Idle No More Protests Continue

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Idle No More demonstrations continue in Northwestern Ontario.

Yesterday, a number of people stood along side Highway 11 in Couchiching, carrying signs and handing out pamphlets outlining the reasons behind the movement.

A similar action was held at Fort William William First Nation.

While in Kenora, Tania Cameron says on Wednesday First Nations people will boycott some businesses in their opposition towards federal Bill C-45

Cameron says their goal is to send a message to Ottawa to allow debate on the bill, First Nations leaders have said threatens Treaties.

The northern Ontario aboriginal chief, the demonstrations have also been in support of, made a brief appearance outside of her teepee yesterday along the Ottawa River on Day 20 of her hunger strike.

Theresa Spence says she's "deeply humbled'' by the support she's received from aboriginals and non-aboriginals in her appeal for a face-to-face meeting with Prime Minister Harper and the governor general.

Deadline Looms For Teachers

The deadline for Ontario's teachers to reach agreements with their local school boards is tonight at one minute before midnight.

Education Minister Laurel Broten is urging those school boards and teachers who haven't yet reached deals to do so before tonight's deadline.

Broten has not said if she will move to impose deals tomorrow if they don't.

CUPE Reaches Deal

The province has reached a tentative agreement with the union that represents school support workers.

Canadian Union of Public Employees Ontario president Fred Hahn says the union remains opposed to Bill 115 and will continue its campaign to repeal it, which includes a legal challenge.

Lots of Accidents Last Week

Plenty of banged up vehicles in the Rainy River district.

Provincial police say they were called to sixteen motor vehicle collisions over the past week.

Police say many were the result of drivers failing to adjust their driving habits with the weather and road conditions.

Driver Charged In Accident

OPP charged a 56-year-old Atikokan man with impaired driving after a motor vehicle accident last Wednesday on Highway 11, east of Atikokan.

He'll now be making a court appearance in Atikokan in late January.

Party Safe

Many people are preparing to ring in the New Year tonight at celebrations throughout the Rainy River district.

Police are urging everyone to make sure their plans include a sober driver or a safe way to get back home.

OPP will be out in force tonight conducting RIDE spot checks.

Ontario Residents Happy With The OPP

A majority of Ontario residents feel safe in their communities.

That is one of the findings from a Community Satisfaction Survey released by the Ontario Provincial Police.

Almost 95 per cent of respondents were also either satisfied or very satisfied with the OPP response times to violent crime, especially.

Staff Sergeant Hazel O'Brien says their annual survey also found a large number of people admitted to using a cellphone or texting while driving.

O'Brien says it will be an issue police will continue to focus on in the new year.

New Zoning Regulations In Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls

Nestor Falls residents are going to have to get used to something new.

Zoning regulations.

Bill Thompson, mayor of the township of Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls says one of the measures outlines close one can build to the lake.

Thompson says they considered a 30 metre buffer from the lake, but reduced it to 10 metres.

The previous setback in Sioux Narrows was 7.5 metres while there had been no restriction at all in Nestor Falls.

Snapshots

A series of "snapshots" are hoping to reveal strengths and weaknesses in children and families in the area.

CEO of Firefly Karen Ingebrigtson says they are intended to be a resource for service providers to address needs and issues within surrounding communities.

A link to the snapshots is available on both Firefly's and the Northwest Health Unit's websites.

Nolan Get Seat On U.S. Transportation Committee

The man who'll represent Koochiching County in Washington has been appointed to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Rick Nolan says the seat is vital to economic development in the Eighth District, which includes northeastern Minnesota.

Governor Recovering

Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton is recovering from spinal surgery.

A spokesperson for the Governor says yesterday's procedure went as planned without any complications, but it will keep him sidelined at least through New Year's.

Dayton had the operation to relieve a constriction in his lower back.

Polar Plunge To Go New Year's Day

No time better than now to think about jumping in the lake to start the new year.

The Voyageur Lion's Club stages its annual Polar Plunge Tuesday.

Participants have been jumping into the ice waters of Rainy Lake for the past decade every New Year's Day. 

Member Gabi Hanzuk says its never too late to sign-up.

Registration will take place at the La Place Rendez-Vous in Fort Frances at 11 a.m. with the event getting underway at 1 p.m.

The minimum cost is $50 dollars

Many of the jumpers will also be raising money for charities of their choice.

Sewer And Water Project Eyed

The town of Fort Frances has identified a section of Second Street as a high priority upgrade in an application for funding from the province.

The town wants to replace aging and severely deteriorating water and sewer lines in area of Central and Mowatt Avenues.

The town's seeking a third of the estimated one-point-three million dollars total cost.

Bayfield Continues Work

Bayfield photo

Drills at Bayfield Ventures' exploration project are expected to continue into the next year.

Bayfield is working adjacent to the Rainy River Resources project, north of Barwick.

Company president Jim Petitt says they believe there's still plenty of gold to be found.

Petitt says while there's nothing written in stone, their finds might be attractive to Rainy River Resources to acquire in the future.

Canadian Company Interested in Minnesota Peat

Hanson

A Canadian company is expressing interest in extracting a high quality type of peat from northeastern Minnesota.

Koochiching County has one of the largest deposits of sphagnum peat in the U.S.

Outgoing Commissioner Mike Hanson says the problem is that in lies in protected science and nature areas

Hanson says it may take some legislative changes for the unnamed company to access the areas, the County will pursue in the new year.

More Native Demonstrations in Rainy River Area

A number of aboriginal people danced and carried placards in front of the Walmart Store in Fort Frances on Monday to draw attention to the Idle No More Movement in this area.

It follows a walk staged Friday in support of Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence's hunger strike and the opposition to the federal government's omnibus budget bill C-45.

A similar event happened yesterday inside a mall in Bemidji.

Helicopters and Pilots Wanted

MNCIS photo

Minnesota is seeking a few good helicopters and pilots.

The Department of Natural Resources is hunting for helicopter services for its fire control bases in Cloquet, Princeton and Roseau.

The agency hopes to hear from potential vendors by early January.

Alzheimer Society Fundraiser Set

The Alzheimer Society for Kenora-Rainy River is preparing for a major fundraiser next month.

The Forget Me Not Charitable Dinner will take place January 12 at the La Place Rendez-Vous in Fort Frances.

Executive Director Lynn Moffatt says tickets are now on sale.

Call the Society's office in Kenora for ticket details, or click this link to the Alzheimer Society's website.

Community Christmas Dinner Celebrates 25th

Many area residents took advantage of a free dinner in Fort Frances on Christmas Day.

The Fort Frances Volunteer Bureau hosted its 25th annual event at Knox United Church.

Volunteer June Caul says its been an important one to the community.

Organizers says support from several businesses and volunteers help make the event possible year after year.

Area First Nations Protest C-45

First Nations continue to speak out against the Harper Government and its omnibus budget bill C-45.

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A walk Friday from Couchiching to Fort Frances was part of the national Idle No More protests.

Couchiching Chief Chuck McPherson says it's not just aboriginal people who should be concerned with sections of the Bill that impact areas as the environment.

First Nations also see the Bill a threat on the Treaties.

Treaty 3 Grand Chief Warren White says they can't stand idly by.