Harper Cabinet Minister to Visit Fort

A member of the Harper government will be paying Fort Frances a visit.

Industry Minister Tony Clement will be in the community Tuesday for a luncheon meeting with area business leaders where he'll talk about bringing new business to northern Ontario.

Clement, who's also responsible for FEDNOR, is also expected to make a announcement at the Fort Frances Public Library and Technology Centre.

It's the first visit by a federal cabinet minister to the Fort Frances area in some time.

Building Problems at Water Plant

The painting of the Fort Frances water treatment plant has led to some other repairs needed to the building's exterior.

Operations and Facilities Manager Doug Brown says a problem with the brick mortar was discovered when crews pressure washed the building.

"What we're hearing from the sub-contractor is that the mortar froze when it was initially installed," says Brown. "so when they high pressure washed the mortar was just popping out."

Brown says they're now looking at the cost of repairs.

Lobbying Required

A Fort Frances councillor is defending the need to send delegations to Toronto to lobby on the town's behalf.

The latest trip was last week where some member of council met with a couple members of McGuinty's Cabinet.

Sharon Tibbs says without such trips, the town may not have reaped past grant money.

"From looking at the amounts of grants from 2009 through to 2010, if it was not our ability to go to these meetings and send a delegation that is willing to talk to Ministries and other meetings we go to, that we would have some of the funding the province makes available," says Tibbs.

Tibbs adds that without elected officials sitting on the government's side, the town almost has to be its own advocate.

More Help to B.C. Again

Another 64 Ministry of Natural Resources forest fire fighting personnel have left northwestern Ontario to help with the fire fight in British Columbia.

They replace 21 who returned home yesterday following a two week deployment.

High Schools Open

High Schools in both Fort Frances and International Falls open today.

Fort Frances High School students in grades 10, 11 and 12 who did not register in June can do so today.

At Falls High School, class schedules can be picked up.

Road Closure in Fort Frances

Seconds Street in Fort Frances at Portage Avenue is now closed.

Crews are removing recycled asphalt in advance of next week's paving of the road.

It's to reopen by 11 a.m.

Motorists can detour around the area by taking Third or Scott Streets.

Aboriginal Awareness Program for Police

OPP officers from across northwestern Ontario are taking part this week in an aboriginal awareness course at a Kenora area First Nation community.

Inspector Dave Lucas of the Kenora Detachment says its an effort to strengthen relations between police and First Nations people.

"It is a positive example of how we're working with the First Nations communities in the area," says Lucas. "It also maintains our commitment that we're maintaining the local needs as far as policing is concerned."

A total of twenty-four officers are taking part.

Inukshuk Attracting Attention

There's a new roadside attraction on Highway 11.

It's a nearly ten-foot high rock Inukshuk located at the entrance to Quetico North Outfitters, near Quetico Park.

Co-owner Clint Taylor says its a project he first considered many years ago.

"It was about ten or twelve years ago we had an idea to gathering up these rocks and building one," says Taylor. "That's when we first started seeing them showing up along the highway. We gathered up the rocks, but the projects go put aside."

Taylor says the Inukshuk has been a huge hit with many customers stopping just to take a picture.