Attawapiskat Evacuees Head Home

Some residents of Attawapiskat First Nation who've been living in Fort Frances for the past month are heading home.

About 30 were flown back to their home community yesterday.

Another 30 are still being housed at a local hotel and could be relocating to communities closer to the remote First Nation.

The residents arrived May 11th after being evacuated because of flooding in their community

Premier Committed To Helping Municipalities With Policing Costs

Ontario's Premier says municipal concerns about policing costs at the top of her agenda.

Speaking with CFOB-News, Kathleen Wynne says a committee, involving organizations representing municipalities and police services boards, and the OPP are looking at how to contain costs.


The town of Fort Frances is passing a resolution around calling on the province for more financial support.

It cites financial, economic and a pending wage increase for OPP officers as factors playing into the municipalities struggles to cope.

School Board Seeks Partners To Use Atikokan Schools

The Rainy River District School Board is considering sharing its schools in Atikokan with others.

The board has identified areas at both North Star Community School and Atikokan High School that could be leased out.

Education Director Heather Campbell says both schools are currently under utilized.

Campbell says there is interest and hopes to finalize agreements by the fall.

Report On Chemical Use Released

An expert panel says former Ontario government workers who were exposed to dangerous levels of a powerful herbicide from the 1950's to the 1970's face an elevated risk of disease.

The panel spent two years looking at the use of 2,4,5-T -- a dioxin-laced chemical found in Agent Orange.

It was used mostly by workers at Ontario Hydro, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Transportation to clear brush and vegetation.

Some former government workers who used the chemicals believe it is responsible for their cancers, but the panel did not make a direct link between elevated exposures and getting sick.

Relay For Life Countdown

A couple of hundred people in Fort Frances are preparing to walk in support of the Canadian Cancer Society.

The 12-hour Relay for Life goes at Fort Frances High School a week from today.

Co-chair Jennifer Anderson says the teams enthusiasm so far could lead to some record fundraising totals.

Some teams have already topped the $10-thousand mark.

Anderson says if all of the teams involved combine for over $100-thousand, she's agreed to have her head shaved at the event.

Fort Frances In Kraft Celebration Tour Contest

The Fort Frances Curling Club wants to be a part of Kraft's Celebration Tour.

Two separate bids have been submitted in a bid to win $25-thousand and host a broadcast of TSN's SportsCentre.

Club member Patrick Briere says they're now waiting to see if they reach the next stage.

TSN will select twenty communities June 30 for the final round requiring them to solicit public support in order to be one of the ten winners.

Briere says if selected, the club would use the money to offset the cost of its new geothermal energy project.

Crossroads Students Visit 93.1 The Border

There could be some future broadcasters in our midst.

Students from the younger grades at Crossroads School in Devlin toured the studios of 93.1 The Border yesterday.

Shelby Kellar spoke with news director Randy Thoms for a story about their visit.

Students also voiced station promos to be heard in the mornings as part of Andy C's show.

Best Of The Best

File photo

The Icebox of the Nation can now brag as being one of the Best of the Best.

International Falls drinking water finished in a tie for second at a North American-wide water tasting competition held in Denver this week.

Chief Operator for the Falls water department Bruce Wilson says its great news.

The Falls qualified for the event after finishing first in a Minnesota water tasting competition earlier this year.

Oklahoma's water was named the best.