Road Closure

A road to Mitaanjigaming First Nation will be closed temporarily this week.

The Mitaanjigaming access road, formerly known as Stanjkoming Road, will be closed at kilometer 2 Tuesday, October 22 and Wednesday, October 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days.

The Ministry of Transportation says the closures are necessary while a construction project along the road takes place.

Ontario Will Cover Medical Trips To Manitoba

Ontario's health minister is ensuring area residents that if they can get medical care in Manitoba, the province will cost the costs.

Deb Matthews clarified the province's policy in response to questions in Queen's Park about a Kenora cancer patient who was recently denied permission to travel to Winnipeg for treatment.

Matthews says part of the problem stems from a directive issued by the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority to Manitoba physicians that was not accurate and has been corrected.

Cyber Summit In Minnesota

Officials in Minnesota are gathering in Minneapolis to share notes on the cyber threats they face and how to manage the risk.

The Better Business Bureau's Dan Hendrickson says it's a real issue that requires a statewide solution.

It's estimated that nearly half of the data breaches in the U-S last year were from malicious attacks.

House Fire In Fort Frances

No injuries reported in a house fire that occurred Tuesday morning in Fort Frances.

Member of the Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Service were called out at around 6 in the morning to the home in the 11-hundred block of Second Street East.


Damage was extensive

The cause of the blaze is under under investigation.

New Contract For CN Police

CN Police have a new contract.

The Canadian National Railways Police Association says its member have ratified a new four year deal that begins in January.

The agreement provides for wage and benefits improvements for the 74 officers with CN across Canada, including here in Fort Frances.

MP Wants National Rail Strategy

A northwestern Ontario MP is looking for changes to the laws that govern train transportation.

Thunder Bay MP Bruce Hyer says this weekend's fiery derailment in Alberta should be a call to action for the Harper government

Hyer wants the feds to develop a national rail strategy.

City Supports Return Of Ranger Camps

A campaign to re-open Ontario ranger camps has some municipal support.

Thunder Bay city council is sending a letter to the provincial Liberals asking them to bring back to Ontario Ranger program.

The program saw young people from across the province work in provincial parks and other ministry of natural resource related jobs until it was cut over a year ago.

MnSure Information Session

Koochiching County residents will get some information about Minnesota's new heath insurance marketplace, MNsure.

Rainy Lake Medical Center's Foundation will host a presentation October 30th at Rainy River Community College with MnSure officials on hand to answer questions.

MnSure is being put in place for individuals and small groups to obtain health coverage as part of President's Obama's Affordable Care act.

Bell To Track Your Use

Starting next month, Bell will be tracking what its customers do online, what TV shows they watch, and what kind of mobile apps they use, unless they opt out.

The company has updated its privacy policy to say on November 16, they will start collecting customer data.

They say it's to improve network performance, create marketing reports and sell targeted ads.

You can opt out, though, by registering on Bell's website.

Seniors Recognized

Two seniors from the Rainy River are being recognized by the provincial government.

Alex Broski of Atikokan and Janet Loney of Emo are among 21 receiving Senior Achievement Awards, the province's highest honour for seniors that recognizes those who've made outstanding contributions in their communities.

Broski is cited for his leadership in a range of projects with the Lions Club, being a founding member of Atikokan's Sports Days, and chair of the local Christmas Cheer fund for three decades.

Loney created Emo's Meals on Wheels program, and helped establish the Assisted Living Building Committee.

Chemical Spill Cleaned Up

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A rail car that toppled over Friday on Resolute Forest Products mill property in Fort Frances has now been emptied and hauled away.

Some of it's contents, hydrogen peroxide, spilled, but crews had it contained by Saturday.

The chemical is used in the bleaching process at the mill, but officials says it posed no risk to the public at any time.

Roads that had been closed during the incident have now been reopened.

Mock Emergency Planned

Area emergency personnel will be put to the test next Tuesday as they participate with Energy Fundamentals Group or EFG in an exercise simulating a natural gas leak.

EFG's Michael Pelletier says it's being done in conjunction with Union Gas and the town of Fort Frances.

The exercise is also being evaluated by the National Energy Board.

Highway Accident Kills Five

OPP continue to investigate a horrific crash on Highway 17 near English River Saturday night involving a transport and a pickup truck that claimed five lives.

Provincial Police have released the name of the transport driver killed as 43-year old Sukhwinder Thandi of Cambridge, Ontario.

The names of the four men killed in the pick-up have not been positively identified.

Two oth
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er vehicles were involved in the accident, although none of the occupants were injured.

Operation Impact Numbers Revealed

The numbers of this year's Operation Impact Campaign are in.

OPP Constable Dave Shaw says all of their statistics were down from last year.

Police still laid 244 speeding charges, one stunt driving charge, 34 for seatbelt violations and 4 distracted driving charges.

The month long campaign ended last Sunday.

Forest Fire Season Winding Down

The forest fire season in Northwestern Ontario continues to be a quiet one.

Ministry of Natural Resources Spokesperson Deb MacLean says the last fire was in Red Lake, and was put out last Wednesday.

Two prescribed burns in the Sioux Lookout area are still active, but are listed as being held.

The official end of the forest fire season is October 31.

Blood Donor Clinics Seeking Young Donors

The Canadian Blood Services is back in Fort  Frances.

It will hold clinics at the Fort Frances High School today and tomorrow.

Spokesperson Mike Choi says part of the visit is to attract more young people as donors.

Choi says they hoping to collect 240 units of blood.

Senior Centre Celebrates

Anniversary celebrations for a senior's center in Fort Frances this week.

The Sister Kennedy Centre is celebrating 30 years with a variety of events.

It will kick the week off this morning with an official opening at 9 a.m. with a number of dignitaries on hand.

Freshie Week

This week is Freshie Week at Fort Frances High School.

The main event is the naming of a Freshie King and Queen.

A total of ten nominees will participate in a week-long friendly competition towards a crowning this Friday.

This year's nominees for Freshie Queen are Victoria Beaudry, Kassidy Fryer, Caitlin Visser,  Jess Steele, and Sara Selman.

Cole Sandelovich, Brett Hahkala, Hunter Koles, Christian Audette, and Cole Kowalski vye for the title of  Freshie King.

Comunity Living Outlines Plans For Former School

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Community Living Fort Frances and District has taken the wraps off its plans for the former Sixth Street School.

It intends to demolish the former school and construct a new multi-use facility featuring space for training, activities and offices.

Executive Director Alanna Barr says the plan came out of input from a variety of individuals.

A fundraising campaign for the estimated $3.5 million dollar project will be launched soon.

Gold Project Still Proceeding

New Gold is assuring the public it intends to continue work on a proposed gold mine north of Barwick.

It's acquisition of Rainy River Resources is now complete..

Director of Sustainability Kyle Stanfield says while there is a new owner to the project, there are no plans to scuttle the work take placing.

Stanfield says they're still aimed for obtaining ministerial approvals early next year and possible construction next fall.