Thursday, June 21, 2012

Dragon Boat Festival A Go


The first ever Dragon Boat Festival in Fort Frances is a go.

More teams are still being sought for the Boundary Waters Dragon Boat Festival, but spokesperson Jenny Greenhalgh says some key financial support from Gillon's Insurance is allowing the July 1st event to proceed.

The town of Fort Frances is also offering help if necessary.

Greenhalgh says they have nine teams so far, but would like to see at least another three sign up by next week.

Budget Passes


A summer election in Ontario has been averted with the passage of the minority government's budget.

Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro says is relieved.

Right up until the vote, the Liberals said they could not trust the New Democrats to keep their word and let the budget pass.


But the NDP kept its promise by abstaining from the vote.

Tourism Centres Officially Closed


Tourism in northwestern Ontario is taking a hit with the budget's passing.

Tourism Centres in Kenora, Rainy River and Fort Frances are officially closed.

Conservative critic Vic Fedeli says it's disappointing.

He adds there was no attempt by the NDP to bring forward amendments to have the closure decision removed from the budget.

Fedeli adds the budget does little for job creation despite Liberal claims.

Walk of Solidarity


Several area First Nations are using National Aboriginal Day to draw attention to issues around the area known as Agency 1.

First Nations are hold a Walk in Solidarity, beginning this morning at the west end of the town, ending at Pither's Point Park.

The area, which includes the Park, has been the focal point of ongoing legal challenges.

More Mischief in Fort Frances


A Fort Frances business the latest victim of mischief.

OPP say someone Tuesday went to North American Lumber on Kings Highway where they took a sandbag and a roll of weeping tile and placed them on Colonization Road West.

Several boards thrown over to the lawn of McDonald's Restaurant.

In the same area, a painted stake was removed from at a lawn on McIrvine Road and two solar lanterns from a home on River Road West and placed on the road.

Police located four youth in the area, all under the influence, but no charges have yet been laid.


At the other end of Fort Frances the same night, OPP were called after a group of youth set off firecrackers and committed acts of mischief in the area of Fourth Street West and Shevlin Avenue.

Solar lights and a flower pot were smashed in one yard.

Witnesses told police two boys and a girl were observed in the area.


Police are also looking into incidents that occurred in other parts of town earlier this week.

Pot lights were ripped down from a garage in the 800 block of Fifth Street East.

A motion light was broken on a garage on Crowe Avenue.

And some loose change, a blanket and a shawl were removed from an unlocked car parked in the alley of the 400 block of Third Street East.



Fort Frances High Graduation



175 graduates will be centre stage at the Fort Frances Memorial Sports Centre tonight.

They're this year's graduating class from Fort Frances High School.

Commencement ceremonies begin at 7:30 p.m. to be followed by Chem Free grad events.


Ombudsman Complaints Up


There's been a huge increase in the number of complaints to the Ontario's Ombudsman from our area.

Andre Marin says 97 complaints about various agencies in the Kenora-Rainy River district were received over the past twelve months.

That compares with 25 received in the 2010-11 period.

73 of the complaints were about government Ministries, up from 21 in 2011

Fifteen were against municipalities over the past year, a jump from the one complaint received the year before.

Jobless Rate Drops


A drop in the unemployment rate in Koochiching County last month.


The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development says the rate drop in May to 7.5 per cent from April's rate of 8.4 per cent.

That's still about two percentage points higher than the State average.