I. Falls Students Back to School

Today is the start of school for students in International Falls.

Superintendent of Independent School District 361 Jeff Peura says there's some indication enrollment will be up slightly.

"We've had some expansion at the mill," says Peura. "Boise International has brought in some new families to work which brought us some students. Then we've got some students coming back from other districts which is good to see because it means what we're doing is on the right track."

Peura says a project to improve air quality at Falls High School has also been completed in time for the start of school.

Trustees Meet

Trustees with the Rainy River District School Board meet for the first time tonight in the newly renovated board offices in Fort Frances.

It's also their first meeting of the new school year.

The appointment of a new student trustee and discussion of a protocol between schools and police are among items on the agenda.

Energy Rebates

Two Rainy River district mills will benefit from financial assistance given to forest companies to help with their electricity costs.

AbitibiBowater is getting $6.1 million for its mills in Fort Frances and Iroquois Falls through the Northern Industrial Electricity Rate program.

Ainsworth Lumber will receive $1.0 million for its Barwick Mill.

College To Open As Planned

(Unionized Support Staff at Fort Frances campus on picket line)


Confederation College is anticipating no major disruptions from a strike by its support staff when classes resumes Tuesday.

Staff are walking picket lines as part of a province-wide labour disruption.

Vice-President of Academics Judi Maundrell says they'll have Campus managers take over the duty of registration and helping students file for financial aid in the meantime.

Maundrell says most academic and apprenticeship programs will proceed as scheduled, but continued education programs are being delayed a week.

Drug Concerns

First Nation leaders are calling on Ottawa to help stem what they are calling an epidemic of prescription drug abuse across northern Ontario.

Nishnawbe Aski Nation deputy Grand Chief Mike Metatawabin says it has been two years since they declared a state of emergency because of drug abuse, but government response has been minimal.

Legal Action Taken

Several First Nation communities in northwestern Ontario are seeking legal action to stop provincial power contracts to hydro dams on their traditional lands.

Lawyer David Estrin says Grand Council Treaty 3 is concerned that the contracts will have adverse effects on aboriginal and treaty rights and is asking an Ontario court to set them aside.

The complaint is relates to five hydro generating plants, including the one in Fort Frances.

Alcohol Prices Lowered

The province is lowering the LCBO’s mark-up on alcohol sold at duty free stores, including that in Fort Frances.

The mark-up will be reduced from 50 per cent to 30 per cent of cost.

A release from the province says the changes will improve the competitiveness of the duty-free stores, allowing them to create jobs.

The pricing change takes effect October 10.

Ranger Program Concluded

(Fort Frances District Ontario Stewardship Ranger photo)

The Ontario Stewardship Ranger program has wrapped its summer program in the Rainy River district.

Four area youth took part in a variety of outdoor activities.

Among projects was identifying rusty crayfish on area lakes and putting up fences on farms to keep cattle out of streams.

Tele-Health Funding

The North West Local Health Integration Network is earmarking two-million dollars towards the region's tele-health program.

The money will allow various health care organizations to hire more nurses for the program.

Hertiage Party Candidate Expected

The Northern Ontario Heritage Party says it will soon be announcing the name of its candidate who will seek the seat in Kenora-Rainy River in this October's provincial election.

The party was formed last year to bring attention to issues important to this region.

Missing Man Found

OPP have located the body of a Florida man from Lake of the Woods.

68-year-old Bill Amason had been reported missing Sunday after his empty boat was found floating in Obabikon Bay.

Police says a marine unit found his body in the same area Wednesday.

College Support Workers Hit the Pickets

Just days before students head back to class for the new school year, support staff at Ontario's community colleges are on strike.

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union says it went on strike because the colleges demanded concessions and clawbacks to its existing contract.

But Gerry Barker, chairman of the colleges' bargaining team, says the colleges offered increases for support staff that would take the average salary to more than 59-thousand dollars a year with no concessions.

Anticipating pickets at Confederation College's campus in Fort Frances, the Rainy River District School Board has changed the route for vehicle traffic to Fort High.

Parents, staff and students driving to school are to use the lane by J.W. Walker School off Keating Avenue to enter and leave at the north exit at McIrvine Road.

Buses are to use the same north exit on McIrvine to enter and leave the school.

Weather Warning Canceled

A severe thunderstorm watch for the Rainy River district between the town of Rainy River and Seine River First Nation has now ended.

Weather Watch Issued

Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for much of the Rainy River district.

It's because of an active line of severe thunderstorms moving in from southern Manitoba.

Environment Canada says they are likely to weaken slightly before they reach the district, but may still be strong enough to generate strong wind gusts to 90 kilometres an hour.

Safety Zone in Effect

The new Community Safety Zone in the west end of Fort Frances goes into effect today.

Drivers caught for such things as speeding or running red lights in the area can face a doubling of fines.

Constable Anne McCoy says OPP will be paying close attention there.

"The Community Safety Zone is an enforcement pillar, a tool officers can use at their discretion in order to do some enforcement within the school zones," says McCoy. "WE want people to be aware there's lot of school kids in that area."

The zone will remain in effect until the end of June.

McKay on the Campaign Trail

The official start to the provincial election is still a few days away, but that hasn't stopped candidates in Kenora-Rainy River from stumping for votes.

Progressive Conservative candidate Rod McKay was in Fort Frances yesterday to speak to party faithful and area business leaders.

"Basically the north, we get ignored in so many ways," says McKay. "We have policies that are set in Toronto that dramatically effect the way we live and the way we operate in northern Ontario with no consideration for the impact of those decisions. That's one of the reasons why I want to win this election and try to make some change in that area.

McKay also wants to help break down barriers that hurt area businesses to be competitive.

Doc House Call Plan Supported

The Liberal candidate for Kenora-Rainy River is standing up in support of a party policy to have doctors make house calls.

Anthony Leek says it makes good sense for this riding where there's a high number of seniors who could benefit.

"I think it's really important that we start to concentrate on taking care of the baby-boom generation which is continuing to age," says Leek, "and I think this is just a step forward to helping that population.

Leek says other Liberal initiatives will help bring more doctors to the area to help fulfill that promise.

Treaty 3 to Outline Court Case

Grand Council Treaty 3 is expected to release details today of legal action it plans to against the province of Ontario.

The Grand Council is asking the Court to set aside power contract to hydro generation dams within its territory that cause impacts to aboriginal or treaty rights.

TB!S Receives Fundraising Award

Staff at The Bargain Store in Fort Frances have been recognized for their fundraising efforts for Easter Seals.

The agency presented the store with a Silver Egg award for a campaign it ran back in March.

Store manager Darcy Banman says it was something staff had been worked toward.

"We're very proud of our staff," says Banman. "All of the money goes to Fort Frances. It stays with the local branch of Easter Seals. Our store has tried for the Silver Award for many years and we finally did it."

The store raised over $1,6000 through the sale of Easter Seals Paper Eggs, the second highest in northwestern Ontario.

Fishing Fine

A North Dakota man is $1,300 out-of-pocket for having too many walleye in his possession.

Court heard that Chris Lind declared six walleye caught on Lake of the Woods near Nestor Falls in July as he passed through customs at the Rainy River-Baudette point of entry.

A check found him with eleven frozen, filleted and packaged walleye, nine over the legal limit.