16-year-old Arrested In High School Scare

Some tense moments at Fort Frances High School.

Students and staff were placed in a lockdown situation for about an hour yesterday after reports of someone carrying what turned out to be a replica firearm.

It happened just before the noon hour.

OPP Acting Sergeant Anne McCoy says it ended without incident.

A 16-year-old boy was taken into custody away from the high school and the replica firearm seized.

The Fort Frances High School and the Rainy River District Board is offering support to students to help cope with the incident.

They are making counsellors available.

Parents are also being encouraged to discuss the incident with their children and inform the school if any additional support is needed.

High School Sports Teams Benched

Some high school sports teams from Rainy River district high schools are having to hang up their gear a little earlier than expected.

The school board responsible for high schools in the Kenora and Dryden areas has put an immediate halt to all extra-curricular activities at its schools because of the teachers planned withdraw from events on Monday.

Education Director Jack McMaster says the board simply couldn't guarantee adequate supervision for further games.

Any games scheduled for the weekend, involving high schools from Rainy River, Fort Frances and Atikokan and the Kenora-Dryden area schools, have been cancelled until at least after the Christmas break.

A volleyball tournament at Fort Frances High School is proceeding.

The Muskies girls hockey team is also continuing travel to Portage La Prairie, Manitoba for a tournament.

Victims Of Gender Based Violence Remembered

Victims of gender based violence from the Rainy River district among those being remembered.

A list of nineteen area woman, killed in the past twenty years, was shown during a ceremony at Knox United Church in Fort Frances.

Peggy Loyie of Rainy River District Victims Services is hoping that list someday stops growing.

The ceremony coincided with National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women.

Public Board Ends Year With Surplus

The Rainy River District School Board is reporting a surplus for the last school year.

Manager of Financial Services Meaghan Cox says much of the over $3-million, though, is the direct result of legislated measures contained inside Bill 115, reducing sick day and retirement gratuities for teachers.

Cox says other efficiencies the board was able to control help in saving about 775-thousand in the 2011-12 school year.

The auditor also gave a clean report, finding for the first time no issues related to funds collects by school groups.

Trustee David Kircher says it shows measures put in place three-and-a-half years ago to protect those funds are working.

Search In Remote North

A search is underway for two men along the west coast of Hudson Bay, southeast of Peawanuck.

Provincial police says the men left Peawanuck Monday on snowmobiles and were expected to return from a fishing camp at an undisclosed location.

NOMA Seeking More Control Over Development

The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association wants the region to have more authority over it's own development.

Vice-president and Kenora Mayor, Dave Canfield, says it would benefit the entire province.

Canfield says they'd like to see a stronger role in areas such as natural resources, energy and infrastructure.

Mineral Rights Leases On Hold

State leaders are holding off on awarding a package of mineral rights leases recommended by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

The Executive Council voted to defer action until the Minnesota Court of Appeals weighs in on whether the DNR should conduct an environmental review of the leases.

Several northeastern Minnesota residents wanting the delay are worried exploratory drilling could contaminate ground water if not regulated properly.

Greenpeace Withdraws From Boreal Forest Agreement

Greenpeace photo

Greenpeace is withdrawing from an agreement signed by several forest companies to stay clear of critical habitat areas in the Boreal Forest.

The environmental group claims Resolute Forest Products, one of the signatories to the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement, is violating the deal in the Quebec area.

It's released a number of photos of new logging roads and clear cutting in areas previously identified as being off limits.