Plane Crash Kills 4

Investigators will try to determine what caused a small plane to crash as it approached Ontario's North Spirit Lake First Nation.

The plane slammed into a lake on the reserve yesterday while trying to land in a blinding snowstorm on a flight from Winnipeg.

 Four people died and only one survived.

A 36-year-old Winnipeg man is in stable condition with some broken bones.

Teachers Leave Pikangikum

Mould is now preventing kids from going to school in Pikangikum First Nation.

The mould is in their teachers' home.

Most have left the community, north of Red Lake, because of it.

Community leaders say the school may now have to close.

Highway Closed

Travel to Kenora has been prohibited this morning.


A fatal traffic accident involving two transports and a vehicle has closed the Trans Canada Highway at the junction of Highway 71.

OPP says it could be late this afternoon before the road reopens.

December Weather Stats

The month of December in the Rainy River district was the warmest it's been in fifteen years.

The average temperature of minus 7.4 C was a full six degrees warmer than normal.

Environment Canada's Geoff Coulson says we're simply not experiencing systems we usually see.

The area also saw 23 centimetres of snow fall in December, about 2/3rds of what is normally received.

One Last Weather Record

The last of the warm days in January has given Fort Frances another weather record.

Yesterday's high of 5.1 C, or 41 F, shattered the old mark of 3 C set back in 1990.

Dryden, Kenora and Sioux Lookout also set new record high yesterday.

MP Doesn't Support Floor-Crossing

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty is no fan of switching party's in mid-term.

Rafferty say he can't comment on the reasons behind Quebec MP Lise St. Denis leaving the NDP for the Liberals, but doesn't support how she did it.

Rafferty says MP's who want to switch parties should resign their seat and run for re-election in a by-election.

Rafferty doesn't think St. Denis's defection will have a big huge on the NDP which still holds down 101 seats in the House of Commons.

Cultural Plan Accepted

Atikokan council intends to move forward on a new cultural plan for the community.

Mayor Dennis Brown says the first step is determining which of the 33 recommendations will be pursued first.

Brown sees the plan helping boost tourism and ensuring a well rounded lifestyle for local residents.

Question of the Day - January 11

While a Canadian-wide survey suggests otherwise, 78 per cents of respondents to our on-line poll question don't think the federal government needs to take a stronger role in combating childhood obesity.

Today's question, Ice Box Days begins in International Falls next week. Do you see any merit to a similar winter festival in Fort Frances?

Tell us on our Facebook page or website www.931TheBorder.ca.

Hearing on Assessment Appeal Set

Fort Frances town officials say it could be substantial, but it's going to be several months before they know the true impact of AbitibiBowater's appeal of its assessment of its Fort Frances mill.

The Assessment Review Board has scheduled a hearing by tele-conference on the matter for August 12.

The company, know operating as Resolute Forest Products, is seeking a roll back for the last three years.

Town officals say a decision favouring the company could mean having to give back a tax rebate of up to $3-million and the loss of up to $800-thousand  in future tax revenue annual.

Fines Write Off Books

The town of Fort Frances is writing off more than $137-thousand in fines, considered non-collectible.

Treasurer Laurie Witherspoon says the move is an accounting process and doesn't mean those issued the fines don't have to ever pay them.

The fines date back to 2006