Rainy River Resources Seek Key Permits

Rainy River Resources is hoping for some key permits that advances its exploration program north of Barwick.

Kyle Stanfield, Director of Environment and Sustainability, says the company is in a position to submit its applications very soon.

"We anticipate to submit what is called a closure plan to the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry by the end of the year," says Stanfield, "and we'll have our permits in place by early 2011. Then we'll be kick starting to go underground to really have a closure look at those rocks and understand the resource better and prove it up."

Stanfield doesn't anticipate any difficulty in securing those permits.

The company has also opened a new office in Emo that will allow resident to get more information about its exploration activities and submit resumes for jobs when they come open.

User Fees Examined

Fort Frances town councillors gave some thoughts on what user fees may look like in 2011.

No final figures were discussed at a meeting yesterday, but Mayor Roy Avis says he doesn't want to see any increase to be significant.

"I think with the HST coming in this year which has been a shell shock for alot of people on the fees that they're pay," says Avis, "the overall cost to live in this community and with the uncertainties with what's happening, I think we should look at a cost of living adjustment."

Other councillors want to see any increase have more emphasis on non-resident fees.

Councillors will take a more detailed look at the fees in the coming weeks.

New Instruments for Fort Music Department

Fort Frances High School is getting some new instruments for its music department.

The school was the recipient of a $10-thousand Band-Aid grant from MusiCounts, a music education charity associated with The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

Music Director Lisa Loney says the grant was a welcomed surprise.

"I have to say we were very surprised," says Loney, "just because it's a very difficult grant to get and there's a lot of steps you have to go through to get it. We did all the right things and I guess if you do all the right things, good things can come your way.

Loney says hope to take delivery of the seven new instruments in time for use at a concert in December.

Fugutive Arrested

A fugitive with Hell's Angels connections is now in custody in Thunder Bay.

46-year-old Paul Douglas Gallagher was wanted on a Canada wide warrant for parole violation.

RCMP say Gallagher had been in the city for several days before arrested Wednesday without incident.

New Aircraft for Wasaya

Wasaya Airlines is expanding.

The Thunder Bay-based First Nations owned company has added a Bombardier Dash 8 to it's fleet.

The new aircraft will be used to fly Goldcorp workers to it's Musselwhite mine site.

Operation Christmas Child Underway

Residents across the Rainy River district are being asked once again to collect items for children in under-developed countries.

Local coordinator Della McQuaker says Operation Christmas Child is now underway.

"Operation Christmas Child is where we have the opportunity to fill up shoe boxes or any other type of box or pack sacks," says McQuaker, "with gifts, toys, hygiene products, school items that we can give to children aboard that are being serviced through Samaritan's Purse."

Boxes can now be picked up at Bethel Bapist Church, Northland Basics and The Bargain Store in Fort Frances, Tompkins Hardware and Calvary Baptist Church in Emo and Trinity Lutheran in Bergland.

The box must be returned during the week of November 14.

Fall Fire Safety Event

(Safe Communities Rainy River photo)

Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Service will close out Fire Prevention Week with its annual Fall Fire Safety Event at Canadian Tire.

Fire Safety Specialist Wayne Riches says tomorrow's event goes from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

"We've got lots of giveaways for the kids," says Riches. "We've got some draws for some really good prizes. We've got a lot of our staff there, both volunteer and full-time, with a few different fire trucks. We'll be able to answer any questions that the kids or adults may have so a little something for everyone."

Riches says it will also a good time to check your smoke alarms to ensure they're working properly.

Comfort Care Room Opens

(Ribbon Cutting of new Comfort Care Room)

Riverside Healthcare Facilities has opened a new comfort care room at LaVerendrye Hospital in Fort Frances.

Executive Vice-president Lori Maki says the room, located on the hospital's second floor, is intended to provide comfort to patients suffering with an illness and nearing their end of life.

"A part of the problem in the past has been our rooms aren't been that large," says Maki, "so we can't accommodate families overnight, 24 hours around the clock. The highlight of this particular room is that we have t.v., VCR, fire place, a lot of other amenities. It's decorated in a comfortable home-like environment."

The room was furnished through a variety of donations.

160 Over 50 Challenge

The Ontario Breast Screening Program wants to see 160 women over the age of 50 on Monday October 18.

It's the second year for the 12 hour drop in breast screening day in northwestern Ontario.

Manager of Cancer Screening Lori Della Vedova says there are some perks to getting your breasts checked.

"We know that some women are not aware of our program," says Della Vedova. "It's an awareness opportunity for us to let women know that if they're over the age of 50 with no breast problems or breast cancer they can get screened every two years simply making an appointment themselves. You don't have to go through a family physician."

New clients who participate in the challenge will receive a free "Thingamaboob" and be entered into a draw for a 50 dollar gift card.

Teen Smoking Bill Opposed

The Ontario government plans to stub out a Conservative private member's bill that would make it illegal for teens to buy or possess tobacco products.

Health Promotion Minister Margarett Best says the Liberals don't want to make criminals out of teens who smoke.

Conservative MPP Gerry Martiniuk says it should be illegal for people under 19 to possess or consume tobacco products, not just illegal to sell cigarettes to teens.

Money Workshops Planned

Programs to help individuals with money matters will soon be available to residents in the Rainy River district.

Fort Frances-based NCDS will help carry out programs for the Social and Enterprise Development Innovation, a national non-profit organization.

Manager of its Transitions Centre Cathy Emes says a number of sessions will take place.

"There's a session on budgeting," says Emes. There's a session on credit. There's a session on credit ratings and credit reports and things like that."

The first workshop happens at the Centre next week.

Keep Your Eyes on the Road

Provincial police are urging drivers to keep their eyes on the road and to put down that cellphone.

OPP have laid more than 5,100 distracted driving charges since February.

It's been illegal to drive while talking or texting using a handheld device since then and violators face a 155-dollar ticket.

Baudette Fire Remembered

(Minnesota Historical Society photo)

A massive forest fire that destroyed the city of Baudette one hundred years ago, leaving more than forty dead and thousands homeless will be remembered during events starting today.

Marlys Hirst, executive director of the Lake of the Woods Historical Society Museum, says they will start festivities with a sounding of the fire alarms tonight.

"At 6 o'clock the sirens will sound in Baudette," says Hirst. "Then there will be a fire truck procession down Main Street. That is a combination of old and new fire trucks from surrounding towns as well as Baudette. They include the Forestry department and fire departments."

The parade will include 100-year-old Helga Smith, the only known survivor of the fire, as the Grand Marshall.

Seniors Not Leaving Home: Health Minister

Ontario's Health Minister is disputing claims seniors from the Fort Frances area are being told if they want to access long-term care beds they have to leave the community.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton revealed Monday one resident received a letter from the Northwest Community Care Access Centre that a bed was available for her 550 kilometres away in Terrace Bay.

But Deb Matthews says no one is being forced from their community.

"The CCAC was simply informing all people on their waiting list that there was a new option available," says Matthews. "It is completely wrong to suggest that there was any forcing going on."

Matthews says the letter was to notify seniors of the new long-term care bed facility in Terrace Bay.

Healthy Smiles Back

The Northwestern Health Unit is rolling out a program this fall to improve the oral health of kids in the Kenora and Rainy River Districts.

Medical Officer of Health Doctor Jim Arthurs says the Healthy Smiles program is a no-cost dental program for young children in low-income households.

"It's a low-cost or no-cost dental program with the eligibility for young children who have no access to dental care by insurance," says Arthurs, "and whose family has under $20-thousand in adjusted net family income."

The Health Unit is receiving provincial funding to carry out the program and operate a mobile dental clinic in communities where no dentists exist.

STOP Smoking Program Coming to Fort

The STOP On-the-Road smoking program will be returning to Fort Frances later this month.

Northwestern Health Unit's Enforcement Manager Jennifer McKibbon says the program is being offered to 175 smokers.

"Smokers attend the workshop, listen to a bit of information on the research that's being done," says McKibbon, "have a little bit of individual counseling. Choose with the counselor which type of nicotine replacement therapy would be right for them and get $175 worth of free N.R.T."

McKibbon says for most smokers, the cost of nicotine replacement products is a barrier in their quit attempts.

Falls Students Take Rachel's Challenge

International Falls students have pledged to take Rachel's Challenge.

It's based on the writings of Rachel Scott, the first student killed during the 1999 Columbine High School shootings.

Spokesperson Sarah Branion says Rachel's challenge for people to perform acts of kindness and compassion is having an effect.

"We've definitely seen Columbine as a tragedy move into a triumph," says Branion. "We've seen suicides averted. We've actually have documented school shootings stopped because we've been to a community and inspired a different kind of culture with the students."

Branion was in the Falls to promote the program to students and the community.

Port Alberni Wins

Port Alberni has been officially declared Canada's Ultimate Fishing Town.

The World Fishing Network says the British Columbia community defeated Nestor Falls in its on-line contest that went down to the wire.

Nestor Falls does pick up a $5-thousand donation for its efforts.

Province Seeks Assurances on Dam Sale

The provincial government wants AbitibiBowater to continue honouring water and power agreements with local communities if it proceeds with a sale of its hydro-electric dams in Iroquois Falls and Fort Frances.

Concerns about the dams were raised in August when it was revealed the company was again looking at selling off its hydro assets.

Natural Resources Minister Linda Jeffrey says no formal request to sell the dams has been received, but shares the concerns about how the sale will impact local mills and communities.

Pink Out!

The Rainy River District Breast Health Network wants to the district to Pink Out.

Chair Teresa Hazel says they're asking everyone to wear pink on October 22.

"We want the whole district to get involved with breast cancer awareness and the promotion of breast health," says Hazel. "We just thought it would be a great way to ask people to wear pink or decorate their offices or doors pink and just think pink."

Hazel says they're also asking people who wear pink to donation one dollar to the Riverside Foundation for Health Care for a new Digital Mammography Unit.