Positions Available to Students

The Ministry of Natural Resources is putting out the call to students interested in being a part of its Stewardship Ranger program.

Four positions are available to those 17 or older in the Fort Frances area.

Applications must be submitted by May 28.

Low Water Faced in Season Opener

The opening of fishing in Minnesota is this weekend, but anglers may find low water levels at some lakes this season.

The Department of Natural Resources says some lakes in central, eastern and northeastern Minnesota are down a foot or two.

Officials say some concrete ramps may not be long enough when boats are launched on lakes with low water.

Vehicles Vandalized

A number of vehicles in the east end of Fort Frances were the target of vandals over the weekend.

Two vehicles parked in the 1000-block of Williams Avenue were broken into and fires set inside late Friday night.

A number of other vehicles parked around one-thousand and 11-hundred blocks of Scott Street and Second Street East had their side mirrors smashed and paint scratched.

A trolling motor was also damaged.

One killed in Atikokan House Fire

A house fire in Atikokan has claimed the live of a woman in that community.

31-year-old Amy Rachel Lee was inside a home on MacKenzie Avenue East that caught fire Saturday morning at around 7:30 a.m.

An unidentified man was taken to Atikokan hospital and later transported to Winnipeg in serious condition.

Atikokan Fire Department was on scene for nearly five hours before fire fighters were able to contain the blaze.

The Ontario Fire Marshall's office and OPP are investigating it's cause.

Town Council Tonight

Future plans for the former Fort Frances High School building are expected to be discussed at tonight's meeting of Fort Frances council.

Owners of the property are to discuss activities at the former school property.

Also tonight, a request for more money for this year's Canada Day activities comes back to the table.

Council agreed to provide $5-thousand, but asked its economic development advisory committee to review the organizing committee's request for more.

The public portion of tonight's meeting begins at about 6:40 p.m.

Portage Avenue Blocked

Motorists travelling to the north end of Fort Frances this afternoon will be forced to use McIrvine Road.

Access through the Portage Avenue underpass will be closed for the next ten day as crews begin the next phase of work along other parts of the roadway.

The closure begins at noon.

Ontario's Responds to Possible Toll

The Ontario government is promoting a need for continued dialogue with Couchiching First Nations.

In an interview with B-93, Aboriginal Affairs Minister Chris Bentley says the province is open to ongoing talks instead of seeing the band move ahead with a planned toll booth to back demands.

"Our position is always that talking and discussions and negotiation is the way to go," says Bentley. "That's what ultimately gets things done."

The federal government has also indicated a willingness to talk, but there's no indication that any meetings have actually been set up.

Man's Death Investigated

The Special Investigations Unit is investigating a fatal shooting at a First Nations community near Sioux Lookout.

OPP say a 39-year-old man was injured at Whitefish Bay during a confrontation with police yesterday.

He later died in hospital.

Police say they're also investigating a separate death from the same house.

No names are being released at this time.

Women's Health Symposium Return a Success

Diversity the theme at the Women's Health Symposium Saturday at the Fort France High School.

The event attracted women of all ages, and committee member Peggy Loyie says they were pleased with the turnout after the event's year absence.

"We were a little worried about that," says Loyie, "in getting people back together. I think we brought together a really awesome group of presenters that express our theme and as well as the exhibitors."

Guest speakers included local film producer Andrew George, Laura Horton of Seven Generations Education Institute and Jim Lees of Confederation College

'What Hook You Hear' Underway

(Left: Fort Frances Pam Cain 'hooking' parts of the first panel for the What Hooks You Here project)

Work has started on the What Hooks You Here project.


It's a large rug that focuses on the outdoor activities people in the Rainy River district enjoy year round.


Fort Frances Museum Curator Pam Cain says it's reflective of input from the public.



"We had great participation," says Cain. "The design incorporates lots of what school children and local artists have given us. We can still change things. If there's something that people think we don't have in it, there's still opportunity to change it once they see the design."

Cain says they hope to have the project completed by next February.

3-D TV in Rainy River District

3-D TV has arrived in the Rainy River district.

The newest in television viewing can now be found at Sight and Sound in Fort Frances and salesman Bryan Barnes its bring a whole new perspective.

"It's not like your regular t.v. viewing," says Barnes. "You put the glasses on and you feel like your right in the television set. It's unreal."

The system will set you back a fair coin with the sets now at about $39-hundred dollars, plus a few hundred more for the glasses and 3-D blue ray player.