Locum House Builder Selected

A builder has been selected to construct a home for locum doctors working in Rainy River.

A bid from John Sinninghe of Rainy River was among two reviewed by members of the Rainy River Health Care Committee.

Net cost is just over $313-thousand.

The recommendation now goes to the town councils of Rainy River, Dawson and Lake of the Woods, as well as Big Grassy First Nation, for their approval.

Shop Local Encouraged

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell is embarking on a shop local campaign.

Campbell is encouraging residents to the spread the message by display bumper stickers available at her constituency offices.

Campbell says promoting local shopping is needed more than ever with increases in on-line shopping and cross border trips.

District Housing Market Strong

There's a positive outlook about the housing market in the Rainy River district coming from at least one real estate agent.

Kathy Judson of ReMax-First Choice says despite some economic concerns, homes sales in the district are still attractive.

Judson sees a lot of first-time buyers entering the market while interest in homes at the high-end of the price scale are especially strong.

Democrat Files for Election

A long-time Minnesota State Senator has filed for November's election in the redrawn District 3 which includes Koochiching County.

Tom Bakk, a resident of Cook, was first elected to the Minnesota House in 1994 and to the Senate in 2002.

I. Falls Lawyer Files For November Election

An International Falls lawyers is challenging for a position on the Minnesota Supreme Court.

Dan Griffith has filed to run against Chief Justice Lorie Gildea in November's election.

Griffith has run for judge three previous times, most recently in 2008 in an unsuccessful bid for a spot on the Minnesota Court of Appeals.

Plenty of Interest in Annual Fly-In

The Fort Frances Airport was a busy place yesterday as several residents took in the 13-annual Fly-In Drive In bar-b-que.

A C-130 Hercules Aircraft was the main attraction.

Antique cars, motorcycles and other aircraft were also display.

Arrest Made In Robbery Case

An arrest has been made in connection with that armed robbery at the Canada Safeway Gas Bar in Fort Frances back in April.

OPP says 22-year-old Josh Enns was arrested Thursday night after police stopped a vehicle on Scott Street.

His arrest relates to the April 10 robbery in which a man, brandishing a hand gun, made off with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Enns was to appear in court Friday on several charges.

Fun In The Sun Committee Back

The Fun in the Sun Committee is back to lead the organization of Canada Day events in Fort Frances.

The group will join with organizers of the Dragon Boat festival and the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce who's handing the parade, along with support from the town in the planning for this July 1st .

The group had announced back in March it couldn't carry on because of a lack of volunteers.

A meeting Thursday with members of town council helped get things back on track.

Other groups will be asked to help out.

In other Canada Day developments, activities will be held at the Sorting Gap Marina, tying closely with the Dragon Boat races happening on the river.

Dragon Boat Festival Coming

Interest is growing in the first ever dragon boat races in Fort Frances.

The event is being called the Boundary Waters Dragon Boat Festival.

Spokesperson Jenny Greenhaulgh says it's shaping up to be a successful event July 1st.

A website, www.bwdbf.ca, has been developed for teams or individuals to sign up.

New Duty Limits

Cross-border shopping to the United States is now a little bit easier.

Changes kicked in June 1 that raise duty free limits for most trips south of the border.

Shoppers who go to the U.S. for between 24 and 48 hours can now bring back up to 200 dollars duty free compared to 50 dollars before.

The limit increases to 800 dollars for stays outside Canada lasting up to 7 days.

Business owners say the rules will only encourage shoppers to spend more of their money outside of Canada.

Question of the Week

There's appears to overwhelming support to have the Ministry of Natural Resources stay involved with the trapping and relocating of nuisance bears?

91 per cent of respondents to a question on our website 931theborder.ca feel that way.

Today, we ask if the raise in duty free limits will entice you to make more trips to the United States.

More Deaths At Residential Schools Identified

Ontario's chief coroner says the death toll in Indian residential schools is likely higher than previously thought.

Doctor Andrew McCallum says a review of Ontario records has uncovered more than 100 possible cases of child and youth deaths linked to the schools.

McCallum says it's shocking to think the children died without anyone telling their parents.

Fish Study On Rainy River

The impact of fluctuating water levels on the Rainy River on fish habitat is being explored in a research project by students at the University of Waterloo.

They began their two-year study in April.

Adrienne Smith says the aim is to help improve the fishery.

The students took advantage of the Emo Walleye Classic to gather data from all of the fish caught during the two-day tournament.

New Chief For Treaty 3

Grand Council Treaty 3 has a new Grand Chief.

Warren White, the chief of Whitefish Bay First Nation, beat out two other candidates for the job, including incumbent Diane Kelly.

The vote took place Wednesday as part of Treaty 3's national assembly at Big Island First Nation.

Mercury Reported Released Monday

Residents of Grassy Narrows say they're still suffering from the debilitating health effects of mercury poison.

The mill in Dryden was identified as the source of that mercury nearly 50 years ago.

A new health study on the community by a renowned Japanese mercury expert is to be released on Monday.

Residents are planning to travel to Toronto to challenge Premier Dalton McGuinty to eat their local fish.

Road Closed

Part of a forestry road in the Atikokan area has been closed because of flooding.

The Ministry of Natural Resources has closed the Sapawe-Upsala Road at kilometer 13.

The MNR says the Seine River has overflowed its banks due to recent rain and flooded a large section of the road.