OMB Blocks Housing Development

The town of Fort Frances is being stopped from developing housing lots on a parcel of land in the east end.

The Ontario Municipal Board has ordered the town to repeal a zoning by-law passed back in December for the area known as Nelson Street Park.

Kalan Kielczewski says its a huge win for residents who have long opposed any development other than a park.

In its ruling, the OMB says it supported the residents appeal based on an inadequate case supporting the park's disposal.

Training Deal Secured

Another partnership for a First Nations development agency in the Rainy River district

Naicatchewain Development Corporation has signed an agreement with Taranis Training of Thunder Bay to provide a number of training programs.

The Corporation's Tony Marinaro says it helps meets a need in the region.

Marinaro says the training will be a direct benefit to the Corporation and its many ventures that need skilled workers.

Award Winners Announced

Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce has announced the winners of its Canada Day window display contest and July 1st parade.

Northwoods Gallery and Gifts, Taggs Sources for Sports and Makabi Inn were noted for their window displays.

The Town of Fort Frances, Bill Whiting and the Special Olympics were winners for their floats in the Canada Day parade.

Impaired Driver Nabbed

An Atikokan man has had his driver's license suspended after displaying signs of being impaired.

The suspension happened last Friday when OPP stopped a truck on Highway 622 after it left Bunnell Park and was travelling at a high rate of speed.

More Lightning Fires Detected

MNR file

Two new forest fires have been detected in the Rainy River district.

The blazes near Missus Lake, north of Fort Frances, and another near Jackfish Lake, north of Emo, are both identified as lightning-caused and small in size.

Another lightning cause fire burning yesterday near Albert Lake is now out.

The Ministry of Natural Resources is also identifying another small fire east of Atikokan.

It's cause is not know.  

Protect Yourself From The Sun

Ontario's doctors say it's important to be protected when your outside in the sun.

With the Rainy River district enjoying sunny weather, Dr. Doug Weir of the Ontario Medical Association says use sunscreen and be liberal with it.

Weir says take other measures to be protected because high SPF ratings on sunscreen aren't giving you the full protection you may think you're getting.

OMB Rules On Nelson Street Park

The town of Fort Frances is being stopped from developing housing lots on a parcel of land in the east end.

The Ontario Municipal Board has ordered the town to repeal a zoning by-law passed back in December for the area known as Nelson Street Park.

Kalan Kielczewski says it's a huge win for residents who have long opposed any development other than a park.

In it's ruling, the OMB says the town failed to provide the board with an objective unbiased review of the use of parks spaces to support a redevelopment of the Nelson Street site.

It also says it supported the residents' appeal based on an inadequate case supporting the park's disposal.

Highway Accident Victim Identified

A Fort Frances man has been identified as the lone victim of that fiery highway accident, east of Atikokan yesterday morning.

OPP says 88-year-old Jack Tiefenbacher was the driver of a vehicle that cross over the centre line, striking a rock cut and bursting into flames near Huronia.

The investigation is continuing.

Fatal Accident Under Investigation

OPP continue to investigate a fiery highway accident, east of Atikokan.


It happened in the area of Huronia on Highway 11 around 7 a.m. yesterday morning.


OPP says a vehicle heading east crossed the centre line, struck a rock cut and burst into flames.

There's no immediate word how many people were in the vehicle at the time.

Marine Unit Busy

File photo

It was a busy weekend for members of the OPP's marine unit on Rainy Lake.

Several charges were issued for a variety of offences.

Saturday, boats on Red Gut Bay and near Sand Point were stopped on separate occasions where officers found a lack in the number of life jackets on board.

Then on Canada Day, a boat checked on Windy Point was found not having adequate safety equipment.

Later that same day, three people were charged after OPP checked a boat in the area of Sand Point to find open liquor and marijuana.

Public Drunkenness Charges

Two people from Rainy Lake First Nation face charges following an incident at the Government Dock near Pither's Point Park.

OPP were called to the area Saturday about people on the dock consuming alcohol and upsetting young children swimming nearby.

A 23-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman were charged.

Tug of War Declared A Draw

There will be peace along the border between Fort Frances and International Falls, for at least another year.

Mayors of both communities have agreed to declare this year's Pulling for Peace Tug of War a draw.

Weather washed out Monday's event.

Falls Mayor Shawn Mason says she did offer to let the Canadians keep the title for another year, but Fort Mayor Roy Avis suggested it be declared a draw.

Apparently rules governing the event suggested a coin toss be held to declare a winner, but Mason says that was not even an option considered.

July 4th Celebrations in Falls

It's a holiday in the United States as Americans celebrate Independence Day.

There are several events taking place in International Falls with Smokey Bear Park the central focal point.

A kiddies parade goes at 12:30 p.m. on 3rd Street from 9th Avenue to 3rd Avenue.

The main parade starts at 1 p.m., going down 3rd Street from 12th Avenue to 3rd Avenue.

Fireworks go at 10 p.m. tonight in the area between Falls High School and Rainy River Community College.

New Fire in Rainy River District Area

More than 15-thousand lightning strikes over the long weekend has led to at least ten new forest fires being reported in northwestern Ontario.

One of them in the Rainy River district.

The fire, located in the area of Albert Lake, north of Emo, burned only 0.1 hectares and is listed as being under control.

With the hot dry weather continuing, more holdover lightning fires are expected to be discovered.

Humidex Advisory Issued

Stay cool today.

Environment Canada has issued a humidex advisory for the Fort Frances area as hot and humid conditions expected to continue today.

The mercury is forecast to soar to around 33 C, pushing humidex values to the 40 threshold.

Weather Record

Another weather record in the Rainy River district.

This time in Atikokan where yesterday's high of 29.8 C just clipped the old mark of 29.6 C set two years ago.

Kayaker Safe

A safe trip for a kayaker who got caught in the storm while on Rainy Lake Monday.

Koochiching County Sheriff's department were called out after a 17-year-old failed to return from an outing on the U.S. side of the lake.

Personnel from the U.S. Border Patrol and Voyageurs National Park assisted in finding him in the area of Bushy Island.

Police says he had gone ashore to wait out the storm.

Jubilee Medals Handed Out in Atikokan

Three Atikokan residents are the recent recipients of Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medals.

Mayor Dennis Brown, Alex Broski and Mike McKinnon received their awards in ceremonies held on Canada Day in Atikokan.

Brown has been mayor of the town for 15 years, serving as a strong advocate and ambassador for this community for many years.

McKinnon is the co-owner of the Atikokan Progress and has volunteer with several organizations.

Broski was cited for his years of volunteer work, including 55 years as a member of the Atikokan Lions Club.

Storm Hits Rainy River District

As many as 500 Hydro One customers lost power for several hours last night in several locations across the Rainy River district resulting from a storm passing through the area.

It brought down hydro lines and trees across the district.

There were reports the storm bringing tennis-ball sized hail and wind gusts topping 100 kilometres an h our in some parts of northwestern Ontario.

Most who lost power had it restored by midnight.

Hydro One was still reporting outages in the Seine River First Nations, Dawson Township and Berglund areas as of 9 a.m. this morning.


New temperature records were set before the rain came down.

Fort Frances hit 33 C, or 91 F, shattering the old mark by  2-full degrees set in 2003 and again in 2010.

Atikokan reached 31.6 C, but just short of its 1966 record.

Tug Of War Rained Out

The late afternoon storm also forcing a cancellation of the Pulling for Peace Tug of War between Fort Frances and International Falls.

The event won't be rescheduled

Fort councillor Rick Wiedenhoeft says the rules dictate the championship trophy to be decided by a coin flip involving Mayors on either side of the border.

But according to WDIO-TV in Duluth, American officials are letting Fort Frances keep the title for another year.