Regional Strategic Plan Considered

There's a move to do some strategic planning for the entire Rainy River district.

Area representatives gathered this week to determine the interest of such an exercise.

Rainy River Councillor Gord Armstrong helped spearhead the meeting.

"If you look at each municipalities they're trying to do their own little thing," says Armstrong. "That's great. We want them to do that, but it's time we look at the district as a whole because we have things across the district that if we work together it would be wiser to do that."

Armstrong says more details on how the process would work will come to area municipal leaders when they gather for their annual meeting in January.

AbitibiBowater Out of Bankrupcty Protection

AbitibiBowater has finally emerged from 20 months of creditor protection.

The company says its transformed itself into a lower-cost forest products company better able to withstand slowing demand for newsprint.

The Toronto Stock Exchange says new shares in the Montreal-based company will begin trading today.

Resource Sharing Agreement Signing

Representatives from Osisko Mining and several area First Nations will sit down later today to sign a new Resource Sharing agreement pertaining to the company's Hammond Reef project near Atikokan.

The document provides for ongoing dialogue between the company and first nations and for employment and training opportunities for native people.

First Nations communities signing the document will also receive shares in Osisko as milestones in exploration and development are reached.

Julian Austin Returning

(Julian Austin during 2010 Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship)

Another fundraiser is in the works for the Fort Frances Community Chest.

Fort Frances Chamber manager Anthony Mason says Canadian country artist Julian Austin has agreed to return to the community to help the fund.

"He graciously donated to come back to Fort Frances and perform," says Mason. "The committee has decided we are going to plan another event for Community Chest to raise money and we plan having him perform somewhere in Fort Frances at a later day."

Austin performed at this summer' Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship.

Operation Children Child Success

Operation Christmas Child in the Rainy River district is being hailed a huge success.

Over 460 shoe boxes, filled with items for children living in under-developed countries, were collected.

The collection of those boxes happened last month, but area residents can still participate through an new on-line feature at http://www.samaritanpurse.ca/.

Most of the on-line boxes will go to children in Haiti.

More Snow for Borderland

Old man winter is taking another swipe at the Rainy River district.

Bill Laidlaw of Signal Weather Services says expect five to 10 centimetres of snow with a strong wind causing for concern for area motorists.

Laidlaw says temperatures will climb to about minus 5 C today, before dropping back down tomorrow.

Meantime, the National Weather Service in the U.S. has issued a winter weather advisory for northern St. Louis, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake and Cook County until six tonight.

It's predicting between two to five inches of snow as the storm tracks through the Northland.

Mine Centre Landfill Site to Close

The Ministry of Natural Resources is looking at closing a landfill site in Mine Centre.

Spokesperson Cheryl Gartley says the site has reached its capacity, and different options to deal with residents wastes are being considered.

"We've hired a consultant who's analyzing the area in a forty kilometre area around the community of Mine Centre," says Gartley. "They're going to locate some candidate sites where they can plan either a new waste disposal site or an alternative method of managing the household waste which could be a transfer station."

Gartley says the existing landfill won't close until a preferred option is in place.

Museum Curator Leaving

(Pam Cain shown here working on the 'What Hooks You Here Project' this past summer)

The town of Fort Frances is losing its museum curator.

Pam Cain is stepping down at the end of this year from the position she's had since 1984.

"I'm calling it a retirement after 26 years," says Cain. "But I have a new position as executive director of the Community Arts and Heritage Education Program based out of Thunder Bay. It works with artists, schools and community groups to promote arts and heritage activities in the community. It's something right up my alley."

Town council is expected to discuss how they'll replace Cain at its meeting Monday night.

Mining Deal

Sparton Resources says it's closed a half-million dollar private placement with Osisko Mining.

It's part of a Letter of Intent giving Osisko the option to buy 70 per cent interest in 7,500 of mining claims near Atikokan held by Spartan and other parties.

The claims are near Osisko's Hammond Reef project.

Sturgeon Creek School Honoured

(Principal Kendall Olson (l), teacher Elizabeth Husser and parent Dave McKelvie with Dr. Bette M. Stephenson award from EQAO)


Sturgeon Creek School and it's Alternative Program are being applauded after receiving a prestigious award from the agency responsible for the province's standardize tests.


The Dr. Bette M. Stephenson award from the Education Quality and Accountability Office recognized the school's high level of achievement and improvement in the annual tests.


Teacher Elizabeth Husser says its a good feeling to be recognized.

"Knowing that there were twenty schools in the entire province that were recognized, and that we were one of them, shows that great things happen in small schools too, "says Husser.

The school received the award during a ceremony in Toronto last month.

Busing Concerns

A group of parents whose children ride the bus to school are calling for changes to the Rainy River District School Board's transportation policies.

Jackie McCormick, who was denied permission for her son to be dropped off a different location while their sitter was away, says the current policy doesn't meet the needs of students or parents.

"Parents are picking kids up at school because they have no choice but to do that because they can't get off at a different location," says McCormick. "We have people who have to pull their kids out of school for a week at a time because the kids are staying at grammas or aunties and they can't get picked up by the bus there."

McCormick says the parents want the ability to make alternative transportation requests based on child care or work-related needs.

New Chair for District School Board

(Newly elected trustees with the Rainy River District School Board were officially sworn into office at their first meeting Tuesday night)


The newly elected trustee from Atikokan is now the chair of the Rainy River District School Board.


Mike Lewis was appointed to the position at last night's inaugural meeting.


Rainy River area trustee Dianne McCormack was selected the vice-chair.

Rainy River Council Take Office

Economic development will be a key priority for Rainy River's new town council over the next four years.

The new council was sworn-in Monday night and Mayor Deb Ewald attracting new business has to be number one.

"We need to get an industry or something going here," says Ewald. "It's pretty bleak right now, but we've got everything in place. It's just to find the right business or right thing to move here."

Ewald says ongoing sewer and water improvements and resolving a housing issue for locums working at the Rainy River Health Centre also face the new council.

Population Decline Hurts Health Unit

A decline in the population in the Kenora and Rainy River districts is going to hurt the Northwestern Health Unit in the pocket book.

The Health Unit says a decline of almost 3,800 people over the past past five years will result in the loss of $204-thousand from the amount paid by area municipalities in 2011.

The Health Unit hopes to address the shortfall in its budget which will come to the board in February.

Adopt an Angel Program

There's been a huge response to Family and Children's Services Rainy River District's Adopt an Angel program.

Residents are asked to take an Angel from trees placed at selected businesses and purchase a gift for the name on that angel, representing children involved with the agency.

Community Integration Worker Debra Bruyere says they've already exceeded last year's response.

"we would just like to thank the public for such a great response this year," says Bruyere. "We've been very happy with the stores that have come on board to help us. It's been wonderful this year."

Angels can still be found on trees at The Bargain Store and Wal-Mart in Fort Frances and Tompkin's Hardware in Emo.

Fort Frances Council Sworn-In

Fort Frances town council is back on the job.

The town's elected officials were officially sworn-into office last night after being acclaimed in October's municipal election.

Mayor Roy Avis says many challenges await.

"As our population ages we must work with our citizens in supportive assisted living units," says Avis. "The condo project will also be an very important order of business. Doctor shortage has been an ongoing problem and we must have a continual focus in that area."

Avis said council will also work in the best interests of the residents, lobby government for adequate financial support in dealing with aging infrastructure and put attention on business retention."

Avis also assigned councillors to various committees with Sharon Tibbs serving as deputy mayor for the next two years.

Rainy River Council Sworn-In

Inauguration ceremonies were also held for the newly elected council in Rainy River last night.

Councillor Gord Armstrong was selected deputy mayor by Mayor Deb Ewald.

Fort Frances Trustee Re-appointed Chair

Long-time Fort Frances trustee Anne-Marie Fitzgerald has been re-elected as chair of the Northwest Catholic District School Board.

Her appointment came during the board's inaugural meeting on Friday.

Cathy Bowen, a trustee from Sioux Lookout, was elected vice-chair.

Day of Remembrance Ceremony Held in Fort Frances

Women from the Rainy River district who have been victims of violence were recognized as part of yesterday's National Day of Remembrance ceremonies in Fort Frances.

Peggy Loyie of the Rainy River District Victim Services says such an event must continue.

"Because we won't stop doing this until we start to see some radical change in action," says Loyie. "Action in part of perpetrators. Action on part of legislators. Action on part of ourselves as community members to take action against violence against women."

About sixty people attended the vigil held at Knox United Church.

Among the highlights were Marie Hartlin and Leona Grandbois who spoke about how the tragic death of their mother impacted their lives.

Community Dinner Needs Help

The Fort Frances Volunteer Bureau is putting out a call for people interested in helping out with this year's Community Dinner.

Karen Mitchell says the need for volunteers is their biggest need right now.

"We need volunteers," says Mitchell. "I haven't got many volunteers yet for kitchen help like to clean the tables, do the dishes, put food out when it runs out or when somebody gets up to leave put a new placemat and plate out. We don't have anybody yet."

Mitchell says they're also looking for help in the kitchen preparing the food for the December 25 event.