Minnesota Government Workers Back to Work

About 22-thousand Minnesota state employees will begin heading back to work today after Governor Mark Dayton signed off on a new budget bill ending a 20-day shutdown of government services.

While most services will get back to normal, some state parks, damaged by recent storms, may have to remain closed until they can be cleaned.

Area Artist Named a Fan-Favourite

(Photo courtesy Sunday Wilde)


A blues artist from Atikokan has won a fan-based award from the Independent Music Awards.

Sunday Wilde's song "That Man Drives Me Mad" was selected as the favourite blues song by fans in an on-line vote that began in February and ended last month.

"I'm excited," says Wilde. "I live in Atikokan which is a small town which is far from big cities. Because of the Internet, music is out there more and more."

Wilde says the award will help her bring her music to a wider national audience.

She's also launched a new website to help promote herself.

Newcomer the Best of Quest

Charity Alverson is this year's winner of the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce's Quest for the Best.

She beat out 2009 winner Brittany Hayes in a final sing-off to win the grand prize.

"I am absolutely elated and in really shocked," says Alverson. "There was a lot of incredible talent here tonight. It was a definite toss-up between everyone."

A total of twenty performers took part in the event that pitted newcomers against former winners.

Minister Responds to Forest Fire Activity

(Mitch Miller/Ministry of Natural Resources photo)


Ontario's Natural Resources Minister says the province is committed to any and all resources in battling the dozens of wildfires in northwestern Ontario.

More than 112 fires are burning, mostly in the remote north - some large in size.
Linda Jeffrey says it's taxing resources.

"While the number of fires we've had in Ontario is about the same as last year, the magnitude and complexity of these fires is much greater," says Jeffrey. "Today the total area burned is 300,000 hectares. That's five times the average."

Ontario is receiving assistance now from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, the Yukon and Quebec.

More Evacuations Planned

(Trevor Gauthier/Ministry of Natural Resources photo)


More evacuation of residents from the far north because of the forest fires is planned.

Mike Morton of the Emergency Management Ontario says as many as 1,800 residents will join the 1,500 who have already been evacuated.

"All of the evacuees are currently housed in reception centres and hotels," says Morton. "Today's evacuees will be going to places such as Moosenee, Ottawa and Arthur which is near Kitchener-Waterloo.

The latest evacuees come from Sandy Lake, Kingfisher Lake and Wunnimun Lake First Nations.

More Evacuations From Far North Likey

(Ministry of Natural Resources photo)


Forest fires in northwestern Ontario have communities scrambling to find accommodation for thousands of people who may have to be evacuated.

Eighteen First Nation communities in the remote north and one municipality have declared states of emergency.

25-hundred residents from ten communities that have been either partially or fully evacuated are now being housed in communities such as Sioux Lookout, Dryden, Greenstone and Thunder Bay.

Emergency officials expect more communities to face evacuations in the coming days.

Nineteen new fires were reported yesterday bringing to 105 the number of active fires in the northwest.

Weather Warning

Severe thunderstorm watches have now been issued by Environment Canada for the entire Rainy River district.

It says a system approaching the area, south of Lake of The Woods, could affect the district later this morning with large hail, heavy rain and strong winds possible.

There is also a report that emergency sirens are sounding in Warroard.

The U.S. National Weather Service has had a severe thunderstorm watch in place for Koochiching County for most of this morning.

Youth Arrested

Four youth face charges in connection with a rash of break-ins in the Morson area.

OPP say a number of cabins at a tourist resort and several homes were broke into over the weekend with damages estimated to be over $100,000.

The four accused will now appear in Fort Frances court next month on break and enter and possession of stolen property charges.

Highway Work to Start

A section of Highway 11 in the Rainy River district is getting a face lift.

Work will be done along a twenty-four kilometre stretch of the highway between Highways 71 and 613.

The $5.2-million project is to commence this month and be complete in September.

Minnesota Budget Get House/Senate Approval

Minnesota lawmakers have approved a budget deal that will end a 20-day state government shutdown.

It still needs the signature of Governor Mark Dayton.

The state House and Senate approved the budget during a special session, with the last vote coming early this morning.

Premier to Protect Ontario Interests

Premier Dalton McGuinty says he wants to make sure Ontario's interests aren't ignored as he heads into three days' of meetings with his provincial and territorial counterparts.

The Council of the Federation is expected to talk about First Nations and health care.

But McGuinty says he wants to make sure that a new Parliament dominated by the West and Quebec doesn't affect Ontario.

Quest Goes Tonight

Quest for the Best goes tonight (Wednesday) at the Memorial Sports Centre in Fort Frances.

Sarah Hallakis, a summer student with the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce says there's a new format for twenty performers involved.

"The first group to sing will be newcomers to Quest or people who haven't won Quest yet," says Hallikas. "The second round are past Quest winners so we're pitting them against one another."

Hallikas says the winner of each group will then sing-off for the $1,000 grand prize.

The doors open at 6 p.m. with the entertainment beginning at 7 p.m.

Falls Airport Commission Hopeful

International Falls Airport officials are hopeful a new carrier will take over air passenger service from Delta Air Lines.

Delta has given notice it wants to end service to the Falls by the middle of October.

Airport Manager Thor Einarson says it's a position they've seen before.

"We've always come through at the end of the game," says Einarson. "It's always been a battle. It's always been fight. It will always change. I feel confident that at the end of the game we'll have something. We'll have good service. I'm really confident of that."

Delta has indicated that Wyoming-based Great Lakes Airlines may be interested in serving the Falls.

Bass Tournee Survey

The economic impact of the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship is being studied this week.

Out-of-town-visitors and anglers will be asked a variety of questions.

Consultant Tannis Drysdale says it will update a similar survey conducted about 15 years ago.

"We'll be using some of the same questions, particularly with the anglers," says Drysdale. "We have a much similar form and format for the visitors. We'll have people on site during certain set periods of time to check the number of out-of-town visitors who are attending the tournament and ask them questions."

A final report is expected out by the end of August.

More Evacuations

(Ministry of Natural Resources photo)


There's been more evacuations from Ontario's far north due to forest fires.

385 residents from Fort Hope and Sandy Lake were flown out yesterday to Geraldton, Winnipeg and Sioux Lookout.

Ninety-four fires are still active, none in the Rainy River district.

Smoke in Rainy River District

(Ministry of Natural Resources photo)


Smoke from several fires in the far north could become a concern for areas elsewhere in northwestern Ontario.

Environment Canada says smoke could be experienced in the Rainy River district today.

Debbie MacLean of the Ministry of Natural Resources says it's also spreading well out of the province.

"We have a satellite imagery on and yesterday it was drifting to the east as far as New Brunswick," says MacLean. "Smoke tends to have a long distance travel effect and people will just have to deal with that I guess."

MacLean says more than two-thousand forest firefighters are working full out to contain the blazes.

Humidex Advisories Issued

Air conditioners will be humming across the Borderland again today.

Environment Canada is forecasting temperatures to reach as high as 33 C during the day, prompting a humidex advisory for the Rainy River district.

Meantime, a heat advisory, issued by the U-S National Weather Service for Koochiching County, remains in effect until at least tomorrow night.

Wisconsin Man Not Appealing Ruling

A Wisconsin man is expected to begin serving jail time today after losing an appeal of a conviction for failing to pay tolls at the bridge linking International Falls with Fort Frances.

Falls City attorney Steve Shermoen says Dean Crist has indicated he will not appeal last week's ruling by the Minnesota Court of Appeal.

The Appeal court upheld a ruling last fall by a Koochiching County court judge.

Crist was convicted of five misdemeanour theft counts and sentenced to three consecutive 90-day jail terms.

Walk for Good Life Set

(Good Life for Young People photo)


A 7-day 500-kilometre walk around the Kenora and Rainy River districts is set to go next month.

It will be the third year for the Walk for Good Life organized by the group Good Life for Young People.

CEO Teresa Hazel says it's a journey of self discovery and accomplishment.

"They walk together and they learn together and they dream together," says Hazel. "We bring in elders from different communities so they get cultural teachings and they get a sense of community."

The event is open to anyone with registration made through the group's Fort Frances office or its website.

Man Killed in ATV Accident

A Minnesota man is dead following an ATV accident in Littlefork.

Koochiching County Sheriff's office say 34-year-old Randy Scott Berg was operating the ATV Sunday afternoon when he lost control and the machine rolled on top of him.