Uploading Concerns

The town of Fort Frances isn't all that happy with the province's efforts to take back the responsibility of social services costs from municipalities.

Councillor Sharon Tibbs says with funding for social housing frozen at 2002 levels, the shortfall is still being picked up on the municipal side.

Councillor Ken Perry says the Rainy River District Administration Board recently passed a motion addressing that issue and will be seeking municipal support.

Attawapiskat Called Deplorable

Canada's top aboriginal leader says the spotlight on the deplorable living conditions on the  Attawapiskat First Nation is "a moment of reckoning.''

Shawn Atleo, grand chief of the Assembly of First Nations, says it's long past time to take care of the needs of Attawapiskat and other reserves in the same position.

Many residents of Attawapiskat live in tented shacks with no insulation, no bathrooms, and no running water.

Atikokan Animals Get Rescued

Homeward Bound photo

An Atikokan group is helping to rescue stray animals from being destroyed and finding them new homes in the community.

Homeward Bound Animal Rescue was established only two months ago.

President Stephanie Martin says they're getting lot of support.

Martin says animals rescue are housed in Foster homes until more permanent ones are found.

Stuff-A-Cruiser Numbers

Final numbers from Saturday's Stuff-a-cruiser event in Atikokan are now in.

Residents donated enough food to help stuff a total of seven cruisers during the four hour food drive.

The items will be shared by Atikokan Native Friendship Centre/Ashandiwin Food Bank, Atikokan Christmas Cheer and the Faith Lutheran Church Food Bank.

Another Stuff-a-cruiser event will take place December 10th in Fort Frances and Emo.

Bait Smugglers Fined

Two United States residents have been fined a total of one-thousand dollars for attempting to smuggle live bait into Ontario.

The men, one from Iowa and another from Hibbing, Minnesota, tried on separate occasions this past summer to bring leeches through Canada Customs entry point on Sand Point Lake.

In both cases, the bait was seized by Customs officers and turned over to Ministry of Natural Resource conservation officers.

Lawyers Concerned with Changes

A group of northwestern Ontario lawyers have teamed up fight changes to the criminal code.

The Kenora Lawyers Sentencing Group is worried that amendments to the criminal code will result in more aboriginals being incarcerated.

It is also worried the changes will reduce opportunities for alternative sentencing, like restorative justice.

Airport Fence Works

A new fence around the Fort Frances airport appears to be doing its job.

The fence was installed to keep deer from running into the path of aircraft on the runway.

The town's Operation and Facilities Manager Doug Brown says they did have bear slip in under a gate, but no deer have been spotted by airport staff.

The fence has been in place since the middle of October

Civic Centre Work Proposed

The town of Fort Frances is looking at repairing a section of roof at the Civic Centre.

CAO Mark McCaig says ongoing problems requires the need to do the work as soon as possible.

Administration will examine costs and practicality of doing the work during the winter before committing the town to the project.

"Like" Us

The use of Social media is going to play heavily in future promotion of Fort Frances.

Geoff Gillon of the Rainy River Future Development Corporation says the expanded use of the internet in every day life forces them look to Facebook, Twitter and You Tube more.

RRFDC is holding a workshop this week for area businesses interested in Social media.

New Town Website

The town of Fort Frances has revamped its website.

The town's I.T. Consultant Darryl Allan says the redesigned site takes advantages of new features not previously available and recognizes provincial requirements for accessibility.

The site gives the public greater access to council agendas and minutes, town policies and general information.

Sarah Campbell Racking Up Air Miles

You can forgive Sarah Campbell for feeling a bit jet lagged these days.

The rookie M.P-P is getting used to the rigours of travelling to and from the largest riding in the province.

Campbell says she's been spending a lot more time in Toronto than anticipated.

Attawapiskat Gets Some Attention

Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says the situation in Attawapiskat is "absolutely disgusting.''

She wants to know why the Red Cross, an international aid agency, is the northern Ontario First Nations community's only source of support.

People are now flooding into Attawapiskat, a month after it issued a cry for emergency help with its substandard housing and lack of clean, running water.

Falls Parade Winners

Candy Land by the Gizzard Girls earned top honours at the 'Twas the Lights Before Christmas Parade in International Falls Friday.

They earned $300.00 for their effort.

A 3-part religious theme by Wood Interiors earned the second prize award while the Coffee Landing Cafe's Giant Red Cup placed third.

Fort Parade Winners

Organizers of the Fort Frances Parade of Lights have announced their award winners.

Fort Frances High School's Saving Faces was selected best among local organizations and churches.

The Girls Guides, Brownies and Sparks entry was the best non-profit float.

Badiuk Equipment was best among the business entries.

Dancemakers School of Dance won for best recreational group

Bill and Marie Whiting were declared best decorated individuals.

St. Mary's Youth Group was the winner of the award that best exemplified the parade theme.

Video of the parade was posted by an unknown individual on You Tube


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Bridge Upgrades Explored

Minnesota and Ontario are looking at possible improvements to the bridge linking Rainy River with Baudette.

Talks are in the very infancy stages.

J.T. Anderson of the Minnesota Department of Transportation says there's still a lot of issues to discuss before any work can take place.

Anderson says the State would like to work begin by 2017 or 2018.

Search Suspended

An air and ground search of an Atikokan man has been suspended by Ontario Provincial Police.

It began last Wednesday for 49-year-old Eric Natti in an area north of Atikokan known as Miller Lake Landing.

OPP says they're now dispatching an underwater search and recovery team to the area, but aren't provided any further details.

Parade Route Designation Requested

Fort Frances town councillors are being asked to adopt an official parade route for future events.

The Fort Frances Police Services Board is recommending they start in the east end of town around the Memorial Sports Centre or Resolute Forest Product's wood lot, travelling down either Scott or Front Streets, going no further than Mowatt Avenue.

The board says this would limit interference with traffic at major intersections and the need for officers to control those area.

The OPP gave notice this year it would be charging parade organizers if their services were required.

Lakers Seek Canteen Rights

Fort Frances Lakers Hockey Association wants to take over partial operation of concession services at the Memorial Sports Center.

It expressing interested in manning the canteen located in the Ice for Kids Arena.

Carol's Canteen currently holds a contract with the town that's set to expire next year.

Faith Day

It's a day of faith development for staff with the Northwest Catholic District School Board today.

Catholicity Coordinator Amy LaFroy says staff from the Rainy River district will gather in Fort Frances to hear from Doctor Mark McGowan.

Monsignor Pat Stilla will serve the keynote speaker of a separate event for staff from the Dryden and Sioux Lookout areas.

Resolute to Halt Paper Machines for Year

Resolute Forest Products is curtailing its papermaking operations in Fort Frances for the rest of the year beginning next week.

The company is citing poor market conditions as the reason behind the five week shutdown of its paper machines.

About one hundred employees will be impacted.

Operations at the Kraft mill are not effected.

It's the third work stoppage at the mill this year.