Conversion Set for 2012

Ontario Power Generation is looking at 2012 as a possible start of work to convert its coal-fired generating station to burn biomass fuel.

The province gave approval to the plan last week.

Station manager Ed Enge says they hope to use of as much of the existing infrastructure as possible.

"The conversion will leave the boiler and most of the infrastructure fairly well intact," says Enge, "but the coal receiving, handling and storage facilities will be abandoned. We will need new system for receiving wood pellets and storing them."

Enge says the project must also still be approved by OPG's board of directors.

Hydro Deal Reached

A strike in Ontario's electricity transmission sector that was set to begin today has been averted.

The Labourers' International Union of North America and the Electrical Power Systems Construction Association struck a deal late Friday.

The association represents the owners of Hydro One and other electricity system contractors.

More Names on the Ballot

Three more incumbents have entered the race in this October's civic elections.

Councillors Ken Perry and Andrew Hallikas will again seek new terms to Fort Frances town council.

Chair of the Northwest Catholic District School Board Anne Marie Fitzgerald is running again as catholic trustee for the Fort Frances area.

King's Bay Adds New Claims

King's Bay Gold has optioned six unpatented mining claims in the Rainy River district.

They're located in Menary and Claxton townships, northwest of Emo.

King's Bay is currently conducting an gold exploration program in the area.

Test Results Revealed

Ontario students continue to make steady gains in reading, writing and math, but are still not meeting the provincial target for test scores.

That's according to the latest round of provincial testing, obtained by the Toronto Star in advance of their release this morning.

Overall, 68 per cent of students in Grades 3 and 6 are meeting the standards in reading, writing and math, but that's far from the provincial target of 75 per cent it hoped for in 2008.

WEEE Roundup Coming

Residents across the Rainy River district will get a chance to toss out all of that old electronic equipment in an environmentally safe way this month.

Ontario Electronic Stewardship will be hosting a collection day at the Fort Frances Public Works yard on September 18.

Executive Director Carol Hochu says its something they're doing across northwestern Ontario.

"There's good accessibility in the more major metro areas and big cities in Ontario," says Hochu, "but always a challenge in the north and in the more rural areas to get out there and get this stuff so we're doing bit of a northern Ontario sweep."

A list of all the items accepted can be found on the website http://www.dowhatyoucan.ca.

Conversion Approved

The Ontario government has approved the conversion of the Atikokan Generating Station to biomass fuel from coal.

It's also directing the Ontario Power Authority to negotiate an agreement with Ontario Power Generation to buy the biomass power generated.

It's also directing the Ontario Power Authority to negotiate an agreement with Ontario Power Generation to buy the biomass power generated.

Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro says the deal signals a bright new future for Atikokan.

The plant conversion will take three years and create up to 200 construction jobs

Blue Box Program Under Review

The blue box recycling program in Fort Frances and Atikokan will get a thorough review.

Operations and Facilities Manager Doug Brown says the study aims to come up with a strategy for both communities that will secure funding received from Waste Diversion Ontario.

"Right now we get a grant of $62-thousand to support picking up blue box and transporting it to our processor in Winnipeg," says Brown. "That would be reduced by 15 per cent if we don't have these strategies in place."

Brown says the public will have a chance to provide input with open houses planned in both communities later this year.

I. Falls Bass Championship Underway

The first day of fishing at the International Falls Bass Championship is underway.

More than 120 anglers are fishing either Rainy Lake or Rainy River for the $10-thousand first prize money.

Tournament chair Gary Potter says its uncertain how the weights will be this year.

"I guess that's yet to be determined," says Potter. "Any time you get before a tournament they're all pretty tight lipped, but I did talk with a couple of friends who are fishing who say the fishing has been pretty good."

Today's weigh-ins at Smokey Bear Park go at 3 p.m.

John Cann and Ted Olsen of International Falls are the defending champions.

Civic Election Candidates

A few more names have come to the surface for this year's civic elections across the Rainy River district.

Debbie Ewald is seeking reelection as mayor of Rainy River.

In the township of Chapple, Peter Van Heyst will seek another term as reeve.

Incumbents James Gibson and Rick Neilson along with newcomer Ken Wilson have filed election as councillor.

And in LaVallee, incumbent Freeda Carmody and newcomer Harold Kellar have filed for the councillor seats available in that township.

Fire Hazard Climbs

The forest fire hazard is on the climb in northwestern Ontario.

The Ministry of Natural Resources says the hazard is sitting at moderate to high for much of the region with higher hazards in the southern portions of Fort Frances, Quetico Provincial Park and Thunder Bay areas.

With no rain in the immediate forecast, the MNR is expecting the hazard to climb further.

There are currently 6 fires burning, none in the Rainy River district.

Wait List Concern

(CJUK Photo)

Persons United for Self Help in Northwestern Ontario wants the Ontario Ombudsman to investigate the region's long wait lists.

There are now 400 people waiting for accessible supportive community housing and home support care.

PUSH president Ron Ross says some have been waiting for a decade.

"Whether the Ombudsman investigates and wants to do a public inquiry," says Ross. "If he does a public inquiry we'll hear from the community. We'll hear from the people on wait lists. We'll hear from their families. We'll hear from others who are involved in these type of issues."

Ross says those on the wait list are now living in either long term care facilities or with their aging parents.

Mental Health Report Issued

A legislative committee is calling for a major overhaul of mental health and addiction care in Ontario.

The all-party committee is urging the government to create a new umbrella organization to co-ordinate mental health and addictions systems.

It says that would ensure services are delivered consistently and comprehensively across the province.

The committee says Ontario residents are waiting too long for treatment, and youth are caught in the gap between programs for children and those for adults.

Talks Break Down

Secret wage-freeze talks between the province and unions representing tens of thousands of health-care and education workers have reportedly collapsed.

Sources says talks that began August 9 at a Toronto hotel fizzled out last Sunday.

About a dozen unions, including the Canadian Auto Workers and the Service Employees International Union had been participating.

New Vice-Principals in Place

The Rainy River District School Board has appointed new vice-principals at three schools as classes get set to resume next week.

Anne Carradice will serve as vice-principal of Donald Young School in Emo and Nestor Falls Schools.

Beth Fairfield takes over as vice-principal of North Star Community School in Atikokan.

Park Documentary Up for Emmy

A documentary describing the importance of conserving Minnesota's national park heritage that featured Voyageurs National Park is up for a regional Emmy.

Minnesota's National Park Legacy was produced by Twin Cities Public Television in collaboration with Voyageurs National Park Association and seven other National Park units in the State.

The regional Emmys will be handed on September 25 in Minneapolis.

College Numbers Up

Officials with Rainy River Community College in International Falls are reporting an increase in enrolment.

Classes resumed this week.

New Provost Ken Simberg says early numbers show a ten per increase in student numbers.

"We had set an enrollment goal of 300 full-time equivalents," says Simberg. "Today were at about 307. We think it will go up a little more as we still have students coming in and adding classes at this time even."

Simberg says they were also somewhat successful in the push for more Ontario students.

The college offered tuition fees to them at the same rate paid by Minnesota residents.

Emo Fair a Success

This year's Rainy River Valley Agricultural Fall Fair is being hailed a success.

Exact attendance figures are still being counted, but the Society's president Emily Watson says good weather helped bring people out.

"When we were speaking with the owners of the midway, Jim and Michelle Mills, they told us that in their memory this has been the best fair in the Rainy River district in many, many years," says Watson. "So in my eyes it has been very successful."

Watson says they nearly faced a catastrophe when a sewer back-up threaten to shutdown the washrooms the night before the fair opened.

Watson says a quick response from Harold McQuaker Enterprises allowed the fair to go uninterrupted.

More Help to B.C.

The Ministry of Natural Resources is continue to send more help to fire ravaged British Columbia.

Another 184-firefighters are scheduled to leave for the west coast today to replace two-hundred who will end their two-week deployment Friday.

There are over 300 MNR personnel working in B.C.

Teachers Ready for New Year

(CJUK photo)

Teachers across northwestern Ontario have gathered in Thunder Bay to prepare for the start of another school year.

They're attending the annual Northern Ontario Education Leaders conference.

Organizer Carol Volbracht says offers teachers new ways of teaching.

"Our main focus is literacy," says Volbracht. "We have about ninety teachers. We have a variety of speakers both from outside of the area and local speakers who are representing some of things they've done in their classroom.

The theme this year is Navigating the Winds of Change.