Tourist Centre Closing

The province's Tourist Information Centre in Fort Frances is closing for good.

It's one of seven facilities suffering from low visits in recent years that will be permanently closed April 30 as part of a cost-saving measure.

Centers in Kenora and Rainy River, which don't usually open until May, are also impacted.

Municipal officials had attempted to get the province to install better signage to draw more travellers to Fort Frances centre.

Two full-time employees there will be effected.

The Centre usually hired four students during the summer months.

Border Traffic Up

There's a  huge increase in border traffic coming into Canada at Fort Frances last month.

The Canada Border Services Agency says it processed over 51-thousand people in February, a 10.8 per cent increase from the same month in 2011.

28-thousand vehicles cross the border during the month -  an 11 per cent increase from a year ago.

Missing Boy Alert

Authorities in northeastern Minnesota have issued a crime alert for a missing 7-year-old boy.

St. Louis County sheriff's office believe Wyatt Nordrum is in the custody of his father, James Leon Nordrum jr.

Police says Nordum failed to return the youngster to his mother as ordered by the court.

The boy's mother  is originally from Fort Frances.

New CEO Hired

Riverside Health Care Facilities has found its new president and Chief Executive Officer.

Allan Katz will take over April 1.

Current CEO Wayne Woods retires at the end of this month.

Katz is currently a director with the South East Community Care Assess Centre in Kingston, Ontario.

New Health Care Plan for Northwestern Ontario

Changes in the health care system to northwestern Ontario.

Laura Kokocinski of the North West Local Health Integration says a new 10 year plan aims to make better use of existing resources and improve access to care.

Five new Integrated District Networks will be created, including one for the Rainy River district.

Politicians Seeking Public Input on Budget

Premier Dalton McGuinty is hoping voters will support his government's budget blueprint to eliminate the deficit.

The Liberals have placed newspaper ads in several major centres urging Ontario residents to support Tuesday's budget.

The New Democrats have launched a toll-free hotline and website to get feedback.

The Progressive Conservatives say they'll oppose the budget even if that means going back to the polls.

Federal Budget Today

The federal budget comes out today.

It's expected to include major cuts in government spending and streamlining of the civil service.

Get You Soup On Successful

About 130 people turned out for the first ever "Get Your Soup On" Challenge.

Nine teams put their best soup recipes to the taste test in the event promoted by area dietitians.

Trisha Wood of the Valley Diabetes Education Centre says it was aimed at showing how simple eating can be.

A total of 575-dollars was also raised for local food banks.

CIBC was voted by the public as having the best tasting soup while the judges selected one made by Energy Fitness staff