Local News Archives for 2014-02

The Denare Beach Winter Festival held last weekend was a success

Some of the event winners include Greg McBratney picking up 304 dollars in the 50-50 draw, home made quilt winner Heather Jacobson, first place in turkey curling the McBratney team, family poker derby winner for the best hand Owen Durette and in the fishing derby the biggest fish was caught by Cory Merasty with a 7 and half pound jack, smallest fish Ethan Stuckless a 14 ounce jack, youngest participant 3 year old Axton MacQuarrie, oldest 59 year old Wayne Ward and most fish Cory Merasty with three.  In total 16 fish were caught and released.

Snowmobiles and poker go together this weekend

As part of the Bust the Winter Blues Festival the Border Explorers Snowmobile Club will be holding their annual Frozen Aces Poker Derby Sunday.  The Club’s John Trumbley says registration is from 10 to 12 at the Creighton Tourism Center.  He says they start out from the Center and ride out the north trail to Denare Beach.  On the north trail there’s a warm up shack where they’ll have a fire and you’ll roll some dice for your number and then continue on to the Alpine where the next one will be. You’ll then come back on the south trail where there will be no check stops and ride back to the Tourist Center where you’ll do your next two picks.

             

Prizes range from 400 dollars for first to 100 for fourth.  For ghost rider sheets or more information you can call 688-7159 or 688-6087.

 

 

Your kids can help name future police dogs

The RCMP are inviting young people across the country to help name ten German Shepherd puppies born at the Police Training Center.  Sergeant Eric Stebenne says the first rule is the name must have no more than nine letters and two syllables. He adds for this year all the names have to start with the letter G, you have to keep it nice and short since they’ve found over time that those names are best to get the attention of the pups and the deadline to enter the contest is March 5th.

             

For information on how to enter the contest by mail or online go to their website www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca and click on the puppy picture at the top of the page when it comes up.

You can get help handling the long winter

The Flin Flon Public Library is holding a community wellness information and customer appreciation day Monday.  Administrator Cindy McLean says they will be following the theme has winter got you down.  She says K&D Wellness will be there giving free eight minute sessions with their Pulse Electro Magnetic Field, from the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba Amanda Link-Labarre will be there giving information which helps mental, emotional, physical health and Suzanne Madden will be there from Bowen to answer any questions you may have regarding Bowen Therapy.

             

McLean adds they will be serving coffee and cake with the event running Monday afternoon from 1 to 4:30 at the Library.

 

Flin Flon RCMP are investigating embezzlement from a local financial institution

Just after 10 last Saturday morning the RCMP received intelligence that an employee from a local financial institution had embezzled a significant amount of money.  An investigation was initiated and an internal theft has been confirmed.  Charges have yet to be laid as the investigation is ongoing.  The full amount of money embezzled is not known as a full audit is being completed.  The name of the financial institution has not been released at this time.

More money will be spent in the school division for the next school year.

The Flin Flon School Board presented their budget plan at a public meeting last night.  The school division has a total budget of just over 13.7 million dollars for the 2014-15 school year, an increase of 3.2 percent over this year’s budget or almost 426 thousand dollars.

             

Finance Chair Trish Sattleberger reported the Division received an increase of 471 thousand dollars from the province.  She noted the tax incentive grant was discontinued in 2012 but the province is providing the equivalent funding for 2014 but they are down 37 students this year reducing the northern allowance received.

             

Among the larger expenses will be supplies and equipment for the new Technical Vocational Institute at Hapnot, window replacements, painting of schools and continuing Queens Park development.

             

Sattleberger adds the Division will continue to maintain and improve classrooms and facilities while maintaining a 3.21 percent surplus requested by the Minister of Education.

             

The budget still requires approval by the Board at their March 11th meeting.

 

You can shop while supporting Elks projects

Flin Flon’s Elks Lodge is holding a home business and craft sale Saturday.  Exalted Ruler Gord Evans says there’ll be a variety of items including Nail Techniques, Epicure, Tupperware, Scentsy, lamps, scented candles, some woodworking, a variety of everything.

             

The sale runs from 10 to 4 Saturday in the Elks Hall with lunch available.

             

Evans adds it’s a fund raiser for the Lodge with most of it going to the Elks Fund for Children.

 

It is festival weekend in Flin Flon and Creighton

The annual Bust the Winter Blues Festival gets underway tomorrow night.  Committee member Kelly Carrington says they start with the Kinettes Trivia Night tomorrow night and a pancake breakfast at the Friendship Center from 9 to 11 Saturday morning.  Highlighting some other events she adds on Saturday they’ve gone back to the Rotary Wheel from 1 to 3 with lots of kid’s entertainment and games out there and then the Mardis Gras Family Fun Night is Saturday night with some fireworks around 6:30 and then the Family Fishing Derby will be happening on Sunday again this year.

             

You can find a complete list of events at www.flinflononline.com.

Your concerns are part of renovation plans

The first in a series of open houses was held last night to receive public input on major renovations to the Flin Flon General Hospital emergency room slated to begin in the spring of 2015 with completion anticipated in late 2017 at a cost of 22 million dollars.

             

Northern Health Region CEO Helga Bryant says they have received a site feasibility study highlighting some of their plans including removing the ramp because they don’t need or want the ramp.  She says they want to maintain the use of the elevator just on the other side of the ramp because it’s relatively new and they also wanted as the main thing to separate the one entrance into three entrances so the great feature of the plan is that they have separated the public entrance from the ambulance drop off and from just the walk in emergency room traffic.

             

Bryant says there is a community commitment of 2.2 million dollars which is a policy of Manitoba Health. She says the board will start looking at strategies to raise the money and that could include a donor program and in kind contributions.

 

Support for upcoming events was highlighted at the Flin Flon and District Chamber of Commerce meeting yesterday

At their last meeting the Chamber was asked to consider supporting an opening ceremony for the Trout Festival at Pioneer Square on June 25th along with Hudbay and the City of Flin Flon.  The City has shown an interested in the idea as has Hudbay as well as the Flin Flon Arts Council.  If approved it will be a family event including a barbeque and entertainment.

             

The Chamber will move their first general meeting in March from the 11th to Wednesday, March 5th with speakers from members of the Committee for Future Generations speaking on concerns about hosting a nuclear waste storage facility in northern Saskatchewan.

             

The Recycling Center’s Administrator Deb Odegaard advised the Chamber they are now recycling household batteries that should be put in a plastic bag separate from other recycling when brought to the Center.  Information on what batteries can be recycled is available on the website www.calltorecycle.ca.

 

Provincial money is available for affordable housing

The Manitoba Government is investing in affordable housing for seniors and is seeking partners to build 140 new units in communities across the province. The new homes will be for low to moderate income earners and co-op housing members 55 or older.  The province has issued a request for proposals for construction of these homes.  Under the proposal the province is making available up to 65 thousand dollars per unit in southern Manitoba and 75 thousand per unit in northern Manitoba to a maximum of 35 percent of eligible project costs.

             

Housing Minister Peter Bjornson says they value partnerships with non-profits, the private sector, housing organizations, service groups and community volunteers who can provide appropriate housing options for seniors that best serve local priorities and build on existing community strengths.

Theatre and grants were part of Flin Flon school board meeting last night

It was a light agenda at the School Board of Trustees meeting.  Superintendent Blaine Veitch reported that students K to 6 at McIsaac and Ruth Betts Schools will welcome the Prairie Theatre Exchange for the production 50 Below Zero, a story by author Robert Munch on Friday.  Over at Many Faces Center there is a student art project planned for painting the gym.  Treasurer Heather Fleming reported that the Ruth Betts nutrition program has received a grant of 19 hundred dollars from Breakfast for Learning which is sponsored in part by President’s Choice Children’s Charity.

             

Board Chair Murray Skeavington says the recent Dinner Theatre at Hapnot Collegiate was a success as well as the combined science fair for Ruth Betts and Ecole McIssac students calling them just another example of the talents here in the School Division.

You can have a look at banned books this week

The Flin Flon Public Library is holding a Celebrate Freedom to Read Week this week.  Administrator Cindy McLean says they have numerous banned or challenged books on display.  She says what it does is encourage Canadians to think about reaffirming their commitment to intellectual freedom which is guaranteed them under the Charter of Rights, so they will be serving coffee and encourage the public to come in and have a peek.  She adds some of the books will be very surprising like Where the Wild Things Are, Huckleberry Finn, Catcher in the Rye and the Great Gatsby.

             

The Freedom to Read display will be available at the Library all this week.

Small business owners have ranked Premier Selinger dead last

New survey results from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business reveal Manitoba entrepreneurs are the least confident in Canada that their Premier and provincial government have a vision that supports small business.  Their Manitoba Director of provincial affairs Elliot Sims says in every category the Manitoba government and Premier Greg Selinger received the worst rating.  He says only three percent of Manitoba small business members think that the Premier understands the realities of running a small business which is tied for last in the country with Ontario Premier Wynne and only eight percent of Manitoba small business owners are confident that our government has a view that will support small business.  He says this should really be a wake up call to the provincial government that it needs to start listening to small business concerns.

             

Sims adds this underpins the critical need for a reset of government policy to create a small business friendly economy.

Students learned more about the mining industry

Yesterday we told you about Career Trek and their Children Rising Nor-man program at the Northern Mining Academy in Flin Flon.

             

A new group of students started at the Academy Saturday to learn more about career opportunities available in the north and one of the students April Johnson from The Pas was in the lab studying rocks with a microscope. She says she got involved because she thought it would be fun to experience all the different jobs that they want them to learn about.

             

Lab instructor Ekhart Buhlmann explains right from the outset they tell them about what kind of subjects at school are important if they ever want to consider this as a career and the pressure is on to take science seriously and to make them firmly committed in their mind to finish high school.

             

The program invites groups of 10 to 12 year old students from around the north to visit the Mining Academy and other facilities for three days between January and March.

 

Augusta Resource Centre

Augusta Resource Corporation says shareholders with about one-third of the

company's equity are rejecting an all-stock takeover offer from HudBay. The

Vancouver-based mining company, which says its board unanimously recommends

that other shareholders also reject HudBay, says the offer doesn't recognize the

value of Augusta's Rosemont copper project in Arizona and would expose its

shareholders to increased geopolitical risk without appropriate compensation.

Hudbay continues development of mines near Snow Lake

In its fourth quarter 2013 report Hudbay reports continued investment in the Lalor and Reed mines near Snow Lake.  President David Garofalo reports at the Lalor project they have invested approximately 381 million dollars to December 31st and have entered into an additional 32 million in commitments with the underground mine on schedule and on budget.  He says at Lalor they plan to develop an underground exploration ramp starting at the 955 meter level. He adds this development will allow resumption of the exploration drilling of the copper-gold zone in the fourth quarter of this year.  Garofalo says there are 4500 meters of exploration core drilling planned for late 2014 to test the continuity of the copper-gold zone, the first underground drill program focused on the zone approximately one year ahead of previous expectations.

             

At the Reed project Hudbay has invested approximately 63 million dollars to December 31st with the project on budget and on schedule to reach commercial production by the second quarter of this year.

Students are learning more about career choices

Career Trek is offering a program called Children Rising Nor-Man in partnership with the Northern Mining Academy in Flin Flon and other Manitoba organizations and businesses to deliver career development programming.  Their CEO Darrell Cole says children enter the program at ten years old along with their family.  He explains when kids are in school one of the challenges is that when they’re taking their subjects they ask why am I taking this, how is it relevant to my life and he thinks that’s something all kids ask so they are giving them the opportunity to come in and try occupations geared for their age but done in a completely realistic way that allows them to connect their school subjects now with what they could be doing later if they persevere.

             

A new group of students from across the north began the program at the Mining Academy on Saturday.

             

Cole adds they are looking for new businesses to partner with and you can find more about the program on their website www.careertrek.ca.

 

 

You can test your knowledge Friday night

The Flin Flon Kinette Club is holding their annual Trivia Night Friday.  The Club’s Marlene Gogal explains it will be similar to past years with three rounds of trivia open to teams of up to six per team.  She says they have cash prizes, door prizes, a penny parade and an elimination draw which is a flight for two to Winnipeg and return on Calm Air and two nights accommodation at the Victoria Inn in Winnipeg as well.

             

The night begins at 6:30 with trivia starting at 7:30 followed by a social in the R.H. Channing Auditorium.  Tickets for Trivia Night are 20 dollars or 10 dollars for the social only and are available at the Orange Toad and the Gas Bar.

Your input is wanted on an updated emergency room

The emergency room at Flin Flon General Hospital will soon undergo major renovations and residents of surrounding communities will have an opportunity to provide input during the first in a series of public meetings starting next week.  The open house will take place in city council chambers Tuesday evening from 7 to 9.

             

The Flin Flon Emergency Room Redevelopment Steering Committee includes the Mayors of Flin Fon, Denare Beach, Creighton and representatives from Cranberry Portage, the region’s board, Hudbay, Manitoba Health and the Northern Health Region staff.  The committee has committed to regular open house meetings to keep members informed and seek their views as the project progresses.

             

Construction is slated to begin on the 22 million dollars project in the spring of 2015 with completion anticipated in late 2017.  A community contribution of 2.2 million dollars is a requirement of the project with fund raising plans to be announced later this spring.

 

Hudbay reports a loss at the end of last year

Hudbay has released its fourth quarter 2013 financial results reporting a loss of 61.5 million dollars compared to a profit of 8.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2012 primarily due to lower inventory balances on hand in 2013 resulting in lower copper and zinc sales volumes compared to the fourth quarter of 2012.

             

Huday President David Garofalo says their development projects progressed well in 2013 putting them in a good position to achieve their strategic objectives this year. He says they continue to advance Constancia in Peru towards initial production late this year, they anticipate doubling the production rate from Lalor in the second half of the year as the main production shaft is commissioned and the refurbishing of the Snow Lake concentrator is completed and they anticipate declaring commercial production at the Reed property during the second quarter of this year.

             

Garofalo also repeated an announcement that Hudbay has made an offer to acquire all the issued and outstanding common shares of Augusta Resources the operator of the Rosemont copper project in Arizona.

 

Alpha invites you to join them next week

The Alpha course will be starting a new session at the Flin Flon Alliance Church next week.  Leslie Wood says the Alpha course is an opportunity to explore the Christian faith.  She says some of the questions they’ll explore are how does God guide us, who is Jesus, why and how do I pray, how can I develop a relationship with God, what about the church, is there more to life that this and Alpha is for everyone.

             

Alpha begins Tuesday evening at 6 at the Alliance Church with a celebration supper so you can learn what it’s about.  To register or for more information you can call the church at 204-687-8498.

Festival time in Denare Beach

The 35th annual Denare Beach Winter Festival gets underway tomorrow evening.  The committee’s Mary Wright highlights some of the events noting they start with a roast beef buffet and they’re going to have something new this year Denare Beach Kids Got Talent and they have a full slate of kids signed up. Then she says they are going to have the famous turkey curling and live music with local musicians.  Wright adds on Saturday they start with their pancake breakfast, their fishing derby starts at 10, horse wagon rides will be there, the family poker derby will be happening, they will have boot hockey and human fooz ball and at the same time the kids Olympic events will be happening.

             

For more information on events you can contact the Denare Beach Recreation Office.

 

The stage will be rocking on Tuesday night

Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corp 2328 and the City of Flin Flon are sponsoring a performance by the Royal Canadian Air Force Band at 7 o’clock Tuesday night in the Community Hall.  The band’s Sergeant Mike Hall says they are glad to support local cadets and what they’ve prepared for them is what they call their Made in Canada Showcase as it features Canadian music including pop and rock music from right across the country starting on the east coast and going right out to the west coast with some of the classic songs of the past forty years that they’ve done up with unique arrangements for their band.

             

Hall adds they will include music for all ages including songs by Trooper, Rush, April Wine and others.

             

Tickets for the concert are ten dollars each and are available at Northern Rainbows End on Main Street.

 

People interested in the history of Manitoba can receive a special award

The Manitoba Historical Society is accepting nominations for the Lieutenant Governor’s Award recognizing people involved in the preservation and promotion of the province’s history.  The Society’s Gordon Goldsborough says nominations are open to anyone.  In fact he says they are hoping to get a wide range of people who have worked in local museums, people that have been advocates in preserving local history or even people who have helped to write local history books, anything that is in some way connected to the promotion and preservation of our history.

             

Nomination forms are available at their website www.mhs.mb.ca.  Nominations close on February 28th.

Our young scientist work will be on display tomorrow

A school division wide Science Fair is being held in the Flin Flon Community Hall tomorrow.  One of the organizers Jordy Dumenko explains its students from Ruth Betts and McIsaac Schools from grades one to eight and you’ll find between 130 and 150 projects.

             

Dumenko adds judging will take place during the day tomorrow with public viewing of the projects from 4 to 6:30 followed by the awards presentations at 7.

You can quit smoking and win prizes

The Manitoba Lung Association is sponsoring a Manitoba Quits contest to encourage you to quit smoking.  Regional Smoking Reduction Coordinator for the Northern Health Region Deanna Johnson explains the contest runs from March 1st to 30th so you need to quit for the four weeks but you’re eligible to enter the contest if you quit anytime between June 1st, 2013 and February 28th, 2014.  She says if you quit during that time you can go on the website www.manitobaquits.ca and there’s a registration form on that website.

             

There are five prizes of one thousand dollars each.  More information and Quit Kits are available at Walmart or by calling Deanna at the Primary Health Care Center at 204-681-3143.

There is a new program to support women health

Starting this month women in northern Manitoba will have the opportunity to identify and reduce their risks for heart disease and stroke. The Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Northern Health Region will be sponsoring and facilitating Women’s Health Stop sessions and the Foundation’s Amanda Nash says these will be held in sixteen northern Manitoba Communities.  She says it’s a two year initiative helping women living in northern and remote communities identify and manage their risk factors for heart disease and stroke. She adds they know by becoming aware of your health portfolio and by making healthier lifestyle changes women can reduce their risk for these diseases by up to 80 percent.

             

The first session will be held in The Pas on February 28th at the Otineka Mall from 10 to 3. Work continues to identify which other northern communities have the greatest need and will benefit most from these Health Stops.

A company has funding to move forward on a project west of Flin Flon

Foran Mining has closed a previously announced non-brokered private placement.  The placement was fully allocated and the Company raised proceeds of 1.2 million dollars which consisted of six million units of the Company at a price of 20 cents per unit.  The proceeds of the placement will be used for exploration on the Company’s land holdings in east central Saskatchewan.

             

Foran Mining is a diversified exploration and development company with projects in the Flin Flon mining belt.  The Company’s flagship McIlvenna Bay Deposit is located in east central Saskatchewan 65 kilometers west of Flin Flon and they describe it as one of the largest undeveloped volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits in Canada.

 

There is help available if you are living with an ongoing health condition

A Get Better Together program will be available in Flin Flon beginning in mid-March.  Regional Community Health Developer Christa McIntyre says it’s a free interactive group program. She adds it’s developed for anyone living with any type of ongoing health condition such as diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, cancer, depression, heart disease or anything else.  McIntyre explains during the six weeks participants will learn valuable information about things like physical activity, healthy eating, relaxation, decision making and goal setting, communication skills and a whole lot more.

             

For more information or to register for the program you can call Christa at 204-681-3145.

Grants are available for community projects

The Northern Neighbors Foundation provides citizens of Flin Flon, Cranberry Portage, Snow Lake and Sherridon with the opportunity to invest in the future of their communities.  The Foundation’s Dave Kendall says they are now accepting applications for grants with a substantial amount of funds available to groups within these communities.  He explains they have put their money into the Winnipeg Foundation to be entrusted by them and they pay out a couple of times a year with the interest from the money they’ve put in so they have those funds.  He adds they also have funds from the Moffat Family Foundation and those dollars come in once a year and the new exciting one is through Hapnot Collegiate and their Youth Enterprise and the youth in Hapnot are going to be looking for charities to donate to.

             

The deadline for applications is March 15th with forms available from Betty at 687-5715 or 687-4453.

Plans are well underway for a winter festival

The Denare Beach Winter Festival is coming up next weekend February 21st and 22nd.  Recreation Director Laurie Stomp says some events require early registration.  She says they have a chili cook off so they’d like to know who makes the best chili and also the ice and snow sculpture contest is another pre-festival activity that will have to be called in. She says they’ll be starting Friday night off with their roast beef buffet supper and they have a lot of things going on after including the Denare Beach Kids Got Talent contest and the kids will have to pre-register either that night or by calling the Recreation Office.

             

Stomp adds they’ll also have their fun turkey curling and music featuring local musicians on Friday night.  She says on Saturday they start with a pancake breakfast, horse drawn wagon rides, family snowmobile poker derby and other events ending with their winterfest social featuring Moon Bath.

The Federal budget does nothing for the north

Churchill Member of Parliament Niki Ashton calls this week’s Federal budget a do nothing budget for the north.  She says the Federal government has shown once again that they fail to understand that investing in infrastructure and public services is crucial to economic development across northern Manitoba and across the country.  She says the budget does nothing to address the key issues around infrastructure including housing and water and sewer services that are greatly needed in northern Manitoba.

             

Ashton adds investment in infrastructure also creates jobs.  She says more people are unemployed today than before the recession and are looking for action now to make life more affordable.  She notes the NDP caucus has put forward practical, low cost solutions including reining in credit card rates, capping ATM fees, restoring the ecoEnergy Retrofit Homes tax credit and providing job creation tax credits for youth and small business all ignored by the government in their budget.

 

Now is the time to book a table for a craft sale

The Flin Flon Elks Lodge is holding their annual Home Business and Craft Sale on Saturday, March 1st.  Exalted Ruler Gord Evans says people can book tables to sell anything to do with home businesses or any kinds of crafts.  He says it can be anything really such as wood working, knitting, anything that will spark the eye of people coming.  He adds they have their regulars like Scentsy and Tupperware and all that but if they can get some new ones in there it would be nice.

             

To book at table you can call Gord Evans, Linda Martindale or the Elks Hall.

The library is looking for increased funding from the city

Flin Flon Public Library Administrator Cindy McLean spoke to City Council on Tuesday night on behalf of the Library Board requesting that their operating grant from the city be increased from 90 to 95 thousand dollars.  She says the library is no longer a place to just pick up books as they continue to expand their programs with increasing participation and they want to continue to meet the needs of the community.  She says they are operating on a shoe string budget as they are receiving less from the province due to our reduced population. She says the community is definitely using the library and they want to keep it that way.

             

Mayor George Fontaine says Council will take a serious look at the presentation.

             

In other business Council approved the contract with city employees who are members of CUPE local 228 that runs from February 1st, 2013 to January 31st, 2017.  It provides for a wage increase for an average employee of 2 percent in 2013 and 14 and 3 percent in 2015 and 16.  Other city employees, airport workers and Mayor and Council will receive similar increases as their increases are tied to the union contract.

 

You can enjoy an evening of food, information and entertainment

Women Connecting is presenting a couples night out Saturday at 6:30 at the Bakers Narrows Lodge Club House.  One of the organizers Peggy Baynton says Dave Price will speak on the Flin Flon Ski Club and they have two other speakers Tri and Meredith Truong who are a couple that are going to speak about their work in The Pas.  She says Tri is a Teen Challenge graduate who is now working with street people in The Pas and they are looking forward to them telling the group about what is going on in The Pas.

             

Baynton adds they will also feature some special music and a really great supper. Tickets are available at Mugsy’s Deli on Main Street or call Peggy Baynton at 204-681-3250.

Your kids can keep busy next week

Creighton Recreation has events planned to keep kids busy during February break next week.  Assistant Recreation Director Crystal Banting says they’ll be busy all week starting on Tuesday when they have the ski lodge booked from 1 to 3 so everybody can bring their sleds out and they’ll have hot chocolate if it’s a little bit chilly.  On Wednesday she says they have a boy’s key holder class from 1 to 3 and if anybody wants to register it’s at 688-3538.  On Thursday they have a girl’s jewelry class from 1 to 3 and on Friday they have a scrub and skate from 1 to 3 at the Sportex.

             

If you need any more information on these events you can call the Recreation Office at 306-688-3538.

A new program has worked well in Flin Flon School Division

Enrichment teacher Kali Senyk was the guest presenter last night at the Flin Flon School Board meeting.  Senyk worked with students in grades four through eight at Ruth Betts and McIsaac schools who were chosen for the LEAP Program.  Students were selected based on CAT 4 results and teacher recommendations.  The Learning Enriched Activities Program allows students to work together in various cluster groups based on a multiple intelligence test and interest survey.  Senyk told the Board that students are excited to participate in the program and she has received positive feedback from parents and the community.  During the presentation Senyk played an iMovie highlighting the student’s accomplishments.

             

For more information there is a website that is updated regularly at flinflonschooldivisionleap.weebly.com.

Expect our bus service to continue

Flin Flon City Council received seven letters encouraging them to ensure the city bus service continues. Many of the writers note they cannot afford to operate a vehicle so they depend on the bus service to get to and from work and to other services around the community.

             

Mayor George Fontaine says the letters have a common thread in that the writers are assuming the bus service is ending.  He says the contract with the current provider Northern Bus Lines ends at the end of August but Council is looking at what options are open to them, who can provide the service and what kind of service the city needs.  He says don’t assume there will not be a bus service, assume there will be one as he and Council feel there is a need for the service in the community and they will do what they can to see there will be a service although it may not be the same as we have now. Administrator Mark Kolt says Council is looking at options but cannot say at this time whether those options involve the present service provider or what other options are being considered.

An opposing view on nuclear waste storage will be presented

The Flin Flon and District Chamber of Commerce was advised yesterday that a public meeting will be held at the Public Library on the evening of March 5th regarding the proposed nuclear waste storage facility for Creighton.  A group opposed to the proposal will make a presentation so the public will know both sides of the issue.  Mark Ryland Pritchard is an independent energy consultant in Saskatoon, Dave Geary from Saskatoon has been studying the Canadian nuclear industry in depth since 1990 and Candyce and Marius Paul are members of the Committee for Future Generations and are from the English River First Nation which was on the list in the site selection process.  They have done extensive research about high level nuclear waste.  The Chamber agreed to move their first general meeting next month to Wednesday, March 5th to allow this group to speak to their members as well.

             

In other business the Chamber will look into a suggestion that they consider partnering with Hudbay and the City of Flin Flon to host an opening ceremony for the Trout Festival at Pioneer Square that will include a barbeque, entertainment and will offer an opportunity for family involvement.

A one hundred day celebration

Earlier this week we told you about celebrating one hundred days of school at McIsaac School with an Olympics theme.  Ruth Betts Community School is celebrating on Friday and teacher Amber Kubat says the kindergarten to grade two students have a variety of events. In the morning kindergarten class they will make the number 100 with their bodies and they’ll be making 100 day hats.  In the afternoon class they’re going to be doing a scavenger hunt with numbers and they’re going to draw what they think they’ll look like when they are 100 years old.  In grade one Zero the Hero is going to bring them their final snack which will be a Tootsie Roll Pop and they’re going to see if they can get to the tootsie roll in 100 licks.  Other grade ones will take pictures of themselves and use an app on the iPad to see that they would look like at 100 years old and in grade two they are going to make Fruit Loop necklaces with 100 Fruit Loops.

             

The student will also bring in one hundred day projects completed at home.

You can walk to remember on Friday

Flin Flon area residents are invited to be part of the 23rd annual Women’s Memorial March on Friday.  The Women’s Resource Center’s Colleen Arnold says the march is in honor of all aboriginal women who have been murdered or have gone missing and this year Flin Flon joins the efforts to help end violence once and for all.  She says as a community we need to stand together and fight for justice and honor for these women.  Arnold adds aboriginals are more likely to be marginalized and are consequently significantly over represented as victims and suspects in crimes. She says aboriginal women are disproportionately the victims of violence including murder.

             

You’re invited to join the walk beginning at 5:30 Friday evening at Pioneer Square on Main Street wrapping up at the Friendship Center for refreshments.

Comedy can highlight your Valentine

The Flin Flon Arts Council is featuring the Manitoba Theatre Center’s Miracle on South Division Street Friday.  The Council’s Crystal Kolt says it’s an interesting comedy created in Winnipeg about a family who believes that their barber shop had a visitation by the Virgin Mary.  She says they share the story about the miracle with whoever passes by but there’s so much more that goes on around this whole experience of this crazy family as the story progresses.  She adds it’s a little bit about family identity, family dynamics and it’s really quite hilarious.

             

The performance begins at 7:30 Friday night in the RH Channing auditorium with tickets available at Northern Rainbows End on Main Street.

False Alarm

The Flin Flon Fire Department was called to McIsaac School yesterday afternoon in a call that proved to be a false alarm.

             

Fire Chief Jim Petrie says a child hit a smoke detector in the hallway and set off the alarm system.  The school has cameras in the hallway and they were able to identify the child who will be disciplined by the school.

Hudbay is looking at expanding its holdings

Hudbay has announced it intends to commence an offer to acquire all the issued and outstanding common shares of Augusta Resources Corporation not already owned by Hudbay.  Augusta is a base metals company focused on advancing the Rosemont Copper project near Tucson, Arizona which has planned to start production in 2016.

             

Hudbay reports the addition of Augusta’s Rosemont project to their portfolio of low cost long life assets will enhance Hudbay’s position as a leading intermediate base metals mining company with world class copper production growth, the acquisition of the Rosemont project is an ideal fit with Hudbay’s disciplined growth strategy of acquiring high quality development stage assets in mining friendly jurisdictions in the Americas and Hudbay has the technical and operational expertise and financial capacity to efficiently develop and operate the Rosemont project to the benefit of all shareholders.

             

The offer will be open for acceptance until March 19th unless extended or withdrawn.

 

Students will mark a special day in their school year

Students at local schools will celebrate 100 days in their school year on Thursday. For example McIsaac School teacher Christine Williams says their kindergarten to grade two students will be following an Olympic theme.  She says they’re going to rotate through five stations where they’ll try the skeleton and biathlon and measure themselves to see if they can shoot themselves a hundred maple leaves long, they’ll be creating their own Olympic gold medals and seeing how many things they can put on their medal in 100 seconds, they’ll be counting athletes in a giant collage totaling up how many they can get and they will be simulating curling by throwing bean bags on to rings adding up to 100.

             

One hundred days is an annual celebration held at McIsaac and Ruth Betts Schools.

You can learn more about family violence

The Women’s Resource Center in Flin Flon is offering a free eight to ten week education group.  The Center’s Mary Fullerton says they will cover issues for women interested in gaining a better understanding of the dynamics surrounding family violence.  She says in the workshop they’ll be doing topics like the cycle of violence, profile of an abuser, effects of family violence on children, healthy relationships, communications and much more.

             

The sessions will start in March.  To register you can call the Women’s Resource Center at 204-681-3105.

A new director has confidence in copper deposits near Snow Lake

Rockcliff Resouces is a Canadian resource exploration company focused on discovery and advancement of its high quality mineral deposits at its Snow Lake project. They have announced the appointment to their Board of Directors of Clement Messere, President and founder of Pro Distribution Services, one of the largest Dated Material Logistics companies in Canada.  He recently made a private placement investment with Rockcliff and agreed to join the Board because he says he believes in the long term value of copper as a commodity and believes Rockcliff has the ability to build on the significant copper deposits that it has identified in Manitoba.

             

Rockcliff President Ken Lapierre says Clement’s business, marketing and investment experience will be a tremendous asset to the Company as they move towards earning their 70 percent interest in the Tower property near Snow Lake and expanding their high grade copper rich deposits in Manitoba.

Your name can be added to a list of volunteers.

The Northeast Regional Housing Authority in Creighton is developing a list of interested volunteers who enjoy working with seniors.  Their Tenant Services Coordinator Heather French says people will gain a lot by spending time with seniors in a number of activities.  She says they are looking for people who would be interested in coming and joining their seniors in activities such as bingo and other game nights or even afternoons, nights of entertainment with music as they love the old time music and music of any kind, they have a knitting club and coffee club that people can come in and spend time with the seniors and they enjoy potlucks if any organization would like to have a potluck and come in with the seniors to be part of the group.

             

If you are interested in volunteering you can call the office at 306-688-5521 and leave a message.

You can register early for an annual walk

The annual MS walk will be taking place in May but early registration will be held Wednesday.  Robin Searle from the MS Society of Canada Parkland Chapter invites you to the Orange Toad Wednesday afternoon from 2 to 4. She says every person who comes down to register will be invited to have a free cup of coffee.  She adds as well they have a great announcement to make that they will be moving the walk from inside Flin Flon out to Bakers Narrows Provincial Park and they have many activities planned that will be explained at the registration on Wednesday.

             

The annual MS Walk will be held on May 25th.

Our Member of Parliament is taking our regions issues to Parliament

Churchill MP Niki Ashton reports over the past few weeks she has traveled throughout the riding including visiting winter road communities and she will continue to visit these communities on the winter roads in February and March.

             

Ashton says people expressed concerns about health care, unequal funding for education, third world housing conditions, youth programming, pension reform, the Senate Scandal, Canada Post Cuts and many other issues.  She says she is committed to raising these issues in Parliament.

             

Ashton adds this week she started speaking out against Canada Post cuts that will affect all our communities in the north.

Heavy construction job opportunities will be the focus of a northern expo

The Manitoba Heavy Construction Industry is hosting a Northern Expo in Thompson February 25th and 26th.  One of the organizers Peter Paulic says it’s the first of its kind in the north. He says it’s three days of courses, a conference and training focusing on vocational professional human resources, safety and education training and the development of the heavy construction workforce especially here in the north.

             

Paulic says in the near future there will be opportunities for people to get jobs on construction projects all across the province as well as in the north on projects such as hydro dams and bipole three.  He says people from all across the north are urged to attend the expo and you can register at www.mhca.mb.ca or call the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association at 204-947-1379.

You can pick up your tickets for an upcoming dinner theatre

Hapnot Collegiate students will be holding their annual Dinner Theatre February 12th and 13th will a bit of a change this year.  One of the students involved says they will be performing the Creepy Creeps of Pilgrim Road and it’s kind of a play on an Adams family type setting.  She says they’ve got a weird creepy family and some normal people mixed in there too and a bunch of antics go on.

             

Rather than having a dinner this year those attending are encouraged to bring your own appetizers, snacks, plates, cutlery and beverages will be provided.  The show starts at 6:30, there will be a babysitting service and tickets are 15 dollars at the Hapnot Business Office.

People with M.S. and their caregivers can get together next week

The Multiple Sclerosis Society is holding a Rediscover Your Life program in Flin Flon next Wednesday.  The Society’s Robin Searle explains the program is basically for individuals who have MS, their caregivers, family and friends.  She says the purpose of the Rediscover your Life program is just to allow people to be involved in an activity that they would normally do and if they have to make some adaptations in order for it to fit comfortably for them they will do so.

             

Searle says they will be doing cupcake decorating at Stefy’s Treats at 93 Main Street from 7 to 9 next Wednesday.  She says space is limited so you should register by the end of this week by calling Robin at the Parkland Office at 204-622-2940.

 

Snow, water and fire calls were all part of the Flin Flon City Council meeting last night

Council received the Fire Chiefs report for January indicating three calls during the month, a structure fire, false alarm and assistance to ambulance services.

             

Council had praise for the city employees who have been working on water line freeze ups and broken pipes over a very cold winter.  Administrator Mark Kolt says there were more than normal in October and November but the numbers have since returned to normal.  He also mentioned Council had considered a reduction in snow removal as a cost cutting measure but with all the snow this winter that won’t be happening.

             

Councilor Colleen McKee reported on a recent meeting held by the Nuclear Waste Management Organization in Creighton as the town moves into the next phase of looking into hosting a nuclear waste storage site.  She says this phase will include more assessment work and awareness in the community and surrounding communities, preliminary field operations and environmental issues.

             

Council agreed to move their next meeting from February 18th to the 11th.

You can still get a flu shot is Creighton

The Mamawetan Churchill River Health Region is planning flu clinics through this month.  There are two planned for Creighton with the first this Friday from 9 to 12 and 5 to 7 and again on the 18th from 5 to 8 both at the Creighton Health Office.  They advise appointments are no longer required to attend the flu clinics and the flu shots are free.

             

You are also reminded to bring your Saskatchewan Health card when you attend the clinic.

The School Division has received good numbers from the province

Manitoba Education Minister James Allum has announced an overall increase of two percent in funding for public schools for the next school year.  Flin Flon School Superintendent Blaine Veitch says this Division was fortunate to be one of the Divisions to actually receive an increase as about half of the Divisions didn’t. He says the funding announcement is a little bit different this year because there was some changing of actual funding from the 2013-14 school year as compared to what was estimated so it’s a little more difficult to compare apples to apples so they did get an increase but the exact amount is a little more complicated to provide.

             

Veitch says the School Board’s finance committee will work to produce a good budget for next year that will be presented at a public meeting on February 26th.

Children around the world are receiving your gifts

Canadians donated just over 664 thousand shoe boxes packed with toys, hygiene items and school supplies during the 2013 Operation Christmas Child shoe box campaign.  As we reported in November 237 of those boxes came from the Flin Flon Creighton area.

             

Operation Christmas Child staff, volunteers and partners are now distributing these shoe boxes in the developing world.  Canadian Director Randy Crosson notes each shoe box is an opportunity to show these children, who likely have never before received a gift, that they are loved by God and by generous Canadians from coast to coast.

             

Since 1993 Samaritan’s Purse has collected and hand delivered more than 100 million shoe box gifts to children in over 130 countries hurt by war, poverty, natural disaster, disease and famine.

 

The homeless and remote medical services were highlighted at a recent meeting

The Mamawetan Churchill River Regional Health Authority that includes the Creighton Denare Beach areas met in La Ronge last week.  The Board received a presentation on the Homeless Strategy and potential methods of securing funding to aid homelessness initiatives in the region.

             

A presentation and discussion took place on the availability of medical services and the challenges specific to remote areas.  The information gathered will become part of a one year project with the outcome highlighting physician manpower needed throughout Saskatchewan.

             

The board approved the ratification of the Memorandum of Agreement with the SAHO- SGEU contract from April 1st, 2012 to March 31st 2017.

             

The next RHA meeting will be February 26th in Creighton.

A missing boy has been located

A missing boy has been located.

 

             

13 year old Wesley Daniel Custer was reported missing in Flin Flon on Thursday.  The RCMP report he has been located safe and sound in Prince Albert.

 

Flin Flon RCMP are asking for your help in locating 13 year old Wesley Daniel Custer

Custer was last seen in Flin Flon on the evening of January 29th with family reporting his disappearance to RCMP on January 30th.  He was wearing a black high collared jacket with white lettering spelling Columbia on the back and a black hoodie.

             

Family and police are concerned for Custer’s safety and well being.  He is considered an at risk youth.

             

Custer is described as 5 feet 4 inches tall and about 118 pounds.  He has black hair and brown eyes with a slender build.

             

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Wesley Custer is asked to call Flin Flon RCMP at 204-687-1422 or their local police agency.

The Crime Stoppers Program continues to get good results

January was Crime Stoppers Month.  Manitoba Crime Stoppers was formed in 1985 as a way for people to anonymously provide police with information about a crime.  Their Provincial Coordinator Sergeant Tom Cooney says last year they received 699 tips.  From those tips he says they were able to make 83 arrests, they cleared 206 cases which means there’s 206 files that they wouldn’t have cleared or would have went unsolved without the tips coming in.  He adds from that they seized over 600 thousand dollars in stolen property, 1.3 million dollars in drugs and another 35 thousand dollars in cash.

             

Flin Flon city council recently made their annual donation to the program at ten cents per capita.

             

If you have information on a crime you can contact them at 1-800-222-TIPS, on their website at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com or text TIPMAN plus your message to CRIMES.

 

Hudbay is raising funds for future growth

Hudbay Minerals has announced the closing of its previously announced equity offering of just under 21 million common shares of the company at a price of $8.25 per share, which includes the exercise in full of the over allotment option granted to the underwriters for gross proceeds of just under 173 million dollars.

             

The company intends to use the net proceeds of the offering for general corporate purposes, including providing them the flexibility to pursue opportunities to advance its growth strategy.

Plans are well underway for an annual Flin Flon Creighton area festival

The annual Bust the Winter Blues Festival is being held at the end of this month.  Committee member Channa Senyk says the fun starts on the Friday with stew and a bun at the Heritage Manor, they have a free fun swim and a free fun skate followed by Kinette’s Trivia Night.  She adds Saturday starts out with a pancake breakfast at the Friendship Center, a craft show at the Elks Hall and down to the Rotary Wheel for an afternoon of fun and games, the baking event and in the evening the Mardi Gras Family Fun Night.  Senyk says Sunday wraps it up with their family fishing tournament on Phantom Lake and the Border Explorers Poker Derby, spades and a crib tournament.

             

The Festival runs February 28th to March 2nd put on by Creighton Recreation, Flin Flon Parks and Recreation, Creighton Community School and the Friendship Center.

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