PC's Take Aim at Area Liberal

The Progressive Conservatives are taking aim at Thunder Bay Aikokan MPP Bill Mauro.

The PC party claims some of the 143 prisoners wrongfully released could be hiding in Mauro's northwestern Ontario riding.

Critic Garfield Dunlop says there's really no way of knowing where those prisoners are living.

"People in these communities, no matter where they are, should have been notified that someone had been mistakenly released from one of our provincial facilities," says Dunlop. "They (McGuinty Liberals) don't even release the names of the people who have been released into our communities and therefore causing a problem with community safety and an awareness of the public in general."

Dunlop says now up to the McGuinty government to take action in preventing more prisoners being mistakenly released.

Activity Credit Proposed

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty is a proposing a children's activity tax credit.

The proposed tax credit would provide families with up to 50-dollars per child under 16 years of age.

The tax credit would be different from the federal children's fitness tax credit, because it would be refundable, and would include non-fitness activities such as instruction in visual arts, music and language instruction.

Rafferty Responds

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty is brushing aside comments made about him by Industry Minister Tony Clement as simply politicing.

During a visit to Fort Frances Tuesday, Clement told a group of area leaders the local MP's decisions in Ottawa are not consistent with the values and principals of the riding.

Rafferty says it's just a desperate attempt to take a riding they know then can't win.

"There numbers are not going anywhere in the polls," says Rafferty. "The prospect of an election in the spring continues to loom and quite frankly they're running a little scared."

Rafferty adds he's been pretty true to the wishes of his constituents.

Full Candidate Slate in Atikokan

There's been a rush of candidates stepping forward in Atikokan.

Former mayor Bob Davidson has filed his nomination papers and will challenge incumbent Dennis Brown for the mayor's chair

Seven have filed for the six council seats up for grabs.

Incumbents Marlene Davidson, Bud Dickson, Sherwin Durand, Marj Lambkin and Bob Gosselin join fellow incumbent Mary Makarenko and Gayle Green on the October 25 ballot.

And Teresa Larson has filed for the new trustee position for Atikokan opening on the Northwest Catholic District School Board.

Hazel Says Goodbye

(Teresa Hazel (l.) with Dr. Cynthia Saliba)

The outgoing director of Riverside Foundation for Health Care says she's leaves with no regrets.

Teresa Hazel takes on her new position as CEO of Good Life for Young People Foundation next week.

She says she's looking forward to the new challenges after eleven years with Riverside.

"I'm exciting about where I'm going," says Hazel. "I'm excited to be taking on a new challenge. I look back at those eleven years with a lot of pride and gratitude for what this community has accomplished working together."

Hazel will remain with the Riverside Foundation in a part-time capacity for the next few weeks to assist in the transition of a yet to be selected new director.

New Parliamentary Assistants Named

There's are a number of new Parliamentary Assistants to Ministers on the McGuinty Cabinet.

The premier has given eleven MPP's new responsibilities.

Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro keeps his duties as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Government Services.

Donors Needed

Canadian Blood Services is looking forward to another strong turnout of donors at its Fort Frances clinics next week.

Spokesperson Harvey Heather says they're hoping for over 300 donors to clinics at the Fort Frances High School as the demand for blood continues to grow.

"We need about 1,200 donations of blood each week," says Heather, "to look after patients in about 90 hospitals in Manitoba and northwestern Ontario including the hospitals in the Rainy River district."

Heather says they're also hoping to see at least forty new donors to clinics that happen next Wednesday night and Thursday.

Some walk-in spots are available, but Heather says it's best to book an appointment in advance by calling 1-888-2-DONATE - that's 1-888-236-6283.

Three Vie for Catholic Trustee Seat

Another candidate has entered the race the two trustee seats open in the Fort Frances area on the Northwest Catholic District School Board.

Paul Cousineau filed his nomination papers Thursday.

He's been on the board for the past two years.

He joins current board chair Anne Marie Fitzgerald and trustee Harold Huntley on the October 25 ballot.

New AbitibiBoard Board

AbitibiBowater has established a new board of directors to oversee the company as it prepares to exit creditor protection.

The nine members will serve with company president and CEO David Paterson and chair Richard Evans.

They include just two holdovers from current board and former U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Wilkins.

The new board takes over following approval of the company's restructuring plan by creditors and courts in the U-S and Canada which is expected this fall.

Grandparents Scam Reached Rainy River District

The so-called grandparents scam is apparently reaching some residents in the Rainy River district.

Provincial police says they've received a number of complaints about a man calling, claiming to be a grandchild jailed in Montreal and asking to wire bail money.

In once case, the man sought five-thousand dollars.

Police say residents should not be pressured into giving information or money to anyone.

New Doctor Welcomed

(Dr. Cynthia Sabila (c.) with Dr. Robert Algie and Dr. Elaine Spencer)


Fort Frances' new doctor is now in.

Doctor Cynthia Saliba began seeing her first patients Wednesday.

The recent graduate of the University of Ottawa's medical school says the selection of Fort Frances to start her practice was an easy one.

"The community looked beautiful," says Saliba. "The people were very encouraging and enthusiast."

Saliba and her husband were officially welcomed to the community at a gathering Wednesday night.

NOMS Students in Fort Frances

(Brienne Lowey-Bodkin (l.) and Jacqueline Edwards)

Two students from the Northern Ontario School of Medicine are in Fort Frances to compete their third year clerkship.

Brienne Lowey-Bodkin and Jacqueline Edwards will be working along side the town's current physicians until next April.

Lowey-Bodkin says a familiarity with the area led her to the Fort.

"My grandparents live in Fort Frances and my dad was born in Fort Frances," says Lowey-Bodkin, "so I always came to Fort Frances as a kid. When I choose where I wanted to go, family is always important to me and I knew that it would make my transition really smooth if I could stay with family members."

Edwards says the ability to learn in wide array of medical areas was something that attracted her.

"Fort Frances has quite of few specialists that come in," says Edwards, "and a lot of the docs do different things themselves. They'll do obstetrics. They'll do general surgery. They'll do anaesthesia. So I'm hoping to get a good picture of all those different areas as well as family medicine."

Both students are from Thunder Bay.

Ryan Files

The last of the incumbents in Fort Frances have filed for re-election.

Paul Ryan filed his nomination papers for this October's election yesterday.

Ryan was first elected to council in 2006.

Expanded Cellphone Services Moving Ahead

(CJUK photo)


TBayTel and Rogers says they're making progress on their joint project that will see a 3G network cover the region.

Rogers customers have started their transition into TBayTel coverage.

TBayTel president Don Campbell says work on turning over the 3G network is on target and should be operational in Thunder Bay and other bigger centres in the region by the end of the year.

Campbell says the partnership will also give customers a greater selection of hand held devices and services.

MNR Crews Returning

(Ministry of Natural Resources photo)

Some of Ontario resources are coming back from British Columbia.

Officials says the fire situation in B-C has eased.

Eighty one Ministry of Natural Resources FireRangers headed back to their hometowns yesterday.

The remaining personnel are scheduled back tomorrow.

Former Marijuana Party Candidate Arrested

A former Marijuana Party candidate is to appear in Thunder Bay court today after police raided a growing operation.

Douglas MacKay is charged with a number of drug counts.

MacKay ran for a federal seat as the Marijuana Party's candidate for Thunder Bay-Rainy River in 2006.

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.