News

The local Community Control Group (CCG) sprang into action this morning as part of Emergency Management Ontario’s “Trillium Response 2008” after a simulated “ice storm” declared by Environment Canada earlier this week escalated into a critical situation.

Fort Frances will be one of two sites in Canada where a pilot project that links aboriginal high school students with mentorships in accounting firms will be launched.
“The thrust of it is that, hopefully, more of aboriginal students will decide that they want to go into the profession of accounting,” explained Marie Allan, a partner at the BDO Dunwoody office here.
The pilot project is the brainchild of former Prime Minister Paul Martin, along with the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, who publicly announced the launch of the project on Monday.

With the goal still being to put the project out to tender in January, with construction to start in April, the building committee turned over its final report on the new Fort Frances Public Library and Technology Centre to the library board on Friday.
Board chair Joyce Cunningham said the study reflects the most up-to-date details on the new building, including fine-tuning, cutbacks, and efficiencies.

“Flimsy” and “absurd” are some of the words local resident David Kircher is using to describe the Rainy River District School Board’s answers following his presentation to the board earlier this month over the hundreds of thousands of dollars that went missing from Fort Frances High School over a three-year period and led to former FFHS head secretary Fawn Lindberg being charged with theft over $5,000 in October, 2007.

District residents once again can help make the holidays a brighter time for children in need as the “Adopt an Angel” campaign is underway for another year.
“This is our sixth year running the ‘Adopt an Angel’ program,” noted Jacquee Loerzel of Family & Children’s Services in Fort Frances. “[It’s] a program developed to try to help make a better Christmas for kids around the district.
“These kids are kids that are involved with FACS” explained Loerzel, who noted it includes children from Rainy River to Atikokan.

It’s the time of year when everyone feels a little bit more generous—and a little more concerned about others.
And thanks to the Gideon Bible Society Auxiliary, women staying at the Atikokan Crisis Centre will have a little something extra come Christmas.
Last week, Thea Kaemingh of Devlin and Marina Gerber of Emo met with crisis centre employees to deliver a dozen hand-made gift baskets full of items, such as hygiene products and candy, for women at the shelter.

The Northwest Catholic District School Board will hold its regular monthly meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m. at its office adjacent to St. Francis School.
On the agenda is confirmation of C.U.P.E. job descriptions for the positions of attendance counsellor, head custodian, custodian, educational assistant, library assistant, lunch hour supervisor, school secretary, technical support specialist, and speech assistant.

Santa and Mrs. Claus, and all of the elves, eagerly are awaiting Christmas wishes from district children—and the Fort Frances Times wants to make sure they get them.
Kids of all ages can drop off their letters to Santa at the Fort Frances Times’ office and we’ll be sure to get them to the North Pole again this year.
Those who can’t make it to the office can mail their letters to the Fort Frances Times at 116 First St. E., Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 3M7.

With Environment Canada having issued information that a simulated “ice storm” has hit the region as part of Emergency Management Ontario’s “Trillium Response 2008,” Fort Frances will be tested to see how it does its part in the emergency exercise.
Fire Chief Gerry Armstrong, who also is the Community Emergency Management Co-ordinator (CEMC), said a local weather-related incident will be announced by the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre sometime this week to prompt the town’s emergency control group to jump into action.

As part of its fundraising efforts for the trip to Italy during March Break, the Fort Frances High School senior band is kicking off its annual citrus fruit sale tonight.
Band members will be offering navel oranges, grapefruit, and tangerines in 10-, 20-, and 40-pound packages, as well as a mixed variety gift box.
Delivery of these packages is scheduled for Dec. 10, which is perfect for the Christmas season.
Orders will be taken by telephone, with band members calling homes over the next two weeks.