Sudden Death In Atikokan

Little information is being released at this time about a death in Atikokan on New Year's Eve..

OPP says officers were called shortly after 9 a.m. Tuesday about a deceased man in the 100 block of River Road.

Members of the Rainy River District Crime Unit and the Thunder Bay Forensic Identification Unit were called to assist with the investigation.

The man's identity has not been revealed.

No School In International Falls

There will be an extra day off for students in the International Falls area.

Schools were to re-open today following the Holiday break, but officials with Independent School District 361 say the cold weather has prompted them to keep the doors closed.

All school-related activities are also being cancelled.

Classes will resume tomorrow.

Weather Records Set

Extreme cold Arctic air continues to embrace the Borderland with weather advisories from Environment Canada and the U.S. National Weather Service out of Duluth still in place.

Yesterday, new temperature records were set both in Fort Frances and Atikokan with the Fort's low of minus 40.9 C and Atikokan's minus 40.2 C breaking nearly 40 year old records.

Atikokan's low of minus 41.7 C on New Year's Eve was also a new record.

Polar Plunge Raises $6,300

It may have had a lot to do with the weather as there were fewer participants than usual for yesterday's Voyageur Lions Club's Polar Plunge in Fort Frances.

Club president Bill Michl says about 25 people braved the elements to take that first dip of the year into Rainy Lake.

The annual fundraising event brought in $6,338 for a variety of charities with half going to the Club for various activities.

Ashley Payne, who was jumping for Relay for Life, was the top fundraiser with $845.

Payne, along with Jillian Cousineau and Alex French, combined to raise $1,202, the most any of the groups represented.


Jamie Spencer for the Border Skating Club was the second highest individual fundraiser, bringing in $520.

New For Ontario In 2014

Plenty of new legislation is now in effect in Ontario.

The new year has brought new powers for fire officials across the province to conduct annual fire safety inspections of retirement or long-term care homes.

Nurses can now dispense drugs under certain conditions.

Outdoor enthusiasts will pay more money for hunting and fishing licences and camping fees at provincial parks.

New For Minnesota In 2014

A host of new laws in Minnesota are now in effect.

Increased surveillance at the state’s scrap metal yards, expanded Medical Assistance coverage and radon disclosure are some of the topics covered by the new laws.

Other new laws that came into being on New Year’s Day include private employers having to wait until job applicants are selected for an interview before asking about their criminal history, and local authorities receiving more notification of chemical spills in their area.

CPP and Old Age Security Benefits Up

A slight increase for those collecting Old Age Security or Canada Pension Plan benefits in 2014.

CPP benefits go up 0.9 per cent with maximum retirement benefits for new recipients at $1,038 a month.

Old age security benefits go up 0.1 per cent with the maximum now at just over $551-dollars a month.

Dim View Of Housing Market

Northern Ontario residents aren't feeling overly optimism about the region's real estate market.

A survey conducted for the Ontario Real Estate Association finds less than half of residents surveyed seeing the northern Ontario market in 2014 being favourable.

Just four 4 per cent of residents living in northern Ontario indicate plans to buy a home in the next two years.

Trends For 2014

Watch for more investment around the world from the Chinese in 2014.

It's one of the predictions from American trend forecaster Gerald Celente.

Celente says its being aided by the strength of the Chinese economy.

Celente also foresees greater use of social media by seniors and an explosion of on-line learning.

Polar Plunge Going Ahead

It's going to be truly a polar plunge in Fort Frances tomorrow.

The Voyageur Lions Club's annual New Year's Day dip into Rainy Lake is still going ahead as planned despite temperatures expected to hover well below the freezing mark on New Year's Day.

Club president Bill Michl says it shouldn't be much of a problem for the jumpers as they have a heated shack for them to go into prior and after their quick dip.

Michl advises spectators to bundle up as they 'll be forced to watch from shore or the La Place Rendez-Vous' dock to watch.

The large government dock can't be use as it was closed down by the town earlier this year because of safety issues with the structure.

Michl says at least 30 people are confirmed to participate with more likely to sign-up tomorrow.

Get Your Flu Shot

Health officials in northwestern Ontario are urging people to get a flu shot if they haven't already.

It comes in the wake of reports that a second person in the Thunder Bay district has now died due to the H1N1 virus.

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit says both deaths involved people under the age of 65.

Mine Safety Review Planned

Ontario is launching a comprehensive mining safety review.

Mines Minister Michael Gravelle says it's to improve the health and well-being of workers in the sector.

Gravelle says the details of the review will be revealed early in the new year.

Man Sentenced To Jail Time

A Cat Lake First Nation man is sentenced to eight years plus time serviced in connection to the death of 65 year old Adam Yellowhead.

The sentencing of Joseph Wesley came down in Superior Court in Thunder Bay yesterday. 

Wesley was charged after the body of Yellowhead was discovered in the city's Intercity area in August of 2012.

Pay Cheques To Shrink

Ontario residents will be keeping less of their paycheques in the new year.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation's Candice Malcolm says it's because of increased Employment Insurance and Canadian Pension Plan contributions that kick in January 1.

The maximum employee share of EI taxes will go up 23 dollars while employer's share increases 31 dollars.

Make Peace Your Resolution

A coalition of national and international groups wants you to make peace your new year's resolution.

They've launched a campaign called the 24 Hours of World Peace as part of tomorrow's World Day of Peace.

Spokesperson John O'Donnell says they're asking people to register on a website to receive inspirational emails, photos and videos and to help promote peace.

O'Donnell says given recent world events, the importance of peace has been as great as it's ever been.

Sudden Death In Vermilion Bay

OPP are probing a sudden death reported on Christmas day in Vermilion Bay.

Police don't consider the death to be suspicious, but say their investigation is continuing.

A post mortem exam was conducted Friday, but no results have been released.

Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls Looks For New Name

The township of Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls has started the process of selecting a new name.

Mayor Bill Thompson put the idea out earlier this fall and says he's like it in place by next fall's municipal election.

Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls was selected by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing when the two townships amalgamated 13 years ago.

Anderson Reviews 2013

The mayor of International Falls is happy how his first year in office has been.

Bob Anderson says some of the changes he sought to get the city more focused on the basics are coming about.

But he says the year get a little more challenging with the downsizing of its major employer.

Anderson says it means working on economic development and strengthening partnerships the city now enjoys with Koochiching County and the city of Rainer.

MP Looks Back

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty says he found it difficult dealing with the Harper government in 2013.

But Rafferty says he's not giving up his fight for pension protection, seniors and veterans.

Rafferty predicts the scandals that plagued the Senate and the Prime Minister's office in 2013 will continue well into the new year.

NOVA Awards

The Northwestern Ontario Visionary Awards will be handed out January 18.

Shift, Thunder Bay's Young Professional Network is one of the organizations behind the awards and spokesperson Keith Anderson says they received a record 72 nominations.

The NOVA top 20 under 40 celebrates area residents who have accomplished great things in their community.