Strongman Competition Coming to Fort Frances

(www.lukeskaarup.com photo)


Fort Frances will be the site of a Strongman competition this spring.

Organizer Luke Skaarup says the first-ever event is expected to attract some of the strongest men in the province, along with a few from Manitoba and the U-S.

"I think the guys we're drawing here are mostly the Ontario athletes," says Skaarup, "so it could be guys from southern or northern Ontario. This is there opportunity to qualify for the 2011 Ontario Strongest Man competition."

The event will coincide with this year's Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce's Home and Leisure Show.

Skaarup says participants will take part in five events involving some very heavy weights, along with a truck pull.

Eco Tourism Lodge Proposed

A First Nation community in the Rainy River district is exploring the potential of developing an eco-tourism lodge.

Mitaanjigamiing First Nation, formerly Stanjikoming, located northeast of Fort Frances, is studying the market potential for a new lodge.

A $35,000 grant from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund will help it evaluate potential locations and partners.

Legislative Action Day

International Falls will be represented in St. Paul at today's Legislative Action Day.

Councillor Cynthia Jacksa says the future of Local Government Aid will be the focus of her talks with the State's lawmakers.

"We have a real fight at the Capital," says Jacksa, "and we'll be engaging Legislators to keep LGA whole."

Jacksa says she'll also be lobbying for the reinstatement of a truck testing facility in the Falls and delivering an invite to Governor Dayton to attend this summer's waterfront festivities.

State of the State Address

Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton makes his first State of the State address today.

District 3 Senator Tom Saxhaugh is anticipating a solid plan that can help the State overcome its budget crunch.

"The Governor so far has kind of shown his ability to give us vision," says Saxhaugh, "and if he'll do that (today) followed up by a budget to make it possible I'll be happy."

Dayton presents his proposed budget next Tuesday.

Cheap Beer Election Platform

Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak says he'd consider reducing beer prices if he wins the next provincial election.

But Premier Dalton McGuinty calls the beer price debate a bright, shiny object to take attention away from the Tories' lack of a campaign platform.

McGuinty says voters won't be fooled and are more concerned with real issues like health care, education and the economy.

Boise Fine for Air Quality Infraction

Boise was forced to pay a fine of more than $2,400 in December for an air quality infraction at its mill in International Falls.

Details of the case were outlined in the recently released Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's quarterly report.

Spokesperson Stephen Mikkelson says the infraction, which occurred last June, was identified in tests conducted by the mill.

He says the problem has since been corrected.

Local Projects Promoted in England

A mining project in the Rainy River district will be get some international attention next week.

Rainy River Resources will be among companies scheduled to make a presentation about their projects at a conference in London, England.

The conference allows companies to meet with potential overseas investors.

Rainy River Resources is proposing a gold mine north of Barwick.

Soldi Ventures Exploration Plans

Soldi Ventures has revealed further details of its exploration plans in the Rainy River district.

The Vancouver-based company plans to drill up to 25-hundred meters in the first phase of a drilling program on its properties located in the Cameron Lake and Rainy River areas.

Its main focus will be around a potential gold deposit near Cameron Lake.

New Board of Health

The Northwestern Health Unit has sworn in a new Board of Directors.

Fort Frances councillor John Albanese, who's appointed to the board by the province, returns as its chair.

Also on the board from the Rainy River district are LaVallee township councillor Jim Belluz, Atikokan Mayor Dennis Brown, Fort Frances councillor Paul Ryan and Russ Fortier of Emo who is one of three public appointees.