Baudette Advances

Baudette is the only area community that's still in the hunt to be named World Fishing Network's Ultimate Fishing town.

The Minnesota community is among twenty finalists for the American title.

No northwestern Ontario advanced in the Canadian contest.

Rainy River Features on Fishing Program

The town of Rainy River will get a national audience next week.

The town and it's Walleye tournament will be the subject of an episode of the Dimestore Fisherman that will air on Wild TV May 20.

It's host Jim Hoey and a television crew were in the community last fall to film the episode.

Canada Day Committee Pitches Funding Request

The Fort Frances Canada Day Committee has presented its case for $10-thousand in bridge funding from town council.

Chair Teresa Hazel says the festival is a worthy investment, but the committee is doing its part to attract additional funding.

"We do have a request letter going out to businesses, service clubs and individuals to ask for their help this year in sponsoring," says Hazel. "The Eisenhauers, who are well known community couple, have already come forward with a donation."

Hazel says the money from the town would be paid back as funding from other sources was obtained.

Community Safety Zone Approved

Fort Frances council has given approval to implementing a community safety zone in the town's west end.

Despite a recommendation from OPP that it be in place year round, councillor Rick Wiedenhoeft says it was felt the zone would be more effective to have the zone in place during the school year for now.

"We can always revisit this if it doesn't work for the summer months," says Wiedenhoeft. "Right now. let's start relatively small. See if it works and build it around the school year, the school days and the school kids."

The zone still needs provincial approval before it can be implemented.

Budget Passed

The final tax bills for 2011 will be coming to property owners in Fort Frances by the end of June.

Town council formally approved the budget last night.

Residential ratepayers will see on-average a 2.5 per cent tax increase.

The first installment of the bills must be paid by July 29.

MPP Upset with Government Response

A northwestern Ontario MPP is criticizing the Liberal government for a lack of action over the disappearance and deaths of seven First Nations high school students in Thunder Bay.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton says inquests into some deaths continue to be delayed.

"These are seven young citizens of Ontario," says Hampton. "These are seven teenagers. I suggest to the minister and to this government that if seven teenage high school students disappeared from London, there would be a different reaction. If seven teenage high school students disappeared from Hamilton, there would be a different reaction."

Hampton is pushing for increased attention to the conditions of First Nations youth living off-reserve.

Festival Award Winners

The best of the this year's Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts was celebrated with a concert at the Townshend Theatre Sunday.

Individual award winners were also recognized.

Alexis Sharp in piano, Phoebe Firth in vocal and Scott Walsh in drama were this year's Rose Bowl winners as top performers in their divisions.

DRAMA AWARDS

Callahan Wiedenhoeft - Joan Miller Award, Best Stage Presence, Poetry or Prose, Grade 5 and under
Mackenzie Wright - Board of Education Award, Elementary Most Promising Student, Grade 6 and under
Shawn Brady - Bertha Livingston Award, Most Promising Student, Grades 5 to 8
Andrew Eldridge - Board of Education Award, Intermediate Most Promising Student, Grades 7 or 8
Emma Kunkel - Board of Education Award, Senior Most Promising Student, Grades 9 to 12
Kristina Robertson - Jean Boileau Award, Best Individual Performance
Kristina Robertson - Katy Van Drunen Memorial Award (Pharmasave), Best Monologue by a High School Student
St. Michael’s School, Grade 1 - St. Mary’s Catholic Women’s League Award, Choral Speaking, Primary
J. W. Walker School, Grades 4 and 5 - Voyageur Lions Club Award, Choral Speaking, Junior
Sturgeon Creek Alternative Program - Business and Professional Women’s Club Award, Choral Speaking Grades 6, 7 and 8
Adriane Gurski, Alana Walsh, Taylor Swire, Tamika Andy, Jilayne Derkson, Jessica Caul - Knights of Columbus Award, Best Performance by a Group
J. W. Walker Schoo, Grades 2 and 3 - Elaine Jardine Award, Best Elementary Choral Speaking Performance
Avery Adrian, Will Anderson, Joseph Ball, Brayden Botsford, Judd Gardiman, Caleb McIntosh, Travis Kewakundo, Ryllie Yarmovich - Adjudicator’s Choice Award, Noteworthy Performance
Dylan Roen - Adjudicator’s Choice Award, Noteworthy Performance
Tasha Roth - Adjudicator’s Choice Award, Noteworthy Performance




FRENCH DRAMA AWARDS

Siobhan MacKintosh - Kiwanis Club French Award, Most Promising Student, French Poetry, Grades 5 and 6
Tianna Veldhuisen - Canadian Parents for French Award, Most Promising Student, French Poetry, Grades 7 and 8
Mackenzie Wright - Adjudicator’s Choice Award, Noteworthy Performance

PIANO AWARDS

Katelyn Bruyere - Barbara and Bruce Murray Award, Most Promising Student, Exam Courses, Beginner to Grade 2
Tianna Veldhuisen - Middle C Music Award, Most Promising Student, Exam Courses, Grades 3 or 4
Taylor Shouldice - Fort Frances Lions Club, Outstanding Achievement, Exam Courses, Grades 5 or 6
Anika Alexander - Emily Louise Austin Award, Best Piano Student, Exam Courses, Grades 7 or 8
Meagan Empey - Kinsmen Club Trophy, Most Promising Student, Exam Courses, Grades 9 or 10
Sophie Carpenter - RoseMarie DeGagne Memorial Award, Outstanding Achievement, Method Courses, Level I
Mika Kooistra - Clarence and Gertrude Bujold Family Award, Outstanding Achievement, Method Courses, Level II
Alexa Veldhuisen - McIrvine Women’s Institute Award, Outstanding Achievement, Method Courses, Level III
Maxwell Williams - Clarence and Gertrude Bujold Family Award, Outstanding Achievement, Method Courses, Level IV, V or VI
Sara Bagacki and Anika Alexander - Elementary Teachers’ Federation Award, Best Piano Duet, Any Level
Lorianne Duek - Garton Music Award, Noteworthy Performance
Kaitlyn Chiasson - Adjudicator’s Choice Award, Noteworthy Performance




INSTRUMENTAL AWARDS

Katelyn Bruyere - Helen Parris Memorial Award, Individual string player or string ensemble demonstrating outstanding musicality
Cameron Daley - Fort Frances Rotary Club Award, Best Woodwind Solo Performance
Emma Kunkel - Harper Simmons Trophy, Best Brass Solo Performer
Caleb Duek and Lorianne Duek - Gillies Instrumental Award, Group of 2 to 8
Fort Frances High School Senior Band - Ralph Whetstone Trophy, Best Band
Robert Moore School Grades 7 and 8 - Adjudicator’s Choice, Beginner Band, Noteworthy Performance


ROSE BOWLS
Alexis Sharp (Piano)
Phoebe Firth (Vocal)
Scott Walsh (Drama)

MURIEL ROSS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Emma Kunkel (Instrumental)

Katy Van Drunen Prize
Presented to the recipient of the Drama Rose Bowl
Scott Walsh

Dallman Award
Presented to the recipient of the Piano Rose Bowl
Alexis Sharp

Rainy River District Festival Award for Outstanding Achievement
Sturgeon Creek Alternative Program, Grades 6, 7 and 8







VOCAL AWARDS


Callahan Wiedenhoeft - Lillian Thomas Memorial Award, Most Promising Vocalist, 10 years and under
Emma Dykstra - Vocal Teachers’ Award, Most Promising Vocalist, 11 or 12 years
Taylor Shouldice - June Clink Memorial Award, Most Promising Vocalist, 13 or 14 years
Kennedy Latimer - Elfé Forsberg Trophy, Most Promising Vocalist, 15 or 16 years
Katelyn Shortreed - Jaycees Trophy, Best Vocalist, 17 or 18 years
Taylor Shouldice and Kennedy Latimer - Nestor Falls Lions’ Club, Best Duet Performance
Naomi Carradice, Moriah Carradice, Lemuel Carradice - Oblate Fathers’ Award, Best Elementary Ensemble
Robert Moore School, Senior Kindergarten - Kinette Shield, Grade 1 Choir (This Year, Senior Kindergarten)
St. Michael’s School, Grades 1 to 3 - Lakeland Personnel Award, Massed Choir, Kindergarten to Grade 8
Robert Moore School Girls’ Choir - Northern Lights Credit Union Award, Grades 4 to 8 Massed Junior Choir
Robert Moore School Girls’ Choir, Grades 4 to 8 - Elementary Teachers’Federation Award, Best Student Choir in the Festival
Jessica Whalen - Adjudicator’s Choice Award, Noteworthy Performance

Contest Winners Recognized

Five Fort Frances students were recognized by town council for their art work.

Deputy Mayor Sharon Tibbs says they were the winners of a poster contest with recycling and the environment the focus.

"We work so hard in this community to recycle and to improve our recycling in our area," says Tibbs, "and we're so proud when we see the young people do these kinds of things because we see them take a responsibility for their planet."

The art work of all students who participated was on display during last night's meeting.

Early Learning Expanding

(Rainy River District School Board photo)

The Rainy River District School Board is moving ahead with plans to introduce the province's early learning program to three more schools.

Education Director Heather Campbell says some consultation led to J.W. Walker School in Fort Frances, Donald Young in Emo and Sturgeon Creak near Barwick being selected.

"We did a consultation in April with school communities, with members from the child care providers, Aboriginal Head Starts to talk about the needs in within those areas," says Campbell, "the challenges in implemented the early learning program and possibly the extended day programming"

Provincial approval will allow the programs to be offered beginning September 2013.

High School Survey

The Fraser Institute is out again with its ranking of Ontario high schools.

Fort Frances, Rainy River and Atikokan High Schools are placed low on the list based on the results of standardized tests written by grade 9 students in 2010.

Atikokan High School, which saw a nearly 15 per cent increase in the number of students passing the tests, is ranked the highest among schools in the Kenora-Rainy River districts.

Threat Assessment Training

Educators, community agencies and law enforcement officials will gather today in Fort Frances for the first of several training sessions on threat assessment.

OPP Constable Anne McCoy says the training will help participants determine the seriousness of threats when made.

"It helps us learn to read people behaviour and to identify threats before they become a crisis or a criminal offence," says McCoy.

Training sessions will also be held this week in Atikokan and next week in Emo.

Metis Plans

Sunset County Metis are taking closer look at the services provided to Metis people in the Fort Frances area.

President Clint Calder says one of the areas they want to explore is the development of family and child welfare services specific to Metis.

"In our area we have Weechitiwin that delivers those services to First Nations people," says Calder, "and Family and Children Services who kind of deliver to everyone else, including Metis. We think there is a rationale for delivering Metis specific family and children services"

Calder says they're also looking at creating low-income housing and repairing their existing facilities.

New Training Program Coming

The new Atikokan Renewable Fuels plant will soon be the site of a new training program.

Speaking recently to the Atikokan Chamber of Commerce, owner Ed Fukushima says it's a program that will also involve Confederation College and Human Resources Development Canada.

"We'll be training people in the forest processing of fibre," says Fukushima, debarking, chipping, grinding and pelletizing of fibre. There's notking like that in North America."

The plant is expected to begin production later year.

Atikokan Chamber Awards

(Cody Degagne (Second from left) receiving award as Employee of the Year - Atikokan Progress photo)

The Atikokan Chamber of Commerce has handed out it annual awards.

The Business Excellence Award was given to Robin Donuts.

The entrepreneur of the year award went to Rhonda Happy, operator of the Little Darlings, new coffee shop.

Cody Degagne, who works at Brown's Convenience, was selected employee of the year.

The Customer Service Award was won by Darryl Warkentin, the floor manager at Foodland.

And Garry McKinnon of the Atikokan Economic Development Corporation was winner of the Ambassador's Award.

A total of 27 nominees were up for the awards.

Law School Gets Nod

Lakehead University is another step on it's way to getting a law school.

It comes with the approval of the Law Society of Upper Canada.

All that's left now is for the provincial government to give it's approval and provide the necessary funding.

Slow Going at State Capital

A Minnesota legislator is getting frustrated with the lack of progress being made at the State Capital.

District 3 Senator Tom Saxhaug says they're far from whether they should.

"In the last eight years, by this time we had conference committee reports out on major bills," says Saxhaugh. "Many of them had been vetoed by this time so we were back going through that process. In this case, we don't even have any initial conference committee reports on the major bills."

Saxhaugh says if business, including a budget, can't be finalized within two weeks, the legislature will be forced into a special session.

Work Continues on Getting Seniors Home

A seniors group in Fort Frances is still committed to getting an assisted living facility built.

Chair of Seniors and Law Enforcement Together Robert Schultz says they've made it one of their priorities and are working to attract the interest of both governments and a developer.

"We're trying to bend the ear of politicians, right from federal, provincial and local," says Schultz, "and also putting a pitch out to contracts that this would be a viable venture for them that they can make money on."

Schultz says being able to keep seniors in their communities provides many economic benefits as well.

Flavour Gone Back

The Flavour Gone campaign to eliminate flavoured tobacco is back.

Spokesperson Roberta Lappage says despite new legislation, tobacco companies are continuing to produce flavoured tobacco products.

"We were happy to get this bill passed and they thought that would be the end of that," says Lappage. "Then these loopholes came up. Were just mad and they want the government to stand up and close those loop holes and ban all flavours in all tobacco products."

Lappage says they're also hoping for support of elected representatives and municipal councils in their battle against flavoured tobacco.

Municipal Politicians Recognized

Two long-serving municipal politicians in the Rainy River district has been recognized by the province.

Lake of the Woods township Mayor Valerie Pizey and former Dawson township councillor Linda Armstrong received 25-year service awards.

Pizey was first elected as a councillor in 1985 to the former township of McCrosson-Tovell, later serving as reeve before the amalgamation of Lake of Woods township.

Armstrong was a councillor in the former township of Worthington and later Dawson between 1985 and 2010.

Trustee Elected to Provincial Group

(Anne-Marie Fitzgerald (l) with Catholic Board Education Director Mary-Catherine Kelly)


The chair of the Northwest Catholic District School Board has been re-elected to the Ontario Catholic School Trustees Association.

Anne-Marie Fitzgerald of Fort Frances will serve as a director-at-large.

This will be her second term.

Missing Girl Found

A 15-year-old girl, the subject of an OPP search, has been found.

Provincial Police say Tia Medicine was found safe and sound later yesterday afternoon.

Medicine was reported missing Tuesday after failing to return from Fort Frances High School to Young Star House north of Emo.

More Fire Training

Training has been the name of the game during the first month of what has been a quiet start to the forest fire season.

Ministry of Natural Resources Spokesperson Brad Diehl says the latest happened in Thunder Bay with fire crew leaders.

"We went out to the field and did some fire exercises where we simulated an area and they have to come up with an action plan for that," says Diehl. "Then they come back to the classroom and explain what they saw and how they're going to attack the fire."

Fifty crew leaders took part.

Rail Safety Blitz Today

CN Rail Police will be joined today by other enforcement agencies at a crossing on Highway 11 at Couchiching First Nation.

It's part of blitzes held across the country to remind drivers to be extra-careful around train tracks.

While handing out safety pamphlets, rail police plan to lay charges if they find motorists or pedestrians breaking the law.

Town Backing New Mill Owners

The provincial government is being pressed by the town of Atikokan to provide the new owners of the Atikokan Forest Products Mill with a wood supply.

Eacom Timber of Montreal has an offered to buy the idled Sapawe mill, but first wants a secure wood supply.

Mayor Dennis Brown says reopening the mill would bring back lost jobs.

"There's a lot of stake here," says Brown. "We talk about growing in the north well here's a great opportunity."

A hearing on the matter is scheduled for next week.

New Dental Van Unveiled

The Northwestern Health Unit has a new set of wheels.

A mobile dental clinic will hit the road this summer.

Manager of Dental Health, Dawn Sauve says government funding will help them address the needs of people living in under-serviced areas.

"The funding came from the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care," says Sauve. "We also received funding, not only for a mobile dental van, but we were fortunate to renovate three of our hygiene clinics in Fort Frances, Kenora and Dryden."

The mobile clinic will be staffed by Health Unit dental hygienists, and a dentist who will work on a contract basis.

Immunizations Programs to Expand

Ontario children will soon get more free vaccines to protect against serious infectious diseases -- and with fewer needles involved.

The government is reportedly prepared to expand its immunization program to include a new oral vaccine to protect against rotavirus.

There will also be a second childhood dose of varicella vaccine to enhance protections against chicken pox.

Ontario will also offer a combined measles-mumps-rubella-varicella vaccine that will reduce the number of immunizations a child needs.

Missing Girl Sought

(Supplied photo)

Provincial Police have initiated a search for a 15-year-old girl reported missing from Young Star House.

Police says Tia Medicine had boarded a bus Tuesday from Fort Frances High School back to the facility north of Emo but never arrived.

She was later spotted walking on Highway 11 with two other girls.

Medicine is described as being 5'8", 160 to 180 pounds with black shoulder length hair and brown eyes.

She was wearing blue jeans, a white t-shirt and a blue hooded sweatshirt.

Canada Day Plans In Gear

The group organizing Canada Day festivities in Fort Frances has unveiled some of its plans for this year.

Chair Teresa Hazel says things are beginning to take shape, but will entertain other ideas.

"We're definitely open to anyone who has any ideas about what to do that day," says Hazel, or they want to do that day or put a food booth in."

Hazel says some of the events include a beach volleyball tournament, a 5 K fun run and family scavenger hunt.

Atikokan Chamber Awards Night

Atikokan's business community celebrates some of its best tonight.
The Atikokan Chamber of Commerce holds its annual general meeting and awards banquet.

President Mike McKinnon says there is a strong list of nominees up We're pleased. We have twenty-seven," says McKinnon. "I think that's a fair reflection of the good service people get in Atikokan.

Ed Fukushima of the Atikokan Renewable Fuels will be tonight's guest speaker.

Memories of World War II Vet Found

An Edmonton woman has been reunited with part of her past following a chance discovery at a Fort Frances laundry mat.

Sherry Loveday of Suds and Tubs says a box of items belonging to World War II vet Donald Keith Nelson was found in an previously unexplored basement area.

Loveday says some discussion locally helped pass the items to the family member.

"It kind of saddens me that he died and then was kind put in a box and forgotten about," says Loveday. "He's being recognized now after all these years. He's being talked about by tons of people. His daughter has part of him and its all good."

It turns out the woman had never met her father who died during the war.

Ultimate Fishing Town Contest Ends Round 1

The first round of voting in the World Fishing Networks contest to find the Ultimate Fishing Towns in Canada and the U.S. has ended, but it's doubtful Nestor Falls, Fort Frances or International Falls will advance to the next round.

The top twenty, including WFN's wild-card selections, will go on.

They'll be announced next Wednesday.

All three area communities were well back of the leaders.

Drug Awareness Groups Merge

Two drug awareness organizations in the Rainy River district are joining as one.

The district's Substance Abuse Prevention Team and Fort France Community Opiate Task force will now operate under the SAP-team moniker.

Co-chair Lori Maki says the idea of a merger came out of a joint meeting held in December.

"We discussed overlap and common strategies and the fact that some of our respective members sat on both committees," says Maki. "So this made sense to us to join forces and work collaboratively."

Maki says the group will remain a volunteer group for now, but will search out funding for a coordinator

District Wide Respect Campaign Rolling out

The group Celebrating Diversity is rolling out its respect campaign.

The group has adopted Confederation College campaign aimed at combating racism and bullying.

Chair Trudy McCormick says its something need in the district.

"We're trying to work on bringing a message throughout our district that we celebrate diversity," says McCormick, "we respect difference and that we value differences. Hopefully if people treat each other respectfully, the differences aren't so different."

The group has posted the campaign as an idea on the Pepsi Refresh Everything contest in hopes of securing some funding for promotions.

Rafferty Ready for New Session

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty is anxious to get back to Ottawa.

After a resounding win in Monday's election, Rafferty plans to focus attention on the northern Ontario economy in the House of Commons.

"One of my first jobs will be convincing Prime Minister Harper that people are suffering here," says Rafferty, "can't put food on the table, can't pay electricity. So we'll make sure he knows that and get him back accordingly."

Rafferty is also planning to reintroduce bills on protecting pensions and severance that died with the election call.

Renewed Calls for End to Long-Gun Registry

Another attempt to scrap the long-gun registry could come very soon.

Kenora Conservative MP Greg Rickford expects the government to introduce legislation to scrap the registry as soon as Parliament resumes.

Director of the Northwestern Ontario Sportsmen's Alliance John Kaplanis wants the area's NDP members to hold the Conservatives accountable to that promise.

Board Office Renos Almost Done

Renovations to the Rainy River District School Board's Education Centre are reported as being on schedule.

The Fort Frances centre is undergoing a major face lift.

An administration report indicates the project should be complete by mid June with staff moving in later in the month.

That will be followed by the demolition of the former Robert Moore School.

Water Access Stations Opening Soon

U.S. Customs and Border Protection will open its summer inspection stations later this month.

Two stations at Crane Lake will open May 14 while three others in Ely resume summer hours May 28.

The stations service as access points for boaters to and from Canada through either Voyageur's National Park or the Boundary Water Canoe Area.

Students Wanted by O.P.P.

Ontario Provincial Police in Fort Frances will be hiring three students this summer.

Constable Anne McCoy says one of the students will be assigned to the O-P-P's marine unit.

"The marine unit student will actually be on the water assisting officers by doing some enforcement," says McCoy, " as well as education the public about complying with existing marine legislations."

Two other students will be part of a Youth in Policing initiative.

Students 15 or older must apply before May 27.

Student Vote Results

Youth in northwestern Ontario threw their support behind the incumbents.

Student Vote, a non-profit organization, worked with educators in partnership with Elections Canada to hold an unofficial ballot, in concert with the federal election.

Seventeen schools in the Thunder Bay-Rainy River riding, including Fort Frances High School, J.W. Walker and Mine Centre Schools, took part with the NDP incumbent John Rafferty getting over 45 per cent of the vote.

A majority of young people also picked Greg Rickford in Kenora and Bruce Hyer in Thunder Bay-Superior North.

Both retained their seats in the general election.

Local Voting Goes OK

Election Day went off without a hitch according to the Thunder Bay-Rainy River riding's Returning Officer.

Tom McCuaig says the polls ran smoothly.

Just over 37-thousand or 60 per cent of the 62-thousand registered voters cast ballots.

Customer Service Challenge Underway

Voting is now underway in the Rainy River Future Development Corporation's Customer Service Challenge.

A total of twenty-eight businesses are participating.

The public have there say this year by casting votes for their favourite three businesses through the Corporation's website.

Voting will end May 13.

Census Underway

The 2011 Census in Canada is underway.

More than 15-million households will be receiving yellow census packages through the mail beginning yesterday.

About 60 per cent will receive a letter that allows respondents to complete the questionnaire on-line.

Federal Election - Thunder Bay-Rainy River

In Thunder Bay-Rainy River, NDP incumbent John Rafferty took almost 49 per cent of the vote in a successful bid for re-election.

But he says his win is tempered by the Conservatives winning a majority government.

Conservative Candidate Maureen Comuzzi-Stehmann came in second.

Stehmann says she's was elated by her campaign and is already looking to the next election.

Liberal Ken Boshcoff came in third, but has no regrets.

Less than 60 per cent of eligible voters in the riding cast ballots.

Election Wrap - National

Steven Harper's Conservatives have won the majority government in last night's federal election.

The Tories won 167 seats, 12 more than needed to take control of the House of Commons.

That's 65 more than the New Democrats, who become the official opposition for the first time in party history with 102 seats.

The two parties that saw their support collapse were the Liberals, who went from 77 seats in 2008 to 34 this time.

The Bloc Quebecois saw its support plummet from 47 seats to just four.

The Green Party has been elected to a riding for the first time, with leader Elizabeth May taking her B.C. riding.

Buyer for Sapawe Mill

There's been a potential buyer found for the idled Atikokan Forest Products mill.

Eacom Timber Corporation of Montreal says it's entered into an purchase agreement with receiver PricewaterhouseCoopers for both the Sapawe mill and Northern Sawmills in Thunder Bay.

The purchases are subject to a number of conditions.

Eacom is also seeking a secure wood supply from the province for the Atikokan mill as well.

Customs Officer Pleads Guilty

An International Falls Customs Border Protection Officer has plead guilty to a charge of sexual assault.

46-year-old Patrick Hamburg made the plea as his trail was set to begin yesterday.

Hamburgh was arrested last November.

A criminal complaint indicated his victim was a young girl who was assaulted multiple times over several years.

Hamburg faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Lawyer Named to Board

A Fort Frances lawyer has been elected to serve on the board of directors for the Law Society of Upper Canada.

Larry Eustace is among forty across the province elected to a four year term.

He's being in practice for 37 years.

UFC Fan Recalls Fight Involvement

A Fort Frances man is calling it a thrill of a lifetime.

Trevor Fitzgerald returned home yesterday after earning the right to place the welterweight championship belt on UFC fighter George St. Pierre Saturday.

"It's a once in a lifetime experience," Fitzgerald. "It's something I'll never forget. There's a lot of interest in it. I didn't necessary expect that but it was a real thrill for me personally."

UFC President Dana White granted Fitzgerald's request made the night before during a fan forum.

Workplace Accident Investigated

The Ministry of Labour is looking into the death of a man at a garage in Stratton what OPP describe as a workplace accident.

Emergency personnel were called to Stratton Service Thursday afternoon where they found 42-year-old Shawn McDonald inside unresponsive.

He was later pronounced dead at the scene.

No other details have been released.

Voting Day

It's election day.

Polls open at 8:30 a.m. across the Rainy River district.

Voters are being reminded to bring your voter's card as well as photo I-D and proof of address.

Your polling station will be listed on your voting card.

B-93 News will be providing updates shortly after the close of polls at 8:30 p.m.

Candidates Happy with Campaigns

The campaigning and debating are done for the candidates seeking election in Thunder Bay-Rainy River

NDP incumbent John Rafferty is anticipating strong voter turnout.

"There seemed to be more young people involved," says Rafferty. "First-time voters are curious. They're interested in voting. They're interested in finding out what's going on. I'm hoping that's a very good sign for this election."

Liberal candidate Ken Boshcoff was happy with his campaign.

"It was the number of people who came out to help me certainly was extremely encouraging, says Boshcoff. "I think even in the messaging I was able to do that people understand that yes, this is someone who has a really platform."

Conservative candidate Maureen Comuzzi-Stehmann feels she gave 150 per cent to her campaign.

"I'm extremely, extremely optimistic that the folks in Thunder Bay-Rainy River are ready for a new face," says Comuzzi-Stehmann.

The Green's Ed Shields says his first-ever campaign was a steep-learning curve for him.

"I've learned a lot," says Shields. "I believe I improved since the Fort Frances debate and I met some excellent people. It was a privilege to get to know the other candidates. They're all great folks."

Former Municipal Police Officer Retires

One of few remaining officers from the former Fort Frances Police Service has called it a career.

Sergeant Don Robertson was with the municipal force when it was absorbed by the OPP in 1996.

Robertson says the changeover has been good for the town.

"The resources of the province was a huge change for me," says Robertson. "You could draw on so many talented people across the province as well as the infrastructure and the programs."

Robertson worked his last day Friday.

FedNor Reviewed

An analysis says FedNor is slow to approve projects in northern Ontario and doesn't measure its effectiveness.

The study by a consultant in Winnipeg says it takes an average of six months to get approval for a project.

The Industry Canada program has spent at least 150-million dollars in the region since 2006.

Mental Health Week

This is mental health week across Canada.

Nancy Daley of the Canadian Mental Health Association in Fort Frances says anyone at any age can be impacted by a mental illness.

"The theme is mental health for all," says Daley. "It focuses on the fact that kids also have stress, workplace mental health and mental health is everyones concern."

Daley says the local branch is using the week to promote the services and programs it offers.

Candidates Debate Forestry

The forest industry started a heated discussion between the candidates in the Thunder Bay-Rainy River Riding at a debate in Thunder Bay last night.

Liberal Ken Boshcoff pointed out, during his time in office, the Liberals had come up with solutions to help the industry but after the 2008 election the Conservative Government didn't implement them.

Conservative Maureen Comuzzi-Stehmann placed blame on Liberal policies for the downturn in the forest industry.

NDP incumbent John Rafferty mentioned the played a role in getting mills the black liquor subsidy.

Protection for Native Languages Needed

A Canadian filmmaker says it's important native languages be preserved.

Andree Cazabon spoke yesterday to delegates attending the Native Studies conference in Fort Frances.

Cazabon says more schools need to offer courses in native languages.

"It's not far fetched to think that if we don't preserve language and culture that we can find ourselves with a bus load full of Asian tourists saying to them 'no,no,no we don't have any more aboriginal people in Canada. They've all been absorbed into the mainstream and don't exist anymore."

Cazabon found in her latest project, 'Third World Canada,' that many young aboriginals are already unable to speak the native language of their grandparents.

Home Show Starts

Today is the start of the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce Home and Leisure Show.

Manager Anthony Mason says a strongman competition tonight is one of the big attractions.

"We're really stoked that we're able to host it," says Mason. "It's a sanctioned event for the competitors which means they will be competing for spots in the Ontario Strongest Man challenge."

The doors at the Memorial Sports Centre open at 4 p.m.

Horticuluralists Gather in Atikokan

Horticulturalists from across northwestern Ontario gather in Atikokan this weekend.

They're meeting for an annual meeting.

President of the Atikokan society, Alana Rechlin says they serve as a good resource for other planters.

"If they don't have the background knowledge, this is where the horticultural societies can come in," says Rechlin. "We can give them advice, literature to read or our own experience as to what will work and what won't."

The weekend meetings coincide with the Atikokan Society's 30th anniversary.