Pharmacists Charged with Trafficking

A pharmacist with a connection to Fort Frances will appear in court today on a charge of trafficking.

Provincial Police says 51-year-old Robert Button was arrested and charged Wednesday following a two month police investigation.

Police says Button works in pharmacies in both Dryden and Fort Frances.

Insurances Agencies Merge

There's a shake-up in the local insurance industry.

Thunder Bay Insurance is merging with Gillon's Insurance in Fort Frances.

Thunder Bay Insurance Manager David Baxter says the two companies decided becoming on a bigger independent.

They'll still be operating under their same trade names, but Baxter says the merger is for the benefit of their clients.

Gillon's president Duane Cridland was not immediately available for comment.

Health Care Funding is Fine

The Northwest Local Health Integration Network says there may be health care shortages in this region, but it's not due to a lack of funding.

Chair Joy Warkentin says they just need to find better and more efficient ways of spending the money they get.

Warkentin adds our region has two per cent of Ontario's population, but is using five per cent the health care budget.

New Project Funding Source Needed

Area municipalities are being told to sit down with the province and federal government to find a better way of funding infrastructure projects.

Speaking to delegates attending the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Conference in Kenora, author Gord Hume says the current method through property taxes isn't working.

Hume would like to see Ontario follow Saskatchewan's lead by dedicating one percent of the HST to municipalities for infrastructure projects.

Delegate Approve Resolutions

The Provincial Government is getting a laundry list of suggestions from the northwestern Ontario's municipal leaders.

Delegates attending the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association meeting in Kenora approved 23 resolutions that will be sent to the province.

They include a call to reverse the decision to close the Travel Information Centres in Kenora, Fort Frances and Rainy River.

Committee Role for Rafferty

More responsibilities for John Rafferty.

The Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP is serving as a NDP rep to the Public Safety and National Security parliamentary committee.

The Committee oversees work carried out by agencies as the Canadian Border Services Agency, RCMP and Correctional Services Canada.

Government Accused of Slow Reaction to Ornge

The Opposition is demanding an explanation about why the provincial Liberals took so long to rein in Ornge -- the province's air ambulance service.

A lawyer, who worked for Ornge, told a legislative committee that the government had all the power it needed and could have reined in Ornge at any time.

Finance Minister Not Worried

Ontario's finance minister is trying to put the best face on a major investment agency's move to downgrade the province's credit rating.

Dwight Duncan says the move by Moody's won't have a significant effect on the province's ability to borrow or pay interest on its debt.

Eagles at Voyageurs

Biologists with Voyageurs National Park says they've identified 72 bald eagle nests within the park as part of their spring aerial survey.

Six new sites were found, but seven identified in previous surveys no longer exist.

34 of existing ones are being occupied by eagles incubating eggs.

It's prompted the Park to close four of its day-use, camping and houseboat sites temporarily during the nesting period.

International Falls Poet Wins

A former International Falls man has won the prestigious Walt Whitman Award.

It's given annually by the American Academy of Poets to a poet who has not yet published a book.

Matt Rasmussen, a teacher at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota, will receive the award at a ceremony in October.

His book "Black Aperture," is to be published next year.

NOMA Opens

Municipal leaders from across northwestern Ontario are gathering in Kenora for the start of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association's annual conference.

NOMA vice-president and Kenora mayor Dave Canfield says a few of McGuinty's cabinet members are expected as well.

Among presentations today include ones on health care recruitment and dealing with the increasing presence of illegal drugs in our communities.

Sturgeon Getting Bigger and Older

Fisheries officials in Ontario and Minnesota says measures to strength Sturgeon populations in Lake of the Woods and Rainy River are working.

Tom Mosindy of the Ministry of Natural Resources says short-goals identified several years ago have been achieved.

Mosindy says they're still working towards having much older and longer fish in the future.

Rainy Lake Bass Fishing Recognized

Rainy Lake has been identified as one of the top bass fishing lakes in the United States.

The lake, which lies along the Ontario-Minnesota Border, is ranked 11th by Bassmaster magazine.

Rainy was cited for its top notch smallmouth fishery.

New Foundation Fundraiser Launched

Riverside Foundation for Health Care is set to embark on an effort to raise money for a new digital mammography unit for Riverside.

The Foundation plans to outline how it will do that later next month.

Immunization Reminder

The Northwestern Health Unit is encouraging area residents to keep their immunization records up to date.

The Health Unit's Donna Stanley says as adults we're usually make sure our children get their regular immunization, but forget about getting our own shot.

Stanley says residents can get their shots up to date by booking an appointment through the Health Unit.

Local Residents Turns 104

Birthday celebrations for Hubert Medhurst at the Sister Kennedy Centre yesterday.

Medhurst is one of the district's oldest residents at 104 and continues to be active.

Medhurst, who still drives, intends to renew his license for another year later this year.

Money for Northern Hospitals

Cautiously optimistic is the phrase coined by the NDP Health Critic on extra cash for Northern Ontario Hospitals.

France Gelinas says her party has secured an additional $20-million in funding for small, rural and Northern Hospitals.

The agreement was a condition for NDP support on the 2012 Provincial budget.

Local Tories Not Happy with Budget

Not everyone is happy with Tuesday's passing of the provincial budget.

The Progressive Conservative Riding Association in Kenora-Rainy River is speaking out against it..

President Dennis Butler says the budget includes cuts to tourist centers in the riding as well as to Ministry of Natural Resources offices.

Butler is also disappointed that Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell decided to abstain from voting rather than against it.

Scam Continues

There's more warnings being issued about a scam involving someone calling claiming to be from Microsoft.

The individual tries to gain remote access of people's computers and even asks for credit card information.

The calls have circulated across northwestern Ontario.

Chamber Awards

Atikokan Progress photo

There's been a record number of nominations for the Atikokan Chamber of Commerce's upcoming business awards.

29 businesses, individuals and community organizations were nominated.

The awards will be handed out May 3 at the Little Falls Community Centre.

Appeal Denied

A former employee of the Rainy River Cattlemen's Association has lost a bid to have a lower court ruling against him overturned.

The Ontario Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal by Russell Richards, who had been manager of the Association's Stratton Sales Barn for nearly a decade.

Lawyers for Richards claimed the lower court erred in its December 2010 decision that supported the Association's reasons for letting him go three years earlier.

Theft Numbers Up

There's been an increase in the number of thefts and sexual assaults in the Rainy River District.

OPP says they investigated 17 thefts in March compared with 10 the month before.

Twelve of those were in Fort Frances.

Item taken included bicycles, wallets, electronic items and copper wire.

In one case, a person fled before paying for gasoline.

There were also three sexual assaults in March, all in Fort Frances, compared with none in February.

Charges have since been laid in two of those cases.

More Attennas for Water Tower

The town of Fort Frances is reviewing another request for use of its water tower for communication purposes.

Operations and Facilities Manager Doug Brown says the recent request comes from Bell Mobility.

It's asking to attach six antennas to the face of the water tower.

The top of the tower already has antennae's used by Dryden's DMTS and Vianet.

Haze Rules Approved

A citizens board of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has approved revised rules aimed at reducing haze over Voyageurs National Park and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

They now go to the federal Environmental Protection Agency for approval.

Changes were made following concerns from Cliff Natural Resources.

Environmental groups say the revisions don't make enough progress toward the goals of cleaner air and better health.

Festival Results - Tuesday

Add caption

Two Robert Moore School choirs earned first place marks at the Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts yesterday.

The Grade 4 to 8 choir and a combined junior and senior kindergarten choir won in their respective divisions.

The competition in the Vocal category ends today at Donald Young School in Emo beginning at 10 o'clock.

Here is the list of winners from Tuesday.


CLASS V249E School Choirs, Girls’ Choir – Grades 4 to 8 (English)

1. Robert Moore Girls’ Choir, Grades 4 to 8 - Director: Nathalie vonNiebelschütz Accompanist: Michelle Cain
Music by Betty Bertaux
The “Winter’s a Drag” Rag by Nathalie Sleeth

CLASS V223E Classroom Choruses, Kindergarten (English)
1. Robert Moore School, JK/SK Class - Director: Karen Peltomaki Accompanist: Michelle Cain
I Wiggle My Fingers by Lucille Wood
Rainday by Gilean Douglas and Ada Twohy Kent

CLASS V177 Musical Theatre, Solo, 11 and 12 years
1. Emma Dykstra - My New Philosophy from YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN
2. Kaitlynn Lougheed - Castle on a Cloud from LES MISERABLES

CLASS V178 Musical Theatre, Solo, 13 and 14 years
1. Faith Pollard - Journey to the Past from ANASTASIA
2(tie). Andrew Loney - My Defences are Down from ANNIE GET YOUR GUN
2(tie). McKenna Begin - Journey to the Past from ANASTASIA

CLASS V179 Musical Theatre, Solo, 15 and 16 years
1. Taylor Shouldice - The Wizard and I from WICKED
2. Amber Hoszowski - I Dreamed a Dream from LES MISÉRABLES

CLASS V203 Original Composition, Vocal
1. Trevor Barker - Lonely by Trevor Barker

CLASS V170 Contemporary Solo, 13 and 14 years
1. McKenna Begin - Temporary Home by L. Laird, C. Underwood and Z. Malloy
2(tie). Kenzie Godin - Never Alone by Gary Burr, Sarah Buxton and Victoria Shaw
2(tie). Faith Pollard - I’ll Stand by You by C. Hynde, T. Kelly and B. Steinberg

CLASS V171 Contemporary Solo, 15 and 16 years
1. Amber Hoszowski - Price Tag by C. Kelly, B. Simmons, L. Gottwald, J. Cornish
2. Maggie Gauthier - Into the West by Annie Lennox

CLASS V172 Contemporary Solo, 17 and 18 years
1. David Loney - To Make You Feel My Love by Bob Dylan
2(tie). Ericka Tymkin - Turning Tables by Adele Adkins and Ryan Tedder
2(tie). Phoebe Ann Firth - I Will Carry You by Smith, Smith and Wells

New Detachment Commander Named

The Ontario Provincial Police have a new detachment commander for the Rainy River district.

Staff Sergaent Steve Shouldice moves up the rank to Inspector and takes over the position vacated by Inspector John Kendrick who relocated to OPP's headquarters in Thunder Bay.

Shouldice had been serving as the acting detachment commander since last October.

DSSAB Halts Collection of Extra Ambulance Funds

Municipalities in the Rainy River district are no longer being asked to pay for additional land ambulance services.

The Rainy River District Social Services Administrative Board collected the money in case an ongoing doctor shortage in Rainy River forced the need to transfer patients.

Fort Frances councillor Ken Perry, who sits on the board, says it's no longer needed.

Rainy River's lone doctor has apparently withdrawn his decision to resign and the hospital has locum coverage until September.

Dog Park on Hold

A proposed off-leash dog park in Fort Frances is on hold for a short while.

Fort Frances town council has sent a parks operational review report, which contained the dog park idea, back to the committee level because of new information effecting another part of the report, unrelated to the park.

Hyer Sits as Independent

A Thunder Bay MP has quit the NDP.

Bruce Hyer is now sitting as an Independent.

Hyer says Thomas Mulcair's recent statements to reinstate the gun registry if the party forms the next government forced his decision.

Hyer and fellow MP John Rafferty supported a Conservative bill to end the registry.

Rafferty Seeks FEDNOR Protection

The NDP's new FEDNOR critic is quick to call for its protection.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River John Rafferty says it's too important of a program to northern Ontario.

The Minister responsible Tony Clement would only say how excellent FEDNOR has been.

VALA Seeks Input

A Fort Frances-based training agency is seeking input on customer service.

The Valley Adult Learning Association is proposing to develop new curricilum around it.

Project consultant Wanda Barker says they've sent out surveys and will hold two focus sessions to assist.

Those interested in participating can call VALA's office.

Science Fair Winners

Projects focusing on Hot Rods and Solar Water Heaters were identified as the best at the recent Sunset Country Regional Science Fair on the weekend.

Jesse Esselink and Carson Cole of J.W. Walker School and their project on Hot Rods was deemed best in the intermediate division as well as winning the enginnering category.

Alexander Laevens' Solar Water Heater project won the same categories on the junior side.

Budget Passes

Ontario's minority Liberal government has survived a confidence vote on its budget, after striking a deal with the NDP to impose a surtax on the wealthy.

The New Democrats abstained, allowing the Liberals to out vote the Progressive Conservatives 52 to 37 and pass the budget motion.

The Tories had vowed to reject the budget as soon as it was introduced, complaining it did not reduce government spending or do anything to help create jobs.

No Arrests Yet

There's still no arrests in connection with an April 10th armed robbery at the Canada Safeway Gas Bar in Fort Frances.

No one was hurt, but a man, carrying a hand-gun, did get away with an undisclosed amount of cash.

OPP have been looking for 24-year-old Joshua Enns since.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers.

Seatbelt Charges in Northwestern Ontario

Several drivers in northwestern Ontario were nabbed last week for not wearing their seatbelt.

Provincial Police says officers laid a total of 163 charges during an eight-day Spring 'Seatbelt' campaign.

A total of 55 hundred charges were laid across the province.

Raffery Disappointed with Hyer

Thunder Bay Bruce Hyer is not getting support from another northwestern Ontario MP for his decision to leave the NDP.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River's John Rafferty believes the position that Hyer has put himself in is not a good one.

Rafferty also thinks Hyer's decision to sit as an independent will compromise his ability to be an effective MP.

Osiko Ends Association with Sparton

Osisko Mining has decided against acquiring more property around its Hammond Reef Gold Project north of Atikokan.

The company had done some exploratory work on West Hammond and Clement Lake claims owned by Sparton Resources.

Sparton says it will evaluate the data and do follow up work of its own.

Haze Rules Revisited

A citizens board of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is taking another crack at approving rules meant to cut the haze that sometimes clouds the views at Voyageurs National Park and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

The haze comes mostly from the state’s coal-fired power plants and taconite plants on the Iron Range.

The board was due to vote on the new rules last month, but held off because of concerns raised by Cliff Natural Resources.

Fee Increase Passes Senate

The Minnesota Senate has voted to raise fees for hunting and fishing licenses.

The bill now goes back to the House, which passed it earlier without the fee increases.

Under the bill, a one-year fishing license for an adult resident would go from 17 to 22-dollars.

A deer hunting license for residents would be bumped from 26 to 30-dollars.

Fees were last raised in 2001.

Festival Winners - Monday

Plenty of triple winners in the first day of vocals at the Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts yesterday.

Callahan Wiedenhoeft, Phoebe Ann Firth each won in three solo competitions.

Emma Dykstra and Kennedy Latimer won a pair of solo events with there third in duet competition.

The festival continues today.

Here is a list of all winners from Monday.


CLASS V103 Secular Solo, Examination Courses, Grade 3
1. Callahan Wiedenhoeft - Coconut Man by Aubrey Beswick
2. Carmen Hebert - Spring is Singing in the Garden by W.H. Anderson

CLASS V104 Secular Solo, Examination Courses, Grade 4
1. Emma Dykstra - Watermelon Seller by Aubrey Beswick

CLASS V105 Secular Solo, Examination Courses, Grade 5
1. McKenna Begin - Lazy Summer by W. Herbert Belyea

CLASS V106 Secular Solo, Examination Courses, Grade 6
1. Alyssa VanDrunen - Spring Sorrow by John Ireland

CLASS V107 Secular Solo, Examination Courses, Grade 7
1. Maggie Gauthier - Come and Trip It by G. F. Handel

CLASS V108 Secular Solo, Examination Courses, Grade 8
1. Phoebe Ann Firth - Le Charme by E. Chausson
2. Taylor Shouldice - Alma Del Core by Antonio Caldara

CLASS V145 Secular Solo, 11 and 12 years
1. Jillian Armstrong - To My First Love by Hermann Löhr
2(tie). Kaitlynn Lougheed - Spring is Singing in the Garden by W. H. Anderson
2(tie). Emily Loney - If by Mark Patterson

CLASS V146 Secular Solo, 13 and 14 years
1. Andrew Loney - If You’ve Only got a Moustache by Stephen C. Foster

CLASS V117 Sacred Solo, Examination Courses, Grade 5
1. McKenna Begin - Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child, African-American Spiritual

CLASS V206 Vocal Duet, 9 to 12 years
1. Emma Dykstra and Jillian Armstrong -Kindred Spirits by Norman Campbell from ANNE OF GREEN GABLES
2 Callahan Wiedenhoeft and Carmen Herbert - Kindred Spirits by Norman Campbell from ANNE OF GREEN GABLES

CLASS V208 Vocal Duet, 16 to 18 years
1 Taylor Shouldice and Kennedy Latimer - What is this Feeling from WICKED
2. Ericka Tymkin and David Loney - As Long as You’re Mine from WICKED

CLASS V138F/V138M Solo Test Pieces, Grade 8
1. Kennedy Latimer - Tell Me Lovely Shepherd by William Boyce
2(tie). Ericka Tymkin - Tell Me Lovely Shepherd by William Boyce
2(tie). David Loney - Where’er You Walk by G. F. Handel

CLASS V132 Traditional Folk Song, Examination Courses, Grade 8
1. Phoebe Ann Firth - Over the Mountains arranged by Roger Quilter
2(tie). Taylor Shouldice - Over the Mountains arranged by Roger Quilter
2(tie). David Loney - Down by the Sally Gardens arranged by H. Hughes

CLASS V127 Traditional Folk Song, Examination Courses, Grade 3
1. Callahan Wiedenhoeft - Suo-Gân Lullaby arranged by Alec Rowley
2. Star Martin - Mairi’s Wedding arranged by Hugh S. Robertson

CLASS V162 Traditional Folk Song, 13 and 14 years
1. Faith Pollard - To the Sky arranged by Carl Strommen

CLASS V163 Traditional Folk Song, 15 and 16 years
1. Maggie Gauthier - The Gartan Mother’s Lullaby arranged by H. Hughes

CLASS V164 Traditional Folk Song, 17 and 18 years
1. Phoebe Ann Firth - Must I Go Bound arranged by H. Hughes
2. Malinda Porter - Shenandoah arranged by Jay Althouse

CLASS V125 Traditional Folk Song, Examination Courses, Grade 1
1. Joelle Bruyere - Skye Boat Song arranged by M. Lawson

CLASS V188 Quick Study, Solo, Grade 8
1. Kennedy Latimer


CLASS V210 Vocal Duet, Open
1. Greta Fedoruk and Monika Ruppenstein - Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious from MARY POPPINS

CLASS V176 Musical Theatre, Solo, 9 and 10 years
1. Callahan Wiedenhoeft - On the Good Ship Lollipop from BRIGHT EYES
2. Star Jewel Martin - I Enjoy Being a Girl from THE FLOWER DRUM SONG

CLASS V173 Contemporary Solo, 19 years and over
1. Ken Brown - Let It Be Me by Ray Lamontagne

CLASS V168 Contemporary Solo, 9 and 10 years
1. Carmen Herbert - True Colours from GLEE Steinberg and Kelly

2. Star Jewel Martin - Price Tag by C. Kelly, B. Simmons, L. Gottwald, J. Cornish

CLASS V169 Contemporary Solo, 11 and 12 years
1. Emma Dykstra - Mighty to Save by Reuben Morgan and Ben
2. Kaitlynn Lougheed - When I Look at You by John Shanks and Hillary Lindsey

Retired Mill Workers Optimistic

A local group is calling its meeting with Resolute Forest Products over their pensions concerns productive.

The group - Seniors-Retirees Against Pension and Elder Abuse - sat down with company executives last week.

Chair Allan Bedard says they've asked the company for another meeting that includes all of the local mills retirees.

Bedard says they've also asked to have a retiree from the Fort Frances mill to be part of the company's pension committee.

Seniors Input Sought Soon

Area seniors will soon be asked for their input.

The local Assisted Living Group has issued a brief release indicating the opportunity to give input will be announced soon.

The group has been promoting the need for a facility in Fort Frances that combines housing, support services and health care.

Dog Park Proposed

The town of Fort Frances is considering establishing a park where dog owners can let their animals run off leash.

An administrative report, coming to council at their meeting tonight, indicates that the Kiwanis Club has expressed interest in partnering with the town on the project.

The first step, if improved, would see the forming of a steering committee to help identify sites, and work on the design of the park.

Question of the Week

Do you think an off-leash dog park in Fort Frances would be a good thing for the community?

Let us know on our website 931 the border.ca.

In response to last week's poll question, 73 per cent of respondents support the idea of a market square being developed on the current site of the Rainy Lake Hotel.

MNR Call Centre in Tennessee

The province is being accused of using a call centre in Tennessee to field inquires for the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell says the revelation comes as the Liberal government prepares to consolidate MNR offices.

No Minister responded directly to the allegation when questioned about it in the Legislature.

New Canada Day Committee Seeks Funds

The group that has taken on some of the planning of this year's Canada Day activities in Fort Frances is now seeking some financial help from the town.

The "It's Eh Celebration " committee is planning to hold a singing competition and nightly entertainment.

The committee doesn't ask for any particular dollar amount, but in a letter to council it does note that it's budgeting $4,200 towards events.

The group come forward after the Fun in the Sun Committee collapsed because of a lack of volunteers.

Provincial Seatbelt Campaigns Nabs Plenty

Ontario Provincial Police say they have laid more than 5,500 seatbelt charges during their spring seatbelt campaign.

Sergeant Dave Woodford says police were shocked by the high number, since there were only 3,000 charges up to the end of March.

The spring campaign lasted only a week, ending Sunday.

Cottages Destroyed by Fire

Seven cottages near Kenora have been have destroyed by fire.

Saturday morning's blaze started in one cabin but spread to others nearby because of their proximity to one another.

Damage is estimated to top in excess of half a million dollars.

The cause is still under investigation.

Dancers Win in St. Paul

A truckload of awards for members of a local dance school.

18 dancers with the Dancemakers School of Dance Competitive team won seven high gold and 13 gold, along with several other awards, in a variety of group and solo competitions in St. Paul, Minnesota, on the weekend.

Three dancers, Maighyn DeGagne, Gabi Peters, and Hailey Wirtz were also invited to participate in an upcoming Pacific Coast Dance Fest.

Hydro Rates Go Up

Electricity prices are going up.

Starting May 1st, a typical household using 800 kilowatt hours a month will see the "electricity'' line on their hydro bill increase by nearly six dollars.

Consumers using smart meters - or time-of-use pricing - will see an increase of about four dollars.

The Ontario Energy Board says the changes are due to reduced use of coal, which is being replaced with natural gas, nuclear and renewable energy.