Sewer Project Deemed A Priority

Koochiching County is putting forward a sewer project as a priority in hopes of securing funding through a State bonding bill next year.

Commissioner Wade Pavleck says completing the Island View sewer project provides the best benefits to the County.

The nearly $8-million project narrowly missed out getting on this year's bonding bill.

New Fires In Northwestern Ontario

Five new forest fires have sparked in northwestern Ontario.

None are burning in the Rainy River district.

Some rain is in the forecast, but the Ministry of Natural Resources says the fire hazard remains moderate to high.

New Catholic Priest For Fort Frances

The new priest for St. Mary's Church in Fort Frances is looking forward to coming home.

Father Victor Degagne will take over in August.

Father Victor says he's excited about coming back to where he grew up.

He's been the associate pastor at St. Dominic Church in Thunder Bay for the past three years.

Rainy River H.S. Graduation

The first of three high school graduations in the Rainy River district goes today.

Twenty-seven graduates of Rainy River High School will receive diplomas during a ceremony at the High School at 7:30 p.m.

Jessica Haw and Emily Whetzel will deliver the valedictorian address.

New Gold Begins Take-Over Proceedings

New Gold has started formal proceedings in its take-over bid of Rainy River Resources and its signature gold project north of Barwick.

The Vancouver-based mining company is offering $3.83 cents a share for Rainy River with the deal valued at about $310-million in total.

Rainy River shareholders can also opt to take a half a share in New Gold for each share they now own.

Rainy River's board of directors has already supported the offer which closes July 24.

No Area Roads Make List

No roads in northwestern Ontario have been identified as some of the worst in Ontario.

CAA has released its annual list of the Top 10 Worst Roads.

All are located in southern Ontario.

The list is compiled based on nominations from the public.

Atikokan Hunter Fined

An Atikokan man has been ordered to pay $1,700 for hunting a deer illegally.

Michael Fogg was also banned from hunting in Ontario for a year after pleading to several charges in court recently.

He was charged in December after Ministry of Natural Resource conservation officers determined he had shot a deer without a license and using a .22 calibre rifle

College Graduation Held In Fort Frances

A day of celebration for Confederation College and students at its Rainy River district campus in Fort Frances.

Two separate ceremonies were held Monday for graduating students, including one for 16 who earned high school diplomas through the School within a college program

President Jim Madder says the dual credit program proved very successful.

Another 51 students enrolled in college programs received diplomas or certificates during a second ceremony at the Townshend Theatre.

International Falls Bicycles

International Falls is being viewed as a bike-able.

City officials participated last week in a workshop and a bike ride aimed at improving the ability to bicycle around the city.

Event organizer Nancy Lee says the group identified the community does well in promoting cycling and police do a good job enforcing the rules.
community.

Lee says the group did identify a need for some improvements along designated routes.

Garden Could Become Permanent

The community garden in Fort Frances could become a permanent fixture.

Organizers are asking the town to rezone the property off Lillie Avenue that would make the garden  permanent.

The group had been given temporary approval to use the area for the past three years.

A public meeting on the rezoning will take place July 8th.

Docs Want Liquor Sales Profits Directed To Helping Those With Alcoholism

The province's doctors wants liquor sale profits pumped back into alcohol harm reduction programs.

The Liquor Control Board of Ontario announced record sales yesterday, with $1.7 billion dollars going into the province's coffers before taxes.

Ontario Medical Association president Doctor Scott Wooder says there should be programs targeted to both adults and youth.

Tories Launch TV Ads

The Progressive Conservatives have launched T-V ads linking Premier Kathleen Wynne with the costly cancellation of gas plants and equating her to Dalton McGuinty.

With three provincial byelections to be called this summer, the Tories say voters need to know Wynne is directly tied to the $585-million decisions.

BizKids Returns

Bizkids is coming back to Fort Frances this summer.

It's promoted by the Northwest Business Centre.

It promotes entrepreneurship to young campers aged 9 to 12 through a variety of events including visits to local businesses and a chance to develop their own products they'll sell at Market Thursdays.

Youth Business Coordinator Cameron Chambers says the camp will run for a week in late August.

The camp was first introduced to the Fort Frances area last year and was met with tremendous success.

New Website For Riverside

Riverside Health Care Facilities has given its website a makeover.

Spokesperson Nicke Baird says the upgrades to www.riversidehealthcare.ca improves access by computer users to hospital and health information.

The new website includes a "what’s new” section, the ability to donate to the Riverside Foundation for Health Care and a physician recruitment section.

Hydro Outage Planned

A lengthy hydro outage in the Rainy River district is planned by Hydro One.

It will occur Sunday from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Hydro One customers  between Fort Frances to Rainy River will be impacted.

The town of Fort Frances is not.

Hydro One says the outage is needed so crews can perform maintenance and equipment upgrades.

First Nation Community Taking On Solar Farms

Three large solar farms planned for the Rainy River district are being taken over by Rainy River First Nations.

The combined 25 megawatt projects in the Pinewood area were started by Ontario Solar P.V. Fields

Chief Jim Leonard says the band pursued a purchase agreement after being unable to get approval for a project of their own.

Leonard says all of the permitting and financing should be in place by the fall allowing construction to begin next summer.

As many as four hundred jobs are expected to be created by the work.

Huffman Prepares To Go Down

The demolition of the former Huffman School in Fort Frances is expected to begin today.

It's removal is to make way for a new 16-lot housing subdivision.

The elementary school opened in 1955 and closed in 2010 with the construction of the new Robert Moore School and subsequently purchased by the town of Fort Frances..

College Graduations Today

Confederation College recognizes its graduates in the Rainy River district today.

About 50 students ,who completed programs, will be awarded certificates or diplomas at a ceremony at the Townshend Theatre, beginning at 5 p.m. tonight.

This afternoon, students participating in the School Within A College initiative will be recognized.

The dual credit program allowed students to earn credits to finish high school and toward a College program.

Sewer Pipes Being Examined

The sewer pipes in Fort Frances are getting a look over beginning today.

Roto-Rooter has been hired to clean and making recordings of the pipe over the next three years to help identify defects.

As the air pressure may push water up, residents are being asked to keep the seats on toilets down, insert plugs in drains not in use and cover all basement floor drains as a precaution.

If there's an odour, it's suggested to pour water down drains and open windows to alleviate the smell

Rule Change Made In Dragon Boat Festival

Organizers of the upcoming Boundary Waters Dragon Boat Festival wants to see more teams.

To help, they've reduced the requirement for females on a team from eight to five.

Registration to enter is made by contacting NCDS