More Fires Reported

The forest fire activity in northwestern Ontario continues to heat up.

Fifteen new fire were reported yesterday, bringing to 35 the number of active blazes in the region.

None are in the Rainy River district.

The Ministry of Natural Resources says many of the new blazes are the direct result of lightning-strikes.

Area Guide Charged

A fishing guide from the Rainy River district has been fined four-thousand dollars for a variety of offences.

Ron Lemmon of Bergland was charged following a two-year investigation by the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Court was told that during one fishing trip, he encouraged anglers to take more than their legal limit and then sold them off.

In another incident, he sold both walleye caught by someone else and venison to another person.

NOMA Worries Over Doctor Fees Dispute

The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association is wading into the contract dispute between the province and its doctors.

In a letter to Health Minister Deb Matthews, NOMA president Ron Nelson worries some of the changes in fees will impact northern Ontario communities' ability to recruit and retain doctors.

He's asking Mathews to ensure the cuts to fees don't impact disproportionately northern doctors with specialized services working in both hospitals and clinics.

First Nations Leadership Debate

Candidates seeking become the top Native Chief in Canada debated the issues last night.

Diane Kelly, a former Grand Chief of Treaty Three, believes her experience can help be of great assistance to the Assembly of First Nations in dealing with senior levels of governments.

She one of seven candidates up for the position.

More than 600 First Nations chiefs will select a Grand Chief  at the Assembly's conference next week.

Walk For Justice

A walk across the country is hoping to see important change.

Leo Baskatawang and others are walking across Canada to see the government make changes to the Indian Act.

Baskatawang says they've been put on the back burner for far too long.

The group hopes to be in Ottawa by September 3.

Heat Killing Off Fish

Heat is taking its toll on fish in Minnesota.

High water temperatures and low oxygen levels have combined for thousands of northern pike in several shallow lakes to die.

Northerns are vulnerable because they're better suited to cooler temperatures and can't seek refuge in the depths when lakes and streams are less than 6 feet deep.

Similar fish deaths have been noted in the Dakotas and Wisconsin.

New Library Head Named

Fort Frances Public Library Board has gone outside the community in its selection of a new Chief Executive Officer and Chief Librarian.

Alicia Subniak-Kilgour of Collingwood will take over duties September 4 from the retiring Margaret Sedgwick.

Subniak-Kilgour is currently completing a Masters degree at Western University, but has 16 years of library experience.

With Sedgwick now enjoying extended holidays until her official retirement date, Andrea Avis will be serve as interim CEO until September.

 

Lightning Fires A Concern

The threat of more lightning-caused fires still a concern for the Ministry of Natural Resources.

MNR spokesperson Heather Pridham says with recent warm temperatures, new fires are popping up almost daily.


There's no restriction on camp fires, but Priham says the public should take precaution to minimize the threat of human caused fires adding to the MNR's workload.

The three fires reported in the Rainy River district at Entwine Lake, White Otter Lake and Kishkutena Lake have all been declared out.

New Temperature Record

A new temperature record was set in Fort Frances Wednesday.

The high of 32.7 C surpassed the old mark of 32 C set in 1998.

Atikokan hit a high of 32 C, but two degrees shy of a 1966 record.

Ban Impacting County

A plan to phase out the production and import of ozone-depleting refrigerants in the U.S. could be costly to Koochiching County.

The County's Terry Glowack says many of the air conditioning units used in County buildings are using fluids that won't be readily available in 2020.

Glowack says all of them will have to replaced, some costing in excess of $20-thousand.

The County has already been forced to shell out $8-thousand to replace a unit at its jail that was damaged by a recent storm.

Atikokan Youth Group Gets Dollars

An Atikokan Youth group is receiving a financial boost from the provincial government.

Aikokan Youth Initiatives will use $30-thousand to establish a "Teen Vitality" Project.

It's will provide extra-curricular activities to address issues such areas physical activity, reducing tobacco use and mental health promotion.

Conservancy Seeks Members

Rainy Lake Conservancy photo

The Rainy Lake Conservancy is looking to expand its membership.

It's involved in an number of initiatives with the aim of preserving and protecting the Rainy Lake watershed.

Past-president Phylis Callahan says they're also looking for people to help out.

Membership forms can be found on its website www.rainylakeconservancy.org.