Labour Market Needs In Mining Explored

Challenges in the mining industry are hoping to get a break.

The Northwest Training and Adjustment Board is teaming up with the Mining Industry Human Resources Council to forecast labour market needs.

The Board's executive director Sonya Wainio sees it of interest to companies working in this area.

Wainio hopes the forecast will be complete by September.

Fort Frances Supports OPG Conversion Of Thunder Bay Plant

Fort Frances is giving its support to calls Ontario Power Generation move ahead with the conversion of the coal-fired plant in Thunder Bay to natural gas.

OPG has put the project on hold until it gets a power purchase agreement with Ontario Power Authority

Fort Frances council is backing a Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association resolution that asks the Province to step in to get that agreement approved.

Building Upgrades Approved

Repairs to a maintenance building at Riverview Cemetery in Fort Frances are expected to begin this week.

A $94-thousand contract has been awarded to Ed Kaun and Sons of Fort Frances.

The work includes the installation of a new metal roof, new siding and windows.

Museum Seeks Grant

Fort Frances Museum is seeking a unit to digitally store historical documents.

The town is authorizing the museum to seek a $50-thousand dollar provincial grant.

CAO Mark McCaig says it will help preserve the Museum's documents.

If the grant is approved, the town's share would be about 10-thousand dollars.

Primary Day in Minnesota

Today is primary day in Minnesota, when fields of candidates will be narrowed for the November 6 general election.

The races on the ballot range from the congressional to the local level.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 tonight.

Meantime, the deadline to register for elections in International Falls is today.

Municipal elections are not involved in the primary.

Candidates must fill by 5 p.m.

Entertainment Groups Get Funding

Federal funding is being handed out help three entertainment groups in the Rainy River district.

Atikokan Entertainment Series is getting just less than $20-thousand over the next two years to offset the cost of staging live entertainment.

The Tour de Fort Concert Series in Fort Frances will use $20-thousand over the next two years.

The Kids and Company Family Performing Artists Series in the Fort will get a grant of $6-thousand.

I. Falls Safe To Live Because of Weather

International Falls is being identified as one of the safest cities in the United States to live if you're trying avoid dangerous weather.

The Weather Channel suggests the so-called "Icebox of the Nation" might be better described as the "Safety Deposit box."

Although cold in the winter, the Weather Channel says extreme cold is not seen as big weather killer.

It also notes the Falls has not seen a tornado in almost 20 years.

Fires Out

Forest fires that have been burning in Quetico Provincial Park for some time are now out.

Some of the five lighting-caused fires had been burning since the middle of July.

They were allowed to burn themselves out because of the benefits to the park's ecosystem.

There are now no active fires in the Rainy River district.

Chamber Office Moves

Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce is in the midst of a move.

It's relocating its Scott Street office to the second floor of the Northern Lights Credit Union building.

It will open the doors of its new location September 1st.

Minnesota Wetlands Examined

Scientists are checking on the health of wetlands across the state, as part of a project to determine how well conservation programs are working.

There are about 10 million acres of wetlands across Minnesota, nearly 15 per cent of which are located in Koochiching County.

Officials are monitoring wetland quality and quantity, exploring the areas by foot and using aerial photographs towards possible changes in state regulations.