New Duties For Former Teacher

A former Fort Frances High School teacher now has some new duties.

Paul Elliot assumes the presidency of the Ontario Secondary Schools Teachers' Federation.

Elliot was elected to the post early this spring.

He's been on a leave of absence from teaching since elected to the OSSTF executive in 2005.

Stolen Vehicle Investigated

OPP are looking into the theft of a vehicle in Atikokan they believe was in an accident.

Police says the GMC half tonne was taken from a Mercury Avenue East Home early Friday morning.

The vehicle was returned, but brought back to a neighbour's yard with damage.

New Bus Touring Northwestern Ontario

Regional Cancer Care Northwest is hitting the road this month to showcase its new and improved bus.

Spokesperson Alison McMullen says the bus allows for screening for colon, breast and cervical cancer  to women 50-years of age and old in their own communities.

The bus begin its travels July 15 with stops in Dryden, Ear Falls and Red Lake.

New Administrator For Rainycrest

There will be a new administrator for Rainycrest Long-Term Care Home in Fort Frances.

Darryl Galusha will take over from Edith Bodnar July 15th.

He also becomes director responsible for Senior’s Services with Riverside Health Care Facilities.

Bodnar is retiring, but delayed her departure so Riverside could complete its hiring process.

Galusha is original from Fort Frances and is current an assistance administrator with the District of Kenora Home for the Aged.

Hydro Outages

A pair of power outages in the Rainy river district have been resolved.

One impacted about 446 Hydro One customers in the Mine Centre area.

Another 141 people in the Nestor Falls area were impacted in the second.

Power went out to both area earlier this morning.

MNR Watching Lightning Strikes

The Ministry of Natural Resources is watching closely storms passing through the Rainy River district.

The MNR says its lightning locator system recorded a high level of lightning strike activity with heavy concentrations around Atikokan.

The strikes are being monitored to see if they lead to any new forest fires.

There hasn't been a forest fire in the Rainy River district since early June.

Regional Partnership Recommendation For Agri-Food Sector

A new report recommendations a need for great regional partnerships in northern Ontario's agri-food sector.

The report by two Lakehead University researchers was done as part of a much larger review of farmers’ markets, co-ops and other sustainable food programs province wide.

Co-author of the northern Ontario report Mirella Stroink says greater collaboration would strengthen those groups who now struggle with issues around funding, marketing and administrative support.

The researchers also see a need for some policies that help improve access and marketing of foods found in the forest such blueberries and maple syrup.

Parade Welcoming More Entries

There's still time to get a float ready for this year's Canada Day parade in Fort Frances.

It's being organized by the Rainy River Future Development Corporation.

Student intern Nicole Mueller says they have about twenty entrants so far and will welcome more participants right up to Parade Day.


This year's theme "There's something in the Water" ties in with this year's Dragon Boat Festival.

Mall Days Today

A traffic note today in Fort Frances.

Sections of Scott Street will be shut down to accommodate the Fort Frances Downtown Business Improvement Association's Mall Days.

It happens along the 100, 200 and 300 blocks of Scott.

County Unemployment Rate Drops

The unemployment rate in Koochiching County has dropped.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development says May's rate fell to 9 per cent, more than a full percent from April.

It's also at its lowest level since last December as area employers made about 150 new hires.

Diapers Wanted

Koochiching County's Health Department is looking for diapers
.
The department provided diapers to people with young children in need, and needs help to restock its supplies.

Donations can be made at the Health Department's office located in the Forestland Annex.

Area Reps Meet with Regional Senior Judge

The fight for a full-time judge in the Ontario Court of Justice in the Rainy River district continues today.

CFOB-News has learned Regional Senior Judge Justice Marc Bode is scheduled to hold separate face-to-face meetings with the members of the Rainy River District Law Society and the Rainy River District Municipal Association in Fort Frances

Both groups have been advocating the  need for a full time judge located at the Fort Frances court house.

The last judge assigned to this area traveled from Dryden.

Judges now travel from the Kenora area.

Power Back On

Power is back on in several parts of the Rainy River district and Thunder Bay areas.

More than 77-hundred Hydro One customers lost power this morning shortly after midnight.

Hydro One blames the outage on equipment problems.

Electricity was restored at around four this morning.

Road Work Next Week

An infrastructure project in Fort Frances will begin next week.

The work along 2nd Street East between Central and Mowat Avenues and Mowat between 2nd and 3rd Streets will upgrade sewer and water lines.

Operations and Facilities Manager Doug Brown says it means some detours for the traveling public.

The traffic lights at Central and 2nd will also be shut off and truck traffic will use be required to Central Avenue and Church Street as a connecting route to the town's main truck route.

College Summer Programs Offered

Confederation College's campus in Fort Frances will be taken over by youth this summer.

Manager of the Rainy River district campus Anne Renaud
says four different programs will be offered to those aged 11 to 15.

They are culinary, cupcake decorating, art and one combining components of the College's  paramedic and protection security program.

Programs begin in early July and some space is still available.

Trillium Foundation To Be Promoted Next Week

The Ontario Trillium Foundation is giving groups in the Rainy River district a chance to learn more about its funding opportunities.

An information session will take place next Tuesday in Fort Frances.

Program manager Maureen Brophy says they'd like to get more groups applying.

Those interested in attending the session at the Fort France Public Library are asked to call Maureen at 807-623-3822

Cash Draw Tickets Selling Fast

Riverside Foundation for Health Care's Canada Day Cash Lottery is 80 per cent sold out.

The Foundation is giving away a top prize of $10-thousand on Canada Day.

Tickets are available at several locations including Riverside Health Care Facilities or by calling the Foundation office 274-4801

Resolute Restarting Paper Machine

Resolute Forest Product is looking to resume one of its paper machines at its Fort Frances mill.

The Communication Energy and Paperworkers union says its been informed machine number 7 will start up sometime next month for about eight weeks to deal with some available orders.

The machine has down for a couple of months.

Company spokesperson Pierre Choquette says local management is still working on the details of the restart, but expects about 35 employees would be called back.

Meantime, there's still no decision yet on the future of the Kraft mill.

The company has been investigating the type of grades that could be produced at the mill, idled back in November.

Combatants Talk Up Tug Of War

The smack talk is starting early in the Pulling For Peace Tug of War between Fort Frances and International Falls.

It takes place next Tuesday.

Fort Frances councillors, Andrew Hallikas and Rick Wiedenhoeft  along with with International Falls Councillor Cynthia Jaksa and Falls Chamber Manager Faye Whitbeck joined with Andy C Tuesday morning on 93.1 The Border to promote it.

Both sides are predicting victories, but both are looking for more people to participate.

Last year's event was declared a draw after weather forced its cancellation.

Town's Financial Picture Painted

The town of Fort Frances appears to be pretty strong financially.

A draft of the town's audit financial statements presented to town council Monday night shows the town holding down an accumulated surplus of $100,000 at the end of 2012.

Jeff Savage of BDO says much
of that is based on the value of the town's assets.

Money in reserves and investments is also counted towards that surplus.

The town's general operating budget showed a surplus of $8,100.

The town ended 2011 with a surplus of just over $17-thousand in 2011