Chair for Northwoods Broadcasting Dies

The man who chaired the parent company responsible for Acadia and Northwoods Broadcasting has died following a brief illness.

Jack Irving was 78.

Irving was the youngest son of industrialist the late K.C. Irving and was responsible for a number of companies within the varied Irving enterprises, including its radio stations in Ontario and the Maritimes.

Recyling to Help Local Groups

An Emo businesses is looking at recycling as a means of providing some financial support to the area's not-for-profit groups and organizations.

Cloverleaf Grocery is proposing to set up a collection depot for residents to drop off their recyclables.

Co-owner Mark Loney says, in turn, organizations would come help sort the items to earn a share of the profits when sold off.

"We always have people asking for some money," says Loney. "This is a good way where we can say 'we'll give you some money but you're going to have to sort some plastics."

Loney says it will still be at least another month before the program will be ready to roll.

Day 1 Fishing Underway

Weather could a factor for anglers on the first day fishing at the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship.

Bill Laidlaw of Signal Weather Services says a system moving in the area could bring plenty of rain.

The first flight of boats left the government dock at Pither's Point Park at 7 a.m. with weigh-ins at the Memorial Sports Centre underway at 3:30 p.m.

Be sure to stay with B-93 as we'll be providing live-up during those weigh-ins.

Schedule Change

There's a correction to the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship's schedule for tonight.

Doors for Quest for the Best will open at 6 p.m..

Not 7 p.m. as advertised in the Championship's website.

The annual singing competition starts at 7 p.m.

Enforcement Blitz Nets Charges

Almost 100 charges and another 300 warnings were issued by Ministry of Natural Resources Conservation officers during a recent enforcement blitz across northwestern Ontario.

Almost 23-hundred anglers were checked on area rivers and lakes during the seven-day blitz held from June 17 to June 24.

Most of the charges were issued for fishing without a license, having too much fish or importing live bait.

Fire Season Remains Quiet

The forest fire situation across the Rainy River district remains quiet.

One small lightning fire, along Highway 622 north of Atikokan, was reported Tuesday and is now out.

A total of 13 fires still burn in northwestern Ontario, most in the far north and are being monitored by the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Jar Stuck on Bear's Head

Conservationists are crying foul over recycling habits as a frightened bear with a plastic jar stuck on his head slowly starves.

Joanne St. Godard, of non-profit group the Recycling Council of Ontario, says the bear is in this predicament because someone didn't properly recycle the jar in the first place.

Wildlife officials in northwestern Ontario have spent the last two days searching for the bear, who has not been able to eat or drink because of the jar.

Ministry of Natural Resources official Ross Johnston says the bear is weak and has lost weight -- and may be only surviving off the condensation from his breath inside the jar.

Officials and the OPP have tried to catch and tranquilize the bear, but he runs when people approach.

First Street to Close

Work on another section of Portage Avenue in Fort Frances is expected to begin this afternoon.

The start of work at the intersection of First Street and Portage at noon will mean a closure of First between Victoria and Mowat Avenues for approximately fifteen days.

Meantime, work at the intersection of Sixth Street and Portage is expected to be complete by this Friday.

Bike Rodeos Planned

Ontario Provincial Police will host a couple of bicycle rodeo's next week.

Summer student Samantha Mueller says events are planned for next Tuesday morning in Emo and Wednesday afternoon in Atikokan.

"We set up different courses and challenges for the kids to come out," says Mueller. "We teach them about the safety of their helmets and put their bike skills to the test by letting them run through these courses."

Mueller says young cyclists aged four to twelve also get lessons on proper riding safety.

The Emo event takes place Tuesday morning at 9:30 a.m. at the tennis courts.

The Atikokan rodeo is scheduled for next Wednesday afternoon at 1 p.m. at North Star Community School.