FORT FRANCES—Just in time for a physician recruitment tour to be conducted by local representatives next month, town council approved an enhanced physician recruitment incentive package presented at its regular meeting Monday night.
The direction to review the incentive package came forward at the July 28 council meeting, after which time the Administration and Finance executive committee tweaked it before bringing it forward Monday.
Coun. Sharon Tibbs explained the town hasn’t updated its incentive package since 2004 and needed a revision prior to next month’s tour.

COQUITLAM, B.C.—Neighbours pelted rocks at a black bear as it attacked a screaming woman in her own suburban driveway yesterday—possibly because the animal regarded her as its next meal.
“There were people who were driving by and stopped, and were throwing rocks to get the bear off of her,” said Sabrina Susin, a neighbour who was among those who rushed to the woman’s aid.
“But the bear was still there, so they were still throwing rocks but it wouldn’t go away.”
One neighbour wielded a broom.

EDMONTON—Angry Air Canada passengers are questioning the airline’s evacuation policy after they got stuck on a plane while fire crews inspected it yesterday following a report of smoke in the cockpit.
John Rabasse, who flew on Flight 179 from Montreal with his 38-year-old son, Jason Rabasse, and 12-year-old granddaughter, Maurissa, said they were kept on the plane along with dozens of other passengers for about 30 minutes after it landed in Edmonton about 11:30 a.m.

FORT FRANCES—After arriving at La Verendrye Hospital a little under two weeks ago, the new Toshiba Aquilion 64-slice CT scanner officially began helping Riverside Health Care Facilities, Inc. to better deliver care close to home Tuesday.
“We have started scanning patients,” said Patti Johnson, manager of diagnostic imaging for Riverside, adding five patients used the new service that first day.
Johnson noted more bookings are lined up as staff continue to learn the ropes.

FORT FRANCES—Youths are at the helm of the latest bylaw request to outlaw smoking at town parks and beaches.
“Smoking outside is just as hazardous as inside, so we want to make sure people are aware of the danger even [cigarette] butts can have on the environment,” said Tiffany Whalen, a local Youth Action Alliance peer leader.
Although a smoke-free environment is their main target, Whalen conceded a full-scale ban would take a long time to implement.

Anyone travelling past the Lions Millennium Park on Second Street East, or spending time at the slo-pitch diamonds at the St. Francis Sportsfields, over the past few weeks will have noticed they’re now surrounded with fences with bright yellow borders.
Airport and Parks Superintendent Bill Caul said the yellow edging is a safety device installed to protect children and others from scratching themselves on the tops of chain-link fences.

FORT FRANCES—After months and months of anticipation, the new CT scanner at La Verendrye Hospital arrived last Thursday afternoon, with hospital staff and those who helped raise funds for the equipment breathing a sigh of relief as they watched it get unloaded and wheeled through the halls.
Few could be more happy than Deane Cunningham, chair of the “Just Imagine” fundraising campaign, which saw district residents pledge more than $1.5 million to buy the CT scanner between October, 2006 and March, 2007.

FORT FRANCES—A clear sign that at least some local residents are concerned about the lack of a safe pedestrian crossing across King’s Highway, town council was presented with a petition bearing nearly 100 signatures Monday evening.
Spearheaded by Merv Ahrens, the petition calls for the town to immediately initiate a traffic study on the stretch of King’s Highway between Elm Avenue and Lillie Avenue, and immediately oversee the selection and installation of an appropriate traffic control system at the intersection of King’s Highway and Webster Avenue once the study is completed.

FORT FRANCES—Moving newborns who require specialized care just got much easier for Riverside Health Care Facilities, Inc. with the addition of a new neonatal transport incubator.
The Voyager transport incubator was delivered to La Verendrye Hospital here last week, arriving with Phil Fish of Airborne Life Support Systems, a division of International Biomedical, who came here from Texas to train local doctors, nurses, and paramedics on its use.

FORT FRANCES—Megan Schaenzer, a high school student from Minneapolis, crossed the border here Saturday at 10:30 a.m. after covering almost 485 km on foot.
Schaenzer, 17, was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes last May. But after learning of her condition, she decided she wasn’t going to take it lying down.
Instead, she opted to take it running.
Schaenzer decided she was going to run from the front steps of her Minneapolis home all the way to Canada, finally stopping here in Fort Frances.

Local youth were among more than 500 peer leaders from Youth Action Alliances across the province who gathered in London, Ontario for the third-annual [take!action] Youth Summit on May 23-25, 2008.
Sixteen youth from Northwestern Ontario, including James McInerney, a student at Fort Frances High School, represented the region at the weekend summit.
Participants attended workshops on topics such as Aboriginal sacred tobacco, tobacco-free sports and Third World tobacco issues.

There only are half as many physicians per 1,000 people in rural and small-town Canada compared to larger urban centres, according to a recent report put out by Statistics Canada.
The consequence of having significantly fewer doctors and specialists usually means patients must travel further distances to receive specific medical care.
Local dentist Dr. Mary Ellen Kennedy has seen the effect on her practice and patients that often are referred to specialists who are more than a four-hour drive away.

Just like people have problems achieving and maintaining that healthy weight goal, most pets do, as well.
And just like people can be predisposed to certain diseases because of their weight or the distribution of fats on their body, pets can be, too.
When it comes to overweight or obese pets, the largest indication is the rib covering and the body shape of the pet from an overhead view.
For both cats and dogs, the best way to check whether your pet has a healthy weight is to conduct a body condition score.

Although awaiting provincial re-funding, the Rainy River District Substance Abuse Prevention Team (SAPT) is continuing its work of preventing alcohol and drug abuse in the area through programs and support.
Co-ordinator Hugh Dennis explained they are hoping to be refunded by the Ministry of Health Promotion because he feels the work they have done has raised awareness by helping residents of the district to better understand the problems of drugs and alcohol abuse.

Ontario is funding the purchase of eight new Dodge Caravans for the North West LHIN to help area seniors get to and from medical appointments, wellness programs, and recreational activities like exercise classes as part of the province’s landmark Aging at Home Strategy.
A total of 100 vans across the province, and more than 250 new programs, are part of this $1.1-billion initiative to help seniors live healthy, independent lives in the comfort and dignity of their own homes.

Most of us remember being caught in a nettle patch with too much exposed skin and no easy way out.
Such a nutritious plant must protect itself, after all, and some believe the sting itself has health-giving properties.
Individual sensitivity to nettles varies. For some, it stings for a few minutes while for others it causes a numbness that may last a few days.
Being protected with long sleeves and gloves should keep the stinging to a minimum when gathering this delicious herb. The stinging properties are neutralized by crushing, drying, or cooking.

Hot and humid summer days bring an added danger: heat stress.
Ontario has tips and information to help employers and workers learn how to protect themselves from this seasonal hazard.
When heat is combined with other stresses like hard physical work, fluid loss, fatigue, or some medical conditions, it can lead to heat-related illness, disability, and even death.
Heat stress can affect anyone, including the young and fit, and can be a concern in many workplaces.
Symptoms of heat stress can include excessive sweating, headache, rashes, cramping, dizziness, and fainting.

With all the white fluff balls from the poplar trees floating in the air, and with the weeds growing like mad because of all of the rain we’ve been getting, seasonal allergy victims are being hit hard this summer.
It happens every year, but with the allergy relief that comes with the winter months, this re-emergence hits with a vengeance that always seems to be a little worse than before.

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has issued a directive to all Ontario hospitals to begin reporting new patient safety indicators.
Effective Sept. 30, hospitals must report cases of Clostridium difficile (C. difficile).
Starting Dec. 31, all cases of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE), and Hospital Standardized Mortality Ratio (HSMR) must be reported.
Wayne Woods, president and CEO of Riverside Health Care Facilities, Inc., says this is a good opportunity to reinforce Riverside’s commitment to patient safety.

Results from a recent “Family Activity Survey,” distributed to families in local housing units, were shared with members of the Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board during their regular meeting last Thursday.
Sandra Weir, Non-Profit Housing manager, and receptionist Heidi Parr presented the findings.
“It was designed for families in the units to see what types of issues they deal with and what services they require,” said Weir, noting Parr developed the survey while she was there for her placement from Confederation College.