American Speaks Out over Border Incident

An Illinois man is speaking out after being denied entry into Canada at the Fort Frances border crossing last month.

55-year-old Paul Pepper was part of a bus tour headed for a fishing lodge near Dryden and was questioned about a criminal report dating back to 1972.

Pepper claims charges laid were eventually dismissed, but was denied entry and forced to walk back to International Falls.

"I could believe the way the whole thing happened," says Pepper. "What gets me is that I've been to Canada for years before this. I never seen this coming."

Pepper has written to a variety of government agencies and the Canada Border Service Agency, but so far there's been no response.

Arthritis Society Seeking Help

(Arthritis Society's Linda Urry (left) and Charlene Snow were in Fort Frances this week looking for more help for the agency)


The Arthritis Society is looking at growing its fundraising efforts in the Fort Frances area.

Manger of Community Engagement Charlene Snow says their annual door-to-door campaign in the Fort has been one of the best in northwestern Ontario, but hopes to find a group that will spearhead another fundraising project that can be just as successful.

"We're trying to find something new and exciting to do," says Snow, "something that will benefit the community and something that will bring out people for a really good cause."

Snow says they are also looking for more help to carry out its door-to-door campaign.

Minnesotans Select Candidates

The list of candidates for Minnesota's general election in November has been established.

Former Senator Mark Dayton was the Democratic choose for the race for governor.

He'll go up against state Rep. Tom Emmer, who is the Republican Party-endorsed candidate and Tom Horner, who won last night's primary for the Independence Party.

In Koochiching County, Bob Anderson and Robert Ecklund finished one-two in the primary for the position of County Commissioner in District 4 and will have their names on the ballot in the November 2 election.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar defeated Bill Hamm as he tries for an eighteenth term eighteenth term representing his northeastern Minnesota district that includes Koochiching County.

Emo Break In

Police are looking into a break in at a drug store in Emo yesterday.

An undisclosed number of items were taken.

An alarm triggered officers with the OPP and Treaty Three Police Service to arrive on scene.

The Northwest Region Emergency Response Team and an O-P-P K-9 unit were also brought in to assist.

North End Road Closed Today

There will be another road closure in Fort Frances' north end today.

Fifth Street West will be closed from Portage Avenue to Cornwall Avenue to through traffic beginning at 7:30 a.m., reopening at 4 p.m.

It's to allow town crews to replace a storm sewer line in preparation for a surface treatment of the roadway later this month.