Human Remains Found

OPP have confirmed the discovery of human remains along Highway 17, about 25-kilometres east of Ignace.

No other details are being released at this time.

The Northwest Regional Forensic Identification and Crime Unit and Forensic Anthropologist are all involved in the investigation.

Beach Signs Reviewed

The Northwestern Health Unit says its willing to come up with a different approach to how it warns swimmers of the potential of bacteria at area beaches.

The Health Unit began posting warning signs this month rather closing a beach each time a water sample tested positive.

Kenora councillors felt the signs were confusing to swimmers.

Doer Visit Today

Canada's Ambassador to the United States makes a visit to the borderland today.

Gary Doer will be in International Falls to talk to area representatives about cross border trade between the two countries.

His visit is being hosted by AbitibiBowater and Boise Paper.

Nestor Falls Third

Nestor Falls is generating plenty of votes in its bid to become Canada's Ultimate Fishing Town.

After the first week of public voting, it sits third with over 23-hundred votes, but well back of frontrunners Port Alberni, British Columbia and Dauphin, Manitoba.

Fort Frances is far back with 107 votes while Atikokan sits with 47 as of this morning.

This round of voting concludes September 1st.

Fair Day 2

The Rainy River Valley Agricultural Fall Fair is in high gear today with plenty going on in Emo.

There are Livestock exhibits, horse shows and the loggers competitions all starting this morning.
There's a country music jam at the Emo/LaVallee Arena tonight at 7 p.m.

The Emo Legion will hold its beer garden in the arena as well with Nighthawk performing outside at 9 p.m.

Children's Aid Agencies Outline Merger Plans

(CJRL photo)


Official says the plan to bring Family and Children's Services Rainy River together with Kenora-Patricia Child and Family Services next April will be done with a clean financial sheet.

The Ministry of Children and Youth Services has given approval in principle to the merger.

Kenora's executive director Bill Leonard says it has to be without taking on Rainy River's 900-thousand dollar deficit.

"I tried to be clear to the Ministry on Friday that the new organization is not going to carry any deficit or debt as a result of funding shortfalls in previous years," says Leonard. "They response was, 'we understand.' They have to find a solution."

No jobs will be lost, but some employees with Rainy River have been given new roles including Executive Director Vik Nowak.

He becomes director of services based in Fort Frances and will oversee a number of project teams working on the merger.

Phone Scam

Police and officials with the MS Society of Thunder Bay are warning of an phone scam.

Police say three residents have received phone calls from someone claiming to be soliciting on behalf of the organization.

The MS Society says it is not conducting a phone fundraising campaign.

More Exploration Money to be Spent

Rainy River Resources will be spending almost $25-million over the next year on exploration activities in northern Ontario.

That's an increase of over $6-million from the last fiscal year.

Most of the money will be spent at its gold-bearing properties north of Barwick.

Three million will be used to explore of an area located 470 kilometres north of Pickle Lake, a project with Sudbury-based Northern Superior Resources

Border Stats for June

The trip across the border may be waning on some residents living in the Rainy River district.

Statistics Canada says over 42-thousand Canadians returned from visits to the U.S. through the Fort Frances point of entry in June.

That's a drop of three-thousand from May, and the lowest figure since February.

There were also 68-thousand Americans crossing at both Fort Frances and Rainy River, more than double that from May.

No Price Comparisons Required

Ontario electricity retailers won't have to give consumers a side-by-side price comparison, showing what they would pay with or without an energy contract.

Ontario Energy Board spokesman Alan Findlay says it's hard to compare prices because the regulated price is adjusted regularly.

A draft electricity contract form, released for discussion back in December, has disappeared from the Ministry of Energy website.

A Ministry spokesperson says it was removed to avoid confusion with energy board proposals.

Minnesota Pollution Fines

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency completed 46 enforcement cases in the second quarter of this year with penalties totaling nearly $350-thousand.

The cases occurred at facilities in 33 counties throughout Minnesota, none in Koochiching County.

Firefighter Return

(Supplied Photo)


Ministry of Natural Resources personnel who have been helping with the forest fire fight in British Columbia are talking about their experiences.

Mike Parkes from the Fort Frances Fire region was working in the Cariboo Region of B.C. and says shifting wind was among the biggest threats for firefighters.

"It definitely increases the danger due to the fact that we don't know where the winds are going to push the fire," says Parkes. "They could push them up hill, down hill or cross hill. You have to be head up and keep and eye out for trees to fall when the winds are pushing in all different directions."

Parkes was among the 161 MNR personnel who returned home this week.

Fifth Street Traffic Delays

Fifth Street West in Fort Frances will again be restricted to local traffic Thursday and Friday as town crews continue preparations for an upcoming surface treatment of the roadway.

Fifth between Portage Avenue to Wright Avenue will be closed from 7:30 a.m. until 7 p.m. both days.

Library Tech Programs

The Fort France Library and Technology Centre is planning to run a series of programs to help residents better understand today's Internet tools.

Technology coordinator Raj Sritharan says the new workshops are planned for September.

"We're planning a weekly lunch and learn program," says Sritharan. "People would be bringing their lunch to the librayr and we'll have short sessions where we'll go through some technologies like RSS, Twitter and Blogging."

Sritharan says he's also open to suggestions on other sessions the public may want more information.

Ride For Memories Nearing

(CKDR photo)


There's still time to participate in the Alzheimer's Society for Kenora-Rainy River's Ride for Memories.

The annual motorcycle ride through northwestern Ontario takes place August 28.

Executive director Lynn Moffitt says it's not too late to register.

"They just need to register and the registration fee is twenty-dollars," says Moffitt. "They do need to go out and collect pledges and get people to sponsor them in the ride and then participate in the ride and enjoy it."

Registration can be done on-line or calling the Society's office in Kenora.

Fair in Emo Opens Today

(Rainy River Valley Agricultural Society photo)


The Rainy River Valley Agricultural Fall Fair kicks off today in Emo.

Select Shows Midway gets underway at 2 p.m. with the exhibition halls opening tomorrow.

This year's theme for the fair and parade is "Get Fresh, Eat Local, Go Wild."

New to the Fair will be a dance Saturday night with the band Nighthawk providing the music at the Emo/LaVallee arena

Water Levels Discussed

There are calls for more gauges to monitor water levels on Rainy Lake.

At a meeting in Fort Frances last night, the International Rainy Lake Board of Control was told levels in the North Arm of the Lake this summer reached near flooding conditions while staying normal elsewhere.

Engineering advisor Rick Cousins admits it is an issue for the board.

"We're always looking at trying to increase the gauging we have," says Cousins. "They all cost money and we have to look at the efficiency and effectiveness of additional gauging compared wit the other things we can do."

Cousins says lake levels this year were very unusual with both Rainy River and Namakan Lake experiencing both very low levels in the spring to near highs in July.

Howarth's Becoming Leon's

A well-established business in Fort Frances' downtown will become a Leon's store next month.

Howarth's Home Centre is in the process of liquidating stock before undergoing a renovation to become the local home to the national furniture chain.

Owner Mark Howarth says timing for the change is right.

" We've always been trying to improve on our furniture," says Howarth. "Our electronics and appliances have always been very well priced but we've been a little behind on the furniture so we want to make that better. The Source contract was coming up so we're dropping the The Source and becoming Leon's."

Howarth expects to re-open as Leon's in mid-September.

Howarth's has operated in Fort Frances since 1950.

Sexual Assault Charged Re-Issued

A 62-year-old Ignace man is again facing charges relating to sexual assaults in the region in the 1980s.

Donald Milani is charged with 19 offences.

He was charged in 1987 but all charges were dropped in 1989 when the matter was still in the preliminary hearing stage.

A provincial police spokeswoman says new evidence has come to light.

Milani is to appear in a Thunder Bay court on August 30.

Highway Blitz Begins

Ontario Provincial Police launch Operation Corridor this morning.

The 24-hour safety blitz will target commercial vehicles and their drivers.

Officers will be looking to nab speeders and other aggressive drivers.

The Ministries of Transportation and Environment will conduct truck inspections, looking for poor maintenance, environmental violations and mechanical problems.

MNR Crews Busy in B.C.

(Ministry of Natural Resources Photo)

Ontario fire crews are playing a huge role in forest fire suppression efforts in British Columbia.

The Ministry of Natural Resources has provided nearly five-hundred fireRangers and support personnel for the past two weeks.

MNR Senior agency rep David Cleavely says they've often been asked to take a lead role in many fires.

"As well as having firefighters out here we also have three incident management teams," says Cleavely. "Those teams have been given the responsibility of a large amount of land base. Some of them looking after 30 fires and some of those fires in the neighbourhood of 10 to 20-thousand hectares in size."

Cleavely says the biggest challenge for firefighters has been thick smoke and high temperatures which is restricting the crews work to the morning hours.

Filing Period ends in Minnesota

The filling period for candidates seeking election to local government seats in Minnesota came to an end yesterday.

In the city of Rainer, incumbent Ed Oerichbauer will face a challenge for the mayor's chair from Bernie "Spike" Woods."

Brenda Baeur, Fred Woods senior, Thomas Hall, Terry Lahmayer, Norris Klesman and Marjorie Benning are seeking two trustee positions.

The final list of candidates running for the three councillor seats in International Falls is to be issued later this morning.

Elections will be held November 2.

Golf Fundraiser Needs Golfers

Golfers are needed to help raise money for Muskie Sports teams.

The Muskies Sports Association will hold its annual golf scramble fundraiser on August 29.

Fort Frances High School athletic director Shane Bliss says it's open to anyone.

"Usually people sign up as teams of four," says Bliss. "If you want to do that you can sign up through the (Kitchen Creek) pro shop 274-4653 or call me 274-0502. If there's some individuals that can't find a team, they can still register and maybe we can make up a few teams that way."

Bliss hopes running the event on a Sunday will avoid conflicts of other events and attract more golfers

Leon's to Set up in Fort Frances

National furniture chain Leon's is coming to Fort Frances.

Few details are being released at this time, but the company is confirming it's recently signed a new franchise agreement in Fort Frances with the store to open later this fall.

Calls to Leon's head office in Toronto were not immediately returned.

Racing for Riverside

A local racer will be trying to put Riverside Health Care Facilities Palliative Care room into the winner's circle this weekend.

Jamie Davis is collecting pledges, and plans donate a share of his earnings from this weekend's race's at Emo Speedway to the unit.

Davis says it's something he's considered for some time.

"I though we should race money for cancer or some good cause," says Davis. "I was in at the hospital visiting with my girlfriend's aunt, a nurse there, and took us up to the palliative care room and it just kind of snowballed from there.

Davis has pledge forms around the district for those wanting to support his efforts.

He'll also unveil a new car with Riverside's logo that he'll race the rest of this season at race tracks here at home and in the United States.

Union Seeks Moratorium on School Testing

The elementary school teachers union wants the Education Ministry to stop standardized testing for two years to allow for public consultation.

The tests are given to students in Grades Three and Six and focus on testing literacy and math skills.

The union says the tests rob students of other subjects, such as history, social studies and the arts.

But Education Minister Leona Dombrowsky is rejecting the demand saying the tests are useful. And she points out the testing is done twice in elementary schools.

Education advocates are also questioning the value of the standardized testing.

Rescue on Rainy Lake

A total of ten people had to be rescued after strong winds capsized three boats on Rainy Lake Sunday.

It happened shortly after the trio left their Voyageur's National Park campsite near Brule Narrows.

Park Rangers, Department of Natural Resources officials and Rainy Lake Houseboats were
involved in the rescue of the boaters, aged 9 to 70.

All were wearing life jackets, but one person had to be taken to hospital for treatment.

Falls Budget Work Underway

The work toward a budget for the city of International Falls is underway.

The city must bring forward a levy rate by September 15.

Finance Committee chair Councillor Cynthia Jaksa says they met with the city's department heads last week.

Jaksa says the city is expecting $4-million in local government aid for 2011, but still wants to ensure costs remain flat.

Skate Park Security Examined

The city of International Falls is looking to put a halt to vandalism at its skate park.

City administrator Rod Otterness says there have been some minor incidents, such as tipped over garbage cans, he believes is being caused by a select few.

He says the city is looking at rearranging the summer schedule so it has a stronger staff presence at the Kerry Park site.

New lighting is also being installed with that work expected to be complete next week.

More Candidate Filings

Two more nominations have come in for this October's municipal election in the Rainy River district.

Gayle Green is running for councillor in Atikokan.

She ran unsuccessfully in the 2006 election.

Peter Spuzak has filed for re-election as councillor in the township of Alberton.

Contestants Needed

(Rainy River Valley Agricultural Fall Fair photo)


Contestants are still being sought for the mini-Queen and King contest at this year's Rainy River Valley Agricultural Fall Fair in Emo.

Youngsters four to seven and attending school this fall are eligible.

The contest will be held during the selection of the Fair Queen Thursday night.

Call Mary Croswell at 487-1105 to register.

Fifth Street Road Closure

Fifth Street West in Fort Frances will be restricted to local traffic over the next couple of days.

Town officials says they're continuing work to prepare for an upcoming surface treatment.

The road will be closed between Portage Avenue to Wright Avenue from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. both today and tomorrow.

Fire Fighters Returning Home

(Ministry of Natural Resources Photo)


Some of Ontario fire fighting resources in British Columbia are coming home.

A total of 168 Ministry of Natural Resources fire rangers and support personnel are scheduled back today following a two-week deployment in the west coast.

Sunday, the province sent 206 personnel, including some from northwestern Ontario, to replace those returning.

Ultimate Fishing Town Voting Begins

The second round of the World Fishing Network's Ultimate Fishing Town competition starts today.

Nestor Falls finished the nomination period with 142 submissions, second only to Seeley's Bay, Ontario.

Fort Frances had 17 with Atikokan coming in with two.

Voting on the nominated communities starts at noon today and will wrap up September 28.

Arrest at Grand Portage Border

A Washington man wanted in connection with an alleged robbery in his home state has been arrested trying to enter northwestern Ontario.

27-year-old Daniel Pierre was trying to enter the region last Monday through the Grand Portage Port of Entry.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection arrested after a check of his identification revealed he was the subject of a National Crime Information Centre warrant.

It's the fortieth arrest at Grand Portage port of entry this year.

Ontario Sends More Aid to B.C.

Ministry of Natural Resources forest firefighters working in British Columbia will get some relief.

Over two-hundred fireRangers and support staff left from Sudbury, Thunder Bay and Dryden Sunday for Williams Lake and Prince George.

They will replacing some of the MNR crews who have been working in B.C. for the past two weeks.

Ontario now has almost five-hundred forest fire fighting personnel in west coast.

Ainsworth Talks Tomorrw

Ainsworth and the union representing its workers at the mill in Barwick will hold contract talks tomorrow.

The 130 members of the Communication, Energy and Paperworkers Union were set to walk off the job yesterday, but postponed the action late Friday pending the outcome of the discussions.

The union says outstanding issues centre around non-monetary items such as contract language and contracting out.

Natural Resources Minister Disputes NOMA's Claims

Ontario's Natural Resources Minister believe NOMA has jumped the gun when it comes to the "open for business act".

The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association is worried Bill 68 will result in duplication and challenges from special interest groups.

But Linda Jeffery insists its about getting rid of duplication.

"Through the Crown Forest Sustainability Act where trying to make sure businesses only do their work once," says Jeffrey, "and that they provide the documentation we need. We know the forestry sector are actually good stewards of the land. They know how to protect animals and they've been working very closely with us."

Jeffrey was in Thunder Bay last week.

Nestor Falls Leading Ultimate Fishing Town Contest

Nestor Falls is banking on strong support during the nomination period to carry through to the next rounds of the World Fishing Television's Ultimate Fishing Town in Canada contest.

The northwestern Ontario community tops all communities with 115 submissions as of this morning.

Nominator Maureen Hanson of Hanson's Hideaway Lodge says it's proof they deserve the title.

"It is one of our main industry, the tourism industry in our town," says Hanson. "We realize how important fishing is to our economy and we're just very very happy that people have gotten behind it."

Fort Frances and Atikokan also received nominations with voting beginning tomorrow.

Conservative Candidate Selected

It's now official.

Maureen Comuzzi-Stehmann is the Conservative candidate for Thunder Bay-Rainy River.

The announcement was made Friday by Patrick Doherty, President of the Thunder Bay-Rainy River Conservative Electoral District Association.

Comuzzi-Stehmann will most likely face Ken Boshcoff for the Liberals as well as sitting NDP MP John Rafferty in the next federal election.

Child Ident Program Offered

Masonic Lodges in the Rainy River district are giving area parents an opportunity to help their children safe.

Project coordinator Ken McDonald says they'll be carrying out a child identification program at the Rainy River Valley Agricultural Fall Fair this week in Emo.

"Basically they do digitalized photographs, digitalized fingerprints," says MacDonald. "We have hygienists who do a wafer bite of their mouth and a swab. Everything is burnt on to a CD-rom. It is given to the parents and if a child goes missing, they can take it to the police and within thirty seconds it's all over the country, all of the information that's on that child.

There is no cost to participate.

First Riders Program Planned

The start of school is just two weeks away, but area school boards are giving students going to classes for the first time, a chance to ride a school bus.

Darlene Madill of the Rainy River District School Board says a first rider's program will be held this week in Thursday in Fort Frances and next week in Atikokan.

"The first rider program is for kindergarten children," says Madill. "They'll have the opportunity to ride a school bus for the first time and learn about school bus safety rules with their parents at an information session."

Parents interested in having their children take part are asked to first call the board office.

Man Sought by Police

Police are on the alert in northwestern Ontario for a man wanted for attempted murder in Brampton.

Police says 22- year-old Troy Moulton is believed to be in the area.

Police says if he's spotted, not to capture him, but call police right away.

He is believed to be driving a 2000 Grey Impala.

Mayoral Candiate in Emo

An Emo resident, who once worked on former MP Bob Nault's campaign, is looking at taking a step into municipal politics.

Vince Sheppard is seeking the mayoral seat in the township of Emo.

Sheppard says he intends to work hard in getting his message out.

"I think we're going to make up some pamphlets and hand them around and talk with the people in town," says Sheppard. "I know I have a lot of support behind me right now and that's another one of the reasons why I'm running."

Sheppard is also campaigning for more openness in council.

One Month Left in Civic Election Filings

The deadline for candidates looking to run in this year's civic elections in Ontario will end in exactly four weeks from today.

Right now the list for those seeking election in the Rainy River district is quite short.

Only incumbent Sharon Tibbs in Fort Frances, April Chojko-Bolec and Hugh O'Hare in Lake of the Woods Township, and incumbent Mary Makarenko in Atikokan have filed nomination papers for councillor positions.

Vince Sheppard in Emo and Atikokan Mayor Dennis Brown have filed for the mayoral spots in their communities.

Mike Lewis in Atikokan, Dan Belluz and David Kircher in Fort Frances, Glenda Belluz for Alberton and LaVallee township areas and Margaret Heyens for the area covering Emo, Chapple and Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls are seeking seats on the Rainy River District School Board.

Work on Fifth Street Again

For the third straight day, there will be a traffic interruption on Fifth Street in Fort Frances.

Work crews will be in the 100 block of Fifth Street East beginning at 7:30 a.m., reducing traffic to one lane for much of the day.

Torys to Kill Far North Act

(NOACC President Harold Wilson with P.C. Leader Tim Hudak in Thunder Bay - Magic 99.9 FM Photo)


Ontario's Progressive Conservative leader is promising to scrap the Far North Act.

Hudak, who visited Thunder Bay yesterday, says the pending legislation does nothing for job creation.

"If Dalton McGuinty's Far North Act been passed years ago we never would have known about the Ring of Fire," says Hudak. "We would never have seen the Victor Mine in Attiwapiskat. Dalton McGuinty basically wants to turn the entire Far North into a park and kiss all of those opportunities good-bye."

Hudak says the bill has been rammed through the Legisature without consultation.

Crown Forest Sustainability Act Concerns

The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association is speaking out against a section of Bill 68 - a bill that proposes changes to the Crown Forest Sustainability Act.

President Anne Krassilowsky says it's one that could hurt the forest industry.

"Although both acts are there, the Forest Management Plans and the Forest Sustainability Act, the Endangered Species Act will have more have power, will override the Forest Management plans," says Krassilowsky.

Krassilowsky says the Bill will only add duplication and expose the industry to on-going and expensive legal challenges from special interests groups.

Atikokan Bass Classic

(Atikokan Bass Classic Photo)


Teams are on the waters for the first day of fishing at Atikokan Bass Classic.

Chair Jim Johnson is expecting some big fish to be weighed in this year.

"If the pre-fishing that's been going on in the flood waters is any indication, I believe we're going to outdo last year's record limits," says Johnson.

The over one-hundred team field will be back for weigh-ins at 3 p.m.

Thunder Bay's Glenn Leroux and Trevor Zimack are the defending champions.

Man Arrested in April Fatal Stabbing Incident

Treaty Three Police Service have made an arrest in connection with stabbing death of a man on the Onigaming First Nation back in April.

22-year-old Thomas Ryan Indian of Onigaming will appear in a Kenora court tomorrow on a charge of second degree murder in the death of 45-year-old William Kelly.

Kelly's body was found in a home at the reserve near Nestor Falls April 8.

Police say he died as a result of a single stab wound.

More Reaction to Border Enforcement

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty wants to know if the enforcement of border crossings in northwestern Ontario is stiffer than elsewhere in Canada.

Rafferty says recent media reports of an Illinois man denied entry at the Fort Frances border because of a criminal report dating back to his high school days, highlight the need for such a review.

"We do have a pending freedom of access to information request," says Rafferty. "What that request is asking for is comparing border crossings right across Canada and seeing how many tourists are coming, how many are turned back, and if the information is available, why they're turned back."

Rafferty says he understands the difficult role customs officers must perform, but is concerned with the number of complaints being received.

Meantime, the Canada Border Service Agency says its officers in Fort Frances and Rainy River do nothing different.

In an e-mail to CFOB-News, spokesperson Louise Rochon says all persons seeking entry to Canada, regardless of the point of entry, are subject to the same rules and regulations.

She adds the admissibility of travelers seeking entry is considered on a case-by-case basis, but each person must show to customs officer they meet the requirements for entry.

Fifth Street Closed Again

The town of Fort Frances is scheduling another closure of Fifth Street West today.

It's scheduled for 7:30 a.m. and impacts the section between Portage Avenue to York Avenue as crews continue their preparations for this month's surface treatment.

The road will reopen by 4 p.m.

Deal Reached with Greyhound Workers

It's business as usual today for Greyhound Canada.

An eleventh hour tentative deal was struck with about 500 of its unionized workers yesterday.

They were set to walk off the job just after midnight if a deal wasn't reached.

The new agreement still needs to be ratified.

Heart and Stroke Funding Issued

Atikokan and Thunder Bay will share just over eight-thousand dollars from the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Spokesperson Wendy Savoy says the money will go towards advocating against childhood obesity.

"If the trends continue this generation of children will not out-live their parents," says Savoy. "The statistics are worse in northwestern Ontario. For the province its 28 per cent and northwestern Ontario it can be as high as 32 per cent and some of our remote communities it's even higher than that."

The Northwestern Ontario Women's Centre received $5,000 while the Atikokan Youth Initiatives Group will received over $3,000.