Water Rates Upsetting

Some rural residents around International Falls are upset with the cost they now have to pay for the delivery of city water.

The city increased rates last month.

Resident Kathie Fluke says an increase of 48 per cent to the out-of-town delivery charge contrast to the 20 per cent increase impacted users in the city.

But the city says it's increase only amounts to a few dollars, depending on the amount of water used and any higher costs could be associated with fees applied by the independent water haulers.

Fort Employees Have New Contracts

Municipal employees in Fort Frances have started 2012 with new labour agreements.

Separate four-year-deals for unionized workers and managers and non-unionized staff were agreed to just before the Christmas break.

The deals include wage hikes of two per cent in each year.

One with the Canadian Union of Public Employees impacts 67 full and part time workers, along with eighteen student positions.

The other covers about 40 managers and non-unionized staff, along with another 28 students.

Festive Ride Stats Disappointing

The OPP aren't happy with the results of the festive RIDE program.

Sergeant Shelly Garr says it's disappointing to see some in northwestern Ontario still taking the chance of drinking and driving.

A total of 47 people across the region were charged with impaired.

The specific number of charges in the Rainy River district were not immediately released.

Cap on Hospital CEO Salaries Needed

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says it's time to cap salaries and cut perks for health-care executives.

Her comments come after most of Ontario's hospitals posted their CEO's compensation packages online.

Health Minister Deb Matthews says the idea of a one-size-fits-all salary cap is simplistic and not well thought out.

Question of the Day - January 4

Do you support making the salaries and contracts of hospital executives public?

Tell us on Facebook or our new website 93.1The Border.ca.

In yesterday's question, 52 per cent felt increases in CPP and EI premiums are necessary.

Those increases went into effect Sunday.

Fibrek Fights Takeover Bid

Quebec pulp producer Fibrek is urging its shareholders to reject a hostile takeover bid from Resolute Forest Products.

Resolute is offering 130-million dollars for the company that has pulp mills in Quebec, West Virginia and Michigan.

Fibrek says bid is timed to take advantage of turmoil on the equity markets and low pulp prices.

Less Pay - More Taxes for 2012

We'll be paying more in taxes this year.

An increase in CPP and EI premiums will see Canadians take home as much as 300 dollars less than last year.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty says its tough news for people in northwestern Ontario.

Rafferty says this is coming on the heels of corporate tax cuts which just puts more of a burden on the average person.

Question of the Day - January 3

Do you think increases in CPP and EI premiums are necessary?

Tell us on Facebook or our website b93.ca.

In response to our last on-line poll question, 81 per cent of 93.1 The Border listeners don't see a good reason to make New Year's resolutions.

FOI Materials Expected On-Line Today

Most Ontario hospitals are expected to post their executive contracts online today.

They're subject to freedom of information legislation.

The NDP wants to cap the salaries of hospital CEO's.

 Tom Closson of the Ontario Hospital Association says this is the wrong time to limit pay for hospital administrators.

Closson says being more transparent will boost the public's confidence in what he says is the most efficient hospital system in Canada.

Rate Changes Proposed for Atikokan Hydro Users

Atikokan Hydro is seeking an increase to the delivery charge to its users.

An application is now before the Ontario Energy Board.

If approved, residential users who consume 800 kilowatts per month would see an increase of about 12-dollars and 31 cents.

No Election Good for Fort Frances in 2011

The Mayor of Fort Frances says the lack of a municipal election in 2010 proved to be beneficial for his community last year.

Roy Avis says with everyone back, council was able to plot strategies for the next four years right away.

Avis says with Resolute Forest Products still facing economic challenges, and the mill seeking a reduction in taxes, 2012 could be a challenge.

Campbell Disappointed with 2011 at Queen's Park

2011 wasn't as productive at Queen's Park as Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell would have liked to see.

Campbell, who took over from her former boss Howard Hampton in October's election, says she would have liked more come out of her first session.

Campbell says the inability to form parliamentary committees in the last session prevented many proposed bills from moving forward.

Thin Ice Warning from Minnesota

Law enforcement agencies across Minnesota are warning people to stay off lake ice.

Fish houses, all-terrain vehicles and people have been falling into the water as unseasonably warm weather makes ice conditions unsafe.

Polar Plunge

New Year's Day was a chilly day in Fort Frances, but that didn't stop 65 people from jumping in Rainy Lake as part of the Voyageur Lion's Club's Polar Plunge.

12-thousand dollars was raised for local charities.

The Muskies Sports Association was the big fund raiser, collecting more than 22-hundred dollars.

Costume winners were Hallee Nugent, Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty and, once again, first place to Maureen Hahkala, dressed as Mario.

Group costume prize went to the Fort Frances High School Art trippers who were dressed as Greeks in anticipation of their upcoming trip to Greece.

$50 gift certificates from Canadian Tire to the top iindividual top fundraisers went to Madison Morrison, who jumped for Kidsport, Kassidy Ledrew and Maighyn DeGagne from Dancemakers and Ben Tysz from the FFHS Greece Art Trippers.

A $200 gift certificate went to Maureen Hahkala who brought in $523 for the Rainy River District Festival of the Arts.

The big prize of a Samsung  Home Theatre Sound System from Leon’s went to Hallee Nugent who turned in $1000 for World Vision.

Voyageur Lions jumpers , Jim Martindale, Bill Michl , Dale Gill and Wayne Lundstrom turned in $2800 in pledges and the Emo and District Lions Club received $800 in pledges from Kent Ogden and Dennis Ogilvie.

Missing Youth Sought

Provincial Police are seeking the public's assistance in locating a missing area teenager.

13-year-old Michaela Smith of Watten Township was reported missing yesterday afternoon.

She was last seen at the Fort Frances Public Library.

The First Nations teen has black shoulder length hair and was last seen wearing dark blue pants and a black Adidas sweater.

Her photo can be seen on our website B93.ca

Ottawa Residents Donate Equipment to NW Ont. First Nations

Youth at four First Nations around Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls are benefiting from a large donation of sports equipment from residents of Ottawa.

A truck load of equipment was distributed yesterday to children at Whitefish Bay, Northwest Angle #33 and #37 and Onigaming.

Peter White, an elder at Whitefish Bay, says it's a great gift.

White, along with former president of the Metis Nation of Ontario, Tony Belcourt, helped organize the drive.

Strongman Competition Returning

Some of the strongest men in the country may be returning to Fort Frances next spring.

A strongman competition is once again being planned as part of the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce's Home and Leisure Show.

Organizer Luke Skaarup says the success of last May's event convinced them to stage another.

Skaarup was the winner of the inaugural event.

Whooping Cough Advisory

The Northwestern Health Unit is encouraging area residents to get immunized against pertussis or whooping cough.

The respiratory infection comes with severe spells of coughing followed a whoop sound before the next breath.

The Health Unit says it's noticed a slight increase in the number of cases this year.

Man Involved in Two Accidents on Same Night

One man was injured following a collision involving two snow machines on Rainy Lake.

It happened around 9:30 Wednesday night in the area of Hopkin's Bay.

While the ambulance was bringing the man to LaVerendrye Hospital for treatment, it was involved in an accident when the driver lost control near Reef Point Road because slippery road conditions.

One of the EMS personnel did sustain minor injuries.

Man Injured in Emo Accident

An man suffered serious injuries in a single vehicle accident Wednesday near Emo.

OPP says a pick-up truck rolled over on Off Lake Road, about 7 kilometres north of the community.