Safe Welcome Program Now In Effect

Rainy River District School Board is putting its Safe Welcome Program in place today.

The front doors of all of it's elementary schools will now be locked while students and staff are in class.

Visitors to the school will be required to press a buzzer at the front door to request access.

Prescribed Burn Still Active

The Ministry of Natural Resources continues to monitor a prescribed burn on Lake of the Woods.

The blaze was lit on an island near the Aulneau Peninsula September 26.

The MNR says the fire is quietly smouldering and demonstrating minimal fire activity.

Shipwreck From 60 Years Ago Found

A group of shipwreck hunters have made a record breaking discovery near Thunder Bay.

The group found the sunken Scotiadoc which sank near the Sleeping Giant in 1954 after colliding with another ship.

A member of the group, Jerry Eliason says it's a significant find because it's in 870 feet of water, the deepest a shipwreck has been found in the Great Lakes.

The discovery of the Issac Jenkins in Lake Ontario held the previous record at 750 feet.

OPP Like Cameras In Downtown Fort Frances

OPP would like to see more video surveillance of downtown Fort Frances.

Detachment Commander Inspector Steve Shouldice made the remark during Friday's police services board meeting as he updated it on the ongoing investigation into last month's incident at the Northern Lights Credit Union.

Shouldice says the recorded evidence can be useful for police in piecing together movement of people and events in their search for suspects.

Investigators are still reviewing forensic and some video tape evidence from businesses as they look for someone who left a bag at the Credit Union's back door with a note to fill it with money.

Stationary Christmas Parade Planned

File photo

There will be floats - they just won't be moving.

Organizers of the annual Parade of Lights in Fort Frances are planning to have a static display in the downtown area as part of a festival-type event to kick off the Christmas season.

Causeway Insurance will still stage the event and spokesperson Robin Payeur says it was suggested by the Downtown Business Improvement Association.

Payeur says it also take away the worry of children running into the path of floats as they chase for candy being tossed.

What do you think?

It's our question on our website 931theborder.ca

In response to last week's question, 60 per cent of respondents support Fort Frances council dedicating funds in next year's budget to knocking down the former Rainy Lake Hotel.

Highway Contract Awarded

File photo

The provincial government is fixing up a stretch of Highway 11 west of Atikokan. 

Pioneer Construction is getting the $6.7 million contract.

More than 20 kilometres of Highway 11 is being repaved.

Vets Speak Out

Military veterans are speaking out against the planned closure of some Veterans Affairs Offices in Canada.

The office in Thunder Bay is among them.

Second world war vet Roy Lamore says refocusing some the government's current spending could help keep the office open.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada says closure of the Thunder Bay office will force veterans from northwestern Ontario having to access services in Kirkland Lake which has experienced its own staff cuts.

Area Paramedics Receive Awards

Supplied photo

Recognition for some paramedics with the Rainy River District Emergency Medical Service.

Gabrielle Emond, Marty Emond and Deputy Chief Ed Carlson have been awarded Governor General Emergency Medical Services Exemplary Service Medals.

The medals recognize both exemplary service and longevity.

They received the medal in a ceremony in Toronto last month.

Governor To Visit International Falls

International Falls is about to get another visit by Minnesota's Governor Mark Dayton.

He's scheduled to be in the city Wednesday.

Details of his visit have yet to be released, but his visit coincides with the official opening of Good Samaritan Society's new facility.

Dayton was last in the Falls in August 2012 to help in a groundbreaking ceremony of the city's planned multi-modal facility.

Union Speaks Out About Closure

Public Service Alliance Union Of Canada is holding a town hall meeting today to discuss the federal government's decision to close several Veterans Affairs Offices across Canada, including the one in Thunder Bay.

The Union is also staging a rally in Thunder Bay to draw awareness.

Similar even
ts across Canada are being held at the same time.

Woman To Woman Campaign Underway

This is Breast Cancer awareness month.

The Canadian Cancer Society is pushing its Women to Women Campaign which focuses on women talking about the importance of mammograms.

Northwest Spokesperson Maria Cabral says women age 50 to 69 should get one every two-years.

Cabral is inviting women across the region to become "ambassadors" to help raise awareness.

Luncheon Of Hope This Month

A well-known doctor known to many cancer patients in northwestern Ontario makes a visit to Fort Frances later this month.

Chair of the Rainy River District Breast Health Network Teresa Hazel says Dr. Dimitrios Vergidis will be their guest speaker at the upcoming Luncheon of Hope.

He's the Chief of Oncology at the Regional Cancer Centre in Thunder Bay.

Tickets for the October 19 event are now on sale at all Riverside Health Care hospitals, Pharmasave, Shoppers Drug Mart or by calling 274-4817.

Gun Amnesty Next Month

Treaty Three Police will collected old, unlicensed firearms next month.

It's part of a firearms amnesty program.

The aboriginal police service says the program allows community members to surrender any unwanted, damaged, or illegally possessed firearms without being charged.

Anyone who turns in a gun or rifle will receive a gift card from a local business.

Water Warning

A warning has been issued about bottled water coming from a southern Ontario company.

Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health is advising people not to consume or serve bottled water manufactured by Blue Glass Water, also known as Caledon Clear Water.

Officials says recent tests found the water to be heavily contaminated with bacteria.

So far, there are no reported illnesses as a result.

Chili Cook-Up Coming up

It's time to get those chili recipes ready.

The Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce's annual Chili Cook-Off takes place October 24.

Spokesperson Samantha Manty says they're going with a magical theme this year.

Call the Chamber to register.

Front Doors At Schools Now Locked

Doors at all public elementary schools in the Rainy River District will now be locked during the school day.

It's part of a new Safe Welcome Program being put in place by the Rainy River District School Board.

Manager of Plant Operations Travis Enge says visitors to the school will be required to press a buzzer at the front door to request access.

Enge says the measure is in place to better the safety of students and staff inside and is not not intended to discourage the public from visiting.

The measures, effective at the end of this week, do not impact area high schools and were paid for by funding from the province.

Northwestern Ontario MP's Expenses Revealed

Northwestern Ontario Members of Parliament are not the most frugal in the country.

The area's MP's are well above the average when it came to paying to run their constituency offices and to travel back and forth to Ottawa last year.

Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford spent the most at $480-thousand.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River's John Rafferty's expenses came in at $459-thousand.

The average spent by MP's was about $399-thousand.

Hefty Price To Meet State Rules

Koochiching County is balking at hiring two corrections officers to meet State regulations for its jail.

The need for round the clock coverage may not come into effect until sometime next year, but County Commissioner Wade Pavleck says a $200-thousand dollar price tag for the officers is difficult to swallow.

Sheriff Brian Jesperson has been asked to see how the rule can be met by hiring one new officer.

Voyageurs Closed

Voyageurs National Park is among agencies being impacted by the U.S. federal government shutdown.

All trails, backcountry campsites, and visitor facilities have been closed.

About 35 of the park's employees are impacted.

New Officers With Rainy River Resources

There's been a turnover of the top management team at Rainy River Resources.

Six new officers have been appointed as part of New Gold's planned takeover of the mining company.

Robert Gallagher become the new president and chief Executive officer.



He holds the same positions with New Gold.

New Gold's acquisition of Rainy River is expected to be complete by the middle of the this month.

Former Rainy River Resources CFO Finds New Work

Rainy River Resources' former chief financial officer has found new employment.

Nik Nikolakakis has joined Rubicon Minerals as its vice-president and chief financial officer.

Rubicon is in the advanced stage of a gold project in the Red Lake area.

Warm September In Falls

Above normal temperatures for International Falls last month.

The National Weather Service says the city ended the month 4.2 degrees F warmer than normal.

Cockburn Supporting Environmental Group

Clinton Gray photo

An environmental message from Bruce Cockburn as he travels through northwestern Ontario.

He's helping the group Environmental Defence with its campaign to remove toxic chemicals found in many common household products.

Cockburn says its an issue that impacts everyone.

Cockburn performed at the Townshend Theatre in Fort Frances last night and is at St. Patrick's School in Atikokan tonight.

TimeTable Discussed For School Decision

The fate of three elementary schools in the west end of the Rainy River district could be decided early in the new year.

The Rainy River District School Board is being asked to consider the recommendations of advisory committees calling for a rebuild of Donald Young School in Emo and that Sturgeon Creek in Barwick and that Crossroads in Devlin be left open.

A special board meeting to discuss administration's reviews of the reports is now planned for November with the board expected to make a final decision in January.

Federal Riding Boundary Stays The Same

The federal riding of Thunder Bay-Rainy River will remain virtually the same.

The Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario has submitted its final report to the Chief Electoral Office

MP John Rafferty is happy the Commission opted against an initial proposal to add the Lake of the Woods area to the Kenora riding.

Sabaskong Bay, which is split by boundaries, will be a part of the Kenora riding.

Local Liberal Likes Common Ground Initiative

A new website set up by Ontario's Liberals to gather input into new policies is being welcomed by the president of the Kenora-Rainy River Liberal Riding Association.

Anthony Leek sees it important for people in our area to have a voice.

Leek says people sharing ideas can go along way in shaping the Ontario's future.

Hudak Offers Plan To Premier

Progressive Conservative leader Tim Hudak isn't high on the Liberal's Common Ground campaign.

Hudak doesn't see how its going to help get people without a job find one.

Hudak says if Premier Wynne doesn't have a job creation strategy, he welcomes her to steal his and call it her own.

Men Fined For Harassing Moose

Two men have been fined $2,500 after being caught riding a moose.

The Ministry of Natural Resources charged the men in July after receiving complaints and reviewing video footage.

Court was told Andrew Weiers of Dryden and Matthew Weiers of Alberta were witnessed circling a moose in their boat on Eagle Lake with one of the men eventually jumping on the animal's back.

Breastfeeding Week

The Northwestern Health Unit is celebrating World Breastfeeding Week.

Public Health Nurse Donna Mior says not only is breastfeeding good for the baby, but it's good for mom too.

Mior says it's also well documented that breast milk is all that a baby requires for the first 6-months.

We Day Honoured

Students who played a role in organizing a mini-We Day in the spring at Rainy River High School are being recognized tonight by the Rainy River District School Board.

Student council organized last May's event, bringing together motivational speakers and performers, including Jared Funk, a three-time medal para-Olympian, the Winnipeg Blue Bomber Cheerleaders and author Drew Hayden Taylor.

This year's student council is planning to hold another event next April.

School Breakfast Programs Getting Funded

School breakfast programs at Ontario's schools are being expanded.

The provincial government says it will provide an additional $3-million towards the development of 200 new breakfast and morning meal programs, mostly in high-need communities.

Part of the funding will also support the hiring of coordinators to work with schools in developing partnerships with businesses and food distribution networks.

Bayfield Continues Exploration

Exploration around the New Gold's gold project, formerly Rainy River Resources, near Barwick continues.

Bayfield Ventures is out with its latest assay results

The company is drilling in an area it believes to be as significant as New Gold's deposit.

Shooting Incident In Caramat

A search is underway for a man wanted in connection with a shooting incident in the small northwestern Ontario community of Caramat. near Longlac.

OPP says another man is recovering after being shot in the leg during a confrontation last night.

Police says the suspect showed up at the victim's home last night, wearing a ski mask and carrying a long run, firing a single shot before fleeing.

Smoking Off Limits At Thunder Bay Hospital

If you've got a medical appointment at Thunder Bay's Health Science Centre, leave the cigarettes at home.

The city has approved changes to its smoking by-laws allowing the hospital to ban smoking outright on its grounds.

Hospital Spokesperson Tracie Smith says the changes will allow hospital security and Health Unit officers to ticket anyone caught smoking on hospital grounds. 

The exact amount of the fine has not been set.

Premier Stays Away From Personal Attacks

Premier Kathleen Wynne wants to distance her Liberals from the opposition.

With election talk heating up in Ontario, Wynne says she has no interest in a campaign of mudslinging or personal attacks, and doesn't think the public wants it either.

Wynne addressed party faithful in Hamilton on the weekend in an event aimed at developing policies for the next election.

Gravelle Supports Bear Bill

Ontario's Northern Development Michael Gravelle says he'll back a private members bill aimed at reducing incidents of nuisance bears.

It's being introduced by Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro.

Mauro's bill also looks at expanding the Ontario's hunt, even if includes returning the spring hunt.

Accountability Office Gets Approval

The provincial Government is one step closer to having a financial accountability officer.

The bill has passed third reading in the legislature.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell says it will ensure scandals, like that of the gas-plant cancellations, never happen again.

The creation of an accountability office was a key demand from the NDP in supporting the Liberals budget.

Catholic Board Happy With Numbers

The Northwest Catholic District School Board says it's seeing some improvements in the latest provincial test scores.

The board bettered its result in Grade 3 reading by five per cent while 70 per cent of its grade 6's met or better the provincial standard in reading.

Education Director Rick Boisvert says they also see a reduction in the gender gap, especially at grade 6.

In math, 58 per cent of grade 3's and 62 per cent of grade 6's achieved provincial standards.

Environment Fines Going Back To Communities Effected

Fines collected from companies who violated Ontario's environmental laws are being turned back to the communities the infractions occurred.

Over $320-thousand will be doled out to groups and organizations that apply for improvement projects.

None of the money, though, is available to communities in northwestern Ontario.

Steps Against Stigma

Mental Illness Awareness Week goes next week  and the Canadian Mental Health Association in Fort Frances will kick it off with a walk Saturday.

Spokesperson Nancy Daley-Fulton says "Steps Against Stigmac" is in part to draw awareness of the stigma of mental illness.

Registration forms can be obtained at CMHA, its website, Energy Fitness or at the day of the event

Province Encouraging Breastfeeding

The province wants to see more newborns breast feed.

That why Ontario's Health Ministry will spend more than $2.5 million dollars on a campaign to encourage breastfeeding.

Health Minister Deb Matthews says about 90 per cent of mothers want to breast feed, but only 60 per cent do so.

The campaign includes a 24-hour support hotline and specific initiatives for areas where there is a low rate of breastfeeding.

Phone Number To Stay On List

It may only take one call to avoid those pesky telemarketers.

The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commissions says numbers registered with the National Do Not Call List who were to expire today, will remain on its list for another year.

The registry was set up five years ago with the intend of people re-registering every five years.

The CRTC says existing registrants will stay in place while it gathers comments on how to keep them permanently.

Municipal Leaders Frustrated With Government

Area municipal leaders are frustrated.

They directed much of their angry at Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle during the Northwestern Ontario Regional Conference.

President of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association Dave Canfield says government just not moving fast enough on northern issues such as the Ring of Fire development.

Municipal reps are also looking for a conversion of the generating station in Thunder Bay to proceed.

Northern Policy Institute Working To Include More Input

The Northern Policy Institute wants to give northerners more say into the decision making process at Queen's Park.

Chief Executive Officer Charles Cirtwell says they're trying to create an online community consultation tool that will gather public feedback on Provincial Government policies.

The independent think tank for northern Ontario was formed more than a year ago.

Routes Identified For Power Project

Several routes have been identified for a transmission line through Minnesota to draw power from Manitoba.

The first phase will see the line connect to the Iron Range area.

Minnesota Power's Joe Atkinson says they are getting close to determining a preferred route.

Some of the possible routes go through Koochiching County including one passing by Littlefork.

New Gold CEO Head World Committee

The Chief Executive Officer with New Gold has been selected to head the World Gold Council.

Randall Oliphant will take over from Ian Telfer, chair of Goldcorp.

The World Gold Council is the market development organization for the gold industry.

New Gold is in the process of taking over Rainy River Resources

Former Fort Frances Man Honoured

A former Fort Frances officer has been recognized for an act of bravery by the OPP.

Constable Mike Golding, who now works in Thunder Bay, helped find a woman with mental illness who had wandered away from her home in Kaministiqua in minus 20 degree temperatures.

Golding received the St. John Ambulance Award and the Commissioner's Letter in a ceremony recently in Thunder Bay.

First Nation Dispute Heads To Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of Canada has decided to hear a Kenora First Nations appeal of an Ontario Court of Appeal's over land use decisions

The Wabauskang First Nation wants the federal court to determine whether Ontario has the authority to make land-use decisions in Treaty 3.

The band currently has a case against Rubicon Minerals.

The Supreme Court is expected to hear the appeal sometime late next year.

Question Of The Week

Fort Frances council is being asked to set aside money in the 2014 budget  towards the demolition of the former Rainy Lake Hotel.

Should this be a priority for council next year?

Let us know on our website 931theborder.ca.

Minnesota A Good Place To Do Business

Minnesota is being eyed as one of the best States for Business.

Forbes Magazine ranks the Gopher State eighth, up 12 spots from its showing in 2012.

Forbes credits the strength of the Twin Cities to host several national corporations, Minnesota's school system, it's low poverty rate and the health of its population as benefits to business.

Virginia is ranked number one.

High School Test Results Revealed

Some good news for the Rainy River District School Board in the latest results from the standardized tests written by its high school students

86 per cent of grade 9 students met or exceeded provincial standard in the test for academic mathematics

Education Director Heather Campbell says that better the provincial average.

The board did see declines in the outcomes in applied math.