his post as associate chief medical officer.
2009-04-24
07:48:50
The province is about to act on some of the key recommendations of the Rosehart Report.
The report - which identified ways of improving the northern Ontario's economy - was released more than a year ago. Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle says expect some announcements soon.
"When it was brought forward by Dr. Rosehart, it responded to the needs of northeastern and northwestern Ontario," says Gravelle. "This, the timing is more important than ever before."
Gravelle says other parts of the Rosehart report have already been implemented, such as lower business education taxes and increased funding for winter roads and northern highway maintenance.
2009-04-24
07:48:12
Public elementary occasional teachers with the Rainy River District School Board have a tentative agreement.
The deal must still be ratified by the 85 members of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario.
But union president David Clegg says the agreement recognizes the experience and qualifications the teachers bring to the classroom.
2009-04-24
07:47:13
There will be a new principal at Fort Frances High School this fall.
Al McManaman will take over the position now held by Gord McCabe who's moving to be principal at Crossroads School. It's one of several staffing changed announced the Rainy River District school board.
Elsewhere, Crossroad's acting principal Donna Kowalski returns as its vice-principal.
Peg Keffer, acting principal at Donald Young and Nestor Falls schools, becomes a vice-principal as Fort Frances High.
Jennifer Baker goes from the vice Principal of Donald Young and Nestor Falls Schools to that at J-W Walker.
And Vice Principal of Robert Moore School, Leslie Barr-Kellar will replace Brenda Ferris-Hyatt who is retiring as principal of Mine Centre.
2009-04-24
07:45:39
Thunder Bay-Rainy River M-P John Rafferty is being criticized for not showing in the House of Commons Wednesday during a Bloc Quebecois motion in support of the federal long-gun registry.
The motion passed 143-136. Kenora Conservative M-P Greg Rickford says he's disappointed and upset northern Ontario New Democrats didn't take a stand to get rid of the gun registry.
Rafferty says he wasn't in the House because he was busy with forestry business and the vote came just before a scheduled meeting with CUPE.
2009-04-24
07:42:20
The Township of Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls is marching to the beat of its own drummer.
While many municipalities are looking at raising taxes, Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls council has reduced them. Mayor Bill Thompson says the overall tax rate will drop 12-per cent this year.
"The council decided last fall that with the increase in municipal property assessment, properties in Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls went up considerable more than the province average," says Thompson, "we would negate that increased by reducing taxes an equivalent amount."
Thompson says combined with the education taxes, he estimates the average homeowner will see their tax rate drop about 10 per cent.
2009-04-24
07:39:40
Ontario's tourism Minister Monique Smith admits its going to be a challenging time for tourist operators in northwestern Ontario.
Some operators have already stated they won't be opening this year. Smith says the province is trying to help the industry as best it can.
"We have invested $2.3 million over the next couple of years with our northern stakeholders on the Northern Ontario Marketing Strategy," says Smith. "We're developing tools to assist in their web presence. A lot of people are moving to the web in their travel searches."
Smith says the operators should also be able to tax advantage of tax cuts to small businesses introduced earlier in the provincial budget.
2009-04-23
08:58:43
A championship title for the Northwest Storm, the region's under-14 girls hockey team.
The Storm defeated Nepean 2-1 in double overtime in Mississauga on the weekend to win the Provincial Bantam Girls Championship. Danielle Jean and Jillian Langtree of Fort Frances were part of the winning squad.
2009-04-23
08:57:29
A member of the Rainy River High School's badminton team has won a NWOSSA title.
Courtney Hanson went five and oh to win the junior singles title in Thunder Bay. Jordan Hanson and Katherine Wetzel finished third in senior's mixed doubles.
2009-04-23
08:56:44
Emergency personnel in the International Falls area will be conducting a test of its ability to respond to a Tornado today.
Officials say the public should not be alarmed if you hear sirens - as it will be a part of the test.
The exercise is expected to conclude later this afternoon.
2009-04-23
08:47:21
A Rainy River High School educator has been recognized by the province.
Laureen Kuzyk, an educational assistant at Rainy River High School, was recently awarded a Premier's Award for Teaching Excellence as an Excellent Support Staff. Kuzyk was singled out for her energy and enthusiasm for education.
She's noted for purchasing used clothes and cutting hair for students who struggle financially, and tutoring students after hours.
2009-04-23
08:24:42
The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association has reached its goal in establishing a bursary for students attending the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.
Chair of the Northern Ontario Medical Education Award Fund Ron Nelson says the $100,000 dollars it set out to raise has been achieved - mostly through municipal donations.
"The majority of that money came from the municipalities," says Nelson, "that back in the day, when we started this, we had just tremendous amount of support with backing dollars to obtain that goal."
Nelson says how the money will be awarded will be determined by Lakehead University and the School of Medicine. While the first graduating class will occur later this year, the first award may no be issued until next year.
"Because of the fall in the stock market, Lakehead University does not want to pay out any bursaries because it takes away from their capital money. The Medical School is looking at its differently."
Nelson says even though its goal was achieved, NOMA will continue to raise money that will be directed toward other medical needs.
2009-04-23
08:23:52
There's a lot of interest in the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.
The school says its received more than 1,800 applications looking for one of 56 spots at either the Thunder Bay or Sudbury campuses. Nearly four-hundred of them have already received interviews.
Letters of acceptance will be issued next month.
2009-04-23
08:22:53
Thunder Bay-Rainy River John Rafferty is continuing his demands for a national forestry strategy.
The NDP forest critic says the strategy, which should include loan guarantees for troubled companies, will help protect thousands of jobs. Rafferty has also tabled a motion asking the government to match a subsidy provided to American pulp-and-paper companies. He says a matching subsidy will provide a level playing field for Canadian mills.
The MP says 45,000 forestry jobs have disappeared in the last two years and thousands more are threatened by the stagnating economy.
2009-04-23
08:19:36
It was a good start for the Canadian Blood Services yesterday.
More than 150 people turned out to the first of three blood donor clinics being held at the Fort Frances High School.
Community Development Coordinator Harvey Heather says the 120 units of blood collected yesterday will help area hospitals.
"This is a big part of our weekly collections that we have for 90 hospitals in Manitoba and northwestern Ontario," says Heather, "including the hospital in Fort Frances. We need about 1,200 donations of blood each week for patients in those hospitals."
The clinics resume this afternoon from 12 noon to 3:00 p.m. and again from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
2009-04-23
07:47:08
A plan to renovate and relocate the tugboat Hallet and fire tower from Pither's Point Park to the waterfront will be decided at Monday's town council meeting
Fort Frances councillors were told yesterday that nearly $100,000 in savings have been made to the original tender price following discussions with the proposed contractor. But councillor John Albanese still insists the million-dollar price tag is a waste of money.
"To be me wasting taxpayer dollars to move the Hallet and the tower.....sorry, I can not support that," says Albanese.
Some councillors feel the project will help boost tourism and further enhance the town's waterfront. Councillor Rick Wiedenhoeft says the work, on the tower especially, will be good for the town.
"The tower is going to be just picked up and moved and still be an ugly piece of junk sitting at the waterfront," says Wiedenhoeft. "It's going to be completely refurbished. It's going to be an attraction."
"I think people are going to want to up there. I think kids are going to want to go up there and look around. I feel that it more so than the Hallet is going to attract people to the waterfront."
2009-04-23
07:42:17
The plan to build a new library and technology centre in Fort Frances has lost some municipal support.
Councillor Sharon Tibbs said during a special meeting yesterday, she can no longer agree to the project going ahead. Tibbs who voted in favour of accepting a construction contract last week, says AbitibiBowater's bankruptcy announcement has swayed her support.
"With that announcement on April 15 and the economic crunch that this municipality is in, I think we should not consider building this library at this time," says Tibbs.
Council heard from project manager Brian Avis regarding his observations surrounding recent debate. Avis delivered the same message to members of the Fort Frances Library Board on Monday. Mayor Roy Avis says there's been a lot of talk about maintaining functionality, but little about ongoing operating costs.
"If council did agree to a dollar contribution, I would hope the building committee not only worry about functionality, but also the ongoing operating costs," says the mayor.
Brian Avis reiterated a need for council to decide how much money it would be willing to contribute to the project, no firm decision was made.
