Falls Council Hires Lobbyist

The city of International Falls is hiring a lobby firm to work on its behalf in Washington.

It's a first for the city.

Mayor Shawn Mason says they're not disappointed with the representation they have in the Capital, but a lobbyist gives them an even stronger voice.

The city's will pay $24-thousand a year for the service.

City Beach House Plans Unveiled

A proposed design for a new beach house at International Falls' city beach has been unveiled.

Cost of construction is estimated at about $272-thousand.

The city's Street Commissioner Steve Johnson says they believe it will suit the needs of beach users.

"There were a couple of designs out there," says Johnson, "and the committee unanimously choice this design. It's a good looking building and fits well in the surroundings."

The city's now begun the process of finding government grants to fund the project.

Solar Project In Place

(Solar Wall photo)


The Rainy River District School Board has one of two solar projects up and running.

The panels are on the roof of J.W. Walker School in Fort Frances with a second project planned for later this year at Fort Frances High School.

Manager of Plant Operations Raymond Roy says power generated will be sold back to the provincial grid.

"Between the two projects, the revenue that will be generated is about $113-thousand annually," says Roy.

Roy says the projects also have an educational component allowing students to learn about the benefits of green energy.

Fugitive Nabbed at Baudette Border

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Baudette nabbed a woman who was wanted by authorities in Minnesota's Polk County.

Officials says the 44-year-old from Baudette was taken into custody at the border last week after learning she had an outstanding warrant pertaining to theft and marijuana possession charges.

The woman was turned over to Baudette's Police Department for pending extradition to Polk County.

New Gun Law Proposed

Some new hunting rules impacting the Kenora and Rainy River districts could be in place this fall.

John Dungavel of the Ministry of Natural Resources' policy branch, says the proposal would restrict where gun owners could have a loaded firearm.

"What this proposal would do if it was implemented would be to restrict the possession of loaded firearms within eight metres of the travelled portion of a roadway," says Dungavel.

Dungavel says concerns from some rural municipalities prompted the Ministry to consider the change.

It is already illegal to shot a firearm from the road or its right of way.

Crimestoppers Turns 25

Crimestoppers in Northwestern Ontario and Northern Minnesota is celebrating its 25th anniversary this month.

Board chair Bill Harrington says they've seen a lot of growth to the program, especially since the addition of northern Minnesota to their coverage area six year ago.

"As you know that International Falls border is very busy," says Harrington. "Lots of people moving across and we know there are things there that we should be getting tips on and we're been very fortunate to do that."

Just over a million dollars in stolen property have been recovered and seven million in illegal drug seized since the program started in 1985.

Budget Discussions Begin

Fort Frances town councillors sat down last night to begin their discussions on the 2011 budget.

Treasurer Laurie Witherspoon says while the operating budget is coming in "bare bones," the capital budget is still concerning.

"If we took a look at it as it stands right now, we would decrease our reserve funds by approximately 21.6 per cent," says Witherspoon, "and we would increase our long term debt by approximately 40 per cent. So you know we have a long ways to go."

The capital budget is currently at $8.5-million dollars with over $3-million targetted to come from reserves.

Water and Sewer Rates Discussed

Fort Frances town councillors held off making any decision on new water and sewer rates at their meeting last night.

Councillor Andrew Hallikas says they first want to hear about a financial asset management report that comes to council Monday.

"By looking at this report and the trends it reveals, it's going to show council exactly where we might have to apply ourselves in terms of taxation this year," says Hallikas.

It was noted that a one per cent increase in rates would bring in about $51-thousand in revenue.

College Program to be Adopted Locally

A local committee is looking at how to implement Confederation College's RESPECT campaign across the Rainy River district.

Trudy McCormick, co-chair of Celebrating Diversity, says the campaign, recognizing the value of diversity, would be a good fit for the area.

"It's very accessible," says McCormick. "What we want to look at is not just one issue or a narrow area of issues. It's a very broad focus. It aligns with the focus of the Diversity Committee to celebrate diversity in all its facets."

McCormick says they've formed a separate committee to review how aspects of the RESPECT campaign can be adopted.

Ontario "Hoodwinked"

Energy Minister Brad Duguid says Tory Leader Tim Hudak is trying to "hoodwink'' Ontario residents on energy.

Hudak is blaming smart meters, the Green Energy Act and massive subsidies to the foreign company Samsung for causing electricity bills to skyrocket.

Duguid says the real reason is the cost to build a clean, modern reliable energy system for the province.

Snowmobile Safety Week in Ontario

Ontario Provincial Police and Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs are asking snowmobilers to make smart choices this winter.

This is Snowmobile Safety Week in Ontario.

OPP Sergeant Michael Price says there have already been five snowmobile fatalities this winter.

"Unfortunately our latest fatalities took place on a lake," says Price, "so we're stressing that the safest place to operate a snowmobile is actually on an OFSC trail."

A 55-year-old man died when his snowmachine went through the ice near Kenora last month.

Hydro Assets Still on Chopping Block

AbitibiBowater's is still looking to sell off its hydro assets in Ontario.

That includes its hydro dam in Fort Frances.

Executive vice-president William Harvey says any sale, though, will be done without impacting mill operations.

"Anything we move there, of course, we are not going to do anything to impact the cost structure of the mills associated in Ontario," says Harvey. "That's one of our first priorities."

Harvey says any proceeds for the sale will go towards reducing the company's debt.

More Cost Cutting to Come

AbitibiBowater is planning further cost cutting at some of its Canadian mills.

CEO Richard Garneau says with the Canadian dollar hovering around par with the U.S. greenback, the company needs to have a similar cost structure on both sides of the border.

Garneau declined to identify the targeted mills or indicate how much more costly they are to operate than their U.S. counterparts.

Hope for Atikokan Forest Products

Atikokan Mayor Dennis Brown isn't giving up hope on Atikokan Forest Products.

The mill, located at Sapawe which closed in 2008, is now in receivership.

Brown believes it's a mill that can easily reopen.

"It's a very modern mill," says Brown. "Mr. Buchanan and his group spent a lot of money over the years and I'm sure it's going to be an asset for another organization, another company to purchase and continue operating."

Brown says the town's willing to work with the receiver to help find a buyer and get former employees back to work.

Budget Discussion Begins

Fort Frances town councillors sit down today to begin discussing the 2011 budget.

The preliminary operating budget is at about $21-million while the capital budget is sitting at almost $8.5 million.

The figures, though, don't include costs for such things as town's levy to the Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board, a policing cost increase or a fire department arbitration award.

New NOMA President Selected

O'Connor township Mayor Ron Nelson has been elected the new president of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association.

Nelson's selection was needed because of the October election loss by former president Anne Krassilowski of Dryden.

Atikokan Mayor Dennis Brown, who held the position on an interim bases, maintains his seat on the board as a past-president.

Get Your Flu Shot

Northwestern Health Unit's medical officer of health says the new strain of flu concerning health officials this year isn't causing much concern to this area yet.

H3N2 has strained medical services elsewhere.

Doctor James Arthurs says because of its inactivity here people shouldn't avoid getting the flu shot.

"I think this is our opportunity to encourage people to go out, if they haven't already gotten their flu shot vaccination," says Dr. Arthurs, "we would certainly encourage them to do that."

Arthurs says this year's flu shot includes a vaccine to combat the new strain.

Driven to Quit

The Northwestern Health Unit and Canadian Cancer Society have once again teamed up to offer the Annual Driven to Quit Challenge.

Society Spokesperson Naomi McNeill says a number of prizes are for grabs for smokers who butt out for the month of March.

"Such Honda Hybrids, a five-thousand dollar vacation get-a-way and buddy prizes as well," says McNeill.

Visit any Health Unit office or go on-line at http://www.driventoquit.ca/ to register.

Atikokan Forest Products in Receivership

An Atikokan area mill is among four Buchanan-owned mills that have entered bankruptcy proceedings.

Atikokan Forest Products is now in receivership.

Company spokesperson Yves Fricot says it's too soon to say if it will be a positive move.

"The mills closed about three years ago," says Fricot," and it's everybody's hope, ours, the unions and our employees, that we might be able to hang through this downturn and ultimately reopen the mills and put people back to work."

Atikokan Forest Products closed in 2008.

The Steelworkers Union will be looking to obtain severance for former workers.

Forest Tenure Changes This Spring

The provincial government is looking to make its planned overhaul of Ontario's forest tenure and pricing system official this spring.

Forestry Minister Michael Gravelle says the province plans to introduce legislation to establish two new governance models for managing and harvesting Ontario's forests.

"We want to be able to open up the system so that new entrants, aboriginal communities, municipalities, those with good business ideas that previously had a difficulty accessing wood can now now have greater access," says Gravelle.

The legislation includes establishing local forest management agencies to manage Crown forests and oversee timber sales.