Winnipeg Team Leads FFCBC

(Mark Raveling of Longville, MN and Mike Luhman of Deer Park, WI are third after Day 1 of fishing with their catch of 19.11 lbs of bass)


Winnipeg team has grabbed the early lead in the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship.

Alex and Darrell Keszler were the only team crack the 20 pound mark, weighing in five bass at 20.1 lbs.

Darrell Keszler says it was a great start.

"We had an awesome day," says Darrell. "The old man was hot. We made great decisions, but in all honesty we didn't catch that many fish. Fishing has been tough but we got the right bites today."

Dorian Lindholm of Fort Frances and fishing partner Bill Wilcox of Texas sit half a pound back in second.

Three time defending champions Joe Thrun and Jim Moyaugh are thirteenth.

Strike Vote Taken at Ainsworth

Unionized workers at Ainsworth OSB mill in Barwick has voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action to back contract demands.

The strike vote came after the 130 members of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union voted 97 per cent against the company's latest offer.

C.E.P. national rep Steven Boon says the union will continue to work towards a deal before the mid-August strike deadline.

Boon says many of the outstanding issues centre around non-monetary items such as contract language, contracting out, seniority and scheduling changes.

Record Road Work Planned

The Ontario government has released the list of highway projects in northern Ontario its funding during this construction season.

Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle says almost $775-million will be spent on on road improvements, expansions and bridge updates.

"That's a 20 per cent increase over last year's record amount of $648-million," says Gravelle. "We are seeing a tremendous amount of construction work. All of it important to the people of the communities it effects.

Six projects are in the Rainy River district, including continued upgrades to the Noden Causeway and the rehabilitation of the LaVallee River bridge on Highway 11.

Applications Now Accepted

(Aboriginal Affairs Minister Chris Bentley (left) with Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro)

The McGuinty Government has unveiled a new training program for northern Ontario residents.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Chris Bentley says they want to train aboriginals, Metis and other northerners who want a new job but don't have the necessary skills.

"It ables the business organization with the training provider and the First Nations communities to come together with a proposal to say "we want to train these people for these jobs."

The 45-million dollar fund will cover part of the training costs with the rest coming from the businesses looking to hire.

Bear Frees from Jar

An elusive black bear near Thunder Bay is finally free of the jar that was stuck to its head for about two weeks.

Wildlife officers say the bear somehow managed to get rid of the jar on its own.

A canoeist found a similar empty jar yesterday containing black fur and scratches with claw marks.

Teddy Bear Picnic

Teddy Bears off all types and their owners are being invited to the annual Teddy Bear's Picnic today.

Head of the Children's department Andrea Avis says lots will be going on at the Fort Frances Library Technology Centre, rain or shine.

"We have some carnival games for the kids to participate in with some pretty cool little prizes," says Avis. "Face painting and a special guest performer, Aaron Brunette and his wife, coming from Winnipeg. They'll be performing in the main part of the library."

It begins at 11:30 a.m.

Man Charge in 1990's Sex Offences

Provincial Police in Fort Frances have charged an area man in connection with a series of sex offences, some dating back almost twenty years ago.

43-year-old Garry Donald Mathewson was to appear in a Fort Frances courtroom Thursday on eleven counts of sexual exploitation and a charge of sexual interference.

Police say the charges relate to incidents that took place within the Rainy River and Thunder Bay districts between 1992 and 1999 involving three men who were in their early teens at the time.

Mathewson was arrested last week in Vancouver and returned to Fort Frances where he's currently in custody.

New Deal for Town Workers

Unionized employees with the town of Fort Frances have a new contract.

The 80 members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees ratified the deal Tuesday.

Workers will get a 3.5 per cent increase in pay over the course of the two-year agreement.

There are also improvements affecting part-time employees including a sick leave benefit plan and changes in vacation time for employees who worked as seasonal or part-time employees prior to gaining full-time employment with the Town.