NDP Select Interim Leader

(Nycole Turmel - Government of Canada photo)

Federal NDP are meeting today to discuss who will take over the party while leader Jack Leader seeks treatment for an undisclosed form of Cancer.

Layton is recommending Quebec MP Nycole Turmel.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River M-P John Rafferty says he can support that choice.

Layton is not expected back in Ottawa until September 19th.

Water Meters Replaced

The town of Fort Frances is replacing some of the water meters now used by commercial and industrial users.

It's purchasing 180 new meters to replace those that have reached the end of their life cycle at a cost of more than $240-thousand.

The town is also adding new modules to all of its 300 metres, allowing for them to be read automatically.

Water System Receives Limited-Accreditation

The town of Fort Frances has received a limited accreditation for the management of its drinking water system.

The designation from the Canadian General Standard Board is the first step towards a full accreditation.

The Board acts as a third party auditor for the Ministry of Environment.

Evacuations Concerns

(File photo)


Emergency Management Ontario is responding to reports that Thunder Bay and Sudbury aren't taking on additional fire evacuees because they weren't reimbursed for a previous event.

Deputy Minister of Community Safety Ian Davidson acknowledges there is an unresolved issue.

"There were some discussions and some dispute as to resolution for some costs that I know Sudbury incurred and I assume Thunder Bay as well," says Davidson. "This relationship was somewhat problematic and I believe have been or are being resolved by (the Ministry of) Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development."

Thunder Bay has acted as a "transportation hub" for evacuees, while Sudbury took nobody.

Fires Still Burning

(File photo)

116 forest fires continue to burn across northwestern Ontario.

Six-hundred-fires have been reported this season, with over 560-thousand hectares of land scorched.

That's the third highest on record since 1917.

Border Incident Under Review

Federal officials are looking into the arrest of a 66-year-old Minnesota woman who was jailed for 12 days in Winnipeg when a jar of motor oil in her car was mistaken for heroin.

Janet Goodin of Warroad says she was handcuffed, interrogated and strip searched after trying to cross the border at Sprague, Manitoba in April.

Charges against here were eventually dropped.

Arts Funding Awarded

Three entertainment series in the Rainy River district are receiving federal dollars to help them bring performers to their communities.

Tour de Fort Concert Series in Fort Frances is getting $8,000.

Kids and Company Fort Frances Family Performing Artists Series will get $6,000.

The Atikokan Entertainment Series is receiving $7,500.

Youth Create Mural

(Photo courtesy Lindsay Hamilton)


A new mural has been created by youth from the Fort Frances area.

Local artist Lindsay Hamilton helped facilitate the project at a recent Confederation College sponsored arts camp.

Hamilton says the 11 to 13 year olds fully captured the idea of metamorphosis, transition and transformation.

"I was nervous,"says Hamilton. "I didn't really know if they were going to have the sophistication to understand and stick with it as well as collaborated with it. But honestly, this was the best class I ever taught."

Entitled Timmy's World, the mural includes images of the real world centring a surreal landscape.

Family Novel Published

(Francis Shelfantook (l) at a recent RTO District 1 gathering - RTO District 1 photo)

A Fort Frances author is out with a book based on the life of her great-grandmother.

Francis Shelfantook says she used real life experiences of her great-grandmother, from her early life in Sweden to a move to Minnesota in the 1860's in the novel Sophia's Journey.

"It's true in essence really because I didn't make anything up of the adventures that she had," says Shelfantook. "All of the events had some basis in reality."

She'll launch her book at the Fort Frances Library tomorrow with a signing from noon until 2 p.m.

Firm Hiring Defended

The town of Fort Frances is defending its decision to award a construction contract to the Canadian subsidiary of an International-Falls based company

The town has received some criticism in it's selection of Wagner Construction Canada.

Operations and Facilities Manager Doug Brown says the firm meets all their requirements.

"Wagner Construction Canada Limited did have the proper qualifications," says Brown. "Our engineering firm that did all of the work for the town is recommending Wagner. Administration brought a report recommending Wagner be offered this."

Brown says the firm's bid was also $200-thousand lower than any other.