EQAO Results Show Decline

High school students in the Rainy River District have slipped a little in their writing of provincial literacy tests.

Results from the March tests show 75 per cent met or exceeded provincial standards - a five per cent drop from last year.

Education Director Heather Campbell says the exact reasons why are still to be determined.

Campbell says one of the positives was the deferral rate, where eligible students had their tests postponed to another year, was only two per cent - the lowest since the tests were first administered five years ago.

Marathon Voting Underway In Ottawa

Voting is underway at the House of Commons on hundreds of opposition amendments to the Harper government's controversial omnibus budget bill.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty says there's too many sections impacting areas other than the budget for it to be accepted as is.

Voting started at 1 a.m. this morning and is expected to last until at least midnight.

Keep Sump Pumps From Sanitary Sewer System

Fort Frances residents being asked again to keep their sump pumps from discharging into the town's sanitary sewer system.

Councillor Paul Ryan says the town continues to treat more water at the sewer plant than being produced.

Ryan says a two-year study reviewing the problem is to be released in the near future.

More Singers Wanted

There's just one contestant signed up for this year's Quest for the Best.

The annual singing competition takes place July 26th as part of the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship.

The Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce is offering a total of $3-thousand dollars in prizes, with $1,500 going to the winner.

Deadline to enter is June 22.

Ontario Asked To Keep Gun Registry Data

Premier McGuinty is being urged to fight to keep data from the former long-gun registry that was killed by the Harper government.

The call comes from relatives of a Toronto man killed in a double shooting four years ago.

But McGuinty says the long-gun registry was a federal responsibility and the province will have to find other ways to curb gun violence.

Operation Corridor

Commercial vehicles will be the target of a highway safety blitz for the next 24 hours.

O-P-P say "Operation Corridor'' will target aggressive commercial vehicle drivers and their vehicles that are unsafe.

Luminaries Still For Sale

Relay for Life is set for tomorrow in Fort Frances.

Christine Denby, a member of the organizing committee, says they're still selling the luminaries that will be placed around the track at Fort Frances High School.

The luminaries are available at Pharmasave, Fort Frances Clinic, Gillon's, Energy Fitness, Fort Frances Times, Fort Frances Public Library or on site tomorrow.

RBC Helping Kidsports

Kidsport in Fort Frances will be the benefactor of  local golfers later this month.

RBC holds its annual fundraising tournament June 23.

Local Branch Manager Heather Johnson says money raised helps offset the cost incurred by Kidsports for fees and equipment requests of needy children wanting to play organized sports.

Registration is made by calling or visiting the RBC Fort Frances branch on Scott Street.

Great Lakes Backs Out

It appears to be back to square one in the search for someone to take over Delta's air passenger service to International Falls.

Great Lakes Aviation was given U.S. approval to take over the service back in March.

It's now saying it can't proceed and has asked the Department of Transportation to seek new requests for proposal.

Delta has indicated plans to end its service, but can't withdraw until a new carrier takes over.

NOMA Likes Energy Incentive Program

The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association is applauding the province for its new program to provide electricity subsides to industries that expand or create jobs in Ontario.

The region's municipal lobby group has long called for an Ontario-wide industrial electrical energy pricing system.

Vice-president Iain Angus while the new program isn't exactly how they'd like to see, it is an improvement and will bring opportunities to a number of mining, forestry and manufacturing projects in the region.

Impaired Drivers Nabbed

A couple of drivers have been taken off the road by police for being impaired.

A 48-year-old man from Alberton township was charged by OPP last Friday night in Fort Frances after a vehicle failed to stop at a stop sign and was driving in an erratic manner.

The next night, police charged a 65-year-old man from Texas, who initially failed a roadside screening test, conducted by Canada Border Services officers at the Fort Frances border before failing one conducted by the OPP.

Premier Considers NDP Proposal

The Premier is giving support to the idea of keeping tips left for restaurant staff out of the hands of managers or owners.

New Democrat Michael Prue has introduced a private members' bill to outlaw the practice called tip outs.

The government was initially cool to the idea, but McGuinty says no customers who leave a tip expect the owners to take a percentage.

He's asking the Labour Minister to take a close look at the NDP bill.

Energy Incentive Program For Industry

The Provincial Government is offering a new electricity program for the industrial sector.

Natural Resources Minister Michael Gravelle hopes the incentives will help spur growth in northwestern Northwest.

To qualify for rebates, companies must expand or be in a position to create jobs.project.