Northern Development Minister End Meetings

(CJUK photo)


Canada's Northern Development Ministers are leaving Thunder Bay with a better sense of how they can help the north.

They wrapped up two days of talks Wednesday.

Ontario's Minister Michael Gravelle says they're going to tackle the north's infrastructure deficit.

Gravelle says many communities have a hard time coming up with their share of funding for infrastructure projects.

Each provincial minister had the opportunity to speak with Federal Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan earlier in the day.

Gravelle used his time with the Minister to discuss the Northern Growth Plan.

Roller Derby Game Set

(Borderland Roller Derby League photo)

Members of the new Borderland Roller Derby team are preparing to play their first ever game.

It happens September 11 at the 52 Canadians Arena.

Crystal Caul says the local girls will be ready for their opponents from Winnipeg.

"We've been practicing very hard in the last month," says Caul, "because we wanted to get a game in before the ice goes in the arena. When the ice goes in we're going to be homeless. We don't have a place to play or practice so the girls worked really hard so they would be ready for this game."

Tickets be can obtained at Northwoods or any team members.

Terry Fox Anniversary

September 1 marked the day Terry Fox was forced to put an end to his cross Canada Marathon for Hope.

It was 30 years ago when Fox stopped in Thunder Bay.

His parents say today is bittersweet, and they'll be using the anniversary to pay tribute to him.

No official ceremonies are planned.

The Terry Fox Run will be held September 19.

Bears Prefer Donuts

(CKDR photo)


Chalk it up to some donuts, Jello powder, syrup, dog food and vanilla.

That's what was needed to catch a hungry bear that found a "Welcome to Dryden" sign a good place to campout yesterday.

The bear was there for most of the day and even stole an earlier meal while alluding a Ministry of Natural Resource trap.

The bruin later returned for the more tastier spread long enough for the trap to close.

Clement Campaigns for Local Candidate

Industry Minister Tony Clement was in Fort Frances to help campaign for Maureen Comuzzi-Stehmann.

She's the Conservative hopeful in this riding for the next federal election.

Speaking to area leaders, Clement believes the area would do better with a Tory MP on their side in Ottawa.

"If this riding saw some of the shenanigans in Ottawa that the local MP is involved in in a regular basis," says Clement, "not being consistent with the values and principles of yourselves, or your neighbours or your communities, it would be an easy thing to make a switch."

While acknowledging John Rafferty's support to end the long-gun registry, Clement says the local MP voted against many of the initiatives that have improved local economies.

Clement Makes Funding Announcement

Industry Minister Tony Clement doled out almost a million dollars in FEDNOR dollars to agencies across northwestern Ontario during a visit to Fort Frances Tuesday.

But none of it was for groups in this area.

Clement admits it was important for him to visit the area.

"Usually the suggestion come back, you know visit Thunder Bay, visit Sudbury, visit Sault Ste. Marie, visit North Bay, says Clement. "I said, look, we also need to get to some other communities as well. I want to be in Red Lake. I want to be in Fort Frances. Let's make sure we're giving these communities as well."

Clement did note how FEDNOR money had been used to build the new Fort Frances Library where the announcements were made.

Missing Persons Found

Ontario Provincial Police says the three individuals they have been searching for have been found.

More details are to be released later today, but OPP says 63-year-old Larry Gamache of Rainy River was located outside the district.

He had been reported missing after failing to return back to his home in Rainy River from a trip he'd was supposed to make to a camp near Nestor Falls Monday.

Provincial police also report both youth reported missing from the Weechitiwin Youth Treatment facility in Watten township early this morning have been located.

Road Closures

A traffic note for motorists in the north end of Fort Frances today.

Sixth Street at Portage Avenue will be closed from 7 a.m. until noon.

Second Street at Portage is being closed from 7 a.m. until 11 a.m.

Officials say the closures are needed to ready Portage for paving next week.

More Candidates File

There are more names on area ballots for this October's civic elections.

Doug Mitchell, a councillor in the township of Alberton, is seeking re-election in that community.

Daniel Young is seek a position on Emo township council.

He also ran unsuccessfully in the 2006 municipal election.

Harold Huntley is running as a candidate for trustee for the Fort Frances area with the Northwest Catholic District School Board.

John Callan has filed for election to the Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board representing unorganized areas in Rainy River Central.

Hazel Leaves Foundation

Riverside Foundation for Health Care is losing its director.

Teresa Hazel is leaving the Foundation to become Chief Executive Officer of the native group Good Life for Young People Foundation beginning Tuesday.

Hazel has been with Riverside for the past eleven years.

Industrial Accident at Mill

One person is dead following an industrial accident at the Boise mill in International Falls.

International Falls Police and Ambulance personnel were called to the mill at about 11 a.m. yesterday where a man was found unresponsive and was later pronounced dead.

Some reports suggest the man was outside contractor doing work in the lime recovery kiln.

His identify has not been released.

Town Seeks Financial Help for Airport

The town of Fort Frances is asking for some help from other municipalities within the Rainy River district to cover the operating costs of its airport.

Councillor Rick Wiedenhoeft says escalating costs over the past three years has forced them to make seek outside support.

"If this keeps going and these costs continue to rise, Fort Frances will not be able to fund this thing all by itself," says Weidenhoeft. "We need help funding this airport and we're looking to the district municipalities to help us out."

Wiedenhoeft feels the request is fair as the airport serves the needs of the entire district.

The town will make its pitch at an upcoming meeting of area mayors and reeves in Emo.

Recycling Upgrades Approved

Improvements to the town of Fort Frances' recycling depot are about to begin.

The town has approved a contract with Ed Kaun and Sons that includes setting up large bins for residents to drop off their materials for recycling.

Operations and Facilities Manager Doug Brown says a $75-thousand grant from Waste Diversion Ontario will help cover cost of the work.

"The reason why we got the grant was to provide access and enhance the service to drop off blue boxes," says Brown. "If you go on vacation, you'd have a place to drop off your blue box materials into these bins."

Brown says the depot will not replace current curbside pick up.

More Election Candidates

Two Fort Frances councillors are among the latest to seek re-election this October.

Andrew Hallikas is hoping to continue the work started by the current council.

"Council worked very well together," says Hallikas. "I think in our term we accomplished a lot and I'm hoping everyone from council runs again. I like working with this group of people."

Ken Perry, who joined council mid-way through this term in a by-election, believes he brings a strong voice for residents to the council table.

"I like to do my research," says Perry. "I like to know what I'm talking about when I'm talking and make a decision that sometimes everyone doesn't agree with, but if anybody asks me why I did what I did or make the decision that I did, I've always a good reason for doing it."

Paul Ryan remains the only Fort Frances councillor yet to file nomination papers.

Elsewhere, Ross Donaldson has refiled for councillor in the township of LaVallee.

He joins incumbent Freeda Carmody and newcomer Harold Kellar on the October 10 ballot so far in that community.

Watershed Meeting Tonight

The management of Lake of the Woods and Rainy Lake watersheds will be the focus of meetings this week that begin tonight in International Falls.

Melanie Hanson, the Canadian co-chair to an international task force, says they'll be looking at issues effecting the waters and the efforts now being done to protect them.

"We'll be examining the current governance structures," says Hanson, "such as different boards, different committees and multi-agency arrangements. Any example where the two countries are working together to address water resource issues."

Tonight's meeting is at the AmericINN beginning at 7 p.m.

Portage Avenue Underpass Closing

The Portage Avenue underpass will be closed today.

Crews will be working to remove recycling asphalt from the intersection of Fifth Street and Portage beginning at 9 a.m.

The underpass will reopen by 3 p.m.

The intersection of Sixth Street and Portage will also be closed from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m.

Meantime, paving of Portage is now set to begin next Wednesday.

School Opens

Classes resume today across the Rainy River district.

Heather Campbell, education director of the Rainy River District School Board, says for them, it means the opening of a new school and the hope for an increase in enrollment.

"I hoping to see that we still stay strong with our enrollment," says Campbell. "We offer so many great programs. We are really excited about our new facilities at Robert Moore and a new one to come in the Mine Centre area."

Director of Education for the Northwest Catholic District School Board Mary Catherine Kelly says there some new programs at their schools.

"Our early learning kindergarten program, we will be piloting that this year at St. Patrick's School in Atikokan," says Kelly. "We will also be running the full-day program in JK and SK at St. Joseph's School in Dryden."

Full day junior kindergarten is also being offered by public board at North Star Community School in Atikokan.

Layton Offers Long-Gun Registry Compromise

NDP leader Jack Layton is floating a last-minute compromise to save the long-gun registry.

Layton wants to introduce legislation that would address some of the complaints about the registry and potentially stave off a final vote on a private member's bill that would kill the program altogether.

The bill passed second reading last fall in a narrow vote that saw eight Liberals and 12 New Democrats, including Thunder Bay-Rainy River's John Rafferty, siding with the Tories.

Driver ReTests Deadline Approaches

Wednesday is the deadline the Ontario government set for licence extensions because of the DriveTest strike last year.

People who needed to take driving tests to requalify for their licences were stuck when examiners walked off the job.

The examiners went back to work in early January but motorists were given until September 1st to book a test.

Medical School Talks Planned

There's a possible break in the dispute between the Northern Ontario School of Medicine and support workers in Sudbury and Thunder Bay.

The two sides have agreed to two days of talks with a Ministry of Labour mediator beginning Wednesday.

Clerical, technical and administrative staff walked out on August 16 after contract talks broke down.