Postal Strike Underway

No pickets in Fort Frances, but Canada Post is now on strike.

Postal workers started walking the picket line late last night in Winnipeg -- the first city to be hit with the rotating strike.

Lisa Peterson, vice-president of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers Winnipeg local, says rotating strikes can grab Canada Post's attention.
The union is expected to respond later this morning to the Crown's Corporation latest offer.

Man Charged with Sexual Assault

A Fort Frances man facing a several sexual offences involving children.

OPP says 41-year-old Christopher Ernest Simmons was arrested after a May 19 search of his home turned up alleged images of child sexual abuse on computers and video devices.

He's also been accused of trying to obtain sexual services from someone under 18.

Missing Girls Ends up in Duluth

Officials won't say much about a missing southern Manitoba girl who took shelter in a parked freight train and woke up the next morning in Minnesota.

RCMP says the 16-year-old from Steinbach ended up in Duluth.

It's believed the train may have passed through border at Warroad, Rainy River and Fort Frances.

Weather Warning

Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the Sioux Narrows, Nestor Falls and Morson areas.

It's monitoring a line of strong to severe thunderstorms that's moving in from northwest Minnesota into southeast Manitoba and northwestern Ontario.

Heavy rainfall with strong damaging winds and local large hail is possible.

More Help to Alberta

More Ministry of Natural Resources personnel are being sent to Alberta.

One hundred and 27 firefighters and support staff are joining crews who have been in the western province for the past three weeks.

One air attack officer is also being assigned to assist the Northwest Territories.

Robert Moore Officially Opens

The Rainy River District School Board has waited to the near end of school to officially open the new Robert Moore School in Fort Frances.

The board will hold a three-hour event beginning at 11 a.m. today with a ribbon-cutting, bar-b-que and and student presentations.

College Grad

(Confederation College President Patricia Lang presenting award at 2010 College Commencement Ceremonies in Fort Frances)


Over 1,400 Confederation College students from across the northwest will graduate today at the College's main campus in Thunder Bay.

Students attending classes in Fort Frances will hold their ceremonies Monday.

Tourism Week Kick-Off

The Ontario Travel Information Centre in Fort Frances is kicking off Tourism Week.

An open house will go today from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. with cake being served to all visitors at noon.

Bev Noga says the centre is now fully staffed for the summer season.

"We've hired our summer staff," says Noga. "We're getting them all trained and ready to go for the summer. We're opening now from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week."

The Travel Centres across the province are also raffling off four tourism getaway packages to anyone who visits and signs-up between now and September 5.

Water Passes Through Fort Frances

A bucket of water taken from Hudson Bay is making its way to join buckets from four other bodies of water and dumped in Lake Superior.

The Mother Earth Water Walk reached Fort Frances Wednesday

Debbie Danard has been with the walk since its start in Churchill, Manitoba.

"As much as its raising awareness about the pollution or the caring of the water," says Danard, "what I also see is that it's showing also how we're caring for each other as human beings and that we're learning what the water is teaching us."

The water is expected to reach its final destination June 12.

Energy Project To Proceed

Work on a new geothermal energy system for the Fort Frances Curling Club will begin in August.

The club received a $250-thousand provincial grant for the project, but will have to cover the rest of the $560-thousand total cost.

Cheryl Gartley, a member of the building committee, says they have some ideas how that will be done.

"We're looking at a number of different ways to raise money," says Gartley. "One of the things we've discussed is the idea of offering debentures to members as a way of financing the project."

Gartley says the club expects to save more than $25-thousand annually in utility bills when the system is up and running by the end of this year.