Wanted Man Arrested in International Falls

A man wanting in North Dakota for writing bad cheques is in back in jail after being captured in International Falls.

The 35-year-old was taken in custody Friday as he crossed at the U.S. border.

He'll remain behind bars until authorities from North Dakota arrive to transport him back.

Resolute Extends Offer Deadline Again

Resolute Forest Products, formerly known as AbitibiBowater, is giving more time for Fibrek to consider its hostile offer for the Canadian pulp producer.

It has extend yesterday's deadline to February 23, setting up a potential bidding war with Mercer International who put forward its offer last week.

Resolute's offer of $130-million is about 30 per cent lower than Mercer's bid.

Heart of the Arts Line Up Released

The line-up of talent has been set for this Thursday's Heart of the Arts in Fort Frances.

Brittany Hayes, who's serving as one of the main stage's performers and MC says a wide range of performers will come together to help raise money for the Metis Hall and the Rainy River Arts Collective.

Tickets for the event at the Townsend Theatre are still available at Northwoods  Gallery and Gifts.


Main stage musicians will include: Brittany Hayes, Sandra Allan, Charity Rose, Ericka Tymkin, Pat (Calder) Cupp, Abbey Calder, Allison Wannamaker, Larissa Desrosiers, Intyrely Mac, Ryan Hunter, Distant Legacy Band, and fiddler Elmer Whitefish.

In addition to musicians, there will be storytellers -- Gilbert Smith, and authors Levi Morris and Frances Shelfantook.

Actors Darryl Allan and Melanie Bodnar will add some comic relief.

Dancers will include Fort Dance Studio’s Highland Showcase Troup and some square dancers.

On the busker stage in the cafeteria, there will be dancer Eric Chapman, and musicians Carson Webber, Bridget Jorgenson, Jessica Desrosiers, Charlene Gustafson and John Reader.

Service Expansion Considered

The town of Fort Frances is exploring the idea of having more services geared towards seniors being provided out of the Sister Kennedy Centre.

Councillor Andrew Hallikas, a member of the Centre's board, says it could serve as one-stop shopping centre for a variety of groups delivering programs to the town's most elderly citizens.

A public meeting Wednesday night is planned to gather input on who might use the centre and what programs could be offered.

Proclaimation Sought

Prime Minister Harper and President Obama are again being asked to proclaim July 2 as Peaceful Borders Day in Fort Frances and International Falls.

The two cities plan to forward a letter indicating it would help promote peace throughout the world by celebrating the peaceful border enjoyed by the two cities.

The day also coincides with the annual Tug of War.

Hudak Stays as PC Leader

Ontario's Conservatives have given the thumbs up to Tim Hudak's leadership.

Hudak received support more than 78 per cent of the Tory delegates who voted in the party's weekend convention in Niagara Falls.

January Weather

Environment Canada says January was one of the warmest its been in the Rainy River district in six years.

Geoff Coulson says the average temperature for the month was a about minus 10 degrees Celsius, six degrees higher than normal.

Snowfall amount was about 30 centimetres, near normal for January, but Coulson says total amounts this winter are still a third of what they should be.

Distracted Driver Crack Down

The OPP are cracking down on distracted drivers this week.

They say they're seeing far too many collisions -- some of them fatal -- due to driver inattention.

And it's not just people using cellphones or texting behind the wheel.

Eating, playing with the radio, looking for a CD -- even day-dreaming -- can be dangerous while driving.

Free Pass Giveaway

A visit to the Stroke Prevention Clinic in Fort Frances this month can earn you a visit to the Memorial Sports Centre.

The Clinic is giving out free passes as part of a campaign during Heart and Stroke Month.

Nurse Marilyn Erwin says exercise can be helpful to stroke victims.

The Clinic has also extended its hours to evenings and weekends by appointment.

A Gift From the Heart

There are a lot of smiles around the Fort Frances area today - thanks to the efforts of a local hygienist.

Dawn Gustafson of Lifetime Smiles was among those across Ontario offering free services on the weekend as part of an initiative known as "Gift From the Heart."

It's aimed at promoting good oral health and dental hygienists who work independently outside a traditional dental office.

New Water Rates Proposed

New water rates could be decided upon tonight night by Fort Frances town councillors.

An administration report is recommending a one per cent hike in both the residential and non-residential rates and a three per cent increase to the charge paid by Industrial and the commercial sectors.

The institutional sector, covering such things as government-run facilities, would be placed in a new rate class and charged nine per cent more.

The increases, in total, would raise more than $216-thousand dollars in additional revenue for the water system.

More Downtime Possible

Resolute Forest Products is not ruling out more production downtime at its mills this year.

Lower demand and weaker pricing played a role in the $6-million dollar loss in the 4th quarter of last year.

CEO Richard Garneau doesn't see much immediate change.

The reported loss was the second straight since the company emerged from creditor protection a year ago.

Population Growth in Atikokan Expected

The mayor of Atikokan is somewhat surprised to learn his community experienced a 15 per cent drop in population over the last five years.

But Dennis Brown says there are signs it will turn around.

Brown says the closure of two local mills was a factor in the population loss.

MP Happy Gun Registry Debate Ending Soon

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty is happy to see the long gun registry debate come to an end.

A final vote for the bill is expected  Wednesday.

Rafferty support ending the registry and was sanctioned by his party for giving support to ending it.

Rafferty says he hasn't had any further blow back from his party over his recent voting on the gun registry bill.

Business Workshop Next Week

It's time to learn the ABC's of Entrepreneurship.

The Northwest Business Centre is hosting a workshop in Couchiching next Thursday.

Manager Diane Schwartz-Williams says it will help those either in and wanting to start a business.

Pre-registration is required through the Centre's website.

More Cubs Born Over Internet

North American Bear Centre photo

Researchers believe a 3-year-old bear in Minnesota gave birth to a pair of cubs before an Internet audience last month.

A camera, placed in the den near Ely, was bumped as Jewel gave birth to a male cub and a female cub.

Researchers have since readjusted camera for a better view.

Coventry Starts Drilling Program

Another mining company has began a search for gold in the Rainy River district.

Australian based Coventry Resources has started a drilling a program at its gold project.

It's the first work the company has done on the 120 square kilometre site, located adjacent to Rainy River Resource's project, north of Barwick.

The company is also doing exploration  work at Cameron Lake near Nestor Falls.

Gun Bill Vote Next Week

A bill to scrap the federal long gun registry could be passed into law as early as next week.

That's the prediction of Kenora MP Greg Rickford.

He says the government's decision to curtail debate on the issue means the bill should be passed sooner rather than later.

Not All People Counted in Census

It appears not all of the people in northwestern Ontario were included in the population figures released this week.

Stats Canada's Gary Dillon says last year's forest fires caused some problems for Census takers.

Thirteen remote First Nations communities could not be be counted until November and were not included in the numbers released this week.

Dillon says those figures will be released at a later date.

Population Drop in Northwestern Ontario.

Statistics Canada is confirming a long suspected drop in the number of people living in the Rainy River district.

There's now 20,370 people in the district, a 5.5 per cent drop since 2006.

Stats Canada Gary Dillon says that differs from the rest of the Ontario where a 5.7 per cent increase overall is reported.

Every town in the district saw decreases with Atikokan having the greatest shift at over 15 per cent.

Fort Frances fell below 8 thousand people, a 1.9 per cent drop since 2006.

No Surprises in Population Figures

A Lakehead University professor is not surprised northwestern Ontario has less people than it did five years ago.

Livo Di Matteo says its a reflection of the state of the region's forest industry.

Di Matteo says the growth among First Nations communities is also something worth watching.

Snow Sculptures a Go

The creation of a number of snow sculptures in Fort Frances is a go.

But the Rainy River Arts Collective's Winter Sculpture Garden is no longer a contest.

Spokesperson Lindsay Hamilton says only a couple of groups actually registered.

So those groups and a couple of other artists will instead craft the 8 foot cubed snow piles over the next ten days as part of a demonstration project.

Hamilton is hoping it will lead to greater interest for next year.

Seven Gens Expands Programming

Fort Frances-based Seven Generations Education Institute has a new partnership with the public board for the Kenora and Dryden area.

CEO Delbert Horton says it helps launch a new Aboriginal Adult Education program in those areas.

The program is expected to begin this fall.

Trudeau Speaks in Thunder Bay

Margaret Trudeau says prisons are not the place to house people with mental illness.

The former wife of Pierre Trudeau spoke out against the Harper government's new crime bill to students at Confederation College in Thunder Bay yesterday, saying more jails are not the answer.

She's also likes to see more celebrities like former Olympian Clara Hughes speak out about mental health issues.

Trudeau has spent the last five years speaking on the struggles she had with depression.

Board Staff Recognized

Some of its long serving staff members are being honoured by the Rainy River District School Board.

Former Rainy River High School vice-principal Don McBride and the board's Human Resources Manager Diane Ross were recognized by trustees at their meeting Tuesday night.

McBride retired at the end of January while Ross ends her career in March.

Four other employees with 25 years of services were also recognized.

Drug Busts

Three people will be in court this month following two recent separate drug investigations in Fort Frances.

A woman was charged January 20 after attempting to sell three containers of Methadone to a plain clothes police officer.

And a man and woman face possession charges after OPP stopped a vehicle on January 27 and discovered quanities of marijuana, cocaine and Tyenol 3 inside.

Scales, cash and aluminum containers with false bottoms designed to conceal items were also seized by police.

Impaired Driver Caught

The OPP's Festive Ride program may be long over, but that hasn't stopped police from cracking down on drunk drivers in the Rainy River district.

Three area motorists were charged with impaired driving related offences last weekend.

Among them a 55-year-old Baudette, Minnesota man who was arrested at the Rainy River border when Canadian custom officers noticed he had been drinking.

Elder Abuse Presentations Planned

Seniors in Fort Frances will soon learn more about elder abuse - from their peers.

Members of the group Seniors and Law Enforcement Together, or SALT, are preparing to make a series to presentations at local seniors homes.

Chair Robert Schulz says several members have been trained to talk about the issues around financial, physical and emotional abuse.

County Contracts Out Child Mental Health Services

The union representing workers at Koochiching County are not happy with the board of commissioners.

The board agreed to contract out some child mental health services to Northland Counseling Centre of International Falls.

Three county jobs will be lost.

Joe Pershern of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees says there's no need for the change.

But Director of Community Services Terry Murray says the move will result in improved access to services for children.

Budget Surplus Get Aside

The town of Fort Frances will sock a budget surplus from 2010 away to help cope with a pending outcome of AbitibiBowater's appeal of its assessment.

The $318-thousand dollars would normally be placed in a fund for capital purchases.

The town will also consider putting a projected 2011 surplus into a new contigency fund.

Any decision on the appeal is still several months away, but the town has stated the impact could be a tax rebate of over $2-million back the company, now known as Resolute Forest Products, and a further annual tax loss of $800-thousand.

Santorum Takes Minnesota Primary

Minnesota Republicans shook up the GOP presidential nomination race by handing former
Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum a caucus win.

Santorum also scored victories in Missouri and Colorado.

Soup's On

Dieticians in the Rainy River district want you to get your soup on.

Megan Bale of the Gizhewaadiziwin Health Access Centre says they're seeking out soup cooks to put their recipes to the test in an event planned for next month to coincide with Nutrition Month.

Bale says all soups must contain ingredients from at least three of the four main food groups.

No Action Taken on Demolition Report

Fort Frances town councillors are taking no action - at least for now - on the former Rainy Lake Hotel.

Councillors decided last night to hold off on a report outlining the potential cost of tearing down the downtown landmark until a local task force makes its recommendations

CAO Mark McCaig says that group is expected to complete its work in the near future.

Demolition is pegged at 995-thousand dollars.

No Bank Loan for Capital Projects Needed

There will be no need for long-term financing to help pay for capital projects in Fort Frances this year.

Town councillors shaved another $230-thousand dollars off the capital budget during their talks Monday.

The rest of the $4.5 million in projects will be paid out of reserves or grants.

The town will use up about $800-thousand from reserves, but a proposed tax increase would return $750-thousand back into those funds.

Airport Concept to be Pursued Again

Area municipalities will be asked on final time if they want to be a part of Fort Frances' regional airport concept.

Most have already rejected the plan because their costs of 10 dollars per capita would not be fixed.

Councillor Paul Ryan says attaching a lower figure for a period of time might be the answer.

Only Emo, Chapple and area First Nations expressed interest in the previous plan.

Question of the Week

Do you think the town of Fort Frances should continue pursuing a regional airport concept with area municipalities?

Let us know on our website 931 The Border.ca.

In last week's question, 81 per cent of respondents do not believe Premier Dalton McGuinty when he says he won't have to raise taxes to balance the budget by 2017.

Water Rate Structure Considered

The mayor of Fort Frances is proposing an alternative structure that spreads fairer a planned water rate increase.

Roy Avis says his idea includes creating a new rate for the institutional sector covering mostly government run facilities.

Avis' proposal is to get further study this week at the committee level.

Jiggly Jaguar Missing

A search is underway at J.W. Walker School in Fort Frances for "Jiggly Jaguar."

He's one of several hand puppets used by kindergarten students to learn about the alphabet.

Teacher Andrea Domanski says when Jiggly Jaguar went missing, her students sprung into action by creating and posting wanted posters around the school..

Students also got the OPP involved to file a missing puppet report.
 

Riding Association Website Online

A new website for the Kenora-Rainy River Provincial Liberal Riding Association is now on-line.

The site allows users to read party news, purchase a membership or make a donation.

President Anthony Leek says it will also help the association grow itself.

MNR Watching Leaky Dam

The Ministry of Natural Resources is monitoring closely an earthen dam in the Atikokan area.

The Hardy Dam, constructed as part of the former Steep Rock Mine's water diversion project, is showing signs of leaking.

Spokesperson Michelle Novak says an environmental assessment will be done to consider corrective measures.

Novak says the Ministry's is also reviewing more immediate solutions to prevent a complete collapse.

Highway Open

The Trans Canada Highway near Vermillion Bay is open again after a transport truck caught fire.

OPP closed the highway earlier this morning until the fire could be put out and the tractor trailer unit removed from the road.

No one was hurt.

Man Charges with Shooting Truck

A northeastern Ontario man is going back to hunting school after shooting a hole in his truck.

The man was charged back in November after OPP had come the vehicle parked along side of Highway 71 near Finland with a loaded rifle inside.

An investigation with Ministry of Natural Conservation Officers determine the man had been hunting deer at night and the firearm had accidentally discharged inside the vehicle.

Lower Passport Fees Requested

Thunder Bay MP Bruce Hyer wants Canadians and Americans to pay lower passport fees.

Hyer says reducing the costs of the travel document would be a boost to tourism.

He's introduced a private members bill in the House of Commons.

The bill's not likely to pass because of the Harper government majority.

Wild Food Workshop

Area residents can learn more about the presence of wild foods in the Rainy River district.

Rainy River District Stewardship is hosting a workshop next month in Devlin.

Member Rick Neilson says its aimed at helping people to identify what foods they can eat and how to use them.

Neilson says the March 3 workshop will also include a session on plants used by First Nations for traditional and medicinal means.

DSSAB Cuts

The Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board is not anticipating any reduction in service from a recent round of job cuts.

Six full time equivalent positions have been eliminated.

Interim CAO Dan McCormick says the cuts were almost inevitable with the province having frozen funding for Social Housing at 2002 levels and financial pressures faced by municipalities to pick up the slack.

Most of the cuts were within the Board's Social Housing portfolio.

Dragon Boats to Float Rainy River

Dragon Boats could make an appearance on the Rainy River this summer.

Jenny Greenhalgh of NCDS has secured a boat from Dragon Boat Canada.

She's hoping to include it in an event as part of Canada Day festivities in Fort Frances.

Greenhalgh says a number of organizations have already expressed interest in participating.

Man Found

A happy ending to an OPP search for a missing Winnipeg man in the Kenora area.

Police had initiated the search for 28-year-old Steven Suche after failing to return from a snowmobile ride on Lake of the Woods the Tuesday night.

OPP says he was found safe and sound yesterday afternoon.

Question of the Day - February 3

There's a mixed feeling on whether the town of the Fort Frances should issue fines when Police respond to false alarms.

55 per cent of respondents to our poll question don't think it's necessary while 45 per cent support the idea.

The Fort Frances Police Services Board is asking town council to consider a by-law to reduce the number of false alarms.

Today's question, do you believe the Premier when he says there are no tax increases planned to help lower the deficit.

Let us know on our website, www.931TheBorder. ca

Infrastructure Help Proposed

Northern Ontario's New Democrats want to see FEDNOR used to help fund municipal infrastructure projects.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty says a separate pot of money could be set aside through the regional economic development agency for northern Ontario municipalities to access.

Rafferty says financial help for infrastructure upgrades is a major need among municipalities, but doubts there will be any coming in the upcoming budget.

Child Porn Charges

No one from Northwestern Ontario has been charged in a massive child pornography sweep in Ontario.

Sixty men face a total of 213 charges in what police described as one of the largest child pornography investigations in the province's history.

OPP Detective-Sergeant Frank Goldschmidt says at 22 victims were identified during the probe.

The suspects, aged 16 to 64, are described as being from all walks of life, including one who is a child care worker.

Warm January

January was the warmest it's been in almost ten years in International Falls.

The National Weather Service says the month's average temperature 14 F, or minus 10 Celsius was the fourth warmest on record.

That's also the same average as experienced in 2001.

The normal for the month is 4.4 F.

A total of 15 inches of snow also fell in January, four inches below normal.