Fort Frances Councillor Dies

Sad news from the town of Fort Frances.

Councillor Sharon Tibbs has died.

The long-time councillor had recently taken a leave of absence and had been in hospital for undisclosed health reasons.

Tibbs had been a member of council on and off since 1993 and appointed the town's deputy mayor in six years ago.

A release from the town calls Tibbs' commitment and passion to the community exemplary and unwavering.

Flags at the Civic Centre are being lowered to half-staff in her honour.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

Missing Youth Found

An area youth, reported missing five days ago, has been found.

Provincial Police say 14-year-old Mariah Wilson of Morson contacted a family member yesterday.

She had been reported missing last Friday after failing to return home from a friend's place.

Deal with Ontario Public Sector Workers

Another deal for the New Year.

The Ontario Public Sector Employees Union, which represents 38-thousand public servants in the province, has reached a tentative two-year collective agreement with the government.

The government says the deal, which still must be ratified, includes a two-year wage freeze

Fire Destroys Falls Area Business

Investigators with Minnesota's Fire Marshall's office and International Falls Fire Department expected on scene today of a business, just south of the City, that has been destroyed by fire.

The fire at Up North Builders broke out late Monday night.

Firefighters were still on the scene late yesterday preventing any flare-ups.

Cause is unknown, but damage was extensive.

Support Given To Casino Idea

There appears to be some support for a casino in Fort Frances.

An informal question on our Facebook page resulted in many people giving support to the idea brought forward last week by Councillor Ken Perry.

One resident says if we get a casino, it should include a restaurant, bar, entertainment room,waterslide park and hotel.

Another agrees the town needs to be aggressive, but feels there's a another business out there that can generate revenue in a more positive way.

E.I. Changes Panned

A northwestern Ontario MP believes changes to Employment Insurance will result in fewer people having access the program.

The changes took effect this week.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River's John Rafferty says it forces recipients to take minimum wage jobs outside their hometowns.

The changes also include people having to competency tests to qualify for E.I.

Teachers Plotting Next Move In Labour Dispute

The union representing public high-school teachers is expected to talk today about its next moves in the labour dispute with the governing Liberals.

The government sparked outrage when it imposed new two-year contracts on about public school teachers and other education workers last week.

Some high school teachers have vowed not to resume extracurricular activities until the contracts are ripped up and the negotiations start fresh.

Hudak Presenting Plan To Improve Ontario's Finances

Tim Hudak will be making the case for why he should be the next premier.

The leader of the Progressive Conservatives is launching a tour of the province to talk about Ontario's financial troubles and how he can get it out of the red ink.

Tory insiders say Hudak will be targeting mostly Liberal ridings in southern Ontario.

Changes To Law Library At Koochiching Court House

Koochiching County and Falls Public Library are coming together to bring greater access to legal materials at the County courthouse.

Law Librarian Andrew Barnhart says part of the plan is to house much of the collection at the Public Library.

The move of the collection also frees up space at the courthouse for lawyers wanting to meet privately with their clients.

Proclamation Sought

 Fort Frances and International Falls are again seeking recognition of their unique Tug-of-War event from Prime Minister Harper and President Obama.

A letter to the Countries leaders asks them proclaim July 2nd as International Peaceful Borders Day.

A similar letter last year did get the attention of Harper.

Advice For New Year's Dieters

It's a New Year's Resolution we all make, and break.

Lose weight.

Gloria Tsang, a dietician with HealthCastle.com says people should stop counting calories because nobody can really tell how many calories we eat.

Tsang says putting less food on the plate and eliminating highly processed foods can go along way to losing weight.

She also recommends avoiding fat-free products, she says may contain artificial fillers that lead people to eating more of those products than they should.

Metis and Non-Status Indians Declared "Indians"

An important victory for more than 600-thousand off-reserve Metis and non-status Indians.

The Federal Court has ruled they are indeed ``Indians'' under the Constitution Act and they fall under federal jurisdiction.

But the Native Affairs Affairs Parliamentary Assistant Greg Rickford says it's too early to determine the impact.

The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples and several Metis and non-status Indians argued they are entitled to some or all of the same rights and benefits as on-reserve First Nations members.

Health Unit Yearend

The Northwestern Health Unit is continuing to test water quality in the region.

In a year-end report, the Health Unit says enforcement teams assessed over 900 small drinking water systems in the Kenora and Rainy River Districts.

The Health Unit says it also began a new pilot project last year that brought its mobile dental office to four first nation communities.

Warning Issued To Snowmobilers

File photo

OPP are again cautioning snowmobilers about the dangers of riding their sleds on ice.

Provincial police and the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs say no ice can be considered to be 100 per cent safe to ride on.

They say this is especially true in early winter when ice is newly forming, and late in the season after ice begins deteriorating from milder temperatures.

Changes To Falls Council Approved

The new Mayor of International Falls is bringing in several changes to how his council will do business in the future.

Bob Anderson, in his first meeting, managed to receive necessary support to increase the number of council meetings a month from two to three, reduce most council committees to just two members and provide additional opportunities for the public to speak at meetings.

Anderson says its to improve transparency.

Councillor Cynthia Jaksa worries the changes will lead longer meetings and less transparency.

Honourary Councillor Appointments Held Off

The brakes have been put on honourary councillors being added to International Falls City Council.

The idea that would have allowed individuals to participate, but not vote on council decisions, was previously passed.

But Mayor Bob Anderson says he'd limit their involvement.

Councillor Cynthia Jaksa, who supported the idea initially, says it would be a pointless appointment if the individuals couldn't participated fully.

Policing Costs Pondered In Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls

2013 is starting off in the Town of Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls with some uncertainty about policing.

The municipality was prepared to cancel its contract with the OPP and opt for a call for service.

Mayor Bill Thompson says the OPP have since come back with a lower contract figure, but council is holding off on making a decision in light of an Ontario Auditor's report that raised questions about the increasing cost of OPP service, while crime rates have fallen.

Thunder Bay MP Has Cancer

Another Thunder Bay politician has announced his has cancer.

MP Bruce Hyer says he has a tumour on his tongue and will have it removed this week in Ottawa.

Hyer says the prognosis is good and expects to be back to work as soon as possible.

Ontario's Natural Resources Minister Michael Gravelle announced last fall that he'd been diagnosed with a treatable form lymphoma.

Leek To Participate In Leadership Vote

The president of the Kenora-Rainy River Liberal Riding Association is excited about the upcoming leadership convention.

Anthony Leek will be among thousands of Liberals gathering in Toronto at the end of this month to select Premier Dalton McGuinty's replacement as leader of the Ontario Liberals.


Leek says the number of candidates is great for finding solutions to the problems facing Ontario.

The Association will hold a meeting Saturday in Dryden to discuss who'll represent it at the leadership convention.

Court Ruling Impacting Off-Reserve Natives Today

A federal court is expected to rule today on the federal rights and benefits for more than 600-thousand aboriginal people who live off-reserve.

The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples and several Metis and non-status Indians took the federal government to court in 1999 alleging discrimination.

They argue they're entitled to some or all of the same rights and benefits as Ottawa gives to on-reserve First Nations members.