Waits For Long Term Care Beds Longer For Area Residents

Northwestern Ontario has the dubious distinction of having the longest wait times for long term care beds in the province.

Natalie Mehra of the Ontario Health Coalition says it's because funding for home care services isn't keeping up with demand.

The Coalition says a freeze on hospital budgets is forcing even further service cuts.

Bad Driving Practices At The Border

Some motorists crossing the border are practicing some dangerous habits.

Owners of the International bridge says drivers are failing to adhere to the stop signs placed at rail crossings.

Darwin Joslyn of the Minnesota-Dakota and Western Railway says they've had too many close calls with their trains.

Even with new larger and flashing LED signs, Joslyn says the number of close calls between trains and traffic has increased.

Joslyn says the remote controlled trains travel don't travel very fast, but still takes up to 300 feet to stop.

Elementary Teachers Support Job Action

The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario says teachers across the province have voted in favour of a one-day political protest if Ontario's Education Minister plans to uses Bill 115 to shut down strikes or impose a collective agreement.

Lauren Broten's threats will be tested Monday when teachers with the Avon Maitland and Ontario North East school board plan to hold the first one-day strikes.

Teachers Protest Impact High School Sports Schedules

A ramping up of protests by high school teachers next week is beginning to impact some sports teams at Fort Frances High School.

Beginning Monday, teachers will withdraw from extracurricular activities.

As a result, school officials says games involving the Muskies hockey teams for next week have been cancelled.

High school teachers across the Rainy River district have been in a legal strike position since last week.

PC MPP Wants More Young People In The Trades

Progressive Conservatives want to get more young people in the trades.

MPP Garfield Dunlop was in Fort Frances to meet with area leaders and says demand will soon explode with several mines in northern Ontario set to go.

Dunlop says the Conservatives are also preparing for a provincial election and intend to focus a lot of attention at trying to win the Kenora-Rainy River riding.

Conservative Candidate On The Campaign Trail



Randy Nickle (r) with MPP Garfield Dunlop



The man who will represent the Conservatives in the riding in the next provincial election is on the campaign trail early.

Randy Nickle of Kenora was in the Fort Frances area yesterday just days after receiving the party nod on the weekend.

He says the riding deserves better representation at Queen's Park.

Nickle says the riding also needs a MPP who's proactively working to protect our interests and help create new jobs.

National Day Of Remembrance

The 14 women killed in the Montreal Massacre will being remembered in Fort France later tonight.

Knox United Church will host the annual National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

The ceremony will also honour women from the Rainy River district who have died as a result of violence.

The event gets underway at 6 p.m.

Another Mine Possible

Rainy River Resources is raising the spectre of the potential of a second open pit mine at its gold project north of Barwick.

It follows the release of drill results conducted on a potentially large deposit identified as the Intrepid Zone.

In a release, president Raymond Threlkeld calls the results the some of the best they've seen to date in that area, providing further support to a potential open pit.

The zone was discovered about a kilometre from the company's previously announced planned open pit operation.

Trillium Funding Awarded

A couple of communities are benefiting from funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

The Pioneer Club in Atikokan is receiving $10-thousand dollars over six months to assist in the purchase of a handi-transit vehicle to provide accessible transportation for older adults and people with disabilities in the community.

The township of Emo was awarded over $46-thousand to install a wheelchair lift at its public library, giving easier access between the lower and upper levels.

Breakfast Program Lauded

School officials and parents says increased publicity has helped bolster a breakfast program at Robert Moore School in Fort Frances.

Officials appealed at the start of the school year for more funding and volunteers for the program, which cost about 20-thousand dollars annually to run.

Principal Dianne Thompson says it has since led to a host of new donors coming forward.

Parents, volunteers and students all help prepare and deliver meals each day to the 470 students.

The Rainy River District School Board recognized their work by awarding them its monthly Recognition of Excellence at its meeting Tuesday.

Docs Recognized

Two northwestern Ontario doctors are being recognized for providing exceptional care to patients.

Doctor Andrew Siren, a specialist in Thunder Bay and Dryden family physician Doctor Adam Moir are the first recipients from the northwest to receive Patients' Choice Awards.

The awards, based on patient nominations, are from the Patients' Association of Canada and the Ontario Medical Association.

Board Responding To Teachers Protests

The Rainy River District School Board say it will do what it can to keep schools functioning safely as teachers ramp up their protest against Bill 115 and in efforts to seek a new contract.

Chair Mike Lewis says those sanctions began with elementary and secondary school teachers being placed in legal strike positions last week.

Lewis expects the public will place blame on both teachers and the board when it should be directed toward the government for circumventing the collective bargaining process in the passing of Bill 115.

Board Elections Held

There's no change in the leadership of the Rainy River District School Board.

Mike Lewis, trustee from Atikokan, was acclaimed a chair while Dianne McCormack of Rainy River returns as vice-chair in elections held at the board meeting last night.

Atikokan Playground Group In Running For Funding

An Atikokan group is making a push for votes in an effort to win money in an on-line contest.

People For Playgrounds is in the finals of the Aviva Community Fund.

Committee member Anita Lyon says many existing parks aren't suitable anymore and they're proposing to create one large park.

Lyon is asking the public to vote for their project daily on Aviva's website until December 12th.

Here is the link: http://www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf13929.

Top ten finishers in earn $5,000 for their project with the top vote getters in line for full funding.

Commission Hears About Residential School Experiences

Residents across northwestern Ontario are sharing their stories about how the residential school system impacted their lives.

The Truth & Reconciliation Commission is holding hearings in Thunder Bay.

Sharon Wolf says the upbringings of her parents and other family members who went to residential schools led to some unhealthy behaviour.

David Achneepineskum told the commission about beatings he would receive for not responding to a name he was registered under at a school.

The hearing wraps today.

First Nations Cancer Patients To Get Help

The regional cancer centre in Thunder Bay is hiring two new people to handle how aboriginals are receiving cancer treatment.

Cancer Care Northwest Vice President Mark Henderson says one position will help guide First Nations patients through the system.

Union Denounces PC Privatization Plans

The president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union says the Tory plan to privatize the LCBO  could destroy as many as 10-thousand jobs across the province.

Warren "Smokey" Thomas says women -- who make up the majority of employees at the LCBO -- could be hit hardest by the job losses.

Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak said yesterday he would consider selling part or all of the LCBO, and allow beer, wine and spirits to be sold in corner stores and grocery aisles.

Credit Union Launches Drive

A Fort Frances financial institution is throwing its support behind the Salvation Army.

The Northern Lights Credit Union is conducting a food and gift drive.

Residents are being asked to donate non-perishable food items and small unwrapped children's gifts into a shopping cart being donated by Canada Safeway.

Smiles For OPP

Plenty of Smiles for the OPP today from Tim Hortons in Fort Frances.

Store Owner Gord McQuarrie says the store raised $4,900 through the sale of its Smile Cookies back in September for OPP's Respect Technology Program.

OPP Acting Sergeant Anne McCoy says the funding will help create multi-media presentations of the programs now being delivered in area schools.

Accidental Shooting In International Falls

An International Falls man has been airlifted to hospital in Duluth after being shot accidentally.

International Falls Police says it happened Monday afternoon inside a home on 7th Street.

The 19-year-old suffered a wound to his abdomen.

Police says no charges have been laid, but don't consider the incident to be suspicious or a suicide attempt.