Fatal Snowmobile Accident near Ear Falls

A Geralton resident has been killed in a snowmachine accident in northwestern Ontario.

The OPP say three men were riding their snowmobiles south of Ear Falls yesterday when the accident took place.

23 year old Marcel Santerre was injured in the collision and died a short time later.

Police say they are not releasing any other details about the fatality at this time.

Control Board begins Snow Monitoring Program

The Lake of the Woods Control Board says its beginning its

winter snow monitoring program this month.

Communities across the drainage basin have received higher than

average snow falls this winter.

Spokesperson for the Control Board Rick Cousins says its too early to

say what impact all the snow will have.

Cousins says realistically, spring rains have a bigger impact on water levels on the lake than the snow.

Government Evasive on Ring of Fire Blockade

The McGuinty government is saying very little about a planned blockade of the Ring of Fire area this week. The Marten Falls First Nation plans to stop access to the proposed chromite mining project.

In the legislature Aboriginal Affairs Minister Chris Bentley says Michael Gravelle is familiar with their concerns

Bentley says there are northern First Nations that are working on economic plans with the help of the government

A colder than normal February

Much of Northwestern Ontario experienced normal temperatures last month.

The exceptions being Thunder Bay and Fort Frances.

Meterologist Bill Laidlaw says they were hit with bitterly cold weather.

Laidlaw says snowfall amounts vary throughout the region as well with Ear Falls getting less than other areas.

Ultimate Fishing Town Nominations open

Nominations are now being accepted to the World Fishing Network's contest to find Canada's Ultimate Fishing town.

Towns can submit their bids in until April 8th.

Several northwestern Ontario communities were nominated in last year's contest with Nestor Falls coming in second to Port Alberni, British Columbia in the on-line contest.

IJC Task Force Seeks input on Interim Report

It's not making making any recommendations, but a Task Force examining the management of the Lake of the Woods and Rainy Lake basins has put forward plenty of ideas for discussion.

The Task Force has to submit a final report back to the International Joint Commission by July.

Canadian Secretary Kelli Saunders says they're now looking for public comment.

A least two more rounds of consultations are expected, including one in April.

More Downtime at the Abitibi Mill in Fort Frances

More downtime is planned for workers at the AbitibiBowater mill in Fort Frances.

The company says both the paper and kraft mills will be halted for fourteen days beginning March 28th because of poor market conditions.

More than 500 employees will be effected.

The news comes as about 230 employees are in the middle of a shutdown of the mill's paper machines that is to end March 7th.

NorWOSSA Hockey Finals set

Beaver Brae hockey teams now know who they will play in the

NorWOSSA Double "a" finals.

The Bronco boys will travel to Fort Frances Friday for game one of their

best of three final against the Muskies.

Fort advanced after beating Red Lake 6-1 last night in the third and deciding

game of their series.

Beaver Brae's girls hockey team will face-off against their nemesis from

Dryden.

The Eagles trounced Fort Frances 6-1 last night to win their best-of three semi-final two games to one.

Meanwhile, the Thomas Aquinas boys hockey team travels to Sioux Lookout tonight for game two of their best-of-three Single "a" final against the Warriors.

The Saints took game one last week and a win will advance them to the OFSAA championships.