Monday, May 14, 2012

Seniors Survey Now Out


An important step towards getting an assisted living facility in Fort Frances is now underway.

The local Assisted Living Action Group is seeking input from seniors and others on their needs across the Rainy River district.

Chair Irma Armit says the information will help create a 20-year plan.

The survey is on the Senior and Law Enforcement Together's new website and will end June 22.

Falls Home Show Considered


It's Home and Leisure Show just ended, but the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce is already looking to have it's next event very soon.

Manager Anthony Mason says consideration is being given to hold another show this fall.

All of the details are still to be worked out, but Mason is hoping it will attract different vendors and products with the Christmas holiday shopper in mind.

Mason was happy with the turn-out for the weekend event, with attendance nearly last year's numbers.

Theatre Surcharge Increase Proposed


Users of the Townshend Theatre in Fort Frances could be paying a little more in the near future.

The Theatre's advisory committee is recommending a user surtax, applied to ticket sales, be increased to a dollar-fifty this September.

The surcharge, now at a dollar a head, has not increased since it was implemented in 1999.

The money raised goes towards Theatre improvements.

The recommendation goes to Fort Frances town council for its approval tonight.

Changes to Super Valu


Some changes to a grocery store in International Falls.

The SuperValu store will become Country Market after being part of a sale to Miner's Incorporation of Hermantown.

Miner's owns the Super One grocery chain.

The company says employees at SuperValu have been offered jobs in the new store.

Police Week


Keeping it locked - a key focus for Provincial Police in the Rainy River district this week.

Constable Anne McCoy says their "Lock It or Lose It" campaign will be a main topic in Police Week which is being recognized all this week.

OPP will also be promoting bicycle safety with a rodeo planned in Atikokan later in the week.

Emergency Services Day


Some of the agencies who respond to emergencies in the Rainy River District area gathered Saturday to promote what they do to the public.

Chief of the Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Service Frank Sheppard says Emergency Services Day helped draw more awareness of the help available.

The Ministry of Natural Resources, Canadian Red Cross and the town's Emergency Control Group also participated.

Sheppard says they're hoping to include other emergency services and agencies in the future.

M & M Meats Bar-B-Que


The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada is the benefactor of a weekend charity bar-b-que in Fort Frances.

M and M Meats store owner Chris McKinnon says staff and volunteer came together for the annual event.

The amount of money raised was not immediately available, but stores across the country were aiming to raised one-point-five million dollars.

No Gun Registry InOntario, But...


Ontario says it won't create a provincial gun registry, but it will require stores to keep records of who buys guns.

Community Safety Minister Madeleine Meilleur says says the Ontario Provincial Police chief firearms officer
interprets section 58 of the Firearms Act as giving him the power to impose that requirement.

Her federal counterpart, Vic Toews says the collection of point-of-sale data is no longer authorized under the Firearms Act.