Deal Reached at Ainsworth

Workers at the Ainsworth Mill in Barwick have accepted a new four-year deal.

Last night in Emo, the members of the Communication, Energy and Paperworkers Union voted 87 per cent in favour of the deal reached during bargaining talks held Tuesday and Wednesday.

CEP rep Stephen Boon calls it a fair deal with a number of critical improvements to language and compensation for workers.

The deal is retroactive to July of last year.

There's no wage increases in the first two years with a four per cent increase over the last two.

Human Remains Found

OPP have confirmed the discovery of human remains along Highway 17, about 25-kilometres east of Ignace.

No other details are being released at this time.

The Northwest Regional Forensic Identification and Crime Unit and Forensic Anthropologist are all involved in the investigation.

Beach Signs Reviewed

The Northwestern Health Unit says its willing to come up with a different approach to how it warns swimmers of the potential of bacteria at area beaches.

The Health Unit began posting warning signs this month rather closing a beach each time a water sample tested positive.

Kenora councillors felt the signs were confusing to swimmers.

Doer Visit Today

Canada's Ambassador to the United States makes a visit to the borderland today.

Gary Doer will be in International Falls to talk to area representatives about cross border trade between the two countries.

His visit is being hosted by AbitibiBowater and Boise Paper.

Nestor Falls Third

Nestor Falls is generating plenty of votes in its bid to become Canada's Ultimate Fishing Town.

After the first week of public voting, it sits third with over 23-hundred votes, but well back of frontrunners Port Alberni, British Columbia and Dauphin, Manitoba.

Fort Frances is far back with 107 votes while Atikokan sits with 47 as of this morning.

This round of voting concludes September 1st.

Fair Day 2

The Rainy River Valley Agricultural Fall Fair is in high gear today with plenty going on in Emo.

There are Livestock exhibits, horse shows and the loggers competitions all starting this morning.
There's a country music jam at the Emo/LaVallee Arena tonight at 7 p.m.

The Emo Legion will hold its beer garden in the arena as well with Nighthawk performing outside at 9 p.m.

Children's Aid Agencies Outline Merger Plans

(CJRL photo)


Official says the plan to bring Family and Children's Services Rainy River together with Kenora-Patricia Child and Family Services next April will be done with a clean financial sheet.

The Ministry of Children and Youth Services has given approval in principle to the merger.

Kenora's executive director Bill Leonard says it has to be without taking on Rainy River's 900-thousand dollar deficit.

"I tried to be clear to the Ministry on Friday that the new organization is not going to carry any deficit or debt as a result of funding shortfalls in previous years," says Leonard. "They response was, 'we understand.' They have to find a solution."

No jobs will be lost, but some employees with Rainy River have been given new roles including Executive Director Vik Nowak.

He becomes director of services based in Fort Frances and will oversee a number of project teams working on the merger.

Phone Scam

Police and officials with the MS Society of Thunder Bay are warning of an phone scam.

Police say three residents have received phone calls from someone claiming to be soliciting on behalf of the organization.

The MS Society says it is not conducting a phone fundraising campaign.

More Exploration Money to be Spent

Rainy River Resources will be spending almost $25-million over the next year on exploration activities in northern Ontario.

That's an increase of over $6-million from the last fiscal year.

Most of the money will be spent at its gold-bearing properties north of Barwick.

Three million will be used to explore of an area located 470 kilometres north of Pickle Lake, a project with Sudbury-based Northern Superior Resources

Border Stats for June

The trip across the border may be waning on some residents living in the Rainy River district.

Statistics Canada says over 42-thousand Canadians returned from visits to the U.S. through the Fort Frances point of entry in June.

That's a drop of three-thousand from May, and the lowest figure since February.

There were also 68-thousand Americans crossing at both Fort Frances and Rainy River, more than double that from May.

No Price Comparisons Required

Ontario electricity retailers won't have to give consumers a side-by-side price comparison, showing what they would pay with or without an energy contract.

Ontario Energy Board spokesman Alan Findlay says it's hard to compare prices because the regulated price is adjusted regularly.

A draft electricity contract form, released for discussion back in December, has disappeared from the Ministry of Energy website.

A Ministry spokesperson says it was removed to avoid confusion with energy board proposals.

Minnesota Pollution Fines

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency completed 46 enforcement cases in the second quarter of this year with penalties totaling nearly $350-thousand.

The cases occurred at facilities in 33 counties throughout Minnesota, none in Koochiching County.

Firefighter Return

(Supplied Photo)


Ministry of Natural Resources personnel who have been helping with the forest fire fight in British Columbia are talking about their experiences.

Mike Parkes from the Fort Frances Fire region was working in the Cariboo Region of B.C. and says shifting wind was among the biggest threats for firefighters.

"It definitely increases the danger due to the fact that we don't know where the winds are going to push the fire," says Parkes. "They could push them up hill, down hill or cross hill. You have to be head up and keep and eye out for trees to fall when the winds are pushing in all different directions."

Parkes was among the 161 MNR personnel who returned home this week.

Fifth Street Traffic Delays

Fifth Street West in Fort Frances will again be restricted to local traffic Thursday and Friday as town crews continue preparations for an upcoming surface treatment of the roadway.

Fifth between Portage Avenue to Wright Avenue will be closed from 7:30 a.m. until 7 p.m. both days.