Drug Bust Details To Be Announced

File photo

Details of a lengthy drug investigation in northwestern Ontario are being reveal today.

It involved Dryden Police, OPP, Treaty Three Police and the Anishinabek Police Service.

A media conference is planned for this morning in Kenora police say will address the results of a lengthy undercover operation that led to large amounts of cash, drugs and property being seized.

Charge Laid In Fort Severn Death

A 19-year-old man from Fort Severn First Nation is facing a charge of second-degree-murder in connection with the death of a woman in that remote community earlier this week..

Nishnawbe-Aski Police say 24-year-old Georgina Beck Stoney died at the community's nurse station Monday.

Charged is Tommy Raymond Miles Junior.

Community Television Station On Fundraising Drive

Officials with a community television station in International Falls are now focused on funding.

A community drive is underway to raise funds for equipment.

Board member and city councillor Cynthia Jaksa says it includes purchasing gear to stream programming on-line throughout Koochiching County.

Jaksa says they also want to purchase cameras to be placed in communities outside International Falls where resident can use to record their own programming for the station.

Long Time Kenora Councillor Died

A former Kenora councillor has died.

Helene Dubenski, often known as the hat lady, died earlier this week at the age of 96.

Dubenski served as a councillor for 27 years under 6 different mayors during the 1970's, 80's and 90's.

Motorists Paying For Road Improvements

A new study says Ontario drivers are paying most of road infrastructure costs, to the tune of more than $7.5-billion a year.

The Conference Board of Canada says drivers of cars, minivans, SUVs and light pickup trucks now pay 70 to 90 per cent of the costs through fuel taxes, fees and tolls.

The report notes that municipalities that own and maintain a large part of the infrastructure collect a relatively small portion of that revenues.

E-Waste Day In International Falls

Residents of Koochiching will get an opportunity next month to rid themselves of their old televisions, computers and stereos.

Rainy River Community College, along with Wisconsin-based 5R Processors, will hold a collection day November 2.

Most consumer electronics and home office equipment will be accepted.

New Deal For Medical School Dean

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine has the only dean its known, for a little longer.

Dr. Roger Strasser has been reappointed Dean in a deal that will keep him around until the end of June 2019.

Strasser was first hired in 2002 as the school's Founding Dean to aid in its development and subsequent opening in 2005.

Let's Talk

Confederation College student union is talking.

It's launched a new monthly live talk show series titled "Let's Talk About...."

The Student Union says it intended to engage students and the community in dialogue on a wide variety of what can be difficult, challenging or taboo subjects.

Each show will be broadcast via video conference to the college's regional campuses and recorded for the web.

The first show, about sex, took place yesterday
.

Throne Speech Delivered

The federal government's Throne Speech is making a lot of promises.

It includes working to improve the skilled trades sector.

The Throne Speech also mentions the federal government's vow to improve First Nation's education on reserve.

The Harper government will also continue pare down the size and cost of Government, reduce cell phone roaming costs and to make cable providers offer pick and pay TV services.

Community Living Unveils Plans For Former School

Supplied photo

We'll get a look later today at what the future plans are for the former Sixth Street School in Fort Frances.

Community Living Fort Frances and District intends to take the wraps off its plans for the property at an event at the site at 2:30 p.m. this afternoon.

The invite says the agency proposes to build a fully accessible, mufti-purpose building that will include areas for training, activities and office space.

Community Living purchased the former school for a dollar almost four years ago from the Rainy River District School Board.

Ontario Education Minister Looking At Education System

Education Minister Liz Sandals is talking about the future of the province's education system.

She's on an Ontario wide tour and visited Thunder Bay yesterday.

Sandals says some of the concerns are around meeting the needs of students with disabilities.

Sandals says students are also interested in learning about personal finance and entrepreneurship in high school.

Loans Considered For New Animal Shelter

Koochiching County and the city of International Falls are being asked to float the Borderland Humane Society loans to help build a new animal shelter.

City Solicitor Steve Shermoen says the loans will help get construction going and will be repaid over time.

Shermoen says he's aware of financial support the Society may get in the future that could help pay off the loans.

Both the City and County have previously agreed to provide $50-thousand each toward the project.

Branding Workshop Tonight

The Northwest Business Centre is helping area entrepreneurs put a fresh twist on marketing their products.

Centre Manager Diane Schwartz-Williams says The Creating and Communicating Your Brand Story workshop will be held tonight in Fort Frances.

The event costing 30 dollars goes from 5 to 9 tonight at the La Place Rendez Vous.

"Ordinary Woman, Extraordinary Dreams" Showing Today

An inspirational documentary is being show today in Fort Frances.

Spinal Cord Injury Ontario's Darren Lillington says "Ordinary Woman, Extraordinary Dreams", about Maggie Sofea, a young aboriginal woman from Summer Beaver First Nation, who had an accident at very young age and how she's overcome her disability to achieve several life goals including returned to her home  community.

The viewing take place at 2 p.m. at the Fort Frances Library.

Rainy River Resources Is Now New Gold

A friendly takeover of Rainy River Resources is now complete.

New Gold says it now controls all of the company's shares, completing a deal announced in June.

Executive chair Randall Oliphant is pleased the acquisition is now complete and says they can focus attention on advancing Rainy River's gold project north of Barwick.

New Gold is in the process of completing a detailed review and update of the feasibility study as well as advancing the permitting efforts.

NOMA President On Hand For Throne Speech

An interesting spectator from northwestern Ontario in Ottawa for the Throne Speech.

The president of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association, Dave Canfield was invited to attend.

Canfield says he also got a chance to meet face to face with the federal cabinet.

Canfield says Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford helped arrange for the invite which came directly from the Prime Minister's office.

Public Budget Requests Taken To Next Level

Fort Frances council is moving some of the public's budget requests on for further discussion.

Among them a new sidewalk along Keating Avenue requested by the Fort Frances Traffic Safety Committee.

Council agreed Monday night that it might be in a position to fund half the cost if proponents for the sidewalk agree to covering the other half.

Total cost is estimated at about 65-thousand dollars.

Normal Winter Forecast

Don't expect a lot of whitestuff in northwestern Ontario this winter.

Accu-Weather is out with its annual forecast and it shows below normal snowfall for the Rainy River district.

The long range winter forecast also suggests temperatures should be about normal. 

Council Talking Trees

Trees a topic for discussion at Fort Frances council last night.

Concerns about fallen and decaying trees were first brought up a local resident three weeks ago.

Town crews took care of problems at Legion Park, but councilor Andrew Hallikas says Pither's Point Park still needs to be addressed.

Operations and Facilities Manager Doug Brown says because the park's land is in dispute, permission is needed from area First Nations before work can take place.

Brown says there's also a need for some discussion about trees planted along Highway 11 in honour of war veterans.

Town To Address Zoning By-Law Issues

The town of Fort Frances intends to address a number of zoning issues around the community all in one swoop.

Planner Faye Flatt says a number of properties have been identified as being in non-compliance of the zoning by-law and she'll be contacting owners about possible changes.

Flatt says she's also hoping to include any property owner who may be considering new development and will require a zoning by-law chance in the process as well.

Any changes likely won't come until early in the new year.

Fort Council Pursues Provincial Dollars

Fort Frances council will pursue provincial funding for two infrastructure projects.

The town's hoping to do work along a section of Colonization Road West, near Armstrong Place, and Third Street East between Crowe and Frenette Avenues next year.

The combined price tag is about $2.8 million.

Council Says No

Fort Frances council is saying no to an apartment building owner's request to be exempt from the town's environmental fee.

The owners of Skyview Apartments feel that because their garbage collection is handled by a private firm, they shouldn't be required to pay the 4-dollar charge.

The new fee went in place this year to generate more revenue for the town's waste management services.

County Gives CN Ultimatium

CN is being given a deadline to fix up a rail crossing in Rainer.

Koochiching County Commissioner Wade Pavleck says it's so bad that a resident in a wheelchair can't cross.

Pavleck says the County's been promise the work will take place, but feels they've waited long enough for it to happen.

The County intends to tell CN that if the job isn't done by October 25, it will offer up its own crews to do the work.

Slash Burning In Crossroute Forest

A warning to users of bush roads in the Crossroute Forest area.

Resolute Forest Products has started the burning of residual branches and tree tops that remain after logging.

The burning is done to aid in reforestation.

Officials say smoke from the fires may reduce visibility so caution is advised.

Death Ruled Not Suspicious

OPP say the death of a hunter in the Rainy River area isn't suspicious.

The body of an American man was found by other hunters he was with Monday night, 30 kilometres north of the junction of Highway 11 and Highway 611 North.

His name has not been released pending notification of family members.

Fort Men Face Drug Charges

Two Fort Frances men face charges following a drug bust in Kenora.

OPP seized 12 pounds of marijuana after stopping a vehicle on Highway 17 Monday night.

Police value the drugs seized at over 36-hundred dollars.

A 20-year-old and a 26-year-old will appear in court in December on possession charges.

Throne Speech Today

The Harper government unveils its parliamentary agenda today with the Speech From the Throne.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty is looking for a promise to restore the 23 million dollars taken out of the FedNor budget so more industry can be developed here.

Rafferty believes the Prime Minister will try to make Canadians forget about his governments broken promises.

Mail Sorting Now Done In Thunder Bay.

Sorting of all of the region's mail is now being done at Canada's Post's sorting station in Thunder Bay.

A new system went in place last month.

Spokesperson John Caines says the city plant is now handling mail for areas such as Fort Frances, Dryden and Kenora.

Caines says the move is being made to help make the system more efficient and no jobs have bee lost because of the change.

CN Strike Looming

C.N. rail traffic across Canada could be coming to halt at the end of the month.

About 33-hundred employees, including conductors and yardmen, will be in a legal strike or lock out position October 28.

They've been without a contract since the middle of July.

The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference says the company's seeking concessions that could lead to train crews working longer hours.

The union says it's interested in continuing conciliated talks, but the offer was rejected by C.N.

Flu shot Clinics Open This Month

It's that time of year again.

The Northwestern Health Unit says its flu shot clinics will start up later this month run until the middle of November.

Public Health Nurse Shannon Brown says it's important that everyone get it, especially those who are high risk.

A list of clinics and times are to be posted on the Northwestern Health Unit's website this week.

Museum Gala

Friends of the Fort Frances Museum will hold its second annual  Wine and Cheese Fundraising Gala next month.

The November 7 event will include a silent auction and music provided by the Borderland Orchestra and other local performers.

Last year's event raised about $2,000 towards museum programming.

Girls Retreat Seeking Contest Funding

The organizer of a retreat for young girls is hoping to win a nation-wide contest.

The I Am Awesome and I Know It conference is vying for funding in the Aviva Community Fund.

Renee Martin-Brown says winning would help her promote the event throughout northwestern Ontario and cover the cost of presenters at future events.

First round voting ended Monday with second round qualifiers to be announced next Tuesday.

Sheriff To Use Facebook

Koochiching County's Sheriff's Department is turning to Facebook to help get its message out.

Sheriff Brian Jesperson says the idea of using social media came to him at a recent conference in Colorado

The page will go up next week featuring safety tips, emergency management information and a ten most wanted list.

Town Employee Recognized

A long time employee with the town of Fort Frances is being recognized.

Municipal by-law enforcement officer Arlene Byrnes has received an Ontario Municipal Law Enforcement Service Medal from the Municipal Law Enforcement Officers Association of Ontario for twenty years of service.

Teen Fatalities Reviewed

Some sobering statistics on driving fatalities in Canada, especially if your a teenager behind the wheel.

New research finds 16-to-19 year drivers are 30 per cent more likely to be killed in a car crash than drivers over 20.

The study by Traffic Injury Research Foundation finds that males account for 74 per cent of all teen deaths with alcohol the main contributing factor.

Almost one-fifth, or 19 per cent, of female teen driver fatalities were due to distraction.

Motorists Charged For Not Wearing Seatbelt

Too many drivers in the province continue to ignore Ontario's seatbelt law.

Provincial Police says they issued over 42-hundred tickets to motorists across Ontario for failing to click it in a recent seat belt campaign that wrapped up Sunday.

Minnesotan Told to Check Their Medicare Coverage

Minnesotans with Medicare Part D or an Advantage Plan are being urged to take a fresh look at their coverage, as the yearly open enrollment is now underway.

Seth Boffeli with AARP Minnesota says during the enrollment period, it's important that all beneficiaries review their plans.

About 800-thousand Minnesotans rely on Medicare for their health care.

Hospital Looking At Sharing Doctors

Hospital officials in Fort Frances and International Falls are exploring the idea of sharing medical services.

Interim Chief Executive Officer with Rainy Lake Medical Centre in the Falls Bob Haley tells CFOB-News he and Riverside Health Care's CEO Alan Katz have discussed the idea of recruiting specialists who could work at both hospitals.

Haley says they now looking at what it will take to allow doctors to work on both sides of the border.

Environmenta Commissioner Questions MNR Changes

Ontario's environmental commissioner is questioning the provincial government's transformation of the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Gord Miller says changes contained within last spring's budget that went unnoticed gives government the authority to hand over Crown land to private companies.

Miller says the impact of the changes could be felt the greatest in the Far North.

Fort High Students Attend We Day

Facebook photo

A group of high school students from Fort Frances are back from experiencing We Day in Minneapolis.

About thirty attended last Monday's event aimed at aimed at inspiring young people.

Grade 11 student Cameron Penny says it was incredible experience.

Julia Qwast, also in grade 11, says it now has her thinking about what she can do in her school, in the community and possibility for people in under developed countries.


Many of students taking part were also at We Day in Winnipeg last year.

Minnesota Looks At Reopening Possibility

A glimmer of hope to Voyageurs National Park reopening.

The Associated Press is reporting Minnesota is mulling over an offer from the Obama administration to allow States to use their own money to operate National Parks impacted by the partial shutdown of U.S. government services.

State officials says they first need to review costs and revenues.

Minnesota Man Walking Through Wilderness Areas

Facebook photo

A journey likely no one taken in a long time.

Jason Zabokrtsky has embarked on a walk through Quetico Provincial Park and the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness area back home to Ely, Minnesota.

He says one of the riskier parts will be having to swimming some lakes.

Zabokrtsky says he's pre-mapped an 80 mile route he hopes to complete in two weeks.

Dayton Ready To Assist

A show of support for International Falls and those impacted by the downsizing at the Boise mill.

Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton sat down last Wednesday to hear from civic leaders about the challenges and some of the projects they hope to move forward on.

Dayton says he's willing to help where possible.

A review of the forest industry and its future was one of the suggestion put forward to the Governor.

PC's Call For Election

The Leader of the Ontario Conservative Part is calling for an election.

Tim Hudak's demand comes as a result of the audit for the Oakville gas plant that has costs Ontario tax payer between 675 and 815 million dollars.

NDP leader Andrea Horwath says the vote won't happen unless the Liberals call the vote themselves.

Meantime, Premier Kathleen Wynne says it's difficult to get accurate estimates on the cancellation of the Oakville gas plant.

It was one of two  projects cancelled in 2011 by then premier Dalton McGuinty

Common Ground Success

Provincial Liberals says they're seeing success to its Common Ground initiative.

The campaign is inviting Ontarians to submit ideas the party will consider in its next election platform.

Since the site when up more than a week ago, more than six-thousand users have submitted one thousand ideas.

Assisted Living Facility Now Open

The doors of an assisted living facility in International Falls are now open.

The Good Samaritan Society officially cut the ribbon to its new Northwinds Assisted Living facility last week.

Administrator Adam Coe says the five million dollar building offers a blend of independence and assistance to the residents.

A new nursing home is also now in use with an official opening still to be determined.

Bayfield Continues Drilling

Bayfield Ventures continues to report strong gold findings from a drill program being conducted north of Barwick.

The company has been working in an areas adjacent to Rainy River Resources, soon to be New Gold's, project and has released its latest assay results.

Chief Executive Officer Jim Pettit says the company is pleased with the progress, noting a summer exploration program helped identified several areas where they will concentrate on in the future.

Gamble Responsible

A message of gambling responsible.

Responsible gambling awareness week goes this week.

The Responsible Gambling Council's Heather Ly says there are many signs to watch for if you think someone may have a gambling problem.

Ly says their research has found 3.4 per cent of Canadians identify as problem gamblers, effecting one in 10 families.

Local Artist On Display At Museum

A local artist the latest to be highlighted at the Fort Frances Museum.

The works of Cher Pruys are now on display and will remain up until the end of the month.

Curator Sherry George says its a great opportunity for those who may never have seen her artwork.

A chance to meet the artist happens Wednesday evening.

Falls Hospital Optomistic About Future

Officials with Rainy Lake Medical Centre in International Falls are assuring the public they'll be stronger than ever when a relationship with Duluth-based Essentia Health comes to an end.

The two sides broke off talks during the summer without a resolve to Essentia's desire for more control in a 5 year partnership.

Speaking to Koochiching County's board, interim Chief Executive Officer Bob Haley says the hospital is still viable on its own.

County commissioners, though, want Rainy Lake to be more open about the decisions its making.