Fort Frances Hospital Gets Money

Riverside Health Care in the Fort Frances area is getting over 12-thousand dollars from the Northern Cancer Fund.  The Regional Health Sciences Foundation helped them purchase the new equipment for chemotherapy including an IV pump and specialized pharmacy cart.

Connect The Dots Open

There's some new life in the Park Avenue area.  A new business called "Connect The Dots" is now open at 206 Park Avenue.  It's a nature inspired play centre that provides children with hands-on playing. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held earlier today.

Hwy Open

Everything is back to normal on Highway 11/17 between Upsala and Ignace.  The highway was closed earlier today while a transport was pulled from a ditch.  A man was sent to the hospital for treatment.

OLG Employee Wins Green Award

An OLG Thunder Bay Casino employee is the WWF Canada's 2013 Champion of the Year for its living planet at work program.  Alan Forbes is being awarded for his efforts in mobilizing his colleagues into environmental action.  The gaming site's Cage and Coin Shift Manager helped curb the casino's paper usage and committed them to recycle.

Snowmobile Club Complaints Heard

Complaints from Ontario snowmobile clubs has forced the provincial government to reconsider a controversial policy.  Transportation minister Glenn Murray confirmed that a decision to charge snowmobile clubs for use of hydro right-of-ways is under review.  NDP critic Michael Mantha says its just one of a long line of policies that's hurting winter tourism in Ontario.  Murray says the policy was put in place because of liability concerns raised by the Ministries of Infrastructure and Energy.

ORNGE Report Cites Safety Issues

Federal investigators have cited a number of safety issues with the Ornge ambulance service.  The Report by Human Resources Skills Development Canada was conducted following the crash of an Ornge helicopter last May in northern Ontario.  Ontario's health minister Deb Matthews says she's aware of the report and says they are already taking action to address some of the deficiencies outlined.

Rentech On Track To Produce Wood Pellets

Encouraging news for Atikokan.  Published reports indicate Rentech is on track to begin producing wood pellets at the former coal-fired plant next year.  The company is also projecting the Atikokan facility to produce roughly 100-thousand tonnes.  45-thousand tonnes would go to fulfilling a contract with Ontario Power Generation.  The company also identifies European-based Drax Power as a customer.

LU Researchers Get Cash

Lakehead University researchers are getting over 1.4 million dollars from Canada Health Research Institute. Three doctors will be sharing the money to conduct research into helping injured workers, improving the lives of seniors and improving the health of Aboriginal people.

DSSAB CAO Not Coming Back

The former CAO of the local Social Services Board isn't going to return to work.  Melissa Harrison was on leave and has decided to remain at home for the early years of her children.  Harrison will also work on her Masters' Degree.

Sawmill Takes Safety Break

The Resolute Forest Products Sawmill is being shut down after an employee broke his nose on the job Monday.  Xavier Van Chau is the Director of Corporate Communications for the company and says they're taking a safety break.  There isn't a time frame for how long the mill will be shut down.  Calls to Unifor the union representing the workers have not been returned to our newsroom.

Murder Charge

A 21-year old woman is facing a second degree murder charge following a death on Kasabonika Lake First Nation.  The OPP say 20-year old Courtney Mamakeesic died from her injuries sustained in an altercation at a residence last Sunday.  Charged is 21-year old Clarissa Anderson of Kasabonika Lake First Nation.  She'll appear in a Kenora courtroom on November 22nd.  A post mortem exam has been completed but the cause of death has not been released.