Duluth Man Drowns in Quetico

The body of a Duluth man has been pulled from an interior lake in Quetico Provincial Park.

OPP had been searching for 65-year-old Darrell Cellers at McAree Lake since last Thursday.

Investigation revealed that Cellers had been travelling through the park when his canoe overturned during windy conditions.

Budget Input Sought

Residents in Fort Frances will get their first opportunity to comment on what Fort Frances town council should be budgeting for in 2011 later this month.

CAO Mark McCaig says a public meeting on September 27 will give residents a chance to provide their input.

"The public meeting is a perfect opportunity for people who have concerns to bring them forward and let mayor and council know exactly how you feel about going forward," says McCaig. "It's a great opportunity to get on the ground floor and maybe effect the course of the budget deliberations."

The budget won't be finalized until sometime next spring.

New Treadmills for Sports Centre

The town of Fort Frances is planning to lease two new treadmills for the Memorial Sports Centre.

Council gave approval to the acquisition at their meeting last night, but Mayor Roy Avis felt buying them would have been a better option because of the high interest rate they'll pay on the lease.

"Rather than paying 12 per cent interest because if we're only get 3 per cent interest on our money it doesn't make sense to do that," says Avis.

Community Services Manager George Bell says leasing the units ensured a higher trade-in value when they replace the treadmills again in three years time.

Voters Kits Out September 27

Voters kits for voters in Fort Frances will be mailed out September 27.

Town clerk Glenn Treflin says with no election required for town council, the kits will only contain one ballot.

"For English public school board supporters there will be the ballot for the candidates for public school board only," says Treflin. "For the Separate school supporters, the ballot that's included in the kit will be for the trustees for the Separate school only."

Treflin says if kits aren't received within a week after mailing, voters should contact the town.

Portage Paving Resumes

Paving on Portage Avenue in Fort Frances is expected to resume today.

Operations and Facility Manager Doug Brown say no road closures are expected with flaggers on site to keep at least one lane open at intersections.

The work is expected to begin at 7 a.m.

Far North Opposition

First Nations leaders are warning of a showdown with the Ontario government over the Far North Act, which is slated for a third and final reading Thursday in the legislature.

Nishnawbe Aski Nation says the bill robs aboriginals of their treaty rights and doesn't give them a say in how their lands will be developed.

Grand Chief Stan Beardy says he supports community-based land planning, but doesn't like the fact the act gives the government veto power over development in the north.

Beardy says that fails to recognize First Nations' jurisdiction on their lands, and warns there "will be conflict'' that will turnoff potential investors if the bill is passed.

Donor Clinics Falls Short of Goal

The Canadian Blood Services says it fell a bit short on its goal during last week's blood donor clinics in Fort Frances.

A total 263 units of blood were collected from 315 donors - that's about 25 units shy of the Blood Services goal.

Another series of clinics will be held in April.

Pickle Lake Plane Crash

A scary moment for passengers aboard a private aircraft that was forced to make a landing in the bush, east of Pickle Lake Saturday afternoon after developing engine troubles.

Police says the aircraft, belonging to Red Lake-based Northern Water Works Sales and Consulting, had just left Pickle Lake for Kashechewan, when the pilot notified air traffic control of the problem.

He attempted to return to Pickle Lake before downing the plane about 27 kilometres east of the community.

All four people on board were quickly found by searchers and taken by to Pickle Lake by helicopter for treatment and later released.

Man's Death Investigated

The Ontario Provincial Police Criminal Investigation Branch has been called in to investigate the sudden death of a man at Cat Lake First Nation, north of Pickle Lake.

Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service officers were confronted by the man last Thursday at the remote communities nursing station.

Shortly after being taken into custody, the man, identified as 34-year-old Romeo Gerald Wesley, went into medical distress and later died.

A post mortem examination was to be is held today in Toronto.