Atikokan Town Council Sworn-In

Inauguration ceremonies for Atikokan's newly elected municipal council takes place tonight.

Mayor Dennis Brown, councillors Bud Dickson, Bob Gosselin, Mary Makarenko, Marj Lambkin, Marlene Davidson and newcomer Jerry Duhamel will be officially sworn into office.

It happens at the Atikokan town hall beginning at 5 p.m.

Rec Study in Rainy River

The town of Rainy River has received $25-thousand from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to conduct a structural assessment of its recreational facilities.

The study will look at the town's community centre, arena and curling rink with an aim towards developing a long-term replacement plan.

Salvation Army Kettles Ring Today

The Salvation Army will kick off its 2010 Kettle Campaign in Fort Frances today.

They'll be located at Walmart, Canada Safeway, Canadian Tire, LCBO and outside area banks.

Captain Angel Sandoval says more manpower is still needed.

"We need volunteers," says Sandoval. "Volunteers are the stone for this campaign."

Sandoval says they've set $15-thousand dollars as a campaign goal, the same as 2009.

Lakes Closed to Tourist Outfitters Only?

The NDP is concerned about reports that some tourist outfitters are being given exclusive access to Northern lakes and crown land.

Natural Resources Critic Gilles Bisson says he's been contacted by many people who have seen signs at some lakes restricting access to Tourist outfitters only.

"We understand tourist outfitters need to make a living," says Bisson, "but that should not be at the exclusion and access of everybody else."

Bisson says most of the restricted lakes are in the Wawa area, but suspects some lakes in northwestern Ontario may have also been closed off to the public.

Man in Custody on Attempt Murder Charge

(A section of Scott Street was blocked off due to Saturday's a lengthy stand-off between a man and police)


A man will return to Fort Frances court next Monday on several charges including attempted murder.

Richard Kabatay made an initial court appearance yesterday.

It comes following an incident in which a man was seriously injured during an assault Saturday in Fort Frances and another man barricaded himself inside a home for several hours before surrendering to police.

OPP, though, have not confirmed whether Kabatay is connected to that incident.

More Snow

Motorists across the Rainy River district are being advised to use caution when on the roads this morning.

Heavy snow blanketed the region overnight with more expected today.

Environment Canada says Atikokan snowfall totals for yesterday reached 12 centimetres.

Fort Frances received about six.

There are two school bus cancellations to report.

The Stanjikoming First Nation and the Seine River Handicap buses will not be running.

Initiatives in Place to Slow Motorist Down

Two new initiatives have been launched aimed at slowing motorists down on Fort Frances roads.

OPP Constable Anne McCoy says one seeks motorists to sign up as part of a Pace Car Initiative.

"When one signs up you make a commitment to obeying the speed limits and other rules of the road," says McCoy, "and you literally setting the example for other motorists."

The other program, "Ticket or Teaching," allows motorists caught breaking the law to avoid a ticket by attending a class showing them the importance of obeying the rules of the road.

Library Struck by Vandals

The new Fort Frances Public Library and Technology Centre has been the target of vandals.

Chief Librarian Margaret Sedgwick says some small trees and an outdoor chess table were broken while a letter was taken from its sign in recent months.

"We have such a beautiful building," says Sedgwick. "It's really disheartening to think that people have broken off some of our small birch trees and jumped on one of the chess tables."

Sedgwick says they are now looking at installing surveillance cameras in hopes of determining further acts.

They're also appealing to resident to watch over the building, especially on weekends.

F.H. Huffman Purchase Finalized

Fort Frances town council has finalized its purchase of the former F.H. Huffman School.

The $158-thousand for the purchase will come out of reserves.

Mayor Roy Avis says its still undecided what they will do with the site.

"We've lost some park space with the new library going next to the arena," says Avis. "Could be consideration for a subdivision plan. There are many things we could do with the building and council felt it was in the best interest that we purchase that property."

Avis says the town also plans to maintain and cover the costs of heating the former school.

Health Unit Accredited

The Northwestern Health Unit says its the first in the region to be accredited by the Ontario Council on Community Health Accreditation.

Alex Berry was the team lead for the accreditation process and says it took about three years to complete.

"What it really tells the community is that we have met the standards of excellence for public health in Ontario," says Berry, "and that as an organization we are committed to ongoing quality improvement and ongoing managing of our services and evaluating of ours services to know that we are doing good work."

Of the 36 health units in the province, just fourteen are accredited.

Man Arrested in Fort Frances Stand-Off

One man in is custody while another taken to hospital following an incident in the 800 block of Scott Street in Fort Frances Saturday that lasted nearly 12 hours.

Police were initially called to an assault involving two men about 4:30 a.m. Saturday morning.

One man was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

His condition is not immediately known.

The other man barricaded himself inside a home, forcing police to close a section of the street off to traffic and evacuate nearby homes.

The Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Service was also called to the scene.

The unnamed man eventually surrendered to police without incident.

More details, including pending charges, may be released later today.

Below - video of area blocked by Police on Saturday.

More Winter on the Way

Northwestern Ontario is going to be getting all kinds of precipitation over the next few days.

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for the region

Areas north and west of Lake Superior to the Manitoba border will get more than 10 centimetres of snow.

Ice pellets and wet snow are expected to hit Atikokan to Geraldton.

Meantime, the National Weather Service in the United States has issued a winter storm advisory for International Falls.

It's forecasting up to six inches of snow and strong winds to reach the area by six this evening

Area MPP Seeks Rebate for Snow Tire Users

A northwestern Ontario MPP wants more northerners to use snow tires.

Liberal Bill Mauro is calling on insurance companies to offer a rebate for those motorists who pay extra for the heavy duty tires.

"If more people in the province of Ontario are in fact using winter tires there will be fewer claims," says Mauro. "There will be lower costs associated with those fewer claims for the insurance companies. This is from my perspective about making the roads safer and trying to save some lives in the process."

Mauro introduced a motion in the Legislature last week.

Acts of Kindness Fundraiser Nears

(Act of Kindness being offered by Fort Frances General Supply - www.acts-of-kindness.ca photo)

The Acts of Kindness fundraiser for the Fort Frances Community Chest is fast approaching.

It happens Friday at the Fort Frances Legion.

Committee member Tannis Drysdale says about one-hundred acts will be auctioned off.

"We will have any number of acts of kindness available," says Drysdale. "Just last week we received a series of cellphones from TBay Tel. Don't forget about our fishing trips. You can start bidding on those any time now. Just give the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce at phone call."

Tickets can still be obtained at Northwoods Gallery and Gifts, the Rainy River Future Development Corporation office or the Fort Frances Chamber office.

Commission Ends Hearings in Thunder Bay

Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission is moving on.

It spent last week in Thunder Bay gathering statements from residential school survivors.

Chair Murray Sinclair says the stories of abuse heard have many similarities

"They're generally stories about the kinds of experiences that people had," says Sinclair, "but more importantly they talk about the impact the time they had upon their lives as parents and grandparents."

Sinclair says the affects will be felt for many generations.

Parade of Lights Winners

Several groups took home awards for their floats in Saturday's Parade of Lights in Fort Frances.

Robert Moore Builders' Club was named best church or school group.

The Fort Frances Girl Guides float was selected the best among non-profit organizations.

The Borderland Skating Club had the best float among recreational groups.

Shoppers Home Health Care was selected the best among businesses float.

The best dressed individual entry was that of the Fort Frances Mini King and Queen while the Fort Frances High School Saving Faces group recognized for the best presentation of music.

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.