Fires at AbitibiBowater

A pair of separate fires at the AbitibiBowater mill in Fort Frances have been ruled as accidental.

Members of Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Service were first called to the mill 8:30 a.m. Saturday to a fire that occurred in an area above the lime-kiln.

After remaining on scene until 10 p.m., firefighters were called back to the mill a few hours later to a fire in a storage building located below the lime-kiln.

Officials says both fires were the result of wood materials that had been exposed to heat over a period of time, eventually igniting.

Photo ID Card Available

Ontario is now selling a photo ID card for the 1.5 million people over 16 who don't have a driver's licence.

It costs $35, is valid for five years, has raised lettering and clearly states it is not a driver's licence.

The card, though, won't be available at Service Ontario centres in the Rainy River district until sometime early next year.

Co-Champions in Bass Tournament

(Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship photo)

For the first time in the history of the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship, there are co-winners.

Richard Rud and Jon Austin of International Falls and Thunder Bay's Glenn Leroux and Trevor Zimak avoided controversial tie-breaking scenarios to share the title after tying for the lead after three days of fishing with 52.42 pounds

The tie-breakers included anglers going back into the lake for a fish-off or a flip of a coin to determine who takes the first place money.

The two teams opted to share the title and the first and second place money.

Tournament Draws Good Crowds

An estimated 1,600 people attended the weigh-ins at the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship over the three days.

Paul Morrison, who served as master of ceremonies, says a new format, that crowned three different winners, helped create more excitement.

"I thin it's been really great," says Morrison, "not only with the three different formats, but the three different days of fishing. So it ties in quite nicely for the first year that we're doing this."

Morrison also applauded the work of the 85 volunteers involved which is down from the normally 200 that have worked the event in the past.

NHLer in Bass Tournament

Among this year participants at the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship was Dustin Byfuglien, who now plays for the new Winnipeg Jets.

It's was Byfuglien's first appearance at the tournament.

"Being from Roseau, not to far away, and always coming here in the summer time to go fishing," says Byfuglien. We decided to going and see what happens."

Bfyfuglin and his fishing partner Josh Meyers finished well back in the standings.

Forest Fire Update

(File photo)

Several forest fires continue to burn in northwestern Ontario, but some of the 3,500 people evacuated from communities over the past two weeks could be going home as early as today.

Emergency officials says weather has turned favourable for the two-thousand plus firefighters involved, helping to minimize further risk to communities.

There are still over 118 forest fires burning across the region.

Evacuation Process Reviewed

(File photo)

Officials in Ontario are looking into whether families have been split up while being evacuated from communities threatened by forest fires raging in the province's north.

Deputy community safety minister Ian Davidson says the province has done its best to keep families together since evacuations started.

But he says the province is investigating unconfirmed reports that the evacuation process has separated members of some First Nations families from each other.

Fires Reported in Rainy River District

After almost two weeks of no forest fires activity in the Rainy River district, there were two new starts yesterday.

Both are located within Quetico Provincial Park.

Their cause is not immediately know, but the 0.1 and 0.3 hectare fires are being observed currently by the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Four More Years - If He Wins

Premier Dalton McGuinty says he will be around for another four years if his Liberals win the election -- but can't say what he will do if they lose.

Speaking at a party conference in Richmond Hill, north of Toronto, McGuinty says opposition leaders don't have the experience he does.

The Liberals still haven't released their election platform, but McGuinty says it will have some exciting ideas for the future.

Fire Truck Taken

A Minnesota Man is facing charges after trying to steal a fire truck.

Members of the Greenwood Township Fire Department, northwest of Tower, had gone out on a call Saturday, only to return to the hall to find their fire truck missing.

St. Louis County Sheriff's officials found the fire truck in Cook and arrested a 25-year-old on charges of theft and impaired driving.

Fort Frances Teams Leads FFCBC

A Fort Frances angling team has emerged as the leader following the first day of fishing at the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship.

Darren Ward and Sean Good led all anglers yesterday with a catch of 19.61 pounds.

Scott Bonnema and Mark Fisher hold down second spot with 18.04 pounds.

Mark Raveling and Mike Luhman sit third at 17.92 pounds.

Defending champions Dorian Lindholm of Fort Frances and his fishing partner Bill Wilcox from Texas are 56th out of 95 teams.

Boats will leave today from the Government Dock at 7 a.m. with second day weigh-ins scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m.

Be sure to listen to B-93 for live reports during the weigh-ins.

Fire Evacuees Across the Province

(Department of National Defence photo)


More than three-thousand people are now staying in hotels and evacuation centres around the province as the forest fire fight in northwestern Ontario continues.

Some have been moved to places as far away as Ottawa.

Ian Davidson, deputy minister for Community Safety, says it's because some northern communities aren't in a position to house more the evacuees.

A total of 23 towns and cities across the province have been identified as hosts sites for the evacuees.

Jeffrey Views Forest Fires

Ontario's Natural Resources Minister got a first hand look at how the forest fires in northwestern Ontario are being handled.

Linda Jeffrey flew over one of the largest burning fires and says it was one an eye opener.

But Jeffrey says she has no plans at this time to declare a state of emergency for the region.

Premier to Visit Fire Scene

Premier Dalton McGuinty is expected in northwestern Ontario today to get a first-hand look at how officials are dealing with forest fires in the region.

McGuinty left a premiers' conference in Vancouver two days early, saying he wanted to ensure all possible help is being offered.

Lake Basin Plan Released

A report looking at the management of the Lake of the Woods and Rainy Lake basins is suggesting the creation of a single International Watershed Board.

The Board would merge the International Rainy River Water Pollution Board with the International Rainy Lake Board of Control.

A series of public meetings on the report are planned for next month.

U.S. Passport Rules Help Canadian Borders

A federal report says more Canadians are being pulled aside for close inspection at Canadian border points when returning home - ironically because of stricter U.S. security demands.

The need to have a passport to enter the U.S. is making it easier for Canadian border agents - not just U.S. officials - to check travellers against police and intelligence databases.

As a result, the number of people referred by Canadian officials for secondary inspection at the border has increased.

Early Morning Accident

A two-vehicle accident in downtown Fort Frances briefly closed Scott Street early this morning.

It happened around 5 a.m. at the corners of Scott and Mowatt Avenue.

No one was injured, but the accident did close Scott between Mowatt and Central Avenues for about a hour while emergency personnel removed the vehicles and cleaned up the debris.

Bass Championship Underway

The first day of fishing gets underway today at the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship.

A total of 97 teams are involved.

Boats will begin leaving at 7 a.m. from the government dock with the weigh-ins at the Memorial Sport Centre starting at 3:30.

Be sure to listen to B-93 for live reports during the weigh-ins.

Wind Hits Thunder Bay Airport

(Magic 99.9 photo)


Thunder Bay's airport was shutdown after a severe thunderstorm blew a portion of the roof off the terminal building last night.

The debris landed on at least 18 cars in the parking lot and took out a lamppost.

No one was injured.

The airport is now open.

Falls Radio Station Tower Topples

An International Falls radio station has had its 650-foot broadcast tower toppled.

The tower, used by Christian station KBHW-FM was felled by a storm that passed through the area yesterday.

The station is still on the air, but at a reduced power.