Vaudeville On Display

The history of Vaudeville is on display at the Fort France Museum.

It comes from the Peterborough Museum and is travelling across the province.

Curator Sherry George says some of the best performers of the era took part in live performances in theatres across the country.

"Voices of the Town: Vaudeville in Canada" will remain until the end of June.

Canada Day Parade Saved

There will be a Canada Day parade in Fort Frances.

The Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce has announced it's taking over planning of the event of the July 1st event.

The event was in jeopardy of not taking place after the Fun in the Sun Committee announced in March it didn't have the people needed to continue on.

Manager Anthony Mason says there's some consideration to moving it to a late afternoon start to avoid conflicts with the Dragon Boat Festival also taking place July 1st.

Registration for the parade can be made by calling the Chamber office, 274-5773.

Boating Accident

Boating season only a few days old and already one crash to report.

Three men and one woman were injured when the boat they were in crashed on the shore of Lake of the Woods at Copper Island.

One person had to be taken to hospital in Winnipeg

OPP have laid a charge against the boat's operator, but are still trying to determined why the accident happened.

Missing Boaters Found

A Minnesota couple had to be rescued Monday after experience motor troubles with their boat on Lac Des Milles Lac near Upsala..

OPP were called out to search for the elderly couple after they failed to return to their campsite at Pine Point Resort from a boating excursion.

Members of the North West Region Emergency Response Team with the assistance of a Ministry of Natural Resources Helicopter found the couple safe on the lake later that evening.

Forest Fire Hazard Eases

The forest fire reading in northwestern Ontario has dropped to low thanks to recent rainfall.

Two fires reported in the Rainy River district on the weekend are now out.

Debbie MacLean of the Ministry of Natural Resources says it's allowed them to deploy some of the region's crews to northeastern Ontario to assist with fire suppression there.

Go Local This Fall

The campaign to Go Local could be ready to launch within the three months.

It's aimed at encouraging residents in the Rainy River district to spent as much of their dollars within the district.

Tannis Drysdale, a consultant with the Rainy River Future Development Corporation says there's a lot of interest from both retails and consumers.

Drysdale says they'll continue to sign-up retailers and developing partnerships in preparation for the fall launch.

Roof Repairs Start Next Week

Work is expected to start next week on repairs to the roof of the Fort Frances Civic Centre.

Thunder Bay-based Racco Roofing has been awarded the $256-thousand contract.

The work will fix a long-standing leaking problem over the areas of the OPP detachment and Fort Frances Fire Hall.

The town is also retaining the services of a consulting firm to oversee the project.

Foreign Trade Zone Road

The city of International Falls has received State funding to build a key link to its Foreign Trade Zone.

City administrator Rod Otterness says the $650-thousand helps acquire and develop Boise-owned land located off County Road 155.

Construction will likely start this summer.

Total cost of the project is about $950-thousand with the city kicking in the remaining $300-thousand.

Missing Man Found Safe

A happy conclusion to a weekend search for a missing Fort Frances man.

OPP says the 79-year-old, who suffers from Alzheimers, left his house Saturday night to walk his dog, but never returned.

He was found the next morning in good health, in the area of McIrvine Road, just north of the landfill site road.

Lots Of Speeders Nabbed On Weekend

A busy weekend for OPP across northwestern Ontario during the Victoria Day long weekend.

Police charged 249 drivers for speeding, 21 for seat belt infractions and seven with distracted driving.

Just one impaired driving charge was laid.

Figures specific to the Rainy River district were not immediately available.

Bear Attack In NW Ontario

A 65-year-old Winnipeg man is recovering from his injuries after being attacked by a black bear in northwestern Ontario.

The attack happened on Saturday at a campsite on Dunbar Lake about 60 kilometres north of Sioux Lookout.

The man suffered bite and scratch marks before another man he was with shot and killed the animal.

Question of the Week

Do you think the tourist information centres should be turned over to municipalities to operate?

Let us know on our website poll at 93-1 the border.ca

In response to a question last week, 63 per cent support the Provincial government's decision to have gun retailers continue collecting information from purchasers.

Area Man Gets New Trial

The Ontario Court of Appeal is allowing a new trial for an area man convicted on drug-related charges four years ago.

Nicholas Bruyere was charged in June 2008 after police stopped a vehicle on the Trans Canada Highway near Thunder Bay, they said was headed for Fort Frances containing a quantity of cocaine.

Bruyere appealed the case claiming the judge erred by excluding evidence.

Experimental Lakes Closing

Not all hope is lost for the experimental lakes area between Kenora and Dryden.

The Federal Government announced last week it was closing the site as part of a cost-cutting measure.

Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford believes there still may be a future for the site with someone else taking the research site over.

A government spokesperson says they will try to transfer the Experimental Lakes over another group or provinces.


Meantime, the Manitoba government is worried about the pending closure of the Experimental Lakes.

Conservation Minister Gord Mackintosh says his staff are lobbying Ottawa to have the decision reversed.

MacKintosh says the research program being killed made important findings on hydro development, the banning of phosphorus in detergent, acid rain and mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants.

Minnesota Elections Filings Underway

Candidates planning to run in some of races open in this fall's elections in Minnesota can now file their intentions.

Elections for two seats will takes place for Koochiching County - District 3, now held by Chair Brian McBride and District 5, now held by Mike Hanson who plans not to seek reelection.

Those running to represent the area in the Minnesota and U.S. House and Senates can also file today.

Camp Gets Green Energy Funds

A Rainy River District lodge has received provincial funding for a green energy project.

Hyatt's Manion Lake Camp in Mine Centre will use the $5,000 from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund towards the installation of a geothermal heating and cooling system.

Campbell Wants Tourism Centres Left to Province

MPP Sarah Campbell photo  

There's little support from Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell to having shuttered tourist information centres handed over to area municipalities.

Campbell voiced her opposition to the idea during a gathering Saturday in front of the now closed Fort Frances centre.

Campbell sees it a form of downloading by the province.

Both the town and the local Chamber of Commerce are looking at taking over Fort Frances Centre.

Body of Atikokan Man Found

The remains of a missing Atikokan man have been located.

An OPP dive team recovered the body of 49-year-old Eric Natti last Thursday at Miller Lake.

Natti had been reported missing since last November.

OPP had conducted a search of the area then, but cold weather and ice conditions hampered their efforts.

Weekend Forest Fires

Rain likely to give forest firefighters across northwestern Ontario a hand dealing with several fires in the region.

The Ministry of Natural Resources reports seven active fires, including two small ones in the Rainy River district.

One north of Sleeman near Development Road has been identified as human caused, while the other, northeast of Fort Frances was a lightning strike.

One of the largest fires still burning is on Falcon Island on Lake of the Woods, 35 kilometres south of Kenora.

The lightning caused fire is almost 600 hectares in size.

Minnesota Wolf Hunting Season Details

Minnesota is releasing details about its plans for the state's first regulated wolf hunting and trapping season.

The season will start November 3 when the firearms deer season opens.

The Department of Natural Resources proposes to offer 6,000 licenses with a target harvest quota of 400 wolves.

Municipalities Get Health Unit Refund

Municipalities that contribute to the Northwestern Health Unit are receiving money back from the agency.

More than $165-thousand have been returned back to communities across the Kenora and Rainy River district.

Municipalities share is based on population which dropped by 4,000 in 2011 over 2010.

Several Fort Frances Residents Register As Organ Donor

Residents in the Fort Frances are showing strong interest in becoming organ donors.

Statistics show 39 per cent have signed a provincial registry.

Ronnie Gavsie president of Trillium Gift of Life Network says its a trend they're seeing across northern Ontario.

The provincial average is 21 per cent.

Gavsie says one donor can save up to eight lives.

Red Cross To Provide Help In Local Emergencies

The Canadian Red Cross has a renewed presence in the Rainy River District.

It's signing protocols with area municipalities that spells out the agencies role in emergency situations.

Disaster Management Coordinator Kari Raptor says the agency will be there to help victims for such things as shelter.

Raptor says they're now in the process of finding volunteers to assist in those efforts.

Lightning Caused Fires Possible

The Ministry of Natural Resources is on the watch for lightning fires.

There are currently 15 fires now burning, although none are in the Rainy River district.

The Ministry says the region may see new lightning-caused fires pop-up in the next couple of days resulting from a storm that passed by Monday night.

Meantime, MNR is sending ten FireRanger crews from northwestern Ontario to help deal with forest fires in northeastern Ontario.

Restrictions Lifted

Burning restrictions are being lifted in Koochiching County today.

The County is one of the last in Minnesota where restrictions has been kept in place.

Property Clean-up Dilemma

Difficulties in dealing with unsightly properties are becoming a sore spot for Koochiching County Commissioners.

The County has a committee set up to handle complaints, but Public Health Director Susan Cosgrove says many of the cases don't necessarily fall within the committee's jurisdiction.

Chair Brian McBride says there's a public perception the County isn't doing anything, but in some cases there's nothing they can do.

Water Meter Bills Issued

Commercial and institutional properties in Fort Frances that received new water meters last fall are now getting their bills.

Operations and Facilities manager Doug Brown says they're still working through a few glitches, but the new metres ensure the protection and quality of the town's drinking water.

The new metres replace ones that had been in place for up to forty years.

Premier Not Worried With Doctors Group Warning

Premier Dalton McGuinty says he's not worried doctors will leave the province because the government slashed fees they're paid.

McGuinty says doctors are doing better now than when his government came to power, and he's confident they'll stay in Ontario.

A doctors group is warning physicians they may want to look elsewhere given the Liberals recent decision to cut fees and freeze wages.

Lipinski Back as Metis Nation President

A Fort Frances area man has been given another mandate to head the Metis Nation of Ontario.

Gary Lipinski received over 87 per cent of the vote to be returned as president in what the Metis Nation says was a record voter turnout for recent elections.

Lipinski says its a strong mandate to continue to push forward on their Métis rights agenda.

Seniors Allowed To Address Council

There's little it can offer, but Fort Frances town council will give a seniors group the right to speak at an upcoming meeting on a number of issues.

Requests to address council are rarely turned down, or even debated.

Mayor Roy Avis says council really has no control over the issues the group wants to talk about.

Members of the Seniors-Retirees against Pension and Elder Abuse plan to talk their concerns over pensions, old age security and the pending assessment appeal by Resolute Forest Products and it's impact on seniors.

Theatre User Surtax To Increase

A surtax, paid by users of the Townshead Theatre, will go up this September.

Fort Frances town council agreed to hike the fee to a dollar-fifty per ticket, up from the dollar fee theatre users have paid since 1999.

The money is used to offset theatre improvements.


Meantime, there will be some work taking place in the Townshend Theatre this summer.

The theatre stage flooring is being replaced at a cost of $21-thousand.

There was a plan to doing some painting inside, but an estimated of $32-thousand cost  was felt too high by the Theatre Advisory Committee.

It's feels that job can, instead, be left up to the Rainy River District School Board to do as part of its summer painting projects.

Development of Dog Park To Proceed

The development of an off-lease dog park in Fort Frances has been given the green-light.

No site has been immediately identified.

A committee will now be formed to hash out the details.

Members of the Kiwanis Club have expressed interested in partnering with the town on the project.

New Detachment Commander Outlines Objectives to Media

The OPP's new detachment commander for the Rainy River district is committing to making sure the public is safe while watching the dollars paid by area municipalities for policing.

Inspector Steve Shouldice sat down with members of the media yesterday.

He says strengthening the local drug enforcement team is among his priorities.

Shouldice also wants to continue enhancing the partnerships OPP now enjoy in the region.

Foul Play Not Suspected in Death

OPP are ruling out foul play in the death of a 22 year old man in Keewatin.

The man was found on Sunday near a CP rail crossing.

Police are holding back his name until his family is notified.

Question of the Week

Little public support for doctors and their fight with the province over wage freezes and fee cuts.

70 per cent of respondents to a question on our website give support to the government.

This week, we ask if you think the province should continue to ask gun sellers to keep records of who buys guns from them?

Have your say at 931theborder.ca.

Tree Planting At Fort High

There's a new look to the grounds at Fort Frances High School.

Seventy sugar and silver cloud maples have been planted as part of a project between the school and the Rainy River District Stewardship Council.

Teacher Rob Donaldson says students involved are taking full interest in the tree's survival.

The $15,000 project was made possible through a variety of donations.

MPP Claims Increase Rates From Proposed Bill

A northwestern Ontario Liberal is warning about a loophole in an opposition proposal to reduce auto insurance rates.

Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro says the NDP sponsored bill, while lowering rates in southern Ontario, would actually increase rates for residents of northern Ontario.

The NDP deny Mauro's claims.

Back Door Gun Registry?

Despite denials by the premier, Opposition Leader Tim Hudak says the Liberal government is planning to create a provincial gun registry.

Premier Dalton McGuinty has said he wants stores to keep registers of who buys guns.

But the Tory leader says McGuinty's true motive is to bring in what he calls "a back door gun registry.''

Seniors Survey Now Out

An important step towards getting an assisted living facility in Fort Frances is now underway.

The local Assisted Living Action Group is seeking input from seniors and others on their needs across the Rainy River district.

Chair Irma Armit says the information will help create a 20-year plan.

The survey is on the Senior and Law Enforcement Together's new website and will end June 22.

Falls Home Show Considered

It's Home and Leisure Show just ended, but the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce is already looking to have it's next event very soon.

Manager Anthony Mason says consideration is being given to hold another show this fall.

All of the details are still to be worked out, but Mason is hoping it will attract different vendors and products with the Christmas holiday shopper in mind.

Mason was happy with the turn-out for the weekend event, with attendance nearly last year's numbers.

Theatre Surcharge Increase Proposed

Users of the Townshend Theatre in Fort Frances could be paying a little more in the near future.

The Theatre's advisory committee is recommending a user surtax, applied to ticket sales, be increased to a dollar-fifty this September.

The surcharge, now at a dollar a head, has not increased since it was implemented in 1999.

The money raised goes towards Theatre improvements.

The recommendation goes to Fort Frances town council for its approval tonight.

Changes to Super Valu

Some changes to a grocery store in International Falls.

The SuperValu store will become Country Market after being part of a sale to Miner's Incorporation of Hermantown.

Miner's owns the Super One grocery chain.

The company says employees at SuperValu have been offered jobs in the new store.

Police Week

Keeping it locked - a key focus for Provincial Police in the Rainy River district this week.

Constable Anne McCoy says their "Lock It or Lose It" campaign will be a main topic in Police Week which is being recognized all this week.

OPP will also be promoting bicycle safety with a rodeo planned in Atikokan later in the week.

Emergency Services Day

Some of the agencies who respond to emergencies in the Rainy River District area gathered Saturday to promote what they do to the public.

Chief of the Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Service Frank Sheppard says Emergency Services Day helped draw more awareness of the help available.

The Ministry of Natural Resources, Canadian Red Cross and the town's Emergency Control Group also participated.

Sheppard says they're hoping to include other emergency services and agencies in the future.

M & M Meats Bar-B-Que

The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada is the benefactor of a weekend charity bar-b-que in Fort Frances.

M and M Meats store owner Chris McKinnon says staff and volunteer came together for the annual event.

The amount of money raised was not immediately available, but stores across the country were aiming to raised one-point-five million dollars.

No Gun Registry InOntario, But...

Ontario says it won't create a provincial gun registry, but it will require stores to keep records of who buys guns.

Community Safety Minister Madeleine Meilleur says says the Ontario Provincial Police chief firearms officer
interprets section 58 of the Firearms Act as giving him the power to impose that requirement.

Her federal counterpart, Vic Toews says the collection of point-of-sale data is no longer authorized under the Firearms Act.

Expanded Role For Nurses Sought

An Ontario nurses union believes it has a solution to saving the health care system money and improving care for patients.

The Registered Nurses Association of Ontario wants nurses to be more involved in primary care.

CEO Doris Grinspun says nurses talents aren't being fully utilized now.

The recommendation for a stronger role for nurses in primary care comes out of an Association task force's draft report that will be forwarded later to government.

Local Public Information Officers Trained

Some emergency planning for municipalities in the Rainy River district yesterday.

It focused on the communications.

Dale Smyk, a retired field officer with Emergency Management Ontario, says public information officers have important roles to play  in emergency situations

Participants also learned how to write news releases, about the need for updated to emergency plans and performed mock interviews with the help of CFOB-News.

Home And Leisure Show Begins Today

Area business will be showcasing their services this weekend in Fort Frances.

The Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce Home and Leisure Show opens at 4 p.m. today at the Memorial Sports Centre.

Chamber Manager Anthony Mason says there's over 50 booths to visit.

Saturday's strongman competition and a local take on the popular TV game show "Minute to Win It" highlight some of the events taking place today and tomorrow.

Arpin Back Home

A visit home by NASCAR driver Steve Arpin.

The Fort Frances native was at Boston Pizza last night to meet with familiar faces and sign autographs for local race fans.

Arpin races next week in the Nationwide series and has also confirmed a spot in a few races in the ARCA series.

More Questions Over Centres Closings

The provincial government is again being pressed for answers to why tourist information centres in Fort Frances, Kenora and Rainy River are being closed.

During debate at Queen's Park, Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell says the centres are an important role in the region's tourism industry.

She says Tourism Minister Michael Chan needs to come clean explain why centres in her riding are closing while Pigeon River stays opens.

The Minister's Parliamentary Assistance Kim Craitor says Pigeon River is being left open because of it serves an important American market.

No Change to Bear Response By Police

Provincial Police aren't making any immediate changes to how they deal with nuisance bears.

The Ministry of Natural Resources did announce changes to its protocol, leaving police with the job of trapping and relocating bears in the near future.

Constable Anne McCoy says bear problems are still the responsibility of the MNR for now, but police will still response if the animals pose a risk to public safety.

McCoy says the province's hotline is also still active for people to report nuisance bears.