Black Friday

It's one of the busiest shopping days in America as stores open early for customers looking for great deals.

Menard's in International Falls is among stores area shoppers will be visiting on Black Friday.

General Manager Matt Winkler says his staff are ready.

"All of our cash registers will be going," says Winkler. "Every register has a backer and a carry out to get their products to where they are going to. We'll have our shopping carts spread out and ready to go."

The Canada Border Services Agency won't be dealing with Canadian shoppers until they return but says they too are prepared for the rush.

Local Black Friday

Not to be outdone by Black Friday, merchants in the Fort Frances' downtown area are hosting sales of their own this weekend.

Chair of the Downtown Business Improvement Association Connie Cuthbertson says many stores are holding tax free sales and other special events.

"We've been working hard, actually of the businesses working together trying to come up with some ideas to showcase what they have to offer," says Cuthbertson.

Cuthbertson says many stores started their sales yesterday and will stay open late tonight.

International Falls Parade Tonight

(International Falls Chamber photo)


The annual "Twas the Lights Before Christmas" parade in International Falls take place tonight.


Floats, vehicles, animals and walkers are welcome to participate right up until the parade starts at 7 p.m.


It will travel down main street from the Falls Chamber Office to Forestland Sales and Service.


Following the parade, the community will be treated to hot chocolate and cookies at Smoky Bear Park and visits with champion musher Jamie Nelson and her team of Alaskan huskies.

Woman Wins at McDonald's Monopoly

A Fort Frances woman is $25-thousand richer after playing McDonald's Monopoly.

Harriett Wagner uncovered the instant win prize during a recent visit to the McDonald's restaurant at the Fort Frances' Walmart.

"I looked at it, showed my husband and asked him to ask the manager to see if it was true," says Wagner, a mother of four with another on the way. "He did and the manager said it was a sure ticket."

It's believed to be the first time a person from northwestern Ontario has won a major prize playing the the McDonald's contest.

Safe Communities Board Appointed

There is a new chair for Safe Communities Rainy River District.

Peggy Loyie joins Bob Swing in heading the local organization board.

Previous co-chair, Gerry Armstrong remains as a director.

He's joined by Anne McCoy, Becky Holden, John Beaton. Freeda Carmody and Judith Lindholm.

Native Group Upset with Bell

First Nations telephone customers are alleging Bell Canada of not refunding the provincial sales tax portion of the Harmonized Sale Tax on their bills.

All telecommunications for First Nations citizens in Ontario were to be PST exempt starting September First.

But Anishinabek Deputy Grand Chief Glen Hare says he's heard from many native people who claim to have spent hours on the phone trying to get the PST removed.

First Nations customers had to submit documentation to confirm their status, but Hare says Bell is telling some they don't have the information and to resubmit it again.

Border Concerns

The town of Fort Frances is calling on the Ottawa and the province for help dealing with lineups of vehicles waiting to cross into the United States.

Officials says taxpayers have been footing the entire bill for policing and managing the lines at the border, and believe the senior levels of government have a financial and operation obligation to make sure border traffic is safe and orderly.

They say the federal government's Intelligent Transportation System strategy _ meant to facilitate efficient border traffic flow using technology _ has never been deployed at the Fort Frances border crossing.

Local Interested in Minnesota Steel Project

Rainy River Futures Development Corporation is taking great interest in a steel project in Minnesota's Iron Range.

Geoff Gillon says the Essar Steel project is something that could have direct benefits to Fort Frances.

"Not only are we a community in northwestern Ontario that has the current mining activity, whether its Rainy River Resources or the Hammond Reef in Atikokan, they're all within 100 mile radius," says Gillon, "we also have the East Indian company of Essar Steel spending over a billion dollars 150 miles south of Fort Frances."

Gillon says they'll be meeting with company officials in the coming months to better determine exactly how local businesses can benefit

Salvation Army Appeal

The Salvation Army in Fort Frances is putting out a call for help across the Rainy River district.

It's asking people to participate in a number of programs aimed at helping the area's needy.

Captain Angel Sandoval expects demand to be high.

"Last year we helped close to 750 families during the entire year," says Sandoval. "During Christmas, we had 220. We expect at least the same number this year."

Families wanting hampers this year can pick up application Thursday and Friday at Fort Frances Citadel or the Ontario Works office in Rainy River.

FACS Celebrates

An anniversary for Family and Children Services Rainy River District.

It was 75 years ago that the Children's Aid Society was incorporated.

Administration Manager Wendy Brunetta says a lot has changed over that time.

"Back in the early '50's is was mainly focused on the protection of children and investigations," says Brunetta. "Now we're actually branched out. In the early '80's we amalgamated many other services for children including developmental services and mental health services."

Wednesday, an open house was held to celebrate while staff and retiring employees were recognized Thursday night.

Next April, the agency is merging with Kenora and will operate under a new name.

More Snow Expected in Borderland

More snow is on the way.

Environment Canada says another significant snowfall could hit the area beginning later today.

The snowfall is expected last into tomorrow with more than 10 centimetres hitting the ground in some areas.

Hydro Rates to Double

The average electricity bill will double in Ontario over the next 20 years under an $87-billion plan to modernize the province's electricity system.

The Liberal government's energy plan, released Wednesday, calls for $33 billion in investments by government and the private sector to build two new nuclear reactors and refurbish 10 older units.

The plan also calls for $14 billion to be spent on wind power, $9billion on solar energy, and $4.6 billion on new hydro-electric projects.

Conservation programs are getting a $12 billion commitment.

The plan confirms Ontario's intentions to keep getting half of the province's electricity from nuclear generation and to phase out coal-fired generation, including at Ontario Power Generation's plant in Thunder Bay, by 2014 at the latest.

AbitibiBowater Restructuring Plan Approved

Company officials expect AbitibiBowater to be reborn as a profitable and less indebted company in early December.

Yesterday, a U.S. Bankruptcy Court endorsed its restructuring plan, overruling creditor objections to sanction the company's plan that sheds about five-and-a-half billion dollars in unsecured debt.

The company also hopes its efforts to reduce costs and improving market conditions will help it to generate steady operating profits.

C.E.O. David Paterson says they plan to address declining paper demand by converting some production to undisclosed other product, which should prevent the need for further plant closures or layoffs.

Good Year for Safe Communities Rainy River

Another successful year for Safe Communities Rainy River District.

The organization outlined its accomplishments during its annual meeting held yesterday in Fort Frances.

Chair Bob Swing says being able to secure funding for the Substance Abuse Prevention Team was among its biggest achievements.

"It makes a big difference," says Swing. "It's why we get looked at nationally and internationally as a district how we leverage so much work out of so many different programs. That's why."

The group also scored perfect marks in a national report card done by Safe Communities Canada.

DSSAB Funding for Solar Panels

The Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board has received government funding to install solar panels at two facilities within the district.

The more than $190-thousand from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing will be used to install the panels at Queen Street Manor in Emo and the Rainy River District Women's Shelter of Hope in Atikokan next spring.

Electricity produced will be sold back to the grid.

Residential School Survivors Meet Commission

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada is in Thunder Bay today to listen to the stories from residential school survivors.

Commission spokesperson Alvin Fiddler says it's part of the healing for First Nations people

"A lot of people, myself included, look at it as an historic opportunity for many of the survivors, who have waited a long time to tell their story," says Fiddler.

The Commission was invited by officials of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation.

User Fees Increasing

The fees paid on most programs and services in the town of Fort Frances are going up January 1.

Last night, council approved the increases to user fees, which Treasurer Laurie Witherspoon says will go up an average of about one-point-seven per cent.

"Every division took a thorough look at user fees," says Witherspoon. "I know in my area it was 1.7 per cent. There was a few things that we felt - staff time - that the user fee covered it without raising it. There was just a few exceptions where it wasn't."

The changes do not include water and sewer rates which will be passed at a future date.

Committees Still Need People

Fort Frances town council made appointments to a number of town committees and boards last night, but some positions remain vacant.

Councillor Sharon Tibbs is hoping others individuals will come forward to fill the spots.

"If there was any of those that you're interested in or if want to call one of the councillors or the mayor and ask what might be involved in the committee you might be interested in, please feel welcome to do so," says Tibbs.

A recent change now requires most positions to be filled for only two years.

Toronto Developer Eyes Rainy River District

(Geoff Gillon of Rainy River Futures Development Corp. speaking recently to Fort Frances town council)

The Rainy River District is getting a close look by a Toronto developer.

Geoff Gillon of the Rainy River Futures Development Corporation says they've be in contact with the unnamed developer who made an initial visit to area back in August.

"And he came here as a breath of fresh air," says Gillon. "He's very, very positive and with new flights from Porter Air out of Centre Island to Thunder Bay, he thinks there's potential for the future."

Gillon says the developer has an eye on both business and condominium projects.

Winter is Here

Residents in the Rainy River district are digging out today after a system passing through the area yesterday dumped as much as 10 centimetres of snow in some areas.

Environment Canada says Fort Frances received six centimetres.

Both Atikokan and Mine Centre have snowfalls measuring in at 10 centimetres

The system is to move away from the area later this morning, but more snow is expected tomorrow.