Hospitals Receiving Financial Gift

Area hospitals will benefit from a substantial gift from a long-time resident of the Rainy River district.

Director with Riverside Foundation for Health Care Nicke Baird says the resident, who is choosing to remain anonymous, is providing the Foundation with $100,000.

Baird says the fund will be turned into an Endowment Fund that allows the Foundation to benefit from the interest earned.

Liberal's Absence Defended

Ontario's Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle is coming to the defence of his Leader.

Premier Dalton McGuinty won't be attending a northern issues debate in Thunder Bay, because of what the Liberals now say is a conflict with a prior commitment.

Gravelle disputes claims his party doesn't care about the region and favours having a northern issues segment as part of a province-wide televised debate on September 27 in Toronto.

McGuinty is in Thunder Bay today.

Local Candidates Debate in Dryden

Provincial candidates in the Kenora-Rainy River Riding will debate the issues tonight in Dryden.

Dryden media are hosting the all-Candidates forum.

There's no word yet if any debates are planned in the Rainy River district.

Thunder Bay-Atikokan Debate

Residents of Atikokan get to hear tonight from the candidates seeking their vote.

Liberal incumbent Bill Mauro, NDP's Mary Kozorys and PC's Fred Gilbert will participate in a Thunder Bay-Atikokan riding debate at the Atikokan town hall.

It's hosted by the Atikokan Chamber of Commerce and begins at 7 p.m.

EQAO Board Results Released

The Rainy River District School Board says more of its students are doing better writing the standardize provincial tests.

Education Director Heather Campbell says they're close to matching the provincial averages in many areas.

Campbell says while reading scores improved over previous years, it will still be an area of focus for the board.

The Northwest Catholic District School Board is happy with its standardized test results.

Education Director Mary-Catherine Kelly says their students excelled in several areas.

Kelly says St. Michael's and St. Francis School in Fort Frances had high number of students exceeding provincial standards in all tests.

More Fires in Rainy River District

Two more forest fires in the Rainy River district.

Both were lightning caused.

One, northwest of Atikokan near Miranda Lake is listed as still being active.

The other was near Marmion Lake and is out.

Six others are still burn within Quetico Provincial Park.