Question of the Day - January 12

Would you support a hike in the HST if it was specifically earmarked for infrastructure improvements?

Let us know on our Facebooko page or website 931The Border.ca.

In response to yesterday's question, 57 per cent of respondents would like to see Fort France stage a winter carnival similar to International Falls Ice Box Days.

Trustee Questions Complaint

A Fort Frances trustee says he was named in a complaint to the courts by the Rainy River District School Board before his election over a year ago.

David Kircher made public details of the complaint at this week's school board meeting.

He says the 2009 complaint alleged he acted as public surrogate for a Justice of the Peace while seeking answers to issues surrounding the theft of funds from Fort Frances High School.

Kircher, who denies the allegations, claims the board abused its authority by submitting the complaint without trustee approval.

Betty's Window Display Gets Recognition

A recent window display has earned Betty's of Fort Frances some international recognition.

The display showed off German-based Schleich toy figurines and entered in a company sponsored contest.

Blair Anderson says their store was selected third best among hundreds of retailers worldwide.

Anderson says they get a voucher for free product they'll distributed to customers while photos of the display will be used by the company in future promotions.

Soft Ice Warnings

Ontario Provincial Police are again warning the public to be cautious about ice conditions on the area's waterways.

It comes after a recent incident near Haymarsh Bay on Rainy Lake, northwest of the Noden Causeway.

Occupants of a truck were left stranded on the ice when their vehicle stalled in three to four feet of water at the edge of an ice heave.

Highway Winter Maintenance Questioned

The provincial government is taking some heat over road conditions on northern Ontario highways.

Opposition parties say the governing Liberals are jeopardizing motorists' safety by lowering maintenance standards in their winter contracts.

P-C member Vic Fedeli is seeking a coroner's inquest into the recent deaths on northern highways.

New Democrat Gilles Bisson says the Liberals are trying to save money by reducing the number of plows on the road.

Changes at ORNGE

Ontario's troubled air ambulance system is getting a shakeup at the top.

The province says ORNGE president and CEO Chris Mazza is being replaced by a deputy minister for the time being.

The entire board of directors is also being replaced.

Health Care Program Ends

Hundreds of people in Minnesota who aren't U.S. citizens will no longer receive most health care services from a program of last resort.

The Emergency Medical Assistance program served about 23-hundred people who didn't qualify for Medicare or MinnesotaCare because of their immigration status.

They will still receive emergency care at a hospital, but as of January 1st are no longer be eligible for chemotherapy, dialysis or other services.

Plane Crash Kills 4

Investigators will try to determine what caused a small plane to crash as it approached Ontario's North Spirit Lake First Nation.

The plane slammed into a lake on the reserve yesterday while trying to land in a blinding snowstorm on a flight from Winnipeg.

 Four people died and only one survived.

A 36-year-old Winnipeg man is in stable condition with some broken bones.

Teachers Leave Pikangikum

Mould is now preventing kids from going to school in Pikangikum First Nation.

The mould is in their teachers' home.

Most have left the community, north of Red Lake, because of it.

Community leaders say the school may now have to close.

Highway Closed

Travel to Kenora has been prohibited this morning.


A fatal traffic accident involving two transports and a vehicle has closed the Trans Canada Highway at the junction of Highway 71.

OPP says it could be late this afternoon before the road reopens.

December Weather Stats

The month of December in the Rainy River district was the warmest it's been in fifteen years.

The average temperature of minus 7.4 C was a full six degrees warmer than normal.

Environment Canada's Geoff Coulson says we're simply not experiencing systems we usually see.

The area also saw 23 centimetres of snow fall in December, about 2/3rds of what is normally received.

One Last Weather Record

The last of the warm days in January has given Fort Frances another weather record.

Yesterday's high of 5.1 C, or 41 F, shattered the old mark of 3 C set back in 1990.

Dryden, Kenora and Sioux Lookout also set new record high yesterday.

MP Doesn't Support Floor-Crossing

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty is no fan of switching party's in mid-term.

Rafferty say he can't comment on the reasons behind Quebec MP Lise St. Denis leaving the NDP for the Liberals, but doesn't support how she did it.

Rafferty says MP's who want to switch parties should resign their seat and run for re-election in a by-election.

Rafferty doesn't think St. Denis's defection will have a big huge on the NDP which still holds down 101 seats in the House of Commons.

Cultural Plan Accepted

Atikokan council intends to move forward on a new cultural plan for the community.

Mayor Dennis Brown says the first step is determining which of the 33 recommendations will be pursued first.

Brown sees the plan helping boost tourism and ensuring a well rounded lifestyle for local residents.

Question of the Day - January 11

While a Canadian-wide survey suggests otherwise, 78 per cents of respondents to our on-line poll question don't think the federal government needs to take a stronger role in combating childhood obesity.

Today's question, Ice Box Days begins in International Falls next week. Do you see any merit to a similar winter festival in Fort Frances?

Tell us on our Facebook page or website www.931TheBorder.ca.

Hearing on Assessment Appeal Set

Fort Frances town officials say it could be substantial, but it's going to be several months before they know the true impact of AbitibiBowater's appeal of its assessment of its Fort Frances mill.

The Assessment Review Board has scheduled a hearing by tele-conference on the matter for August 12.

The company, know operating as Resolute Forest Products, is seeking a roll back for the last three years.

Town officals say a decision favouring the company could mean having to give back a tax rebate of up to $3-million and the loss of up to $800-thousand  in future tax revenue annual.

Fines Write Off Books

The town of Fort Frances is writing off more than $137-thousand in fines, considered non-collectible.

Treasurer Laurie Witherspoon says the move is an accounting process and doesn't mean those issued the fines don't have to ever pay them.

The fines date back to 2006

Appeal Assessment Influencing Budget Talks

AbitibiBowater's appeal of its assessment of the Fort Frances mill is weighing heavily on town councillors as they begin budget discussions next week.

Treasure Laurie Witherspoon says a decision on the appeal won't be known for some time, but a reduction of any kind will have a significant impact.

A decision on the company's appeal could come later this year.

Preliminary figures show a current shortfall in the proposed operating budget for 2012 of about $300-thousand, but doesn't take into account the outcome of that appeal which is still before the Assessment Review Board.

Infiltration Report Expected Soon

A study exploring why Fort Frances treats more water than it produces is expected out soon.

Councillor Paul Ryan says the amount of water treated last year was staggering.

Over 887-thousand cubic metres more went through the town's treatment plant than was produced.

Ryan says the town is committed to acting on correcting the problem.

Town to Help with Snow Sculptures

The Rainy River Arts Collective will receive help from Fort Frances in its plans to create a number of snow sculptures around town.

Town council last night gave their blessing to have five of the sculptures created on town owned properties.

The town will also help move snow from the airport.

Work on the sculptures is expected in early February.