Town Backing New Mill Owners

The provincial government is being pressed by the town of Atikokan to provide the new owners of the Atikokan Forest Products Mill with a wood supply.

Eacom Timber of Montreal has an offered to buy the idled Sapawe mill, but first wants a secure wood supply.

Mayor Dennis Brown says reopening the mill would bring back lost jobs.

"There's a lot of stake here," says Brown. "We talk about growing in the north well here's a great opportunity."

A hearing on the matter is scheduled for next week.

New Dental Van Unveiled

The Northwestern Health Unit has a new set of wheels.

A mobile dental clinic will hit the road this summer.

Manager of Dental Health, Dawn Sauve says government funding will help them address the needs of people living in under-serviced areas.

"The funding came from the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care," says Sauve. "We also received funding, not only for a mobile dental van, but we were fortunate to renovate three of our hygiene clinics in Fort Frances, Kenora and Dryden."

The mobile clinic will be staffed by Health Unit dental hygienists, and a dentist who will work on a contract basis.

Immunizations Programs to Expand

Ontario children will soon get more free vaccines to protect against serious infectious diseases -- and with fewer needles involved.

The government is reportedly prepared to expand its immunization program to include a new oral vaccine to protect against rotavirus.

There will also be a second childhood dose of varicella vaccine to enhance protections against chicken pox.

Ontario will also offer a combined measles-mumps-rubella-varicella vaccine that will reduce the number of immunizations a child needs.

Missing Girl Sought

(Supplied photo)

Provincial Police have initiated a search for a 15-year-old girl reported missing from Young Star House.

Police says Tia Medicine had boarded a bus Tuesday from Fort Frances High School back to the facility north of Emo but never arrived.

She was later spotted walking on Highway 11 with two other girls.

Medicine is described as being 5'8", 160 to 180 pounds with black shoulder length hair and brown eyes.

She was wearing blue jeans, a white t-shirt and a blue hooded sweatshirt.

Canada Day Plans In Gear

The group organizing Canada Day festivities in Fort Frances has unveiled some of its plans for this year.

Chair Teresa Hazel says things are beginning to take shape, but will entertain other ideas.

"We're definitely open to anyone who has any ideas about what to do that day," says Hazel, or they want to do that day or put a food booth in."

Hazel says some of the events include a beach volleyball tournament, a 5 K fun run and family scavenger hunt.

Atikokan Chamber Awards Night

Atikokan's business community celebrates some of its best tonight.
The Atikokan Chamber of Commerce holds its annual general meeting and awards banquet.

President Mike McKinnon says there is a strong list of nominees up We're pleased. We have twenty-seven," says McKinnon. "I think that's a fair reflection of the good service people get in Atikokan.

Ed Fukushima of the Atikokan Renewable Fuels will be tonight's guest speaker.

Memories of World War II Vet Found

An Edmonton woman has been reunited with part of her past following a chance discovery at a Fort Frances laundry mat.

Sherry Loveday of Suds and Tubs says a box of items belonging to World War II vet Donald Keith Nelson was found in an previously unexplored basement area.

Loveday says some discussion locally helped pass the items to the family member.

"It kind of saddens me that he died and then was kind put in a box and forgotten about," says Loveday. "He's being recognized now after all these years. He's being talked about by tons of people. His daughter has part of him and its all good."

It turns out the woman had never met her father who died during the war.

Ultimate Fishing Town Contest Ends Round 1

The first round of voting in the World Fishing Networks contest to find the Ultimate Fishing Towns in Canada and the U.S. has ended, but it's doubtful Nestor Falls, Fort Frances or International Falls will advance to the next round.

The top twenty, including WFN's wild-card selections, will go on.

They'll be announced next Wednesday.

All three area communities were well back of the leaders.