Dock Closed

The dock at Pither's Point Park in Fort Frances has been closed.

The town of Fort Frances says the so-called "Government Dock" has been deemed unsafe.

Higher than normal water levels this year have compromised the structural integrity of a section of the dock, forcing the town to prohibit boats, people and aircraft from using it for safety reasons.

Bass Championship Getting Ready

The field for the upcoming Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship continues take shape.

Eighty-eight teams have registered so far.

Chair Gord Watson says give the area's economy
, it's a number he can be happy with.

Watson says if they can reach last year's number of 93 teams, they would be the only tournament in the region not to be down.


Angler can still register by picked up forms on the Bass Championship's website.

Meantime, a call for volunteers is being made.

A sign-up will take place next Thursday at Boston Pizza.

Relays Dollars Counted

Another successful year for the Relay for Life across northwestern Ontario.

Eight community events were held in recent months.

The Canadian Cancer Society's Maria Cabral says over $577-thousand dollars was raised with more money to come.

Nearly $83-thousand was raised at the Fort Frances event in June.

Atikokan will host an event of its own in September.

Site Plan For Biomass Boiler In Place

It took awhile, but there is now a site plan control agreement in place for the Resolute Forest Products biomass boiler with the town of Fort Frances.

Town Planner Faye Flatt says such plans are normally done before construction starts, but it was agreed to let construction go ahead six years ago while the plan was worked upon.

Changes in staff and the plan itself contributed to delays in getting the plan completed. 


The agreement was recommended at the suggestion of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs when rezoning of the property was taking place

Beware Of Ticks

Ontario’s Chief Medical Health Officer says people in northwestern Ontario shouldn’t be too complacent about ticks that carry Lyme disease.

Dr. Arlene King says the black legged ticks do make their north.

King says you can help avoid Lyme disease by wearing pants tucked into your socks and long-sleeved shirts as well as using insect repellent with DEET.

Riverfest Line-Up Change

There's been a change in the line-up for Riverfest in International Falls.

An accident involving a member of the Rush-tribute band Spindrift has forced that band to cancel several upcoming shows.

Riverfest organizers says a ZZTop Tribute band called ZZ Tripp out of Springfield, Illinois will take its place.

The concert at the Irvin N. Amphitheater goes July 20.

Quest Deadline Today

A few spots remain open for this year's Quest for the Best.

The Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce talent show is July 26 as part of the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship.

It's open to amateur singers 13 years and older with the deadline to register today.

Contact the Chamber.

Meantime, tickets for the event are now on sale at the Chamber office and Causeway Insurance

Metis/Rainy River Resources Reach MOU

Metis Nation of Ontario will be working closely with the developers of a proposed gold mine near Barwick.

A new memorandum of understanding has been signed between the Metis Nation and Rainy River Resources.

The agreement provides for ongoing consultation with the Metis, who are now part of an existing working group, and outlines how potential impacts on Metis' rights and interests will be addressed.

Market Thursdays Doing Well

The Fort Frances Downtown Business Improvement Association is hoping to foster a few more businesses.

It develop Market Thursdays three years ago as a way of increasing foot traffic downtown

Chairs Doug Anderson is happy with how its been going.

He also hoping it will help lead to new business starts.

Market Thursday is now into its third year.

Energy Discussions

Northwestern Ontario leaders will get an opportunity to address concerns of a pending energy crisis across the north.

Ontario has kicked off two months of consultations on the province's long-term energy plan.

The only information session in the northwest is scheduled for August 7 in Thunder Bay.

Submissions can also be made through the Ministry of Energy's website.

Frisbee Golf Course Planned

A new golf course is preparing to open in International Falls this fall.

But instead of clubs and balls, your going to need strong arms and frisbees

One of the organizers Brad Krasaway says the 12 hole frisbee course would be located around Rainy River Community College and would be free to the public to use.

Krasaway says the College's Student Life committee and Koochiching County have agreed to provide funding with hopes of a similar commitment from the city.

Lodge Operator Fined

The operator of a fishing resort in the Rainy River district is a little light in the wallet.

Mark Zupancich, who run the Zup's Fishing Resort and Canoe Outfitters in Lac La Croix, has been fined $2,000 for not submitting payment to the province for the sale of hunting and fishing licences in 2011.

Zupancich plead guilty to the charge in court and also repaid in full to the province almost $14-thousand that was owed.

End the Flavour

Folks in northwestern Ontario are being asked to help "End the Flavour."

It's a campaign out by the Canadian Cancer Society aimed at ending the sale of flavoured tobacco products

Community Programs Consultant Kiri Butter says it's drawing awareness that despite existing legislation, products are still out there.

The Society's set up a web page asking residents to write their MPP to support a ban.

Early Numbers Point To College Enrolment Increase

Early enrollment figures are pointing to an increase in students to Confederation College this fall.

President Jim Madder says early enrollment confirmation numbers are up 5 percent.

That's about an extra 100 students more than last year's enrollment.

Koochiching Not Enthused About Wheelage Tax

New rules allowing Counties to levy a tax on vehicle licenses for road improvements isn't getting a warm reception by Koochiching County commissioners.

Legislation allows Minnesota counties to collect up to 10 dollars per car and truck.

For Koochiching, it would mean an estimated $130,000.



Commissioner Wayne Skoe worries the State may be poised to reduced its funding commitments to the County if they don't do it.

Commissioner Wade Pavleck says with residents already being hit by fee and tax increases in other areas, now is no the right time to consider the idea.

Counties have to let the State know of their intention by August 1st.

Wolf Numbers Drop in Minnesota

Wildlife managers say Minnesota's wolf population has fallen by about 700 animals over the past five years.

The Department of Natural Resources estimates the population now at about 22-hundred.

A smaller deer population, the wolves main food source, and last years return of wolf hunting are citing as contributing factors to the drop.

Red Lake Area Forest Fire Focus For MNR

A large forest fire near Red Lake has become a priority for the Ministry of Natural Resources.

The lightning-caused blaze has scorched more than 11-thousand hectares and is listed as not under control.

The fire is 40 kilometers southwest of Red Lake and 30 kilometers northeast of Pikangikum First Nation, but neither community is currently at risk.

Ride For Memories Accepting Registration

An annual motorcycle ride across northwestern Ontario in support of the Alzheimer Society returns.

The Ride for Memories and Poker Derby through the Kenora and Rainy River districts takes place August 24.

The Society's Rossana Tomashowski says registration can be made by calling its Kenora office or through its website.

The ride is one of the Society's biggest fundraisers.

This year's goal is to raise $50-thousand.

Firefighters Deal Reached

A tentative agreement has apparently been reached between the town of Fort Frances and its firefighters.

No details are being revealed until ratification of the deal has been made by members of the Fort Frances Professional Firefighters Association

Fort Frances council gave its blessing Monday night.

Thunder Bay Prepare To Fight Assessment Appeal

Thunder Bay City Council is getting ready to do battle with Resolute Forest Products.

As it did in Fort Frances, the company is appealing the assessed value of its Thunder Bay mill.

Councillor Ken Boshcoff says the city is looking at working with other municipalities facing similar situations.

Resolute wants to have its assessment  lowered from $72-million.

Food Bank Challenge Underway

Donations to a couple of agencies in International Falls can be that much more important this month.

Any funds received by the Falls Hunger Coalition or Salvation Army will be matched by the group "Open Your Hearth to the Hunger and Homeless."

Spokesperson Kristen Zoellner says every little bit helps.

The agency has increased its Food Bank Challenge to a $150-thousand in response to record demands by food banks.

Council Consider Rezoning Of Garden Site

Supporters of the Fort Frances Community Garden want their garden to be a permanent fixture in town.

They're hoping council will agree to a rezoning of the property on Lillie Avenue to make that happen.

Krista Neilson of the Northwestern Health Unit says a move to a new location would be a set back.

Neilson says interest in the garden blossomed since it started three years ago with a new kids club numbering 35 going this year.

Council Supports Kraft Celebration Tour Bid

Fort Frances Council is throwing its support behind the Fort Frances Curling Club and its bid in the Kraft Celebration Tour.

Mayor Roy Avis is encourages everyone in the region back the bid as well.

Council has agreed to help promote the upcoming July 19 vote on the town's website and is temporarily waving its sign-by law to allow the club to display posters around town.

New Fees For Sunny Cove Camp

Fort Frances Council has given approval to a lower fee at  Sunny Cove Camp.

Groups wanting to use camp's facilities for only a few hours will be charged $75 for half day use or $125 for the full day.

The new fees were a recommendation of an advisory committee who suggested they may attract more users to the facility.

Dragon Boats Secure Funding

Organizers of a Dragon Boat Club in Fort Frances have secured funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell says Northern Community Development Services is getting $52-thousand  to assist in the club's formation.

The club genesis comes out of two successful dragon boat festivals.

Student Run Business Gets Provincial Support

A Fort Frances student has launched his own company with help from a provincial program aimed at promoting youth entrepreneurship.

Tanner Bell is operating "Social Torch Media," a social-media based business, after his business proposal was accepted by the Summer Company program.

It's just one of three in the Kenora and Rainy River districts to be accepted.

Bell receives a grant to start his business and an additional bursary if it proves to be successful.

Firefly To Benefit From Foundation Gift

A regional children's agency is receiving some support from a Kenora-based foundation.

Firefly's board chair Jackie Mitchell says the Kenora and Lake of the Woods Regional Community Foundation has set up a 50-thousand dollar endowment fund to offer funding for various program.

Mitchell says donations towards the fund through the foundation can also be made as well.

Chares Laid In Weekend Stand Off

A Fort Frances man has now been charged in connection with a weekend stand-off with OPP.

33 year old Bobby Joe Wilson remains in custody until Friday after making a brief appearance in court today.

He was arrested after a 13-hour stand-off in Fort Frances ended peacefully

Police were dealing with a call outside a First Street East Home earlier that morning when they say a man refused to obey their orders and went inside where a gun was fired.

The incident forced the evacuation of residents nearby while additional OPP resources were brought in to help bring the situation.

First Nations Rally In Support Of Police

First Nations communities are rallying around the Treaty 3 Police Service.

The force says it will cease August 19 because of financial issues.

Public Service Alliance of Canada's Sharon DeSousa says they were shocked by the decision.

Petitions to keep the force alive are now circulating around communities effected with a rally planned in Kenora July 23.

Fire Crews Moved

MNR file photo

The lack of forest fire activity in the Rainy River district is allowing the Ministry of Natural Resources to move crews to where they're needed.

Crews from this region, as well as from Thunder Bay, Kenora and Dryden areas have been deployed to support their counterparts further north.

Over 40 fires are burning, mostly in the Red Lake, Sioux Lookout and Nipigon districts.

Help is also arriving from the MNR's northeastern regions.

Information Sharing At Border

Some of the information gathered from travelers at northwestern Ontario's border crossings in now being shared.

It's part of an initiative between the Canada Border Services Agency and U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Program director Andrew Lawrence says it expands on a pilot program conducted at four borders last year and is aimed at improving security at the border

Lawrence says much of the data collected is already contained in documents such as a passport.

Traffic Disruption Today In Fort Frances

A reminder to motorists in Fort Frances.

A section of Second Street, between Central and Mowat Avenues, is being closed this morning as crews begin the first phase of installing new sewer and water pipes.

Traffic lights at Central and Second will also be shut off as well.

Detour signs have been posted.

TSN Personality To Be A Part Of Tour

Eleven days before you get your votes in to support the Fort Frances Curling Club's bid to be a part of the Kraft Celebration Tour.

TSN's Jennifer Hedger would be among those in Fort Frances when we beat Dryden July 19.

Hedger, who missed the last two tours, says they help show community pride, giving them a chance to show off on a national stage.

Hedger says she'd love to come to Fort Frances, but encourages people to get online and vote often to make it happen when the polls officially open.

Caramel Set To Travel

Fort Frances Library photo

Caramel has his bags packed and passport.

The Fort Frances Public Library's pet guinea pig is visiting area libraries as part of a summer reading program.

Chief Librarian Alicia Subnaik-Kilgour says it connect with the program's travel theme.

Caramel begins his travels this week to the Rainy River library with stopped later in Emo and Atikokan.

Union Deal Helps Resolute Plan For Restart

An agreement between Resolute Forest Products and the Communications Energy and Paperworkers Union will allow the company to restart an idled paper machine at its Fort Frances mill later this month.

Machine number 7 will run for two to three months beginning July 17.

CEP National Rep Stephen Boon says about 40 people, laid off earlier this year, will be asked to return.

He says the return will be voluntary and former workers who refuse won't be in fear of losing their severance or recall rights.

Boon says many workers who might be called back may have found new jobs and won't be able to return.


Boon says they are still hoping for some feedback from Resolute on what the long range plans are for the mill.

No Kid Pro Or Parade For Bass Tournament

2012 Kid Pro Winners

A lack of people to run them is to blame for the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship putting both the Kid Pro fishing tournament and Parade of Boats on hiatus this year.

The Kid Pro offered young people the chance to fish in a catch-and-release tournament style event with anglers competing in the main event.


President Gord Watson says there were angler concerns the event, held the Sunday before the main tournament, impacted on their ability to pre-fish.

But he says the main reason for it not going this year was the inability to find anyone to organize and run it.

Watson says similar issues faced the parade of boats.

The parade was last cancelled in 2009 because of a lack of interest from anglers.

Watson says if people step forward next year, both event could return.

Question of the Week

Will you miss the Kid Pro Fishing Tournament and Parade of Boats not taking place at this year's Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championships?

Let us know on our website 931theborder.ca.

In response to our last question, 67 per cent feel a need for a public nuisance by-law in Fort Frances.

Castin' For Cash Underway

Another bass fishing tournament gets underway this morning.

Sixty-three teams are competing in the Castin' for Cash Bass Tournament on Lake Despair.

Wayne and Pat Howard are the two-time defending champs.

Teams leave the docks this morning with first day weigh-ins at 4 p.m.

Lightning Blazing Up New Fires

MNR file photo

Multiple forest fire starts are beginning to put pressure on the Ministry of Natural Resources,

As many as 40 new fires have popped up in the past three days, all lightning caused.

One of the largest is about 40 kilometres northwest of Red Lake which has been mapped at 2,600 hectares as the result of several smaller fires joining as one.

None of the fires burning are in the Rainy River district.

Teddy Bear Picnic Today

FF Library photo

It's a Teddy Bear picnic at the Fort Frances Library today.

It begins at 11 a.m. and cost $3.00 per person.

Program director Andrea Avis says there will be a lot of activities for young children and their favourite bear to participate.

Dr. Elaine also returns to provide teddy bears in need.

Thunder Bay's Jim 'n' I will provide the day's musical entertainment.

People are welcome to bring blankets, lawn chairs and a picnic lunch, although there will be food sold on site.

And don't forget your favourite teddy bear.

Cold And Dry June In Borderland

It was a much colder and drier June in the Borderland.

The National Weather Service out of Duluth says the average temperature during the month in International Falls was about 15 C or 60.2 F  - about half a degree lower than normal.

Just 1.6 inches of rain were also recorded, more than two inches below the norm.

Acadia Buys New Station

Acadia Broadcasting is moving to add another radio station to its stable.

The parent company of  93.1 The Border has filed an application with the Canadian Radio Television and Telecommunications Commission to purchase CKNI-FM in Moncton, New Brunswick,

The Saint John based company currently owns ten stations across the Maritimes and northwestern Ontario.

from Rogers Broadcasting.

Target To Open In Thunder Bay Soon

Target will soon open its doors in northwestern Ontario.

The company has announced a July 16th opening of its store in Thunder Bay.

It will be located at the former Zeller's Store in Intercity Mall.

Fire Situation Heating Up

MNR file photo

All quiet here, but the forest fire situation elsewhere in northwestern Ontario is heating up.

Debbie MacLean of the Ministry of Natural Resources says five new fires were spotted yesterday, bringing to 40 the number active.

Most were lightning strikes from storms that had passed through the area several days ago.

MacLean says the hazard sits at high and could peak to extreme by the weekend.

Kidpro/Parade Gone From FFCBC

The Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship has released its schedule for this year's event with a couple of glaring omissions.

Both the Kidspro and Parade of Boat are not listed as events this year.

No explanation from the organizing committee as to why.

The Kidspro allowed young anglers to fish in a tournament style event with the pro angling teams.

The parade was last cancelled in 2009 due to a lack of interest from anglers.

Kraft Happy With Local Match Up

It wasn't easy, but Kraft Canada is happy with the communities selected vying to be a part of its Celebration Tour.

Fort Frances and Dryden were among the twenty selected out of 620 submissions.

Kraft's Promotions Manager Sue Brooks says their bids best meet the criteria to advance.

Brooks encourages the communities to promote themselves as best they can get to get out as many people on voting day July 19th.

The winning community will earn a $25-thousand cash reward and a chance to host TSN's broadcast of its Sportscentre program.

Kraft will also bring in a variety of activities

Fourth of July Celebrations In International Falls

Rainy Lake CVB photo

Today's a holiday for our American friends celebrating the Fourth of July.

Festivities in International Falls focus around Smokey Bear park with games, crafters, food vendors and music getting underway at 11 this morning.

The main parade through the downtown core will start at 1 p.m. with a theme Honouring the Backus Community Centre.

There is also a kiddie parade starting at 12:30 p.m.

The day ends with a fireworks display lit off from the Falls High School track at 10 p.m.

Dragon Boat Club Coming Together

The recent success of the dragon boat races in Fort Frances is leading to the development of a club.

It will get a kick off tonight at 5:30 p.m.at the Sorting Gap Marina

NDCS's Jenny Greenhalgh says they hope to bring in trainers to generate more interest and have the boat used more often.

It's also expect a club will help expand the now growing dragon boat festival.

Those interested are asked to contact NCDS.

Tea Time At The Museum

Tea continues to be served at the Fort Frances Museum.

The museum began serving tea and scones as part of the Fort Frances Business Improvement Association's Market Thursdays.

Curator Sherry George says it ties in with a current exhibit of fine bone china that has been donated by area residents.

George says the teas have been well received, helping to attract new people to the Museum.

By-elections Date Panned

Ontario's opposition parties are crying foul over the premier's chosen date for five upcoming by-elections.

Progressive Conservative Lisa McLeod say Kathleen Wynne is playing "dirty tricks'' by sending voters to the ballot box just before the August long weekend.

All five by-elections are in Liberal-held ridings which McLeod claims gives the incumbent party a huge advantage with experienced workers already on the ground.