Monday, October 31, 2011

BIA Pleased with Rainy Lake Talks


The chair of the Fort Frances Downtown Business Improvement Association is happy with the direction being taken on the former Rainy Lake Hotel.

A group of representatives have agreed to continue meeting to finding possible ideas for the shuttered landmark.

BIA Chair Connie Cuthbertson says last week's meeting was very encouraging.

The group will meet again at the end of November to discuss possible funding opportunities

Garage Destroyed by Fire


Fire destroyed a garage on Third Street East in Fort Frances Friday

It occured shortly after the noon hour.

A small shed and a nearby house also suffered damaged.

The cause has not been identified.

Halloween Tonight


Ontario Provincial Police want to ensure everyone has a safe Halloween.

Constable Anne McCoy says young trick or treaters should keep to well lit areas and parents should know where they're children will be if going by themselves.

McCoy says youngsters should also avoid running across streets or lawns.

Youngsters Glowing Tonight


Youngsters across the Rainy River district will be glowing again this Halloween.

Grace Silander of Safe Communities Rainy River says nearly four thousand glow sticks were distributed to schools and day cares for children to use tonight.

The sticks help keep them visible tonight.

A limited number of the sticks are still available at Tess' Kitchen on Scott Street in Fort Frances.

Halloween for Hunger


Members of Saving Faces will be on the streets tonight asking for non-perishable food items.

Natalie Hyatt says it's the second year that the Fort Frances High School group has participated in the Halloween for Hunger.

Members will be in costume, but will carry name tags to identify themselves.

Walleye Anglers Examined


A Ministry of Natural Resources study gives anglers some credit in keeping walleye stocks healthy in northwestern Ontario.

Researchers looked at the habits of anglers in 157 walleye lakes.

One of the studies authors, Len Hunt, says it did prove lakes close to anglers do face fishing pressures

The study also disproved a theory that anglers target the best lakes until fish populations go in decline.

Campbell Now Riding's MPP


Sarah Campbell is itching to get to work.

The Kenora-Rainy River MPP was handed the NDP critic portfolio of Natural Resources and Aboriginal Affairs before being sworn into office Thursday.

Campbell says MPP's could be in the legislature next month.

MP Looks to Protest Severance Pay


Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty has brought back a private members bill aimed at protecting workers' severance when companies enter bankruptcy protection.

It's a similar bill that died on the order table in the last parliament.

First reading of the bill took place in the House Thursday.

Gas Leak


The smell of natural gas brought members of the Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Service to the downtown core Thursday night.

Fire officials say a relief value let go at Union Gas's new sub-station on Mowatt Avenue at around 6 p.m.

The problem was blamed on debris on the line and corrected within three hours.

Hunters Fined


A costly hunting trip for two Ontario men.

The two men, from Chelmsford and Manitouwadge, were fined a total of  $10,000 after being convicted on two separate incidents of hunting on private property.

They had been first charged last November and then again in April while hunting in the Rainy River district.

Alone with the fines, one man was banned for hunting for four years - the other for two.

L.U. Moves Up


Lakehead University has moved up one spot in the Maclean magazine rankings of Canadian universities.

President Dr. Brian Stevenson says they have room for improvement.

Lakehead ranks second among the five undergraduate universities in Ontario.



Haunt Opens Again


What has become a Halloween tradition returns Monday to Fort Frances.

Tess and Robert Coish will transform the backyard of their Scott Street business into a Halloween haunt for young ghouls and goblins.

The Coishes are also accepting donations of treats from people willing to assist.

Gold Search Widens


The search for gold in the Rainy River district continues to heat up.

Winnipeg-based Kings Bay Gold says it has staked more land around its Menary township project after assay results showed strong indications of gold mineralization.

Further mapping, sampling and drilling are now planned for the area, 20 kilometres south of Nestor Falls

The company is also exploring a tailing's pond used by a former mining company back in the 1990's

Fires Still Burn


Forest Fires still burning inside Quetico Provincial Park will be allowed to burn themselves out.

Some of the eight fires have been active since July.

Jennifer Young of the Ministry of Natural Resources says a management plan in place allows fire in certain areas to help regenerate the park's forests.

All of the fires were lightning caused and have covered a total area of about 270 hectares

Canoe Holder Wins Contest


A holder made of miniature paddles and a canoe is among ideas given consideration by the Atikokan Economic Development Corporation for further development.

Darrell Chambers proposed the idea as part of the Corporation's contest to further promote the town's moniker as Canoeing Capital of Canada.

Chambers says he's already working toward having fifty holders ready for sale soon.

Take a Coffee Break


It's not too late to sign up for a Coffee Break.

Executive Director of the Alzheimer Society of Kenora-Rainy River Lynn Moffatt says they still have a number of kits to hand out to potential hosts.

The fundraiser runs until February.

Chili Winners


The public has spoken.

Holmlund's Financial Services was the judges' selection in of the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce's Chili Cook-off.

CIBC was the people's choice.

A total of thirteen teams took part in Wednesday's event.