No More Coal Burning In Atikokan

Ontario Power Generation has burned its last piece of coal at its plant in Atikokan.

It happen Tuesday.

The facility is being converted so it can generate electricity from the burning of biomass by the end of 2014.

The temporary shutdown allows for further work at the plant to proceed.

Cost of conversion is pegged at about 170-million dollars.

Since it was first commissioned in 1985, the plant has generated over 19.5 billion kilowatt hours of electricity using coal.

Tourism Centre Given To Rainy River

The town of Rainy River now owns a former Ontario Travel Information Centre in its community.

The province agreed to hand over the building to the town at no cost.

Mayor Deb Ewald says they hope to re-open the facility next spring as a tourist centre, but want to talk with the Rainy River Chamber of Commerce and Lake of the Woods township about being involved.

The centre was one of three closed in May as part of cost-saving measures by the province.

More Forest Fires In Rainy River District.

The Ministry of Natural Resources says the forest fire rating in northwestern Ontario is "Extremely High."

Nine new fires were reported yesterday, including two in the Rainy River district, both north of Emo.

One is near Bluffpoint Lake.

The other near Kaiashons Lake.

Two burning in Quetico Provincial Park have also grown in size, but no suppression efforts are immediately planned because they poise no threats.

Fire Danger High In Northeastern Minnesota

The fire danger in northern Minnesota is in the high to very high range, prompting a red flag warning by the National Weather Service because of continued dry conditions.

The National Forest Service has also placed a restriction on campfires in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area due to the high fire danger and the recent fires that have popped up in the area.

Local Provincial Test Scores Released

Area school boards are analysing the latest provincial test results written by their students in the spring.

The numbers for Grade 3 and 6 students in the Rainy River District School Board reaching the standards in reading, writing and math are slightly below provincial averages.

Education Director Heather Campbell says there are signs of improvement, especially in the writing and reading portions of the tests.

Overall test scores in math dropped, but Campbell says there have been improvements in some schools.

Catholic Board Students Do Well In Provincial Tests

Some strong results from students within the Northwest Catholic District School Board who wrote the provincial standardized tests in the spring.

The number of Grade 3 students who met or exceeded standards in writing was greater than the provincial average while the those in grade 6 equalled the average in reading and exceeded it in math.

Education Director Mary-Catherine Kelly says they're also seeing tremendous progress over the past five years, especially at the Grade 3 level.

Grade 6 scores have improved in most areas from 4 to 44 over per cent over the past five years.

US Congressman Attacked In TV Ad

A TV ad is taking direct aim at the a Minnesota Congressman who represents the northeastern region including Koochiching County.

It accuses Chip Cravaack of charging constituents to see him.

Outside groups are focusing on the 8th District race between Cravaack and Democrat Rick Nolan after Cravaack upset a long-serving Democratic incumbent two years ago.

Fire Marshall Investigates Fire

The Ontario Fire Marshall's Office is now involved in determining the cause of the fire at the Canadian Northern Hotel in Rainy River.

Monday's fire completely destroyed the 109 year old building.

No one was inside.

Firefighters from Rainy River, Baudette and Dawson Township were involved in battling the flames.

Officials with the Fire's Marshall's office are working with Rainy River Fire Department and OPP in hopes of identifying its cause.

Fort Frances Supports FCM Resolution

Fort Frances  is joining the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' call for more Federal and Provincial funding for infrastructure.

The call comes from the FCM's report card on infrastructure that states communities are reaching a breaking point when it comes to paying for infrastructure upgrades.