Man Arrested in Fort Frances Stand-Off

One man in is custody while another taken to hospital following an incident in the 800 block of Scott Street in Fort Frances Saturday that lasted nearly 12 hours.

Police were initially called to an assault involving two men about 4:30 a.m. Saturday morning.

One man was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

His condition is not immediately known.

The other man barricaded himself inside a home, forcing police to close a section of the street off to traffic and evacuate nearby homes.

The Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Service was also called to the scene.

The unnamed man eventually surrendered to police without incident.

More details, including pending charges, may be released later today.

Below - video of area blocked by Police on Saturday.

More Winter on the Way

Northwestern Ontario is going to be getting all kinds of precipitation over the next few days.

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for the region

Areas north and west of Lake Superior to the Manitoba border will get more than 10 centimetres of snow.

Ice pellets and wet snow are expected to hit Atikokan to Geraldton.

Meantime, the National Weather Service in the United States has issued a winter storm advisory for International Falls.

It's forecasting up to six inches of snow and strong winds to reach the area by six this evening

Area MPP Seeks Rebate for Snow Tire Users

A northwestern Ontario MPP wants more northerners to use snow tires.

Liberal Bill Mauro is calling on insurance companies to offer a rebate for those motorists who pay extra for the heavy duty tires.

"If more people in the province of Ontario are in fact using winter tires there will be fewer claims," says Mauro. "There will be lower costs associated with those fewer claims for the insurance companies. This is from my perspective about making the roads safer and trying to save some lives in the process."

Mauro introduced a motion in the Legislature last week.

Acts of Kindness Fundraiser Nears

(Act of Kindness being offered by Fort Frances General Supply - www.acts-of-kindness.ca photo)

The Acts of Kindness fundraiser for the Fort Frances Community Chest is fast approaching.

It happens Friday at the Fort Frances Legion.

Committee member Tannis Drysdale says about one-hundred acts will be auctioned off.

"We will have any number of acts of kindness available," says Drysdale. "Just last week we received a series of cellphones from TBay Tel. Don't forget about our fishing trips. You can start bidding on those any time now. Just give the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce at phone call."

Tickets can still be obtained at Northwoods Gallery and Gifts, the Rainy River Future Development Corporation office or the Fort Frances Chamber office.

Commission Ends Hearings in Thunder Bay

Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission is moving on.

It spent last week in Thunder Bay gathering statements from residential school survivors.

Chair Murray Sinclair says the stories of abuse heard have many similarities

"They're generally stories about the kinds of experiences that people had," says Sinclair, "but more importantly they talk about the impact the time they had upon their lives as parents and grandparents."

Sinclair says the affects will be felt for many generations.

Parade of Lights Winners

Several groups took home awards for their floats in Saturday's Parade of Lights in Fort Frances.

Robert Moore Builders' Club was named best church or school group.

The Fort Frances Girl Guides float was selected the best among non-profit organizations.

The Borderland Skating Club had the best float among recreational groups.

Shoppers Home Health Care was selected the best among businesses float.

The best dressed individual entry was that of the Fort Frances Mini King and Queen while the Fort Frances High School Saving Faces group recognized for the best presentation of music.