Young Men's Conference a Success

The first ever young men's conference is being hailed a success by organizers.

Nineteen students, most in grade 8, gathered at Quetico Provincial Park for three days last week.

Crossroad's School principal Gord McCabe says the focus differed from a conference held annual for girls of similar age.

"The young women's conference is geared towards a leadership theme," says McCabe. "With this program, what we wanted to do is to gear towards students who wouldn't normally get this type of opportunity."

Participants were involved in several outdoor adventures, along with planning and goal setting.

Spring Bear Hunt

There are renewed calls to bring back the spring bear hunt in Ontario.

Terry Quinney of the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters says the demise of the hunt ten years ago has resulted in big increases in the number of bears.

"To minimize the risk to people and maximize the benefits of this wildlife resource for Ontario society, the Ontario government needs to reinstate the spring bear hunt," says Quinney

Quinney says the province's so-called BearWise program has done little to control an expanding black bear population.

Contact North Getting Upgrade

Contact North is upgrading its facilities.

The distance education facility has been given $3.5 million in provincial funding to modernize it's video equipment.

CEO Maxim Jean-Louis says it will enhanced the delivery of services.

"In some cases we are going to introduce some of those leading edge video conferencing learning technologies that are going to make things that much better," says Jean-Louis.

Jean-Louis says the government helps Contact North with upgrades on a regular basis.

Mental Health Services Report

Mental health and addiction services are two topics being studied by a new provincial government group.

Committee member Sylvia Jones says they'll be bringing their report to various provincial ministries for their consideration.

"There was a number of concerns, both First Nations and rural, with prescription drug abuse," says Jones. "Oxycontin being one that comes to mind."

Jones says the remoteness of the communities consulted make it hard to provide mental health and addiction services.

Couchiching Toll Booth Vote

There could be a vote coming in Couchiching First Nation on its toll booth on Highway 11.

A Thunder Bay newspaper is reporting today that Couchiching Chief Chuck McPherson plans to let the community decide the fate of the toll following his meeting with provincial and federal ministries last week.

The toll has been in place since May 21st.

Fire Still Burning at Quetico

It's eased elsewhere, but the Ministry of Natural Resources says the forest fire hazard still remains high in the Quetico Park area where three fires are still burning.

All three were started by lightning last week and are being observed by the MNR.

Meantime, the easing of the fire situation has allowed the MNR to send crews to northeastern Ontario to help fight wildfires there.

Cost of Dying in Ontario to Rise

A Conservative MPP says come July 1st it will cost more to die in Ontario.

Peter Shurman says families will have to pay up to 13-hundred dollars in taxes or remembrance services when the HST takes effect.

When the HST is implemented, remembrance service items will see an eight per cent tax hike.

Physicians' Apprection Week

It is Physicians Appreciation Week in Fort Frances.

As part of the week, B-93 will be examining the local doctor situation with Doctor Robert Algie who began his practice back in 1981.

"I grew up in northern Ontario in Sault Ste. Marie but my great-aunt and uncle, Jean and Tom Harrison lived in Fort Frances, so I was aware of the community and been here before," says Dr. Algie, "so I was aware of the community and been here before. There was some familiarity with the community so it was really a foreign concept to me. But I was looking for small town experience as I wasn't sure what I was going to do with the rest of my career so it was 'let's give small-town primary care practice a shot and see how it goes."

He says the reasons the brought him to Fort Frances are the same reasons he's stayed.

"The ongoing challenges in terms of practising in a small rural setting are still appealing to me. Being able to participate in emergency medicine, taking care of people in the community, in the home and in long-term care, that diversity is really appealing to me and continues to keep my interest. You can't practise it any better than you can in Fort Frances."

Tomorrow, Algie will talk about some of the reasons behind the doctor shortage impacting our communities.

Toll Latest - Friday May 28

The provincial government is calling its meeting with Couchiching First Nations Chief Chuck McPherson productive.

The chief was in Toronto to meet with officials from the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs over a land claim issue impacting Highway 11 - one of the issues that has led to a toll booth being set up by the band since last Friday.

Details of the talks were not released, but in an e-mail to B-93, a Ministry spokesperson says they were productive and that their discussions with the First Nation would continue.

McPherson also met with officials from the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs last night regarding the contamination of certain lands.

Days after one site closed, a new Facebook site has appeared for people to discuss the toll booth.

Jason Supinski set up the site called "Don't Pay the Toll at Couch."

He says he'll be able to better control people's comments.

"You can't write comments, but you can add your name to it and support it," says Supinski. "If you send me a comment and I feel it's appropriate I will post it. That was the problem the OPP had with the other site is with the racial comments and the hate. Other than that they have no problem with it."

Supinski shut the other site down because of concerns with some of the postings.

He admits with nearly 800 members it was becoming increasingly difficult to manage.

Crime Up in Fort Frances

(Left: OPP Detachment Commander Inspector John Kendrick addressing Fort Frances Town Council)

OPP say they're beginning to see more assaults and property crimes occurring in Fort Frances.

Statistics for the first three months of 2010 show violent crimes up 15 per cent over last year while property crimes are up 40 per cent.

Detachment Commander Inspector John Kendrick says the public should not be alarmed as the advent of warm weather often leads to an increase of criminal activity.

Bill into Committee Level

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty's private members bill aimed at protecting workers' pensions is finally headed to the committee level for further debate.

The proposed bill passed a key vote this week.

"There were a dozen or so members on the Conservative side who also supported it," says Rafferty. "Unfortunately, Mr. (Greg) Rickford (PC Kenora MP) was not one of the them, but there was support among the Conservatives and I was pleased to see that."

Rafferty says he's not concern with the bill being watered down during discussions by members of the Industry Committee, noting he'd welcome amendments.

Forest Fire Hazard High

(Left: MNR file photo)

Ministry of Natural Resources fire crews are trying to get a handle on a massive wildfire near Pikangikum First Nation north of Red Lake.

Two waterbombers and 15 FireRanger crews are battling the three-thousand-hectare blaze, 15 kilometres northeast of the community.

The blaze was started by lightning earlier in the week.

Meantime, the forest fire hazard is high in the Rainy River district.

The MNR reports six active fires, mainly located in the Quetico Park and Atikokan areas.

Young Women's Conference

More than fifty young women from the Rainy River district will gather this weekend at Luther Village near Kenora.

Jenna Baker, vice-principal at J.W. Walker School says girls in grades 7 to 12 will participate in the annual Young Women's Conference.

"The ultimate goal of the conference is to support young women with information and a positive view for a hopeful future," says Baker. "The conference itself provides information on the indicators of violence against young women and ways to support themselves and others in the future at the school level as well as in the community."

This is the conference's eleventh year.

Toll Update for Thursday May 27

It looks like the toll road protest in Couchiching First Nation is finally catching the attention of government officials in Toronto and Ottawa.

Chief Chuck McPherson is in Toronto to discuss the band's concerns over contaminated land and a Highway 11 land claim - the reasons behind the toll.

He's expect to meet with officials from the department of Indian Affairs and was also planning to meet with Ontario Aboriginal Affairs Minister Chris Bentley.

Successful negotiations could close the dollar-a-vehicle toll booth that was set up last Friday by the band near the Noden Causeway.

A Facebook site that provided an avenue for residents to discuss the controversial toll booth on Couchiching First Nation has apparently been shutdown.

The site had attract more than 700 members, but some of the postings were causing concern to both to band leaders and the OPP.

Provincial police confirm they did approach the local administrator about the site, who voluntarily shut it down late Tuesday.

Demolision Deadline Given

The owners of the former Fort Frances High School have been given until the end of this September to demolish the J.A. Mathieu section of the old school.

The deadline is among seven conditions added to a development agreement between the town and property owners.

The developers will also receive about 6-thousand tonnes of material, being excavated from the Portage Avenue road construction project, for fill.

The owners indicated to council earlier this month that they had plans to knock down the old school within the next couple of months.

Club Gets Extension

The Fort Frances Curling Club has received an extension from the town of Fort Frances to make its first payment on an outstanding tax bill.

The club was to pay the first instalment of $6,100 in July.

It's now been given until September to make that payment.

Banners Destroyed

The town of Fort Frances is being forced to replace a number of promotional banners put up only recently.

Community Services Manager George Bell says a storm that pass through the Fort Frances area earlier this week damaged nearly half of the banners placed along Colonization Road.

Many banners were ripped and their metal arms bent.

Bell says they are looking to have them replaced by next week's official opening of the tower and Hallet.

OPG Still on Track

(Left: Ontario Power Generation photo)

Ontario Power Generation says its still in the early stages of seeking potential suppliers of wood-based biomass fuel for its generating station in Atikokan.

OPG sought requests back in March and senior vice-president Bruce Boland says there was considerable interest.

"We're going through them at the present time," says Boland. "We're at the beginning of the process. This would then lead to a review and subsequent processes would be a more formalized process ultimately and potentially leading to a commercial agreement."

Boland says they are still on target to convert the coal-fired plant by 2012.

Customer Service Awards Presented

The Rainy River Future Development Corporation recognized a number of area businesses Wednesday night for their ability go a little further for their customers.

A total of ten businesses received this year's Customer Service awards with another five identified with honourable mentions.

The winners were Boston Pizza, Cloverleaf Family Foods, Fort Frances General Supply, Kreger Sales & Service, Northern Lights Credit Union ~ Rainy River, Northwoods Gallery and Gift, Service Ontario ~ Fort Frances , Super 8 Motel, The UPS Store and Warehouse One - The Jean Store.

Honourable mentions went to Fort Frances Clinic Dispensary, Norlund Oil, The Ear Clinic, The Enhanced Hearing Centre and Vianet Internet Solutions

Council Discusses Toll Booth

Plenty of discuss about Couchiching First Nation's toll booth last night at Fort Frances town council.

OPP Detachment Commander Inspector John Kendrick fielded a number of questions over the police's response to the Highway 11 toll.

Kendrick says ensuring public safety has been their main objective.

"There are many, many police officers around doing many, many different things in order to keep what has occurred over the past several day in the status it is currently is," says Kendrick. "That's to keep the highway open and no one to date being hurt."

But some members of council question whether motorists passing the toll should be paying the dollar charged by the band.

Councillor Sharon Tibbs says some motorists feel intimidated by the band's actions.

"You can talk about it being a personal decision that you make on your own," says Tibbs. "However what is happening here is an illegal action in progress and regardless of how we're going to carry on to try to get this resolved, the bottom line is people are feeling intimidated."

Kendrick says police could not advise motorists on whether to pay, noting it has been a conscience decision by each person who passes.

Couchiching First Nation says motorists could be fined for trespassing if they don't pay the toll.

In a news release, the band says its not impeding motorists who are unwilling to pay, but Chief and Council support the application of a section of the Indian Act that states a person found guilty of trespassing on reserve land can face a fine of up to $50.00.

The band says a majority of motorists crossing the toll have been courteous, but admit they have faced several others who have refused to pay.