Fort Frances Participates in Health Recruitment Tour

Officials from Fort Frances will get a chance today to meet with some prospective physicians they hope to woe back to the community.

They're attending a health professional recruitment event in Thunder Bay.

It kicks off a tour that will also take them to southern Ontario in October.

New physician recruiter Todd Hamilton says it's the first step in building relationships.

He'll be joined in the visit to Thunder Bay with Dr. Jason Shack.

Hamilton says the benefits of living in Fort Frances will be a main selling point in their discussions with the students.

New Foundation Chair

Some new faces at the helm of the Riverside Foundation for Health Care board of directors.

Livia Lundon takes over as chair from Deane Cunningham who held the position for the past three years.

Lundon has been with the board since 2010 and was serving as its vice-chair since last year.

Kim-Jo Bliss becomes the new vice-chair.

Families In Decline In Rainy River District

More evidence of the population decline in the Rainy River district.

Census figures released show the number of families in the region last year is down 245 since 2006.

Statistics Canada defines a family as being composed of a married or common-law couple, or a lone parent living with at least one child.

Atikokan had the biggest net decline of 105 families over the past five years.

Morley Township sees an increase of 15 while the number of families in Emo has remained the same.

The number of families living in Fort Frances declined by 60 since 2006..


Of the families in Fort Frances, 67 per cent were married couples, with and without children - a decrease of almost 3 per cent from five years ago.

Common-law couples make up 13.7 per cent of local families, up slightly from 2006.

Divorce is also up - 8.3 per cent last year, compared with 8.1 per cent five years ago.

Almost five per cent of households in Fort Frances also have adult children aged 25 and over still living at home.

Internet Cattle Auction Planned

The Rainy River Cattlemen's Association will be going a little high tech at it's next auction.

The September 29 sale at the Stratton sales barn will be broadcast over the Internet, allow bids to come from all over the world.

The Association's Kim-Jo Bliss says a website promoting the sale has generated lots of interest.

The Internet auction is a first for the Association, although it has tried sales via satellite in the past.

Outsourcing of Government Service Still Concern With MPP

The opposition is still upset Ontario hunters are having to call Tennessee to register for this year's hunting season.

At Queen's Park,  Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell says despite assurances from government, hunters are still concerned how their personnel information will be used.

Natural Resources Minister Michael Gravelle insists privacy will be protected, noting Ontario's privacy commissioner also feels the information collected will be safe.

International Falls "Best In Glass"

International Falls can now brag that its water is ``Best in Glass.''

The city's drinking water was judged the best-tasting in Minnesota in a contest held by the Minnesota chapter of the American Water Works Association.

It's the first ever win for International Falls.

Diamond Jubilee Celebrated In Atikokan

The Queen's Diamond Jubilee is being celebrated in Atikokan today.

The Atikokan Museum holds a community tea this afternoon as it unveils a new exhibit.

Curator Derek Kowalchuk says local newspaper accounts of the Queen's coronation are among items on display.

The Museum will also commemorate the Queen's 60th year by planting two trees near the Historical Park log cabin tomorrow.

Today event goes from 3 pm to 5 pm with the tree-planting ceremony taking place tomorrow at 1 pm.

Scams Hit Rainy River District

A couple of scam are making their rounds through the Rainy River district.

One involves a letter from the Mississauga area that asks residents to become "secret shoppers."

Respondents then receive large cheques they're asked to cash, sending most of the money back to an address in New Jersey.

OPP says the cheques are bogus, leaving the bank account holder responsible for the amount taken out.

Some of the transactions have been more then four-thousand dollars.

A second scam involves a letter saying they have lots of money and need someone to transfer it to a safe account.

The fraudster asks to forward personal and banking information, giving them access to your bank account and the ability to use your identity.

Diabetes Registry Scrapped

EHealth Ontario is cancelling its contract to set up a diabetes registry.

Greg Reed, president of eHealth, says notice of termination has been sent to company hired.

An eHealth spokesperson had indicated that none of the $46-million earmarked for the project had been spent, alleging CGI Information Systems and Management Consultants of regularly missed deadlines.

Environment Commissioner Upset With Liberals

Ontario's environment watchdog has some harsh words for the Liberal government.

Environment Commissioner Gord Miller says the province is defying the will of the legislature and ignoring the public's right to be involved in policy-making.

Miller says several ministries have been ignoring the environmental Bill of Rights.

He singles out the Ministry of Natural Resources as a "chronic'' offender.