U.S. Passport Rules Help Canadian Borders

A federal report says more Canadians are being pulled aside for close inspection at Canadian border points when returning home - ironically because of stricter U.S. security demands.

The need to have a passport to enter the U.S. is making it easier for Canadian border agents - not just U.S. officials - to check travellers against police and intelligence databases.

As a result, the number of people referred by Canadian officials for secondary inspection at the border has increased.

Early Morning Accident

A two-vehicle accident in downtown Fort Frances briefly closed Scott Street early this morning.

It happened around 5 a.m. at the corners of Scott and Mowatt Avenue.

No one was injured, but the accident did close Scott between Mowatt and Central Avenues for about a hour while emergency personnel removed the vehicles and cleaned up the debris.

Bass Championship Underway

The first day of fishing gets underway today at the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship.

A total of 97 teams are involved.

Boats will begin leaving at 7 a.m. from the government dock with the weigh-ins at the Memorial Sport Centre starting at 3:30.

Be sure to listen to B-93 for live reports during the weigh-ins.

Wind Hits Thunder Bay Airport

(Magic 99.9 photo)


Thunder Bay's airport was shutdown after a severe thunderstorm blew a portion of the roof off the terminal building last night.

The debris landed on at least 18 cars in the parking lot and took out a lamppost.

No one was injured.

The airport is now open.

Falls Radio Station Tower Topples

An International Falls radio station has had its 650-foot broadcast tower toppled.

The tower, used by Christian station KBHW-FM was felled by a storm that passed through the area yesterday.

The station is still on the air, but at a reduced power.

Minnesota Government Workers Back to Work

About 22-thousand Minnesota state employees will begin heading back to work today after Governor Mark Dayton signed off on a new budget bill ending a 20-day shutdown of government services.

While most services will get back to normal, some state parks, damaged by recent storms, may have to remain closed until they can be cleaned.

Area Artist Named a Fan-Favourite

(Photo courtesy Sunday Wilde)


A blues artist from Atikokan has won a fan-based award from the Independent Music Awards.

Sunday Wilde's song "That Man Drives Me Mad" was selected as the favourite blues song by fans in an on-line vote that began in February and ended last month.

"I'm excited," says Wilde. "I live in Atikokan which is a small town which is far from big cities. Because of the Internet, music is out there more and more."

Wilde says the award will help her bring her music to a wider national audience.

She's also launched a new website to help promote herself.

Newcomer the Best of Quest

Charity Alverson is this year's winner of the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce's Quest for the Best.

She beat out 2009 winner Brittany Hayes in a final sing-off to win the grand prize.

"I am absolutely elated and in really shocked," says Alverson. "There was a lot of incredible talent here tonight. It was a definite toss-up between everyone."

A total of twenty performers took part in the event that pitted newcomers against former winners.

Minister Responds to Forest Fire Activity

(Mitch Miller/Ministry of Natural Resources photo)


Ontario's Natural Resources Minister says the province is committed to any and all resources in battling the dozens of wildfires in northwestern Ontario.

More than 112 fires are burning, mostly in the remote north - some large in size.
Linda Jeffrey says it's taxing resources.

"While the number of fires we've had in Ontario is about the same as last year, the magnitude and complexity of these fires is much greater," says Jeffrey. "Today the total area burned is 300,000 hectares. That's five times the average."

Ontario is receiving assistance now from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, the Yukon and Quebec.

More Evacuations Planned

(Trevor Gauthier/Ministry of Natural Resources photo)


More evacuation of residents from the far north because of the forest fires is planned.

Mike Morton of the Emergency Management Ontario says as many as 1,800 residents will join the 1,500 who have already been evacuated.

"All of the evacuees are currently housed in reception centres and hotels," says Morton. "Today's evacuees will be going to places such as Moosenee, Ottawa and Arthur which is near Kitchener-Waterloo.

The latest evacuees come from Sandy Lake, Kingfisher Lake and Wunnimun Lake First Nations.