Falls Airport Commission Hopeful

International Falls Airport officials are hopeful a new carrier will take over air passenger service from Delta Air Lines.

Delta has given notice it wants to end service to the Falls by the middle of October.

Airport Manager Thor Einarson says it's a position they've seen before.

"We've always come through at the end of the game," says Einarson. "It's always been a battle. It's always been fight. It will always change. I feel confident that at the end of the game we'll have something. We'll have good service. I'm really confident of that."

Delta has indicated that Wyoming-based Great Lakes Airlines may be interested in serving the Falls.

Bass Tournee Survey

The economic impact of the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship is being studied this week.

Out-of-town-visitors and anglers will be asked a variety of questions.

Consultant Tannis Drysdale says it will update a similar survey conducted about 15 years ago.

"We'll be using some of the same questions, particularly with the anglers," says Drysdale. "We have a much similar form and format for the visitors. We'll have people on site during certain set periods of time to check the number of out-of-town visitors who are attending the tournament and ask them questions."

A final report is expected out by the end of August.

More Evacuations

(Ministry of Natural Resources photo)


There's been more evacuations from Ontario's far north due to forest fires.

385 residents from Fort Hope and Sandy Lake were flown out yesterday to Geraldton, Winnipeg and Sioux Lookout.

Ninety-four fires are still active, none in the Rainy River district.

Smoke in Rainy River District

(Ministry of Natural Resources photo)


Smoke from several fires in the far north could become a concern for areas elsewhere in northwestern Ontario.

Environment Canada says smoke could be experienced in the Rainy River district today.

Debbie MacLean of the Ministry of Natural Resources says it's also spreading well out of the province.

"We have a satellite imagery on and yesterday it was drifting to the east as far as New Brunswick," says MacLean. "Smoke tends to have a long distance travel effect and people will just have to deal with that I guess."

MacLean says more than two-thousand forest firefighters are working full out to contain the blazes.

Humidex Advisories Issued

Air conditioners will be humming across the Borderland again today.

Environment Canada is forecasting temperatures to reach as high as 33 C during the day, prompting a humidex advisory for the Rainy River district.

Meantime, a heat advisory, issued by the U-S National Weather Service for Koochiching County, remains in effect until at least tomorrow night.

Wisconsin Man Not Appealing Ruling

A Wisconsin man is expected to begin serving jail time today after losing an appeal of a conviction for failing to pay tolls at the bridge linking International Falls with Fort Frances.

Falls City attorney Steve Shermoen says Dean Crist has indicated he will not appeal last week's ruling by the Minnesota Court of Appeal.

The Appeal court upheld a ruling last fall by a Koochiching County court judge.

Crist was convicted of five misdemeanour theft counts and sentenced to three consecutive 90-day jail terms.

Walk for Good Life Set

(Good Life for Young People photo)


A 7-day 500-kilometre walk around the Kenora and Rainy River districts is set to go next month.

It will be the third year for the Walk for Good Life organized by the group Good Life for Young People.

CEO Teresa Hazel says it's a journey of self discovery and accomplishment.

"They walk together and they learn together and they dream together," says Hazel. "We bring in elders from different communities so they get cultural teachings and they get a sense of community."

The event is open to anyone with registration made through the group's Fort Frances office or its website.

Man Killed in ATV Accident

A Minnesota man is dead following an ATV accident in Littlefork.

Koochiching County Sheriff's office say 34-year-old Randy Scott Berg was operating the ATV Sunday afternoon when he lost control and the machine rolled on top of him.