No Action Taken on Rainy Lake Hotel Request

Fort Frances town council opted not to take any action on a local businessman's request to hold off on any demolition of the former Rainy Lake Hotel.

President of Causeway General Insurance Brokers Mario Galluzzo had asked council to explore the possibility of turning the former hotel into a small business office complex.

But councillors decided last night they won't do anything with the request until the town has a more direct involvement in the disposition of the site which may not happen for at least another year.

Bridge Contract Awarded

A Kakabeka Falls company has been awarded the contract to repair the Caul Bridge in Fort Frances.

White Contracting is expected to begin its work July 5.

Town officials say it will mean a closing of McIrvine Road at the bridge until work is complete by the end of the month.

Cost of the project is pegged at about $210-thousand.

Water Restrictions Planned

Water restrictions will be put in place in Fort Frances and Couchiching First Nation next month.

Operations and Facilities Manager Doug Brown says the measures are necessary because of a pending inspection of the water tower.

"On July 8, NorWick Company will be inside, looking at the inside of the tank," says Brown. "This is a term of condition from the contract we signed with them in 2008 when they painted the interior and exterior. We have to inspect it to ensure all of the paint coated properly."

The restrictions go in effect June 28 and are to last for about three weeks with non-essential water limited to homes on an odd-even day basis.

Bridge Jumper Dies

A 22-year-old man from North Dakota is dead after jumping off the Sioux Narrows bridge over the weekend.

OPP divers recovered the body of Gerald Johasson Sunday afternoon.

Emergency personnel were called after reports of two people had jumped off the bridge early Sunday morning, but only one resurfaced.

Police have ruled the man's death as accidental.

More Full-Day Kindgarten Classes

Premier Dalton McGuinty is to announce the list of schools that will offer full day kindergarten next year.

It is the second phase of the provincial rollout of the program, for the 2011-12 school year.

At least two Fort Frances school are among those expected to be announced.

This fall, full day kindergarten is to be offered at St. Patrick's and North Star Community Schools, both in Atikokan.

Keith Meets Leno

Duncan Keith was among members of the Stanley Cup winning Chicago Blackhawks who made an appearance on Jay Leno Show last night.

Leno made light of Keith's teeth knocked out by an errant puck during the playoffs.

Keith presented Leno with a tooth claiming to be one those knocked out.

The former resident of Fort Frances was joined on the stage with teammates Patrick Kane, Brent Seabrook and Jonathan Toews who brought along the Stanley Cup and presented Leno with a Blackhawks jersey.