Province Prepares Teacher Deal Legislation

The provincial Liberals are releasing details of legislation they say they'll use to impose a wage freeze on the province's teachers.

The province wants deals in place by September 1st.

Education Minister Laurel Broten says the Liberals are ready to recall the legislature as early as next week.

Meantime, the Rainy River District School Board has called a special meeting for next Tuesday to update trustees on local talks.

College Faculty Seek Strike Vote

A labour dispute is brewing at Ontario's colleges.

The union representing faculty is asking the Ontario Labour Relations Board for a vote on September 6.

Talks with the colleges' bargaining team are ongoing but the union accuses the colleges of not negotiating seriously.

Jaguars Coming to International Falls

Test Centre photo

The makers of Jaguar and Land Rover could be in International Falls this winter to test their vehicles in cold weather.

A $200-thousand dollars State grant to expand the city's cold weather testing facility is helping to attract the automaker.

Paul Nevanan of the Koochiching Economic Development Authority says construction will begin soon with it ready for use by November.

Support Needed For Park Promotion

A non-profit organization set up to help market Voyageurs National Park is reaching out to the community for support.

Joe Merchon of Destination Voyageurs National Park says attracting more visitors to the park will be an economic boost to the surrounding communities.

The group will soon be launching a local campaign for money to help with marketing.

Merchon say they're currently using an on-line ad campaign to promote the park.

Infrastructure Money Coming

The Ontario government is giving area municipalities a hand in fixing of up aging roads and sewer and water lines.

It's creating a new municipal infrastructure program.

Over the next three years, $60-million will be doled out for projects with another $9 million available to prepare plans.

Forest Fire Activity Diminishing

MNR photo

Cooler temperatures and rain are keeping the forest fire situation at bay.

There are 53 active forest fires in northwestern Ontario, none in the Rainy River district.

All but two of those blazes are simply being monitored by the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Art Hovel Hop Tomorrow

A number of artists in the Littlefork and International Falls areas will be showcased tomorrow.

Organizer Samantha Ann Bohnert says they're opening their doors to the public in what's being hailed as the Art Hovel Hop.

Participants can start at Samplicity Art Hovel in Littlefork or the NAS Art Room at the Backus Community Centre beginning at 10 a.m. tomorrow morning.

Fair Queen Selected

16-year-old Destiny Woolsey has been named this year's Emo Fair Queen.

The Barwick teen beat out four other girls for the title.

Jillian Gustafson was named first princess while Karly Caul was selected second princess.

Cassie Wells of Rainy River was named Miss Congeniality.

Jenny Hammond of Emo won the Dorothy Bonot Award.

This year's Mini King is Jaxon Strahan while the mini queen is Alexis Latter.

All of the winners will participate in Saturday's fair parade.

Fire Destroys Shelter

A fire that has destroyed a storage shelter in Fort Frances is being identified as accidental.

The specific cause to Wednesday's fire fire in the 1300 block of Minnie Avenue is still not known.

The Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Service was called out around the noon hour.

Damage to the shelter, containing various equipment, recreational vehicles and other items, was extensive.

There was no damage though to an adjacent storage garage.

Spray Park Open

Emo Township photo

Emo's Spray park is back working again.

It had been shutdown at the beginning of the month as the township was awaiting on parts to repair equipment that stopped working.

The park will close for the season in the middle of next month.