Dimestore Fisherman to Visit Rainy River

The town of Rainy River will be the subject of a future television program.

Calgary based Dimestore Fisherman will be video-taping of a episode of its program in the community this fall.

The town's Community Coordinator Andrew Hartnell says the Rainy River Walleye Tournament will serve at the backdrop.

"They're going to be coming down to the walleye tournament and taking in the festivities," says Hartnell. "After the weekend is over, they'll be going down the river and taping their fishing show."

Funding from the town and the Rainy River Future Development Corporation are helping to bring the crew to the area.

Dimestore Fisherman can be seen on several television station both in Canada and the United States.

Industrial Park Funding

The township of Emo has received additional funding for its new industrial park.

The province provided $69-thousand, on top of previous funding of $121-thousand, to cover the cost of bringing sewer, water and electrical services to the area.

Reeve Ed Carlson says the park is a vital component to future economic development in the community.

"Without this we have very little land to expand to and attract other industry to the community," says Carlson. "It's quite crucial to the future plans of the community."

Five lots have been developed with the new abattoir occupying one of those sites.

Official Openings Planned

Plans are in the works for an official opening of the Hallet and former fire-tower on the Fort Frances waterfront.

Museum curator Pam Cain says the week of June 3rd which is designated "Tourism Week" has been targeted, but are looking ideas to complement the week.

"We're looking for people to come on board," says Cain. "We've had the phase development committee that's been involved with the project since 2004 are putting forward their input, but other people who are interested in doing some of the events is something we want to have happen."

Among events planned will be the annual tug-of-war between the town of Fort Frances and the city of International Falls.

Couchiching Elections

Residents of Couchiching First Nation are scheduled to go to the polls in band elections today.

Chuck MacPherson is seeking re-election as Chief against challengers Allan Yerxa and William Perreault.

Six councillors seats at the band council table are also up for grabs.

All-day Learning Legislation Introduced

The planning is already underway, but the province only yesterday introduced the legislation to create all-day learning for four-and five year-olds.

St. Patrick's and North Star Community School in Atikokan will be the first in the district to offer the program.

Each class will include a teacher and an early childhood educator and up to 26 children, higher than the current primary class cap of 20 to 23 kids.

Parents can pay extra for child care before and after school with subsidies available for low-income families.

Namakan River Project Open House

Area residents will get an opportunity today to comment on a proposed hydro development project on the Namakan River.

Ojibway Power and Energy Group, a partnership between Lac La Croix First Nation and Chant Construction of southern Ontario, are holding an open house on the project at the Adventure Inn from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The plan calls for development of a 6.4 megawatt "run-of-river" hydroelectric generation station at High Falls.

Additional stations and dams are proposed at Myrtle Falls and potentially at Hay Rapids.