Teacher Deal Pending

File photo

There are reports the Liberals may soon have a deal with the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association.

That would split them off from other groups fighting a wage freeze.

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty is staying mum on a new contract is imminent.

The Liberals wants workers in the broader public sector to take a wage freeze as they battle a $15-billion deficit.

Moffat Money Distributed Tonight

CFOB-News file photo

Several groups in Fort Frances will benefit from funding from the Moffat Foundation.

Fort Frances Mayor Roy Avis is expected to dole out over $37-thousand to nine different organizations as tonight's meeting of council.

Salvation Army, Northern Community Development Services and its dragon boat festival and Safe Communities Rainy River are some of the benefactors.

Most Like New Duty Free Limits

A new survey suggests Canadians are in a U.S. shopping state of mind this summer thanks to changes in regulations that allow them to buy more without paying duty.

A majority favour the changes that went into effect June 1st while just over half planning trips south of the border say they intend to spend more.

The Retail Council of Canada says the increases are just one more blow to merchants who must compete with U.S. competitors that often get a better deal from suppliers.

Solar Energy Interest Grows

Pine River Solar photo

Rising electricity costs is making solar power an attractive buy for some in the Rainy River district.

Pine River Solar is among local companies helping people get involved with the province's Feed-in-Tariff program.


Co-owner Jurgen Schmutz says interest is growing.

A lack of capacity has restricted the ability for more projects in the west end, but it's not prohibiting residents in Fort Frances and elsewhere from taking advantage.

No Forest Fires In District

MNR file photo

The recent wet weather is helping keep forest fire activity to a minimum.

The Ministry of Natural Resources is reporting 7 fires in the northwest Region, none in the Rainy River district, and none causing any problems.

The weather forecast for warmer weather is driving the fire hazard to moderate and high levels in our area.

Search Suspended

The U.S. Air Force and Civil Air Patrol are suspending the search for a Twin Cities pilot and his plane that went missing two weeks ago over northeastern Minnesota.

Mike Bratlie left a South St. Paul airport in his Piper Navajo June 8th bound for Duluth.

He made his last radar contact in the Silver Bay area.

No sight of the plane has been found.

Beware of Ticks

Summer is here, which means it's time to protect yourself from Lyme Disease.

It is transferred by deer or moose ticks which latch on to human flesh.

Northwestern Health Unit's Kurtis Casey says they are interested in those insects.

The Health Unit's offices have kits that have tweezers and id kits that can be returned for testing.

There are currently no known cases of anyone contracting Lyme Disease in our area.