Wednesday, July 29, 2009

More Fire Help for B.C.

Another 19-firefighters from this Region are scheduled to leave for British Columbia today.

They will join another 19-from other parts of Ontario, bringing the total Provincial commitment to 333.

B.C. is currently faced with an extreme fire hazard, with large blazes currently burning.

The forest fire hazard in Northwestern Ontario remains low.

Keewatin Woman Survives

A Keewatin woman who spent six days lost and alone in the woods of northwestern Ontario says she never gave up hope.

Valerie Cain got lost July 12th when she wanted to get a look at some rapids south of Red Lake.

She never found the rapids, andinstead got lost in the thick boreal forest with only a few cherries and crackers for food.

Cain says she found a lake at one point, and looked for any signs of civilization.

Cain built fires to stay warm and slept near the shore fora few days, figuring someone would eventually come by.

After walking toward another shore, Cain was eventually found by some cabin owners.

Support YAA

Municipal support continues to grow for the Northwestern Health Unit's Youth Action Alliance.

The town of Fort Frances has joined a list of municipalities passing resolutions calling on the province to continue funding for the youth-focused anti-smoking lobby group.

Health Unit board chair John Albanese says that municipal support is important.

Albanese says the alliance has been very effective with its anti-smoking initiatives, and should be allowed to continue.

Northern Health Care Panel

A special panel has been appointed by the provincial government to come up with ways of improving health care programs in northern andrural Ontario.

The Ministry of Health has appointed 15 members to the panel, including seven from northern Ontario.

Hal Fjelsted, the CEO of the Kirland and District Hospital has beenasked to chair the committee and says they have been given very tight time lines to come up with a report.

Panel members include residents of Sioux Lookout and Red Lake.

Fjelsted says they have to report back to the government sometime this winter.

Twinning Highway 17 Plan

A preliminary route has been established for twinning the Trans-Canada Highway from the
Manitoba border to Rush Bay.

The Ministry of Transportation held an open house yesterday to allowthe public to review the maps.

Neil Ahmed is the project manager and says they have only completedthe first portion of the route plan.

Ahmed says for the most part the double lane highway follows the current route pretty closely except in the area of Royal Lake, wherethe highway is diverted to the south.

Construction on the 100 million dollar project is expected to beginnext year.

Rat Portage Vote

Rat Portage Residents who voted on a land claim settlement with the federal government have voted 90 percent in favour of the deal.

The agreement will hand over 125 acres of land, as well as SultanaIsland.

The band will also get 7.25 million dollars as part of the settlement.

A band spokesperson says they will be able to use the funds for anumber of projects, including an administrative center and an arena.

Voter turn-out was not released.