Sunday Wilde Goes Number 1

More recognition for Atikokan blue's artist Sunday Wilde.

Her self-titled album hit the number spot on the Global Blues Charts on AirplayDirect.

The chart is based on downloads by radio stations around the world.

Wilde performs in her hometown Wednesday.

Relay For Life Atikokan

A highly successful Relay for Life event in Atikokan on the weekend.

Thirteen teams raised more than $32-thousand for the Canadian Cancer Society.

Motorists Charged

Two motorists face charges following separate incidents over the weekend in the Rainy River district.

One was charged Friday for failing to stop for a school bus in Atikokan.

Police says the charge stemmed from a complaint that a vehicle had driving through the flashing red lights while students were boarding.

Sunday, OPP charged a driver with being impaired after he was found asleep behind the wheel of his vehicle that was stopped on the road near the overpass in Fort Frances.

Search Resumes

Provincial Police says they've still found no sign of a missing Illinois man on Lake of the Woods.

OPP have resumed their search today for 69-year-old Richard Herman.

He was fishing with another man on the lake, southwest of Morson.

O-P-P found their capsized boat last Tuesday and later, the body of 73-year-old James Wealther, also of Illinois, on the shore of Village Island.

Dam Sale Finalized

AbitibiBowater has completed the sale of its hydro-electric assets in Ontario which include the dam at Fort Frances.

The company is receiving 300-hundred million dollars for the sale to a consortium of a Canadian investor and a private Canadian renewable energy company.

Chief executive officer Richard Garneau says it allows the company to reduce its debt and help improve its finances.

Local officials have said the sale of the Fort Frances dam will not impact on a long-standing power agreement.

Border Meeting Planned

A meeting is being planned to discuss the issue of border access at the Fort Frances and International Falls points of entry.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty says he's hoping to meet with U.S. Senator Al Franken in early July.

"A lot of the border crossings right across Canada are being tightened," says Rafferty, "and those are issues that I'm concerned about. I know that Senator Franken has heard from people in his State about those particular issues."

Rafferty is also trying to access information on the number of Americans turned back at the border compared with other locations.

Task Force Releases Draft Report

A task force set up to look at a management strategy for the Lake of the Woods and Rainy Lake basins has issued its final draft report.

Kelli Saunders, the Canadian secretary for the International Joint Commission formed task force, says one of the main recommendations is increased representation from First Nations.

"One thing that was really clear to us was they want to be involved in a technical level," says Saunders, "but most importantly they want to be involved at the decision-making table."

Other recommendations, include streamlining the number of agencies now working in the basin and reviewing water level guidelines.

Waterfront Still A Focus

Development of the waterfront continues to be a major focus for the city of International Falls.

Mayor Shawn Mason is hoping the next major project will be construction of a new hotel and conference centre.

"We're still working hard behind the scenes with a prospective developer that will put a hospitality complex on the waterfront right next to the (Voyageur's National Park headquarters)," says Mason. "We're optimistic there will be some form of announcement hopefully this summer"

Mason says the city is also working on plans for another piece of waterfront property just to the west of the city.

Electronic Depots to be Set Up

Residents in the Rainy River district will get another chance this year to get rid of that old electronic equipment.

Ontario Electronic Stewardship will have collection depot set up in Rainy River and Fort Frances to collect old, used and unwanted televisions, computers and dozens of other items free of charge.

The events will coincide with the Bass Championships in Fort Frances and Railroad Dazes in Rainy River.

Hospital Funding

Area Hospitals are receiving cash from the Northwest Local Health Integration Network.

Riverside Health Care Facilities is getting more than $640-thousand while Atikokan General Hospital is accepting more than $214-thousand.

The money is for hospital upgrades.

Students Write Tests This Week

The provincial testing of students with the Rainy River District School Board begin this week.

Between now and June 10, students in grades 3 and six will write the tests in reading, writing and math.

Grade 9 students will write the standardized math tests beginning Thursday.

The results will be released in September.

Boating Accident Names Released

OPP have released the names of two men who were on a boat found capsized on Lake of the Woods earlier this week.

The body of 73-year-old James Wealther of Addison Illinois was found on the shore of Village Island, southwest of Morson, Tuesday

Police are still searching for 69-year-old Richard Herman of Peoria, Illinois.

The two were reported missing after failing to return from a fishing trip Monday.

OPP Considers Axing DARE Program

Ontario Provincial Police are considering eliminating the highly popular DARE Program in schools as a way of meeting the requirements of a new policing contract with the town of Fort Frances.

The program, introduced to area schools over a decade ago, provides young people with advice on avoiding in drugs, gangs, and violence.

Inspector John Kendrick says the program could be replaced with a less resource dependant program.

Border Concerns From I. Falls Mayor

A new tourism season has brought new concerns about the border at Fort Frances.

This time from the city of International Falls.

Mayor Shawn Mason says persons who are turned back at the Canadian border is not just bad news for northwestern Ontario.

"we love to be a very busy vacation destination in International Falls, Minnesota," says Mason, "but we like repeat visitors. When that type of situation occurs that people are going to Canada and get turned back, it just creates this perception that this you need to stay away from this area."

Mason says mirroring regulations on both sides of the border might be a way of allowing more people to cross.

Rafferty Not Part of Shadow Cabinet

Thunder Bay MP John Rafferty isn't upset about being overlooked in the new 39 member NDP shadow cabinet.

Rafferty says it will give him more freedom to focus on his riding.

"Actually I'm not disappointed at all," says Rafferty. "Shortly after the election, I indicated that I want to have the opportunity to work on local and regional issues."

Rafferty says one of those issues is improving border access.

Housing Development Explored

The town of Fort Frances wants to investigate the need for more housing.

The town has eight areas were new homes could be construction, four of which are held by private development.

Officials first want to talk with Rainy River Resources to see determine what impact its gold project will have on housing.

Council also wants housing a part of its strategic planning session next month.

If there's favourable response, the town will then talk with the developers on their plans for the sites.

Phone Fixed

Riverside Health Care Facilities telephone message system is working again.

For the past week, callers to Riverside operated facilities in Emo, Rainy River and Fort Frances were unable to leave a voice message.

Officials says the system has now been restored and is functioning normally.

NDP Suggests Higher Corporate Taxes

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says corporations could expect higher taxes under a New Democrat government.

Horwath says the NDP would reverse a Liberal plan to cut corporate taxes by four per cent.

Transportation Minister Kathleen Wynne says the cuts are important to bring companies to Ontario.

Atikokan Writer Recognized

An Atikokan writer has won two awards from the Northwestern Ontario Writers Workshop.

John Pringle earned both the first and third place prizes in the scriptwriting category.

Pringle won for his script entitled "The Goodness Inside of You."

U.S. Tug of War Celebs Revealed

The list of celebrities pulling for International Falls in this year's Pulling for Peace Tug of War with Fort Frances has been released.

It includes six former Minnesota Vikings football players, led by Matt Blair who will captain the team, and former Saturday Night Live cast member and now U.S Senator Al Franken.

The Fort France team is still looking to complete its list and hopes to finalize it soon.

Here is the complete list for Team USA

Captain "Mighty" Matt Blair, Vikings Alumni

1) Shawn "The Muscle" Mason, Mayor
2) "Pumped Up" Paul Eklund, City Council
3) Gail "Running Wild" Rognerud, City Council
4) Cynthia "Jumping Jaksa Flash", City Council
5) Jerry "Smokin" Jensen, Fire Chief
6) Mike "The Man" Musich, Chief of Police
7) "Flamin' Frank Youso, Vikings Alumni
8) Brian "The Brawn" Youso, Frank’s son
9) Jake Youso, Brian’s son
10) Matt Youso, Brian’s son
11) "Benchwarmer" Bob Lurtsema, Vikings Alumni
12) Greg "Coffin Corner" Coleman, Vikings Alumni
13) "Stunning" Stu Voigt, Vikings Alumni
14) "Thundering" John Swain, Vikings Alumni
15) "Dangerous" Dione Wessels, American Strongman President
16) Mary Casanova, author
17) Senator Amy "Armstrong" Kobuchar
18) Senator Al "Funnyman" Franken
19) State Representative Tom "The Annihilator" Anzelc
20) State Senator "Toughman" Tom Saxhaug