Charter Board Member Steps Down

A long-time board member with Riverside Foundation for Health Care has stepped down.

Larry Cousineau was one of the inaugural members when the board formed in 1997, serving as chair between 2005 and 2007.

He joined after serving several years on the hospital board

He says strong public support from across the district for the Foundation's activities help make his time on the board enjoyable.

Cousineau cites the expansion of LaVerendrye, the implementation of a CAT Scan unit and the purchase of equipment for hospitals in Emo and Rainy River as key accomplishments for the Foundation during his tenure.

Board Appoints Members

Riverside Foundation For Health Care's board has reappointed Craig Sanders to another one year term.

Bill Gushulak and Deanne Cunningham return for three more years.


Wallace "Rob" Crowe joins as a new member.

Bev Langner of the Rainy River Auxiliary;  Heather Oltsher of the Emo Auxiliary;  and June Keddie representing both the La Verendrye and the Rainycrest Auxiliaries will represent their organizations on the board for another year.

Thunder Bay Senior Home Death Investigated

An investigation is underway into the death of a resident at a privately-owned senior home in Thunder Bay.

For privacy reasons, Revera Home Health isn't disclosing how the resident died at its Pinewood Court Home or the person's name.

Officials do say they have reported the incident to the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care and are cooperating with its investigation.

Road Project Gets Funds

The town of Fort Frances will get provincial funding after all for a road, sewer and water improvement project completed this summer.

It's receiving more than $847-thousand to offset some of the costs of the work along along Second Street East and Mowat Avenue.

That project is coming in about $1.2 million.

The town was one of the first communities awarded money under a new fund designed for small and northern communities after being denied under a previous program earlier this year.

Gas Plant Audit Number Increase

The opposition are on the attack after a new report from Ontario's Auditor General says the Liberal's decision to cancel construction of a gas plant in Oakville three years ago has cost taxpayers $675-million.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says it's money that could gone into hiring more nurses, freezing child care fees or building more affordable housing unit.

PC Critic Lisa McLeod points the blame on Premier Kathleen Wynne, saying she signed the document authorizing the cancellation.

International Walk To School Day Recognized

Students in International Falls have recognized International Walk to School Day.

Yesterday was intended to encourage physical activity among young people.

Elementary students walked en mass to school from Kerry Park yeseterday morning.

Full Ban On Flavoured Tobacco Products Sought

A coalition of Ontario health agencies are calling for a complete ban on flavoured tobacco products.

New data shows 57-thousand young people in the province admit to using them despite legislation banning certain products.

Director of Ontario Campaign for Action on Tobacco Michael Perley says the number is concerning.

Perley says companies have found loopholes in current legislation allowing their products to stay on the market and only a complete ban will lower the number of young users.

Falls Resumes Bidding Process

International Falls will again seek bids for certain work on land intended for a multi-modal facility.

The city had agreed to seek bids in May, but councillors learned Monday night Mayor Bob Anderson had asked the process be put on hold because of concerns he had with the project.

Councillor Gail Rogenrud feels the Mayor overstepped his bounds by not coming to council first.

Anderson says no harm was done by his request because there's no one committed to paper for the area.

Pennies For Play Returns

Another playground in International Falls is the target of an improvement campaign.

Backus Community Centre is spearheading the Pennies for Play initiative for new equipment at Green Acres Park.

Spokesperson Robin Bjorkquist says they're hoping to raise $20-thousand.

A similar campaign two years ago raised nearly $18-thousand for equipment at Kerry Park.

Woman Charged In Police Chase

A 25-year-old Thunder Bay woman is in custody following a vehicle chase early Sunday morning which started  in Dryden and ended in Ignace.

One police cruiser almost ended up in the ditch in the ordeal that ended with OPP using a spike belt to help stop the vehicle.

The woman faces several charges including impaired driving, dangerous driving, and assaulting police with a weapon.

Little Growth Expected Among Small Businesses

There could be little growth among Ontario's small businesses next year.

A new study finds 75 per cent of Ontario's small business owners state they have no plans to hire next year while 90 per cent do not expect to expand their business.

52 per cent admit to having no business plans for next year.

NOVA Awards Seek Nominees

Calling all community leaders who are under 40.

A Thunder Bay-based young professionals network is looking to recognize you as part of the 2014 Visionary Awards.

Organizer Keith Anderson says the purpose of the NOVA Awards is to create a top 20 list for northwestern Ontario.

The deadline for nominations is November 15.

No Extra Tags Available

For the first time since surplus deer-hunting permits were made available six years ago, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says no permits will be available for this year's hunt.

It says every permit area received applications for at least 100 percent of the permits available.

The firearms season in most areas opens November 9.

New Billing Model Proposed

Ontario Provincial Police are deferring contract renewal discussions with municipalities.

It's a response to an announcement by the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services which is coming up with new billing model for how municipalities pay for policing.

The province says the new model will give municipalities more control over costs and help them tailor crime prevention strategies particular to their needs.

It intends to solicit input this fall

Municipalities whose contracts expire before January 1, 2015 are being given options to consider until the new billing model takes effect.

Police Costs Savings

The town of Fort Frances is seeing some savings with its policing costs for last year.

The total cost has come in at just under $2.6 million - $123-thousand less than what OPP has estimated.

The cost is still $65-thousand over 2011.

OPP are estimating this year's cost to be about $100-thousand dollars over last year's actual figure for the equivalent 18 uniformed staff assigned to policing the community

Summer Crime Stats

An ordinary summer for provincial police in Fort Frances.

Statistics released show OPP responded to about 950 calls during the months of June, July and August - about 50 less than last summer.

A total of 275 charges were laid during the summer months, compared with the 359 in the summer of 2012.

Some of the charges were laid by the OPP's Community Drug Action Team who were involved in 9 separate incidents, seizing such drugs as oxycodone, methadone and marijuana.

New Interim Chief Starts Job

The interim chief for Treaty 3 Police Service begins his first day today.

Dan Davidson is taking over the retiring Conrad Delorande.

Davidson is originally from the Morson area.

Promoting Respect

There's a little more respect going around the Rainy River district.

It's because of the work by the group Celebrating Diversity which is out promoting its "Respect - It Lives Here" initiative.

One of the trainers Nancy Daley-Fulton feels they are making a difference.

Daley-Fulton says they've held workshops with a wide array of organizations and businesses
across the district and welcomes other to take part as well.

Safe Welcome Program Now In Effect

Rainy River District School Board is putting its Safe Welcome Program in place today.

The front doors of all of it's elementary schools will now be locked while students and staff are in class.

Visitors to the school will be required to press a buzzer at the front door to request access.

Prescribed Burn Still Active

The Ministry of Natural Resources continues to monitor a prescribed burn on Lake of the Woods.

The blaze was lit on an island near the Aulneau Peninsula September 26.

The MNR says the fire is quietly smouldering and demonstrating minimal fire activity.