Mayor Seeks Meeting with Tourism Minister

The mayor of Fort Frances is seeking a meeting with Ontario's Tourism Minister to talk about the pending closure of the region's tourist information centres.

Roy Avis understands the government's need to save money, but wants to explore options to keep the centres  open.

A resolution calling for the centers in Fort Frances, Kenora and Rainy River to remain open will also be discussed at the upcoming meeting of area Mayors in Kenora.

Public Meeting on Rainy Lake Hotel

The public will get a chance next week to comment on what should be done with the former Rainy Lake Hotel in Fort Frances.

A committee has been meeting with a variety of groups

Consultant Tannis Drysdale says one of the more plausible ideas is a market square proposed by the Downtown Business Improvement Association.

The meeting takes place April 18th at the Fort Frances Legion.

Native Group Upset With Miners' Comments

Grand Council Treaty 3 is taking a hard line against a group of junior mining companies called "Miners United".

The mining group says a revolt is taking place against First Nations requesting revenue benefit sharing agreements.

Treaty Three Chief Diane Kelly calls the comments unacceptable.

Teachers Walk

Ontario's education minister is asking elementary teachers to return to the discussion table.

Laurel Broten says other teacher unions are still in talks, but the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario left the provincial discussion table after just one hour.

Collective agreements expire in August.

Budget Talk

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is slated to make an announcement today about the Ontario budget.

Horwath has already made specific demands of the Liberals to win her party's support of the budget, including a $100-million fund to improve local health-care services.

Meantime, Premier McGuinty is in Windsor to talk up his budget.

Bus Company Looks to Expand

A Thunder Bay company wants to fill the void when Ontario Northland Transportation stops providing service in northeastern Ontario.

Sandy Smith of Caribou Coach says they are applying to operate busing services to residents east of Hearst on Highway 11.

Caribou currently has routes in this district.

Attorney Given Right to Carry Guns at Work

Minnesota prosecutors have new authority to arm themselves while on the job.

Governor Mark Dayton has signed a bill allowing county attorneys and assistant county attorneys to carry firearms on duty as long as they have a valid permit.

The bill gained steam following the shooting of an attorney in Grand Marais in December by a man he had successfully prosecuted.

Festival Begins

The 72nd Festival of the Performing Arts in the Rainy River district begins today.

Performances in the instrumental division kick off three weeks of competition.

It begins at 9 a.m. this morning at the Townsend Theatre before shifting to Robert Moore School in the afternoon

Rainy River Chamber Speaks Out

The Rainy River Chamber of Commerce is making itself heard over the tourist centre closures.

In a letter to Ontario's Tourism Minister, president Richard Trenchard says the decision, done without consultation, only reinforces the fact that the government doesn't understand the needs and necessities of the North.

Champer Announces Award Winners

The International Falls Chamber of Commerce has named its award winners.

Cedulies Photography has been selected small business of the year.

Thunderbird Lodge earns the large business of the year award.

JoAnn Bokovy is the citizen of the year.

All three will be honoured at the Chamber's annual dinner May 3.

Summer Company Program Accepts Applications

The Northwest Business Centre is now accepting applications for the 'Summer Company' program.

Spokesperson Stefanie Armstrong says students between the ages of 15 and 29 are qualified to apply

The application deadline is May 7.