Doctor Shortage Crisis Eased

The threat of a lengthy closure of the Rainy River Health Centre's Emergency department has been eased.

Riverside Health Care Facilities says it's obtained locum coverage for the hospital until the end of August.

The town's lone doctor ends his practice in the middle of next month.

Efforts to attract a new doctor to the community continue.

Suspicious Fire at Fort Frances Store

Ontario Provincial Police have taken over the investigation into a Fort Frances downtown area fire.

Reports of smoke early Saturday morning brought members of the Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Service to Leon's where a fire was identified at the back of the store.

Minimal damage was caused to a rear service door area while the rest of the building and its contents suffered moderate smoke damage.

Ice Fishing Tragedy

Four people are dead following an ice-fishing excursion north of Kenora.

OPP have been at Selkirk Lake since last Thursday when the body of 55-year-old Robert Kantimere was found on the ice.

The the bodies of a man and woman were found Saturday and while another body  discovered yesterday.

All four people were from Kenora

$100,000 List Getting Bigger

The Town of Fort Frances now has four employees earning over 100-thousand dollars annually.

The list of the top public sector wage earners was released Friday.

The Rainy River District School Board has 22 employees on the list, two more than last year.

Riverside Health Care Facilities added four new names to this year's list, up from the eight it had 2011.

Question of the Week

Is it important to you that the salaries of public sector workers be disclosed each year?

Let us know on our website 931TheBorder.ca.

In response to last week's question, 60 per cent of respondents feels the recent warm temperatures experienced in the Rainy River district are a benefit to the our area.

Community Garden Plans

The warm weather this month is helping kick off the planning of another community garden in Fort Frances.

The garden on Lillie Avenue attracted great interest last year.

Krista Neilson of the Northwestern Health Unit says registration for this year takes place April 4 at the Metis Hall.

Neilson says they have plans to expand the size of the garden to permit more participation and have set up a Facebook page to keep gardeners more informed.

Young People Promote Rail Safety

Young people are taking to the airwaves today to promote rail safety.

Students have written and produced a number of radio PSA's as part of an initiative between CN Rail, OPP and Safe Communities Rainy River.

Caitlin Visser, a student of Robert Moore School, says it's important their peers hear their message.

The PSA begin airing on 93.1 The Border  today.