District Church Involved in National Conference

The Evangelical Covenant Church in Rainy River is playing a key part in a national conference today.

The Church is serving as a satellite site to the Evangelical Covenant Church of Canada's annual meeting, taking place in Edmonton.

Pastor Kors Pater says it's a first for this area.

Pater expects up to forty delegates from the district and Manitoba to take in the conference from Rainy River.

Training Workshop In Fort Frances

Those involved with helping with victims of crime will receive a little help themselves over the next two days.

Peggy Loyie of the Rainy River District Victims Services Program says Fort Frances is playing host to a conference entitled Responding Effectively to Acute Stress Reaction.

The conference is drawing people from around the region.

Fundraiser Success

The recent Cause for Paws fundraiser in International Falls is being hailed a huge success.

Officials says approximately 15-thousand 500 dollars was raised for the Borderland Humane Society.

That's up over last year's figure.

Trillium Funding Awarded

A Fort Frances sports group is receiving funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

The Fort Frances Aquanauts Swim Club will received just over $28-thousand to purchase new equipment for safety instruction.

Youth Employment Centre Promoted

NCDS in Fort Frances is out promoting its youth employment centre.

Tyson Grinsell is one of two summer students hired and says they're doing a bit of travel to let both students and employers across district know about the services available.

They're setting up booths in local high schools and plan are planning visits to Rainy River, Emo and Nestor Falls.

They will also be at career fairs coming up in both Fort Frances and Atikokan.

Home Builder Sought Soon

The search for a builder for a home for locum doctors providing emergency room care at the hospital is Rainy River is about to begin.

The Rainy River Locum House Building Committee has given final approval to the home's design and is expected to soon advertise for tenders.

The committee is hoping to have a builder in place by the end of the month with construction starting in the middle of June.

To date, more than $154-thousand has been raised for the project.

Reserve Funds Directed Back To Classroom

The Rainy River District School Board is putting a portion of its reserve funds back into the classroom.

Trustees approved at their meeting Tuesday night to use $1.3 million from reserves toward a variety of programs for the next school year.

They include the appointment of a K-to-12- math coach, the training of a new Reading Recovery Teacher Leader and the funding of four teachers to be appointed as technology coaches.

Funding is also be devoted to maintaining an Aboriginal Early Learning Liaison and an Aboriginal Curriculum Coordinator

Educators Honoured

Three Atikokan educators are being honoured for their long tenure with the Rainy River District School Board.

Cathy Burton, a teacher at North Star Community School, and teacher Peter Burton and principal Jody Labossiere of Atikokan High School have been with the board for 25 years.

They were recognized by trustees at their meeting Tuesday night in Mine Centre.

Health Money Given

Koochiching County is receiving $450-thousand to address the health needs of its residents.

The dollars, from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, will be spread over a three year period.

It's to be used on a broad range of health care needs from health promotion and disease prevention to expanding oral and mental health services.

Burned Park Area Now Open

File photo

Much of the Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota burned in a wildfire last year is reopening to the public.

The 93-thousand acre area was closed last year because of concerns over standing dead trees.

Forest managers says visitors should still pay special attention to dead trees in the recovering wilderness and stay on established paths.

New School Program Planned

A program that helps students in the Rainy River district obtain credits for both high school and college at the same time is expanding.

The Rainy River District School Board's Shane Bliss says they plan to launch with Confederation College this fall a "School Within a College" program.

It will be aimed at students 18 to 21, allowing them the opportunity to attend college, work on dual credits and Independent Learn Course and participating in cooperative education.

Five dual credit programs are now offered to high school students now attending Fort Frances, Atikokan and Rainy River High Schools

Man Attempts to Run Border

There was an case of someone trying to run through Canada Customs in Fort Frances last month.

The Canada Border Services Agency says it happened March 15.

A Canadian man, driving a U.S. plated rental car, initially stopped at the border and told officers he planned to leave the vehicle in Thunder Bay.

When he was told he wasn't legally permitted to so, the driver started to head back to the U.S., but then attempted to continue his journey into Canada.

He was picked up a short time later by the OPP and turned back over to Customs.

Border Stats For March

The Fort Frances border saw an increase in the number of people passing last month.

Statistics released by the Canada Border Services Agency show almost 54-thousand travellers crossed in March.

That's about 25-hundred more than in February and a 7.5 per cent increase over March 2011.

Just over 29-thousand vehicles were processed at the border as well, a slight increase over February's numbers, but a one per cent drop from one year ago.

Youth Charged

Two youth are facing charges in connection with an act of mischief at the Rainbow Centre Daycare in Atikokan.

The youth, one from Atikokan and another from Weagamow Lake First Nation, were charged following an OPP investigation at the Centre Friday night.

More Opposition To FEDNOR Cuts

Federal government is being accused of cutting money used for economic development in northern Ontario.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty says government has taken out a billion dollars from the forestry sector and millions more in tourism and marketing grants that went to small towns.

Rafferty questions the common sense of making cuts to a program he says can the help strengthen the economy of a struggling region.

Industry Minister Tony Clement says government remains committed to economic development in northern Ontario, noting FEDNOR has provided over $263-million to hundreds of projects over the past five years.

Ultimate Fishing Town Contest Back

Fort Frances, Nestor Falls and Atikokan are among towns in northwestern Ontario seeking your vote in this year's contest to find Canada's Ultimate Fishing Town.

Baudette is vying for the American version of the contest by the World Fishing Network.

Voting on the networks website goes until the end of the Month

Salvation Army Captains Leave

The local Captains of the Salvation Army in Fort Frances says they will leave the community with fond memories.

Captain Angel and Marlene Sandoval are being relocated to Italy at the end of June.

Angel Sandoval says the Fort will always has a special place their hearts.

The Sandovals moved here from Hamilton in 2003.

Salvation Army Fundraiser Underway

The Salvation Army in Fort Frances has kicked off its annual May Red Shield Appeal Campaign.

A flag-raising ceremony Tuesday morning at the Civic Centre was held to signify the start of the month long campaign.

Captain Angel Sandoval says it's one of their most important fundraisers of the year.

The money raised goes back into a variety of programs aimed at helping people in need across the Rainy River district

NOACC Plans Visit with Government

The Northwestern Ontario business community is looking at making a trip to Toronto.

President of the Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce Andy Scribilo says the lobby groups is hoping send a delegation to Queen's Park next spring.

NOACC had enjoyed an annual audience with provincial Cabinet Ministers in the past, but it's not something that has happened in at least two decades.

Scribilo says they will try to set up as many meetings as they can with provincial cabinet ministers as part of the trip.

Concern Still Proposed Economic Development Group

Some concern is being raised about a new regional economic development agency for northwestern Ontario.

The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association says it's not prepared to increase its levy to municipalities to support the new group.

Iain Angus, who is championing the agency, says they have reduced the budget to make it more palatable.

Angus says they're also proposing an eleven member board comprising of four aboriginal representatives, four municipal reps and three members selected at large.