Infrastructure Proposal Put Forward

Premier Kathleen Wynne has unveiled what she's calling the Moving Ontario Forward plan.

 

It proposes to make nearly $29 billion available over the next 10 years for improvements to public transit, roads, bridges and highways.

 

A portion of that money will be dedicated to communities outside the Greater Toronto area.

 

Wynne says funding will come from new revenue measures, re-purposed revenues and a responsible level of debt financing.

Social Advocates Want Bills Passed At Queen's Park

Social advocacy groups want residents to write their MPPs to support of several bills.

Poverty Free-Thunder Bay's Terri Carter says there are six bills at Queen's Park that if passed, could help the province's most vulnerable workers.

They also want to see the minimum wage in Ontario boasted to $14.00 an hour with subsequent increased indexed to inflation.

Minimum Wage Hike in Minnesota

Minnesota's lowest wage earners will see an pay increase for the first time since 2005.

Governor Mark Dayton has signed off on a bill that will bump the minimum wage up to $9.50 an hour by 2016.

It will go to $8.00 this August.

Dayton, who supports the increase, says Minnesotans who work full time should be able to earn enough money to lift their families out of poverty, and through hard work and training, be able to achieve the  American Dream.

The bill past through the House and Senate last week despite opposition from Republicans.

The current wage of $6.15 is one of the lowest minimum wages in the U.S.

Fiddler Returns To Help Church

A familiar face is returning to Fort Frances to help Knox United Church.

Canadian fiddling champion Scott Woods will perform May 15.

Spokesperson Bill Gushulak says money raised will go toward the Church's renewal project.

Woods will be performing a tribute to Don Messer.

Tickets are now available at Brockies Jewellers, Fort Frances General Supply or by calling Gushulak at 274-3891

New Judge For Kenora Court

A new judge has been assigned to serve the Ontario Court of Justice but will work out of the Kenora court.

Dryden lawyer Sarah Trach has been appointed by the provincial government.

The legal community in the Rainy River district, along with area municipalities, have been lobbying for a resident judge in this area since the province let it be know a couple of years ago that a vacant position would be reassigned to Kenora.

Money For Cycling Made Available

The Liberal government wants to build more bicycle routes in the province.

It's making a commitment to spent $10-million over the next three years to help municipalities improve their cycling infrastructure. 

An extra $15-million over three years would be spent to improve the cycling infrastructure on highways, such as paved shoulders.

Bear Licence Applications Accepted

Applications for bear hunters in Minnesota are now available.

A little more than 37-hundred licenses are being made available in eleven permit areas with some issued through a draw.

The deadline to apply is May 2.

The season opens September 1.

Water Testing To Begin

US Fish & Wildlife photo

Hundreds of volunteers will take to the water this summer to measure the health of Minnesota’s rivers and lakes.

It's part of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s Citizen Stream and Lake Monitoring Programs.

Volunteers collect information that helps to protect lakes and streams throughout the state.

MPAC says it's now accepting application for that job.

Festival Results Day 9

Christian Wiedenhoeft with three first place finishes and Callahan Wiedenhoeft and Alexis Latter with two each among the winners in the English Drama competition of the Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts yesterday.

The competition continues at the Townshend Theatre beginning at 9 AM.

Here is a list of all winners from Monday.

Serious Monologue, Grade 11 and 12
FIRST: Taylor Shouldice
SECOND: Christian Windego

Choral Reading, Grades 11 and 12
Honorable Mention: FFHS Special Education Class

Dramatic presentation, open
FIRST: Noah Paleczny and Callahan Wiedenhoeft

Serious Solo Poetry, Kindergarten
FIRST: Alexis Latter

Humorous Solo Poetry, Kindergarten
FIRST: Alexis Latter

Humorous Solo Poetry, Grade 1
FIRST: Jaxon Strachan
SECOND: Aubrey Eldridge

Humorous Prose Reading, Grades 3 and 4
FIRST: (Tie) Christian Wiedenhoeft, Olivia Eldridge

Serious Solo Poetry, Grade 4
FIRST: Christian Wiedenhoeft
SECOND: Emma Toriseva

Humorous Solo Poetry, Grade 5
FIRST: Jenaya DeBenetti

Humorous Solo Poetry, Grade 4
FIRST: Christian Wiedenhoeft

Serious Solo Poetry, Grade 6
FIRST: Tori Anne Toriseva

Humorous Prose Reading, Grade 5
FIRST: Jenaya DeBenetti

Serious Prose Reading, Grade 7
FIRST: Callahan Wiedenhoeft

Casino Question Up For Public Input

The Casino question comes to Fort Frances council tonight for the public to have its say.

Council is considering the question on the ballot for this fall's municipal elections that asks if residents support the town pursuing the idea of a casino further with Ontario Lottery and Gaming.

A public meeting will take place at 7 PM at the Civic Centre.

Council will consider giving its approval to the question later this month.

New Marketing Brand Release

Fort Frances, Boundless - it's the new brand being proposed for marketing purposes for the town.

Officials with Calgary-based Twist Marketing will unveil the brand and its logo to town council at their meeting tonight.

It's been working on the concept since last fall.

New Lottery To Help Local Groups

The Voyageur Lion's Club is using a new 50-50 draw to help fund a variety of organizations.

During the months of April and May, proceeds will go to the Robert Moore School Breakfast program.

Club member Diana Larocque says they'll select a new cause every two months.

The draw costs a twoonie and draw envelopes can be found at six different locations throughout Fort Frances.

Draws are made at the first over every month.

Area food banks were the recipient of first draw.

No Concern With Measles Here

Northwestern Ontario seems immune when it comes to the measles outbreak in the country.

 

Northwestern Health Unit's Donna Stanley says the region has taken proper precautions.

 

Stanley says over 95 per cent of residents have been vaccinated against the disease.

 

While no cases have been reported here, Manitoba has seen 4 cases this year.

On-Line Filing Available Again

After a four day shutdown, the Canada Revenue Agency has reopened the services section of its website.

 

This means you can now file your tax returns online again as well as make payments and access all other e-services through the web.

 

The site was taken down amid security concerns with the "Heartbleed" bug.

Governor To Approve Minnesota Minimum Wage Hike

Fibonacci Blue photo

Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton is expected to sign off on a bill today that will bring that State's minimum wage to $9.50 an hour with subsequent increases indexed to inflation.

 

The bill passed at the State Capital last week although Republicans opposed it, worried businesses would increase prices or cut jobs to offset the hike.

Minimum Wage Campaign Continues

The campaign to bring Ontario's minimum wage to $14.00 an hour continues where a number of supporters are planning a province-wide day to action today.
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The wage goes to $11.00 this summer, but social advocates says it still leaves many low-wage earners well below the poverty line.

Beaver Trapping Season Extended

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is extending the beaver trapping season in the State an extra two weeks.

 

It was scheduled to end April 30.

 

Officials says prolonged ice cover prompted trapping to go until May 15.

 

Trapper must make some modification to their traps to avoid catching otters.

Water Study Proposed

Algae blooms, invasive species and climate change.

Those are just some of the topics being considered for further study by the Rainy-Lake of the Woods International Watershed Board.

Spokesperson Kelly Saunders says a rough draft of their proposal is going to the International Joint Commission for its consideration.

Saunders says public meetings will be held this summer once their draft has been approved.

Festival Enters Final Week

The Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts is in its final week with competition in English drama getting underway at 9 AM at the Townshend Theatre.

Local playwright Tracy Gibson serves at adjudicator.

We Day In Rainy River And Baudette

A message of inspiration for students today in the Rainy River and Baudette areas.

Rainy River High School is holding its annual mini WE Day at Baudette's Lake of the Woods School.

Student Jeffrey Marchuk say the theme is "Follow Your Dream."

Among those to speak to students include Canadian R and B singer Flo, and Rainy River High School alumnus Phil McGreevy who now works in the Winnipeg Jets front office.