Students Stepping Up For Extra-curricular Activities

Students appear to be taking a leadership role in extra-curricular activities at area high schools.

Dexter Fichuk, the student trustee with the Rainy River District School Board, says the teacher's withdrawal from activities is actually helping students develop new skills in the planning of events.

Fichuck says he'd still like the teachers involved, but hopes students can continue to have a greater role in planning when they do return.

Teacher withdrew their involvement in extra-curricular activities in December in protest over legislation that eventually imposed new contract on them last month.

Duncan Leaving

Ontario's Finance Minister is resigning.

Dwight Duncan says on Twitter this morning he's stepping down as the member of Windsor-Tecumseh a week from today.

Duncan, who supported Sandra Pupatello, had made it clear during the Liberal leadership race that he intended to resign his seat soon.

Wynne Pledging Support To Forestry Industry

Premiere-designate Kathleen Wynne is giving her commitment to sustaining the forestry industry in northern Ontario.

Wynne says it's great to see the industry coming back and the government wants to help it succeed.

She also wants to meet with the region's leaders to find further ways of strengthen the industry.

Meantime, the soon-to-be premier says she'll be appointing herself as Ontario's agricultural minister.

Wynne, who lives in downtown Toronto, says there's no reason why a city politician can't represent rural folk and understand their issues.

Minnesota Power Planning Transmission Line

Minnesota Power is exploring routes through the northern part of the State for a new transmission line to link with Manitoba.

Minnesota signed a deal in 2011 to acquire electricity from Manitoba Hydro beginning in 2020.

Cindy Hammerlund of Minnesota Power says they're currently in the planning stages for the line with construction proposed by 2017.

Hammerlund says whether the line goes through Koochiching County is still undetermined.

County Considers Sharing Engineer

Koochiching County will see if nearby Lake of the Woods County is interested in sharing the services of a County Engineer.

Commissioner Wade Pavleck raises the idea as the County looks to replace its engineer who retires in April.

Pavleck says there might be some benefits to sharing the position.

More Casinos Still Possible

Premier-designate Kathleen Wynne isn't ruling a possibility of more casinos in Ontario.

Wynne sees no reason to believe they'll halt plans to add new gambling facilities.

But she's leaving it up to communities to decide if they want one or not.

Kenora has been identified as a potential site, with Fort Frances town council recently expressing interest as well.

New Radiation Treatment Available

Cancer patients in Northwestern Ontario will now have access to an improved method of radiation.

Regional Cancer Care Northwest has installed a new linear accelerator at the Thunder Bay Health Sciences Centre.

Vice President Dr. Mark Henderson says it better focuses treatment of a tumor.

A second accelerator is also planned for the hospital later this fall.

Law School Hired First Staff

Lakehead University has hired its first three faculty members for its new law school in Thunder Bay.

Karen Drake and Dr. Mariette Brennan have been hired as Assistant Professors of Law.

Rob Hudson will act as the Faculty Head of the School's Law Library.

The school is scheduled to open this September.

CN Workers Deal

CN Rail and the union representing its signals and communications workers have ratified a new deal.

The four-year deal impacts about 700 workers across Canada.

It includes improvements to wages and benefits and is retroactive to January 1st of this year.

City Hall Improvements Planned

Some improvements are planned for the inside of International Falls City Hall.

The $148-thousand worth of work will lead to new administrative offices and counter space to deal with the visiting public.

A portion of the work has been awarded to KBB, an International Falls firm, at $82 thousand.

City public works department will do some of the other components.

Mayor Bob Anderson voted against the project, saying he struggles with its need.

New Premier Recognizing N. Ontario Interests

Premier-designate Kathleen Wynee is promising more input from northern Ontario in the decision at Queen's Park.

Wynne held a conference call yesterday with members of the media from northern Ontario, including CFOB-News.

She says she has plans to form a northern Ontario cabinet committee that will examine decisions, policies and issues effecting the north.

Wynne is also promising some northern flavour in her cabinet, but is keeping who that will be close to her chest until Monday.

She also intends to hold some cabinet meetings in the north, the first taking place at an undetermined location with her first thirty days in office.

County Wondering About Peat Project

Koochiching County's board of commissioners are growing restless with a peat project in their area.

The County signed a 21-year lease agreement with Berger Horticultural out of Quebec, it says promised jobs and revenue.

Commissioner Rob Eklund says they've now learned the company won't be spending money on the project this year.

The Koochiching Development Authority wants to find out if the company has violated its agreement.

Minnesota Man Sentenced To 15 Years In Prison

A Koochiching County man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison in the death of his wife who was crushed by a totem pole.

Carl Muggli of Ray plead guilty to unintentional second-degree murder of his wife, Linda, in an agreement with prosecutors, after initially being charged with first degree murder.

The 51-year-old Muggli admitted he was arguing with his wife about an Internet romance just before she was pinned under the totem pole the two were carving at their home south of International Falls.

School Board Recognizes Staff

The Rainy River District School Board is recognizing three of its long-serving employees.

Kim Basaraba, a caretaker at Fort Frances High School, was honoured by the board Tuesday night for his 25 years of service.

Ann Jane Anderson, a librarian at Crossroads School, and Cliff Achilles, a caretaker at Fort High, were recognized for their recent retirements.

Anderson was employed by the board for 32 years.

Achilles since 1989.

Review Plans For Rural Catholic School

The Northwest Catholic District School Board is in the process of forming a committee to examine the future of Our Lady of the Way School.

Low enrollment has prompted the accommodation review.

About 15 students now attend classes at  the Stratton school.

Board Chair Anne-Marie Fitzgerald is hoping the public will get involved.

The Board is also seeking people to sit on the committee that will begin its work later this month.

Third Public School Gets Review

The Rainy River District School Board has began an accommodation review of Crossroads School in Devlin.

A committee has been formed with plans to begin public hearing later this month.


A separate committee that called for a rebuild of Donald Young School in Emo last spring, recommended the board delay construction until it studied Sturgeon Creek School in Barwick and Crossroads.

Recommendations for Sturgeon Creek are expected next month.

The first of four public meetings on Crossroads will occur February 19

Labour Ministry Issues Orders

The Ministry of Labour has issued two orders in connection with a fatal accident at Couchiching First Nation last week.

A 61-year-old woman died Wednesday after being struck by a truck that was plowing snow around the Health Access Centre.

The Ministry says the truck was going in reverse at the time.

No charges have been laid

Ministry spokesperson Matt Blejar says both the contractor, Tom Veert Contracting and the Centre, have been instructed to come up with separate plans that protect people from the hazards of vehicles operating in reverse.

Paramedics To Be Hired In Falls

The city of International Falls is hiring two more paramedics for its ambulance service.

Councillors gave approval at their meeting Monday night.

Fire Chief Jerry Jensen, who oversees the service, says it allows for a paramedic to work the night shift, instead of placing one who's just worked a day shift on call.

The additional hiring will give the service six-full time paramedics, complemented by a roster of Emergency Medical Technicians.

Union Gas Offers Financial Help To Customers

Union Gas is offering some financial help to qualifying customers in the Rainy River district to pay their bill.


Spokesperson Andrea Stass says it's part of their winter-warmth program they've delivered annual for the past ten years.










Union Gas customers can apply for up to $500.



The Lakehead Social Planning Council is helping the utility deliver the program in the Rainy River district.

Stass says the Utility also offers other payment options to those finding it tough to pay their monthly bill.

Organ Donors Increasing in Fort Frances

The Fort Frances area continues to be one of the top communities in the province when it comes to registered organ donors.

The Trillium Gift of Life Network says 40 per cent of residents have signed up to be donors, a jump of 10 per cent since 2010.

President Ronnie Gavsie says they'd still like to see the number higher.

Last year, over one thousand organ transplants were done in the province, an 11 percent increase from 2011.