Falls Council Hires Lobbyist

The city of International Falls is hiring a lobby firm to work on its behalf in Washington.

It's a first for the city.

Mayor Shawn Mason says they're not disappointed with the representation they have in the Capital, but a lobbyist gives them an even stronger voice.

The city's will pay $24-thousand a year for the service.

City Beach House Plans Unveiled

A proposed design for a new beach house at International Falls' city beach has been unveiled.

Cost of construction is estimated at about $272-thousand.

The city's Street Commissioner Steve Johnson says they believe it will suit the needs of beach users.

"There were a couple of designs out there," says Johnson, "and the committee unanimously choice this design. It's a good looking building and fits well in the surroundings."

The city's now begun the process of finding government grants to fund the project.

Solar Project In Place

(Solar Wall photo)


The Rainy River District School Board has one of two solar projects up and running.

The panels are on the roof of J.W. Walker School in Fort Frances with a second project planned for later this year at Fort Frances High School.

Manager of Plant Operations Raymond Roy says power generated will be sold back to the provincial grid.

"Between the two projects, the revenue that will be generated is about $113-thousand annually," says Roy.

Roy says the projects also have an educational component allowing students to learn about the benefits of green energy.

Fugitive Nabbed at Baudette Border

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Baudette nabbed a woman who was wanted by authorities in Minnesota's Polk County.

Officials says the 44-year-old from Baudette was taken into custody at the border last week after learning she had an outstanding warrant pertaining to theft and marijuana possession charges.

The woman was turned over to Baudette's Police Department for pending extradition to Polk County.

New Gun Law Proposed

Some new hunting rules impacting the Kenora and Rainy River districts could be in place this fall.

John Dungavel of the Ministry of Natural Resources' policy branch, says the proposal would restrict where gun owners could have a loaded firearm.

"What this proposal would do if it was implemented would be to restrict the possession of loaded firearms within eight metres of the travelled portion of a roadway," says Dungavel.

Dungavel says concerns from some rural municipalities prompted the Ministry to consider the change.

It is already illegal to shot a firearm from the road or its right of way.

Crimestoppers Turns 25

Crimestoppers in Northwestern Ontario and Northern Minnesota is celebrating its 25th anniversary this month.

Board chair Bill Harrington says they've seen a lot of growth to the program, especially since the addition of northern Minnesota to their coverage area six year ago.

"As you know that International Falls border is very busy," says Harrington. "Lots of people moving across and we know there are things there that we should be getting tips on and we're been very fortunate to do that."

Just over a million dollars in stolen property have been recovered and seven million in illegal drug seized since the program started in 1985.