Ontario Liquor Control Board Workers will vote on a new tentative agreement today and tomorrow.
The deal was reached late last month, averting a strike that had been set for June 24th.
The strike would have seen about six-thousand workers walk off the job.
Information meetings run by the Ontario Public Service Employees union have been underway so workers can learn the details of the new offer.
Monday, July 13, 2009
More Fires in Rainy River district
Lightning is to blame for a couple of new forest fires in the Rainy River district over the weekend.
Two of the fires, one east of Fort Frances near Voyageurs National Park and one of the northern boundary of Quetico Park near Flanders, are listed as still active, but are small in size.
Strong winds and sunny weather on the weekend helped pushed the fire hazard to high levels across the northwest.
Two of the fires, one east of Fort Frances near Voyageurs National Park and one of the northern boundary of Quetico Park near Flanders, are listed as still active, but are small in size.
Strong winds and sunny weather on the weekend helped pushed the fire hazard to high levels across the northwest.
Moffat Funds to be Distributed
Money from the Moffat Family Fund is expected to be handed out at tonight's meeting of Fort Frances council.
The town received more than $43,000 from the Winnipeg-based Moffat fund earlier this year to hand out to local projects aimed at helping youth and families.
It's the seventh consecutive year the town has received money from the fund set up by the former owners of the local cable system.
The town received more than $43,000 from the Winnipeg-based Moffat fund earlier this year to hand out to local projects aimed at helping youth and families.
It's the seventh consecutive year the town has received money from the fund set up by the former owners of the local cable system.
Buy Canada Discussed Tonight
A request by the Ontario Federation of Labour to adopt a Buy Canada policy comes back to Fort Frances town council at its meeting tonight.
The OFL asked the town back in May to accept the policy as a way of ensuring local jobs are created by the federal-provincial governments infrastructure programs.
Also tonight, councillors will receive updates on work taking place around the community.
This includes construction of the new library and technology centre, the planned relocation of the tugboat Hallet and former fire tower to the waterfront and local road projects.
The public portion of tonight's meeting gets under at about 6:25 p.m. following an in-camera discussion pertaining to Sunny Cove Camp and First Nations Property Acquisitions.
The OFL asked the town back in May to accept the policy as a way of ensuring local jobs are created by the federal-provincial governments infrastructure programs.
Also tonight, councillors will receive updates on work taking place around the community.
This includes construction of the new library and technology centre, the planned relocation of the tugboat Hallet and former fire tower to the waterfront and local road projects.
The public portion of tonight's meeting gets under at about 6:25 p.m. following an in-camera discussion pertaining to Sunny Cove Camp and First Nations Property Acquisitions.
Portage Avenue Work Begins Today
Expect to see work crews at the Portage Avenue underpass today.
The installation of temporary traffic lights at either end of the underpass that will reduce traffic to one lane while work takes place.
However the first complete closure of the road will take place this week beginning tomorrow.
The underpass will be blocked from 9:00 a.m. to 7;)0 p.m. through to Thursday and 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Friday.
The closure is necessary in the removal of the concrete abutment located on the east side of the road.
The installation of temporary traffic lights at either end of the underpass that will reduce traffic to one lane while work takes place.
However the first complete closure of the road will take place this week beginning tomorrow.
The underpass will be blocked from 9:00 a.m. to 7;)0 p.m. through to Thursday and 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Friday.
The closure is necessary in the removal of the concrete abutment located on the east side of the road.
Tornado Victim Found
Provincial police say the body of a third man killed in a freak storm in northwestern Ontario has been recovered.
Divers with the Ontario Provincial Police underwater search and recovery unit located the body of 66-year-old Dennis Kinkaid just after seven last night.
The bodies of his friends - 65-year-old Bernie Jackson and 78-year-old Stan Hollis - were pulled from the water Friday.
All three men are from Ponca City, Oklahoma.
The trio was picked up by a tornado that swept through a hunting and fishing resort Thursday on Lac Seul.
The men were at the Fisherman's Cove Resort in Ear Falls when their cabin was ripped from its foundation and tossed into the lake almost a kilometre away.
Five other guests at the lodge, being identified as being from the Minneapolis and Wisconsin areas, suffered minor injuries after the tornado ripped apart their cabin.
Divers with the Ontario Provincial Police underwater search and recovery unit located the body of 66-year-old Dennis Kinkaid just after seven last night.
The bodies of his friends - 65-year-old Bernie Jackson and 78-year-old Stan Hollis - were pulled from the water Friday.
All three men are from Ponca City, Oklahoma.
The trio was picked up by a tornado that swept through a hunting and fishing resort Thursday on Lac Seul.
The men were at the Fisherman's Cove Resort in Ear Falls when their cabin was ripped from its foundation and tossed into the lake almost a kilometre away.
Five other guests at the lodge, being identified as being from the Minneapolis and Wisconsin areas, suffered minor injuries after the tornado ripped apart their cabin.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Rainy River Railroad Daze Begin
Railroad Daze gets underway today in Rainy River.
It begins at noon with the start of a weekend long silent auction.
There is also a slo-pitch tournament, parade, evening entertainment and the popular Great Beaver Cardboard and Duct Tape Boat race.
Events wrap up Sunday.
It begins at noon with the start of a weekend long silent auction.
There is also a slo-pitch tournament, parade, evening entertainment and the popular Great Beaver Cardboard and Duct Tape Boat race.
Events wrap up Sunday.
"Carbon Man" Now Canadian
"Carbon Man," has become Canadian.
The rights to Minnesota's symbol of climate change seen in television commercials statewide has been purchased by the Canadian Wood Council for use across Canada.
The commercial, created by Duluth-based Minnesota Forest Industries two years ago, shows how carbon dioxide is absorbed in trees and kept in the products made.
Executive Vice-President Wayne Brandt says they're flattered Canadians like the message and the way its presented.
The rights to Minnesota's symbol of climate change seen in television commercials statewide has been purchased by the Canadian Wood Council for use across Canada.
The commercial, created by Duluth-based Minnesota Forest Industries two years ago, shows how carbon dioxide is absorbed in trees and kept in the products made.
Executive Vice-President Wayne Brandt says they're flattered Canadians like the message and the way its presented.
Great Lakes Fish Report
A new report being released today says eating fish from the Great Lakes may be putting yourself at risk for alarmingly high levels of toxins.
The report from the advocacy group Environmental Defence focused on toxic chemicals in Great Lakes fish by examining advisories published by the Ontario Ministry of Environment.
Fish from Lake Superior had the lowest contamination level while Lake Ontario had the worst.
The report from the advocacy group Environmental Defence focused on toxic chemicals in Great Lakes fish by examining advisories published by the Ontario Ministry of Environment.
Fish from Lake Superior had the lowest contamination level while Lake Ontario had the worst.
Local Education Program Promoted
A program helping local students improve their oral language skills is being highlighted at national conference in Calgary today.
Rainy River District School Board's Education Director Jack McMaster has joined with educators from Kenora and Dryden to promote the Oral Language project to delegates attending the Canadian Association of School Administrators
McMaster says the success of the program here is gaining interest elsewhere.
"It's really starting to peak some people's interest," says McMaster, "mostly in Ontario, but this is a national conference. What's happening with this oral language project is going to be fairly large in North America and probably worldwide because a lot of countries are teaching their children English in school."
McMaster says the program, developed in the northwest, has been successful in helping children early in their school years improve their oral language skills.
Rainy River District School Board's Education Director Jack McMaster has joined with educators from Kenora and Dryden to promote the Oral Language project to delegates attending the Canadian Association of School Administrators
McMaster says the success of the program here is gaining interest elsewhere.
"It's really starting to peak some people's interest," says McMaster, "mostly in Ontario, but this is a national conference. What's happening with this oral language project is going to be fairly large in North America and probably worldwide because a lot of countries are teaching their children English in school."
McMaster says the program, developed in the northwest, has been successful in helping children early in their school years improve their oral language skills.
Rafferty Defend's Party's Position
John Rafferty is defending his party's decision to oppose the government's action plan aimed at stimulating Canada's economy.
The Harper government says 80 per cent of that plan has been now implemented.
The MP for Thunder Bay-Rainy River says he welcomes the recent infrastructure money for the district, but doesn't think it will create the jobs the government believe it will.
"The local projects are welcome," says Rafferty, "but how many jobs are they creating and for how long? Will it make up for the thousand jobs lost because of the government's unwillingness to help the forestry sector?
Rafferty says while the feds indicate 80 per cent of its plan is complete, only a handful of the so-called shovel-ready infrastructure projects announced have actually started.
The Harper government says 80 per cent of that plan has been now implemented.
The MP for Thunder Bay-Rainy River says he welcomes the recent infrastructure money for the district, but doesn't think it will create the jobs the government believe it will.
"The local projects are welcome," says Rafferty, "but how many jobs are they creating and for how long? Will it make up for the thousand jobs lost because of the government's unwillingness to help the forestry sector?
Rafferty says while the feds indicate 80 per cent of its plan is complete, only a handful of the so-called shovel-ready infrastructure projects announced have actually started.
Test Runs at AbitibiBowater
Efforts to resume an idled paper machine at AbitibiBowater's mill in Fort Frances continue.
Spokesperson Jean-Phillipe Cote says the company's been running tests this week of machine number 6 to see if it can produce alternative types of paper.
Cote says while they are examining its capabilities, there are no firm plans at this time to convert the machine which has been down since March.
Spokesperson Jean-Phillipe Cote says the company's been running tests this week of machine number 6 to see if it can produce alternative types of paper.
Cote says while they are examining its capabilities, there are no firm plans at this time to convert the machine which has been down since March.
Suspected Tornado Leaves Two Dead
(Photo courtesy Kathy Campbell)
Environment Canada suspects a tornado may have touched down in the Ear Falls area that has left two American men dead, five people injured and another guest at an area tourist camp.
Several buildings at Fisherman's Cove, 15 kilometres were destroyed by a storm that passed through the area last night.
Meteorologist Geoff Coulson says indications of a tornado are only preliminary.
"We are treating it as a possible tornado at this point," says Coulson, "and we have sent one of our Environment Canada staff from the Thunder Bay to do a survey of the area, talk with eye witnesses and walk the path of damage to get a better sense of what hit the area."
Bill Laidlaw of Signal Weather Services says video and photographs he's seen coming from people living in the area point to a tornado. He says a cold front was rotating in front of low weather system was passing through the area at the time.
"On the cold front there was some very active thunderstorms," says Laidlaw, "and the closer they got to the low the more active they were. All thunderstroms have a lot of potential energy in them and if all of the ingredients come together, they can do some very nasty damage.
As of the noon hour Friday, police were still searching for one guest who was unaccounted for.
The OPP's emergency response team and marine unit, along with a Ministry of Natural Resources helicopter were involved.
Both of the dead and the missing man, were from Oklahoma.
Their names have not been released pending notification of next of kin.
To view video of the suspected tornado, go to the home page of www.b93.ca and click the What's New" button.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Hunters Charged
Two Ontario hunters have been fined a total of $7,500 for illegally hunting deer in the Fort Frances area.
The men from the North Bay area were charged following an investigation by M-N-R Conservation officers last fall into the illegal shooting of three deer.
One man was fined four-thousand dollars for various offences, including trespassing on private land. He was prohibited from hunting in Ontario for one year.
The other man was found guilty on several hunting offences, including discharging a firearm down a road. He's forced to pay $3,500 in fines and banned from hunting for two years.
Both men were also ordered to complete hunter education courses
The men from the North Bay area were charged following an investigation by M-N-R Conservation officers last fall into the illegal shooting of three deer.
One man was fined four-thousand dollars for various offences, including trespassing on private land. He was prohibited from hunting in Ontario for one year.
The other man was found guilty on several hunting offences, including discharging a firearm down a road. He's forced to pay $3,500 in fines and banned from hunting for two years.
Both men were also ordered to complete hunter education courses
Boil Water Back On
A boil water advisory, lifted yesterday in Kenora, is back on.
For the second time in a week, the city's water treatment plant was impacted by a brief power outage.
The latest outage occurred this morning.
The Northwestern Health Unit is now sampling water, but says the latest advisory could remain in effect until the weekend or Monday.
For the second time in a week, the city's water treatment plant was impacted by a brief power outage.
The latest outage occurred this morning.
The Northwestern Health Unit is now sampling water, but says the latest advisory could remain in effect until the weekend or Monday.
Rezoning Application Deferred
Alberton's township council deferred making a decision last night on a rezoning application that could lead to Weechi-it-ti-win Family Services setting up its Training and Learning Centre on property currently owned by the Arpin Family.
Council will revisit the application, brought forward by Gayle Arpin, at its August Meeting.
It's also planning to hold a special meeting at the end of this month to conduct a review of its official plan and zoning by-laws as it relates to the application.
Council also approved an interim control by-law prohibiting group homes being set up on lands designated rural residential for at least one year so it can further study issues related to such development.
The by-law does not impact on the Arpin application.
Council will revisit the application, brought forward by Gayle Arpin, at its August Meeting.
It's also planning to hold a special meeting at the end of this month to conduct a review of its official plan and zoning by-laws as it relates to the application.
Council also approved an interim control by-law prohibiting group homes being set up on lands designated rural residential for at least one year so it can further study issues related to such development.
The by-law does not impact on the Arpin application.
Rainy River Roads Going to the Web
Some of the streets in the Rainy River district may soon find their way to Google Streetview.
Google is currently taking panoramic photographs of areas streets for its Google Maps Internet search site.
Spokesperson Tamara Micner says they're trying to take photographs in as many communities as they can.
"We usually do in any country where we're collecting street view images is start with the larger centres which as the most relevant to our user," says Micner, "and then we go from there and try to cover as much area as we can."
Micner says Google has hired local contractors to take the photos.
No word when they will appear on the web.
Google is currently taking panoramic photographs of areas streets for its Google Maps Internet search site.
Spokesperson Tamara Micner says they're trying to take photographs in as many communities as they can.
"We usually do in any country where we're collecting street view images is start with the larger centres which as the most relevant to our user," says Micner, "and then we go from there and try to cover as much area as we can."
Micner says Google has hired local contractors to take the photos.
No word when they will appear on the web.
Lab Accredited
An important designation for Rainy Lake Medical Center.
It's hospital campus laboratory in International Falls has received accreditation from the College of American Pathologists following a recent on-site inspection.
Laboratory Director Sam Segars credits staff for achieving the designation which is given to labs that exceeds federal government standards.
It's hospital campus laboratory in International Falls has received accreditation from the College of American Pathologists following a recent on-site inspection.
Laboratory Director Sam Segars credits staff for achieving the designation which is given to labs that exceeds federal government standards.
Boil Water Advisory Lifted
It's finally safe to drink the tap water in Kenora.
The Northwestern Health Unit lifted the boil water advisory issued for in that city Saturday following a power outage that effected the city's water treatment plant.
The advisory was lifted yesterday after the health unit determined there was no bacterial presence in the city's water supply.
The Northwestern Health Unit lifted the boil water advisory issued for in that city Saturday following a power outage that effected the city's water treatment plant.
The advisory was lifted yesterday after the health unit determined there was no bacterial presence in the city's water supply.
Art Education Program Funded
The Community Arts and Heritage Education Project is getting a boost from the provincial government.
The Northern Ontario Heritage Funding has pledged $30,000 to expand the work of the northwestern Ontario arts group.
Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle says the funding will help expand the mandate of the program throughout the region.
"This really does bring arts heritage education into the schools," says Gravelle. "It allows children to be really creative in a positive way. It also helps having artists to come forward and be able to explain how art can reach everyone."
The project is currently promoted in several communities including Fort Frances and Atikokan.
The Northern Ontario Heritage Funding has pledged $30,000 to expand the work of the northwestern Ontario arts group.
Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle says the funding will help expand the mandate of the program throughout the region.
"This really does bring arts heritage education into the schools," says Gravelle. "It allows children to be really creative in a positive way. It also helps having artists to come forward and be able to explain how art can reach everyone."
The project is currently promoted in several communities including Fort Frances and Atikokan.
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