New Taxing District in International Falls Area

2009-04-08

07:46:22

A group looking to establish a special taxing district to help fund emergency medical services in the International Falls area got its blessing from the city this week.

Officials say it will help with local efforts to bring an advanced life support service to the Falls Ambulance Service. Terry Ehrman, chair of the group, says the district will help bring a services that 's badly needed.

"We feel it is the best way in try to move forward with funding this endeavour," says Ehrman. "and ensure the Ambulance Service of International Falls and ALS to the community."

Ehrman says the new district would governed by a board with representing Koochiching County and the cities of International Falls and Ranier. The group hopes to obtain grants for  start-up costs.

Softwood Lumber Dispute

2009-04-08

07:44:34

The U-S is slapping a 10 per cent duty on Canadian softwood lumber imports in a test of the 2006 softwood lumber agreement.

The United States Trade Representative says the U-S is owed almost $55-million U-S in penalties  from four provinces, including Ontario, for not sufficiently lowering exports of lumber as prices dropped. In February, an international tribunal found that Canada didn't properly calculate quotas on exports for the first six months of 2007.

Canada plans to appeal the new tax.

College Policies Under Review

2009-04-08

07:26:52

Confederation College is reviewing its policies after a student stole a plane and flew over three states Monday.

Officials say the pilot, 31 year old Adam Leon, was trying to commit suicide by having U-S fighter jets shoot down his plane. College president Pat Lang says Leon had not shown any questionable behaviour.

"He was a good student," says Lang. "He was described as being very personable, very polite, very pleasant, very engaged. He's was described as an excellent students by his faculty members."

While the college is reviewing its policies, Lang says security was not compromised because aviation students have access to the airport hangar. Leon has been charged with transportation of stolen property and illegal entry. He'll appear in court in St. Louis on Friday.

Beef Recall

2009-04-08

07:24:40

There's a warning about some beef products sold at Canada Safeway.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is warning the public not to eat certain lean ground beef because it may be contaminated with E. coli. The agency says the meat was prepared for certain Canada Safeway stores in northeastern Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The affected packages bear a best before date of March 19th.

There has been no reported illness linked with consumption of this product.

Causeway Work to Continue

2009-04-08

06:56:16

The second phase of work on the Noden Causeway is expected to take place this year.

The work includes further repairs to the steel piles that support the structure. Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle says the northern Highway's budget is still being reviewed, but he's committed to keeping the work moving.

"This is a project we remain committed to," says Gravelle. "It's one that's very, very important. And there's a certain sense of urgency which is why we're continuing to support it in a very significant way."

Last year, Gravelle announced the province would help fund the work over a five year period.

E. Coli Warning

2009-04-08

06:55:28

There's a warning this morning about some beef products sold at Canada Safeway.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is warning the public not to eat certain lean ground beef because it may be contaminated with E. coli.

The meat was prepared for certain Canada Safeway stores in northeastern Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

The affected packages bear a best before date of March 19th.

There has been no reported illness linked with consumption of this product.

Police Chief to Retire

2009-04-08

06:54:19

The city of International Falls has asked its police chief to take an early retirement.

City Administrator Rod Otterness says the retirement of Chief Chris Raboin is being made strictly for financial reasons and not personal.

Raboin's retirement at the end of April is expected to save the city more than 300-thousand dollars over the next five years.

Raboin has been the police chief for International Falls since 1998.

Tenders for Road Work Opened

2009-04-08

06:49:06

Another major capital project in Fort Frances now has some costs attached.

Tenders for road and sewer and water repairs around Abitibi-Bowater's biomass boiler were opened Tuesday afternoon. The four bids will be reviewed before a final selection is recommended to council later this month. The bids are;

LTL Contracting Ltd., Thunder Bay - $6,332,935.04

K.R. Wagner - $6,490,214.13

Bay City Contractors, Thunder Bay - $5,415,588.15

George Armstrong Co. Ltd., Fort Frances - $6,820,983.75

 

 

New Sideway for Lion's Park

2009-04-07

08:55:12

A new sidewalk proposed for Lion's Park in Fort Frances will get built this year.

The Fort Frances' Lions Club's commitment to the project was boosted after the Ontario Trillium Foundation announced the club would be getting $15,000 for the project.

President Jacques Fiset says its makes the park truly accessible to everyone.

"We have enough money set aside to go ahead and finish the project so people who are in wheelchairs can enjoy the park like everyone else," says Fiset.

Fiset says new concrete walkway will go from the children's play-area at the west end to the washrooms and gazebo to the east.

Ignace Water Plant on Hold

2009-04-07

08:54:15

Operation of the new Water Treatment Plant in Ignace has been delayed, yet again.

The community was hoping to have the facility up and running on April first. Mayor Lionel Cloutier says a number of issues need to be addressed before commissioning can take place. Cloutier says some deal with the compliance of Health and Safety laws and to meet regulations under the Clean Water Act.

Ignace residents have been forced to boil their water since July 2007.

 

Stolen College Plane Lands in Missouri

2009-04-07

08:48:01

The suspected pilot of a small plane stolen from Confederation College's flight school in  Thunder Bay is in custody in Missouri.

Highway Patrol Sergeant Marty Elmore says authorities arrested 31-year-old Adam Dylan Leon near Ellsinore in southeastern Missouri. Military officials say the four-seat Cessna plane was stolen from Thunder Bay Monday afternoon. Confederation College vice-president Judy Maundrell says a man was seen climbing a fence at the college's flight centre, and taking off with the plane.

American F-16 fighters intercepted the Cessna, which flew erratically through three American states and prompted the evacuation of the Wisconsin capitol. But the pilot did not respond to radio calls or other signals before landing on a road in Missouri and fleeing.

According to a report out of the U-S, Leon is a former Turkish national who became a Canadian citizen last year.

It's not clear why he took the plane in the first place.

Health Unit Budget

2009-04-07

08:13:23

The Northwestern Health Unit says it has no plans to increase its municipal levy this year.

The Health Unit has finalized its 2009 budget. Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Jim Arthurs says local towns and cities don't have to worry about a hike in their contribution.

Instead, the province has promised to increase its share of its funding to health units across Ontario by three percent this year.

 

Gateway Corridor Project

2009-04-07

07:58:31

The refurbishing of a fire tower located on the American side of the border is part of an improvement project being examined in the International Falls area.

The Gateway Corridor proposes to improve the area between Highway 53 along Highway 11 to Voyageur's National Park. It includes renovating a State-owned building at the corner of Highways 53 and 11 intro a Central Wayside Rest. The plan also proposes corridor streetscapes and an extension of the bike trail from Voyageur's National Park to the city, signage, along with the improvements to the former fire tower located near the park.

Task Force Chair Terry Stone says the next step is to identify champions to help move the projects forward. Stone says many of the projects would qualify for federal funding.

Fire Tower Move Questioned

2009-04-07

07:49:32

Members of Fort Frances town council are expressing concerns with plans to move the tugboat Hallet and fire tower from Pither's Point Park to the Fort Frances Waterfront.

Community Services Manager George Bell told councillors at their meeting Monday night Tom Jones Construction will do the work for 1-point-4 million dollars. While there was support for moving the Hallet, some councillors weren't as keen on the fire tower.

Councillor Ken Perry says it has no historical significance to the town.

"The boat is significant to this area and we should save it," says Perry. "The tower should come down, yes, but not resurrected."

Councillor John Albanese called the project a waste of money. Bell says much of the project costs would be covered through provincial dollars with the town on the hook for about $230,000.

New Library Debated

2009-04-07

07:27:21

The chair of the Fort Frances Library Board is warning the project could die if town council fails to accept a $3.7 million contract to build the new library and technology centre.

Joyce Cunningham made those remarks as council debated yesterday a recommendation to enter into an agreement with Aurora Construction. The library board has been working towards a new library for 13 years. Cunningham says the town can't afford further delays.

"The longer you wait, the higher the price goes up," warned Cunningham. "That (provincial funding) money  was given to use, all of the money was given to us, was for a stand alone library and that's where we are. Today, if we don't go ahead, the project is dead."

Cunningham adds that if the town doesn't proceed, all of the provincial money previously received will have to be returned. About $3 million has been received from Northern Development and Mines and the Culture Ministries.

But some councillors are concerned with the town's portion of the overall costs, estimated at about $1 million. Councillor Paul Ryan fears that portion could rise if federal funding can't be found and the existing facility can't be sold.

But Cunningham warned the commitment made today would be far less than what the town may have to spend to bring the existing library into compliance with provincial laws.

"I have told you about the Accessibility for Ontario Disabilities Act. It's moving through the process."

"We can number crunch. We can project. We can go on forever, " says Cunningham. "The time (to build) is now."

Council is to make a final decision on Monday. 

Snowy Fort Frances

2009-04-06

12:56:41

There was definitely a low of snow in the Fort Frances area in March.

Environment Canada says the area saw a total of 74 centimetres of snow - well above the monthly average of 13.

Meteorologist Sandy Radeki says the numbers were boosted by two significant storms.

"You had snow fall events reported on March 9th and 10th," says Radeki. There was 25 centimetres one day, and then 15. And on March 31st the area had 19 centimetres of snow."

Combined with a mid-month rainfall, the area saw more than 110 centimetres of precipitation in March.

Snowy International Falls

2009-04-06

12:55:39

There's also been a lot of snow in International Falls this year.

Last week's winter storm brought the city's seasonal snowfall to just over 121 inches - breaking the old record of 116 set back in the winter of 1995-96. Since November 1st, the city has  reported snow on 110 of the 151 days through to the end of March.

Local Foods Promoted in Schools

2009-04-06

12:54:21

Premier Dalton McGuinty says he hopes an Ontario apple a day will keep the recession away.

The premier is defending a $24-million investment over three years to help make Ontario-farmed foods available in more jails, schools and hospitals. He says that, in the past, provincial institutions have opted to buy whatever was easiest to get.

Now that the province is in the midst of a crippling recession, McGuinty says it's important to understand that buying Ontario apples, potatoes and lamb will help the economy. He says he's not taking aim at items like B.C. apples but simply wants to move his province's produce to forefront - just like the province did with Ontario wines.

And while he concedes it's difficult to get Ontario fruit in the winter and acknowledges some contracts may end up being more expensive, McGuinty says there are opportunities to promote
homegrown product everywhere food is served.

Green Energy Act Claims Disputed

2009-04-06

12:52:21

A new report commissioned by the Opposition says Ontario's Green Energy Act could hike electricity bills by hundreds of dollars a year.

The report says the average additional cost per household ranges from $280 to $780 per year
between 2010 and 2025. The study, which is being released later this month, says those
costs don't include the impact of tax harmonization, which will tack on another eight per cent on home heating costs starting in 2010.

The report says government claims that the legislation will create more than 50,000 jobs over three years are unsubstantiated. It says the act could actually costs jobs if the province becomes less competitive as a result.

The Progressive Conservatives say the report shows the legislation will add another burden to consumers struggling in tough economic times.

Rainy River Grant

2009-04-06

12:50:54

The township of Rainy River is receiving some money from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

It will use more than $37 thousand dollars toward the purchase and installation of equipment  in the arena and community centre.