Relay For Life Sets Records

Courtesy Tammy Ouelett

A record setting day at Relay for Life in Fort Frances.

More than twenty-teams combined to raised over $81-thousand, topping last year's high of $70-thousand.

Nearly 870 luminaries also dotted the track at Fort Frances High School, another event high.

Chair Jenn Anderson credits the teams for their work, many holding fundraising events well advance of the Relay.

Three teams raised over five-thousand dollars with one reaching the eight-thousand dollar mark.

A portion of the money is being earmarked toward the Riverside Foundation for Health Care's campaign for new digital mammography unit.

Summer Election Threat Eases

It appears Ontarians will be spared a quick return to the polls.

The threat of a snap election eased after Premier Dalton McGuinty and NDP Leader Andrea Horwath agreed to pass the budget to avoid the defeat of the minority Liberal government.

McGuinty had earlier stepped back from his threats to go to the polls over changes the opposition parties made to the budget Thursday.

But he wrote to Horwath yesterday, saying those sections would be brought back in the fall as a separate bill.

Campbell Defends Party Budget Stance

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell is defending her party's position on the provincial budget.

In her weekly report, Campbell says the amendments proposed at the committee level make changes to the government's privatization measures that eliminated public oversight of many key public services.

Campbell adds it's the Liberals playing politics by throwing blame back on the NDP.

Marijuana Grow Operation Dismantled In Atikokan

Two people have been arrested after OPP discovered a marijuana grow operation in Atikokan last week.

Thursday's search of the Poplar Avenue home led police to seizing over one hundred plants, a variety of equipment, over 500 grams of marijuana shake and other drug paraphernalia.

Another 200 grams of marijuana was found at second home.

Two men will appear on trafficking and production charges in Atikokan court next month.

Two Teen Face Drug Charges

Two teenagers will be in Fort Frances court next week on drug charges.

A complaint about two individuals selling marijuana to high school students earlier this month led OPP to charging an 18-year-old man and 16-year-old girl.

Military Offering Jobs

Canada's military is offering a lot of opportunities for people to consider.

Anastasia Burtnick, a recruiter with HMCS Chippewa in Winnipeg, says an effort to build up the forces on the home front is help to create those positions.

Burtnick says they're also anticipating a number of retirements in the near future opening up even more jobs.