Remains Identified

A body found on Highway 17 near Ignace this summer by blueberry pickers has been identified.

The remains of 55-year-old Steven Raycroft were identified recently through the use of medical records.

Raycroft is described as a transient person who frequently travelled across Canada.

Police are ruling out foul play.

Ignace Clinic Rent Increasing

Health Minister Deb Matthews says she will find out why the agency responsible for public buildings is doubling the rent at Ignace's small health clinic.

Kenora-Rainy River M-P-P Howard Hampton calls the rent-hike of $100-thousand a year at the Mary Berglund Health Centre "absurd'' and would only force the clinic to cut front-line staff.

Ontario Realty Corporation officials said they were looking into the issue.

Smart Boards Make Impact

Smart Boards are making a huge impact in the classrooms across change the Rainy River district.

Both the public and Catholic boards have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars equipping their schools with the interactive technology.

J.W. Walker School teacher Angela Petsnick says both students and teachers are benefiting.

"We can go on the Internet and we can show videos," says Petsnick. "We can show different links from the website. Things are better organized. I can have my lesson. I can have all my worksheets. I can have the links to the websites. I can have interactive games and activities to help my student learn."

Petsnick has also been involved in training other teachers who to maximize their use of the boards.

Acts of Kindness Wanted

Your acts of kindness could go to help the Fort Frances Community Chest.

Committee member Tannis Drysdale says it's a new fundraiser planned for December 3 to raise money for the fund available to area residents needing to access medical care outside the district.

"All of the acts of kindness that will be donated by either businesses or individuals in the community are going to be sold in the week coming up to the benefit or at the benefit itself," says Drysdale. "We going to have some auctioned on E-Bay. We're going to have some live-auctioned at the benefit and then some just for sale for individuals at the benefit."

The group is now seeking individuals willing to donate a service by calling the Chamber office.

Halloween for Hunger

(Supplied photo)


The first ever Halloween for Hunger is being hailed a huge success.

Twenty high school students with the group "Saving Faces," trick-or-treated last night in Fort Frances and Emo for non-perishable items and collected more than 1,500 items.


They will now be given to Safeway's food bank drop box where the total weight will be matched by Shaw Communication's and Cambell's Canada's food bank campaign.

Use-of-Force Up at Border

(Canada Border Services Agency photo)


Troublesome travellers are prompting more Canadian border officers to draw their guns, use pepper spray, and swing their batons.


An internal report shows so-called use-of-force incidents jumped 170 per cent over the past four years.

Canadian border officers have fired just one bullet since they started carrying guns in mid-2007.

It happened last summer, when an injured moose was put down on a B.C. highway.

Ignatieff Speaks Out on Border

(CKDR photo)


Problems at the border were among the issues discussed during a town hall meeting in Dryden with Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff.

Ignatieff says he's the only leader who believes its a major issue.



"The one time I met with the President of the United States for thirty-five minutes, what did I talk about for 15 minutes? It was the border," says Ignatieff. "I thought this was my one shot as leader of the opposition to talk about something really matter economically and I did raise that issue with him."

Ignatieff says Americans with minor convictions who want to spend a week fishing in northwestern Ontario shouldn't be turned away at the border.

State Patrol

The Minnesota State Patrol is on the move in International Falls.

The Patrol's four officers, including two K-9 handlers, are relocating to the new U.S. Border Patrol facility along the Rainy River.

It's the first time in the U.S. that Border and State Patrols will have shared facilities.

The move of the Minnesota State Patrol was necessary because their current location, an old state-own building, is being sold.

Spirit Horse Performed

(Supplied photo)


A play that challenges cultural stereotypes was performed before grade 3 to 8 students across the Rainy River district last week.

Actress, Cara Gee, says Spirit Horse focuses on a number of sensitive issues such as racism.

"When we present the play or when we bring it to schools, we discuss that afterwards," says Gee. "We have a question and answer period where we point out the moments where the girls were experiencing racism and we talk about how we can all make a difference if we choose treat each other with respect and open mindedness."

Public and Catholic board teachers also received hands-on professional development to help bring portions of the play back into their classrooms.

African Choir Performs

The sounds of Africa resonated through the Townsend Theatre Friday night.

Members of the African Children's Choir performed as part of a cross-Canada tour.

Chimera Victor, a team leader, says they're also raising awareness of Africa's orphaned and abandoned children.

"The African Children's Choir is out to spread a message that the African child still has dignity and amazing potential," says Victor, "and wants even the opportunity for the African child to reach to greater heights."

It's the sixth year the choir has visited Fort Frances and hosted by Bethel Baptist Church.

Border Concerns Still Linger

Camp owners across northwestern Ontario are calling for changes at the border in Fort Frances.

Concerns about how American hunters and anglers are treated by customs officers was a topic of discussion at yesterday's Northern Ontario Tourist Outfitters Association Conference in Dryden.

Executive Director of the Sunset Country Travel Association Gerry Cariou insists policies and procedures are being carried out different at the Fort border.

"The hunters going to Quebec, northeastern Ontario, B.C. or Manitoba aren't getting refused or turned back in the numbers we're seeing in northwestern Ontario.

The Head of NOTO suggests camp owners advise their guests to lodge a formal complaint if they're treated poorly at the border.

Liberal Leaders in Northwestern Ontario

Northwestern Ontario is Liberal Leader's Michael Ignatieff's latest stop on his cross country tour.

Speaking in Thunder Bay yesterday, Ignatieff says its part of his strategy to get Liberal MP's elected in this area.

"I think it's really important for politicians to get out of Ottawa," says Ignatieff, "come here, affirm and reaffirm constantly that we think northern Ontario has an incredible future."

Today, he visits Sioux Lookout and Dryden.

Hampton Seeks Help for Remote First Nation

A northwestern Ontario MPP is calling on the Liberal Government to take action to help Fort Hope First First Nation.

Howard Hampton says the province needs to roll out programs for first nations facing prescription drug abuse.

The NDP is calling for an amendment to the Narcotics Safety and Awareness Act to address the prescription drug abuse epidemic.

Former Doc Returns to Fort Frances

A former Fort Frances physician returns to the community today to talk about Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Doctor Ted Jablonski, himself diagnosed with the form of winter depression, is travelling across the country to draw more awareness.

Jablonski says its more common and real than many believe.

"It's a very frequent problem in our country," says Dr. Jablonski. "We live in a northern latitude and northern latitude countries are the ones who get effected. About 3 per cent of our population has S.A.D. that probably should be treated. That's over one million Canadians.

Jablonski says the disorder can easily be treated with light therapy.

He'll speak more about S.A.D. at a public meeting at 2 p.m. at the La Place Rendezvous.

Parade of Lights Planned

(B93 Staff ready to collect your non-perishable food items at the 2009 Parade of Lights in Fort Frances)


Planning for the Christmas Parade of Lights in Fort Frances is underway.

For the second year in a row, it's being organized by the staff at Causeway Insurance.


Spokesperson Brenda Kellar says they want parade participants to get ready.



"We had a really good turnout with our first annual parade last year," says Kellar. "We we're very happy on how it went. We're just hoping to get a lot more people. We do have a theme this year. It is the 'Lights and Sounds of Christmas'."



Registration for the November 27 parade can be done by calling Brenda at Causeway or emailing brenda@causewayinsurance.com.

Leons Opens

Officials with one of Canada's oldest furniture companies says Fort Frances is a good fit for their business.

Leon's Fort Frances officially opens at 12 noon today.

Franchise manager Nelson Sampson says they have no problem having stores in smaller communities.

"It grounds us a company," says Sampson. "It makes us remember what our roots are and what really the customers Leons' has and the industry has who rooted in small communities like this."

Yesterday, local dignitaries gathered with local franchise holder Mark Howarth and staff for a private celebration.

Palliative Care Discussed with Feds

Two Lakehead University Researchers are speaking with the Federal Government about palliative care in northern Ontario.

Dr. Mary Lou Kelley says they're telling the feds how they can better help residents who want to die at home.

"It isn't mandatory from the federal government to fund community services," says Kelly. "We feel the federal government should make a chance in that respect and then they should establish a palliative end-of-life care strategy."

They're also hoping to see cultural training for those providing palliative care in first nations.

Tourism Group Work Continues

The work toward creating a new tourism marketing zone for northern Ontario continues.

Paul Pepe is part of a nineteen member transition team set up to a establish the new tourism organization.

"We've been putting together the terms of reference and the transition plan for the Ministry," says Pepe, "and working towards that legal incorporation of the organizations that can then go out and appoint its inaugural board of directors."

Pepe says the northern zone has been broken up into three sub-regions with $1.54 million allocated for northwestern Ontario.

Students Trick or Treating for Can Goods

Some teenagers in Fort Frances and Emo will be among the treat-or-treaters this Sunday.

Natalie Hyatt, who will be among them, says they won't be asking for candy.

"The students will be trick-or-treating for can goods and non-perishable food items instead of candy," says Hyatt. "They will then be given to Safeway and the number of food items we collect will be matched by both Campbell's and Shaw and donated to the local food bank."

Hyatt says the students are part of a new high school group called "Saving Faces" that aims to help a variety of charitable organizations.

I. Falls Thinking Christmas

The International Falls Chamber of Commerce is thinking about Christmas.

President Faye Whitbeck says they're putting out a call to groups and organizations on both sides of the border interested in taking part in this year's 'Twas the Lights before Christmas Parade.

"We're just hoping they can get it on their calenders, get it in their schedules, to get employees together to have a company float," says Whitbeck, "friends to gather together in somebody's garage to build a float, or families to plan those little costumes for the youngsters to walk in the parade."

The parade is November 26th.

Registration can be made by calling the chamber office.