New Fish Regs Proposed

An advisory committee is proposing changes to fishing regulations effecting area lakes.

The Fisheries Management Zone 5 council is seeking comment on its ideas before making final recommendations to the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Member Richard Boileau says they're aimed at ensuring fishing opportunities enjoyed now continue.

All of the proposed changes can be found on the website fmz5.com.

Nurses Should Do More - Report

A new report is urging the province to give its nurses more powers.

 It says Ontario should let nurses perform tasks like diagnosing ear and throat infections and prescribe drugs, such as birth control pills.


Dorin Grinspin of the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario says the recommendations will help contain health-care costs.


Health Minister Deb Matthews agrees with the RNAO that nurses should be doing more, but notes the government has moved forward to improve access to care through the opening of nurse practitioner clinics across the province.

Smoking Rate Decreases

Northwestern Ontario is butting out, one cigarette at a time.

A Health Canada report says the number of people in the area that smoke is decreasing, especially those between the ages of 15 to 19

However, the smoking rate in the region still remains higher then the rest of Ontario.

Send Off For Librarian

Fort Frances Library users and supporters giving their best wishes to retiring chief librarian Margaret Sedgwick.

They gathered yesterday to celebrate her 35-year career that ends with her final working day tomorrow.

Sedgwick says she has plenty to keep her active.

Sedgwick says she will miss the staff and the many users she's met over her career.

Crash On Highway 71

One person is in hospital following a motor vehicle accident on Highway 71.

OPP says the man was the only occupant of a vehicle involved in yesterday afternoon's crash near Bunny Lake, about 65 kilometres south of Kenora.

He was transferred to hospital in Kenora with serious injuries.

Mall Days In Fort Frances

A section of Scott Street will be closed for most of the day today.

Fort Frances Downtown Business Improvement Association holds its Mall Days.

Along with the many sales at local stores, there's many other events taking place.

Northwestern Health Unit will have games for the kids with a bouncy toy at Warehouse One.

Celestes will have its Cuts for Cancer taking place.

And NCDS will have its dragon boat on display for those wanting to take part.

New Mini King and Queen

There's some new royalty in Fort Frances.

Six-year-old Evan Bagaki and 5-year-old Serena Cousineau were named Mini King and Queen yesterday.

They take over the reign held for the past year by Liam Dent and Piper Lidkea.

Among their duties, Evan and Serena are expected to be as part of the July 1st parade.

NWO Chief Heads Ontario Chiefs Group

A well-known northwestern Ontario native leader is now head of the Chiefs of Ontario.

Nishnawbe-Aski Nation Grand Chief Stan Beardy defeated incumbent Angus Toulouse in traditional voting at the All-Ontario Chiefs Conference yesterday in Toronto.

San Gold Acquires More Property

A Manitoba-based junior mining company is continuing to strengthen its interests in northwestern Ontario.

San Gold Corporation says it's entering into an option agreement with Canadian Arrow Mines on a site just northeast of Rainy River.

The company, last week, announced a similar deal with Opawica Explorations for its Atikwa Lake project north of Nestor Falls.

Mine Property Changes Hands

A mining project in the Nestor Falls area is about to change hands.

Houston Lake Mining says it's selling all of its interest in its West Cedartree Gold Project to Coventry Resources in a cash and shares deal

The site is located 12 kilometres away from Coventry's Cameron Lake Gold Project.