CCAC Contract

The Ontario Nurses Association has a new contract with the Northwest Community Care Access Centre.

ONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud says the deal addresses wages, but their members with CCAC remain the lowest paid in the province.

"There has been some normative wage increases," says Haslam-Stroud, "but at least they're equivalent to another northern CCAC at one of the higher levels of the grid. There still a lot of work to do on wages."

Haslam-Stroud hopes to further address the wage issue in provincial negotiations.

Former Falls Mayor to be Honoured

A long time mayor of International Falls and World War II vet is to be recognized by the city.

City Administrator Rod Otterness says a seaplane base on Rainy River will be renamed in honour of Jack Murray.

"I can think of any more fitting than recognizing Jack Murray," says Otterness. "He clearly loves International Falls. He wears the town on his chest, literally, with his 'I Love International Falls' button."

Murray was a marine aviator during World War II in the Pacific, and held office for 28 years, 14 as mayor.

A formal dedication ceremony will be held at a later date.

No Debate in Atikokan

There will be no candidate's debate in Atikokan this federal election.

The Atikokan Chamber of Commerce was hoping to have the debate tonight, but couldn't confirm the attendance of Conservative Candidate Maureen Comuzzi-Stehman because of a visit to Thunder Bay by Prime Minister Harper.
Because of other conflicts, no other alternative date could be found.

All four of the candidates for Thunder Bay-Rainy River will be at debates tomorrow in Stratton and Wednesday in Fort Frances.

Tug of War Taking Shape

Some of the details of this summer's tug of war between Fort Frances and International Falls have been revealed.

Fort Frances Councillor Rick Wiedenhoeft says there are two separate events planned for July 2.

"One (will be) Fort Frances council versus the International Falls council with some celebrities attached the rope,," says Wiedenhoeft. "There will be twenty pulling against twenty. That will go first. We are going to have a tug-of-war between the Americans and Canadians with fifty (pullers) versus fifty."

A new trophy will also be handed out to the winners.

MNR In Training

The Ministry of Natural Resources has wrapped up a training program for some its employees.

MNR Manager Dave Cleavely says the forum was geared towards senior staff from across northwestern Ontario.

"we brought over one hundred crew leaders into Dryden and we're concentrating on leadership and safety," says Cleavely. "These are our front-line supervisors who take our firefighters into the bush every summer so we want to make sure they have the tools and know the techniques that make our people safe."

Cleavely says the course included a look at new safety guidelines that ensure the safety of workers.

Chambers Adds New Members

The International Falls Chamber of Commerce has some new board member.

Todd Coulombe, manager of International SuperValu of the Falls, and Vera Schumann of the Rainy Lake Medical Centre will join the 12-member board on May 1 for three year terms.

Bob Anderson is the board's new chair.

Summer Company Program Returns

The Northwest Business Centre is offering students a unique summer job opportunity.

Spokesperson Mike Greaves says it will again offer its 'Summer Company' program.

"It's an opportunity for students who are looking for a summer job, they can create their own job by starting their own business and being their own boss," says Greaves. "It's a great opportunity to get a different type of summer work experience."

Over the past 5 years, the program has helped develop 15 young entrepreneurs across the Kenora and Rainy River districts.

Festival Results from Friday

Shawn Brady was the lone multi-winner in the French Drama Division of the Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts on Friday.

Brady picked up two first-place wins as well as a second-place certificate.

The festival resumes April 28 with instrumental performances.

Here is a list of all winners from Friday.


FESTIVAL RESULTS - FRENCH DRAMA DIVISION, April 15, 2011

CLASS F104-A (II)
FIRST - Alyssa Chaisson
SECOND - Ian Jodoin

CLASS F104-B (III)
FIRST - Maddie Sanders
SECOND - Graham Kitt

CLASS F104-C (II)
FIRST - Savannah Chapman
SECOND -Brielle Byma

CLASS F406
FIRST - St. Francis School, Grades 5 and 6

CLASS F103-A (I)
FIRST - Mackenzie Borger

CLASS F103-A (II)
FIRST - Siobhan MacKintosh
SECOND - Katelin Gurniak

CLASS F103-B
FIRST - Maggie Gurski
SECOND - Naomi McManaman

CLASS F103-D
FIRST - Mackenzie Wright
SECOND - Aiden Tullio

CLASS F104-A
FIRST - Shawn Brady
SECOND - Shanleigh Fryer

CLASS F104-B(I)
FIRST - Tianna Veldhuisen
SECOND - Nick Piotrowski

CLASS F104-C
FIRST - Ashley Dupuis
SECOND - Julia Quast

CLASS F104-D
FIRST - Cameron Penney
SECOND - Shawn Brady

CLASS F110-A
FIRST - Badiuk and Jordan Bruyere

CLASS F110-B(I)
FIRST - Kyle Knapp and Mitchell Riodon

CLASS F110-B(II)
FIRST - Jordan Taggart and Cameron Turriff

CLASS F110-C(I)
FIRST - Claire Hyatt, Ana Stopa and Courtney Williams

CLASS F110-C(II)
FIRST - Alexandra Adrian and McKenna Begin

CLASS F202-A
FIRST - Shawn Brady

Bass Tournament Help Coming

The town of Fort Frances appears ready to help organizers of the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship.

Town councillors yesterday indicated a willingness to accept most of items requested except free use of the Memorial Sports Centre

Councillor Ken Perry was among those to express concerns with that plan.

"Giving free ice time or free rental and then the Bass tournament charging the (Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce) for rent for Quest for the Best in our facility that we're charging (them) nothing, you'd hear from me later if you didn't hear from me now," says Perry.

Efforts will instead be made to access funding through the Rainy River Future Development Corporation that could be applied to this year's fees.

Bass Tournament Looks to Move

This could be the final year that the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Tournament is held indoors.

Tournament officials confirm they're looking at a return to the waterfront as early as next year.

Committee member Jim Cumming says a committee will be struck after the July event to study the benefits of moving back outdoors.

The tournament moved to the Memorial Sports Centre for the first time last year.

Male Abuse Services Coming This Summer

It could be a couple of months before new services for male victims of sexual abuse are available in the Rainy River district.

Riverside Counselling Services of Fort Frances is part of a joint effort to bring services to the north.

Executive Director Jon Thompson says it's the first time government has provided such funding.

"The issues have long been with us in our society," says Thompson, "but this is the first initiative in Canada and in Ontario recognizing the importance of sexual abuse and the recovery from it and having services and supports throughout the province to assist that."

Thompson says having services in place also help agencies better determine the number of men needing help.

More Highway Trouble

The Ministry of Transportation is reporting a partial closure of Highway 602 this morning.

The eastbound lane, just south of the Bone Road, has been shutdown due to a collapse of an embankment.

All eastbound traffic approaching the area must yield to oncoming traffic.

New Boating Tests in Place

Tests required to obtain the mandatory Pleasure Craft Operators Card have changed.

Cameron Taylor of BoatSmart! Canada says there will be a new written exam with more questions.

"Beginning today, the exam will be 50 questions," says Taylor. "The difficulty of those questions will be enhanced to better test the boaters skill and knowledge. Those boaters that prefer to take the exam on-line will have to take a three hour study course on-line before proceeding to the final exam."

With the option of a $250 fine for not having the card, Taylor doesn't think the changes will result in people avoiding the tests.

Festival Results for Thursday April 14

Scott Walsh was the big winner in the second day of drama competitions at the Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts.

Walsh earned three first-place finishes and two seconds.

The drama competitions conclude today at the Townshend Theatre beginning at 9 a.m.

Here is a list of all winners from Thursday.

FESTIVAL RESULTS - DRAMA DIVISION, April 14, 2011

CLASS A1302-A
FIRST - Kristina Robertson
SECOND (TIE) - Bridget Jorgenson, Larissa Darah

CLASS A1302-B
FIRST (TIE) - Tasha Roth, Breanna Sheppard
SECOND - Scott Walsh

CLASS A110-B
FIRST - Breanna Sheppard

CLASS A110-C
FIRST - Scott Walsh

CLASS A110-E
FIRST - Tasha Roth

CLASS A110-F
FIRST - Scott Walsh

CLASS A706-A(I)
FIRST - St. Francis School, Grades 5 and 6

CLASS A706-A(II)
FIRST - St. Francis School, Grade 6

CLASS A1102
FIRST - Tasha Roth and Breanna Sheppard

CLASS A1306-A
FIRST - David Loney
SECOND - Erika Moffitt

CLASS A1306-B
FIRST (TIE) - Trelawney Erwin, Dylan Roen
SECOND - David Fyfe

CLASS A504-A
FIRST - Tasha Roth

CLASS A504-D
FIRST - Breanna Sheppard
SECOND - Scott Walsh

CLASS A1502
FIRST - Scott Walsh
SECOND (TIE) - Tasha Roth, Breanna Sheppard

Day of Pink Hailed A Success

(Students at Robert Moore School pose for a photo as part of Day of Pink)

School participation in yesterday's national Day of Pink is being hailed a huge success.

Students, teachers, custodians and support staff across the Rainy River district donned pink as a stand against bullying.

Sonja Bodnarchuk, a grade 7 teacher at Robert Moore School in Fort Frances, believes students, especially, are getting the message.

"They for sure do," says Bodnarchuk. "They know that it's part of diversity, standing up for something they believe in and being themselves."

Many other businesses and organizations in the district participated in the event.

Male Victims Getting Support

A Fort Frances agency will be among the first in Canada that will begin offering support to male victims of sexual abuse.

Riverside Community Counselling is among 45 agencies approved by the provincial government to provide services such as peer support, counselling and residential services.

Roads Closed

Two roads in the Rainy River District are closed to traffic at this hour.

Highway 502 is closed due to a washout 11 kilometres north of Highway 11.

The Ministry of Transportation is also reporting a washout of an unnamed road about a half kilometre from Off Lake near Emo, forcing motorists to detour through Wassmith Road.

Special Council Meeting Called

Fort Frances town council has called a special meeting for today to discuss a request for assistance from the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship.

The Championship's board provided council with a list of requests that included the waiving of rental fees at the Memorial Sports Centre and a cash donation.

The meeting at the Civic Centre is at 1 p.m.

NOMA Voices Concerns with Forest Tenure Act

The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association is having its say about the Forest Tenure Act.

President Ron Nelson told a legislative committee yesterday NOMA wants a minimum five year trial period for the proposed forest management corporations.

"The question that I have for you as well is have you heard us?, "said Nelson. "Have you truly heard what we've said."

NOMA wants the bill amended before it returns to the Legislature for third reading.

Minnow Case Overturned

A Baudette, Minnesota bait dealer is off the hook after the state Court of Appeals ruled that a minnow is not a fish.

The court overturned Kim Barsness' conviction of illegally selling wild animals - in this case shiny minnows.

He was charged in May 2009 after harvesting minnows from Upper Red Lake with equipment the D-N-R said wasn't supposed to be used

But the Appeals court found minnows are not treated as fish under state law.