OPP Ask Boaters To Wear Life Jackets

A pair of recent drownings in the Rainy River district have prompted OPP to issue an advisory about the importance of wearing a life jacket.

Constable Jim Davis says while the law only requires life jackets to be readily accessible to each person on aboard a vessel, they should take the step to wear it.

Davis says in the recent drownings, victims were either not wearing a life jacket or wearing it incorrectly.


The fine for not having a life jacket or a personal flotation device is $200.

Fort Business To Stop Selling Gas

There will be one less location to get gasoline in Fort Frances  in the near future.

Rainy Lake Sports intends to remove its pumps in early July.

Owner Mark Fontana says new costly rules pertaining mostly to underground gasoline tanks are to blame.

Fontana says he will look at installing above-ground tanks and resume selling gas once their contract with their existing supplier ends in January.

Hospital Negotiations Continue In International Falls

Rainy Lake Medical Center has given Essentia Health East a year's notice of its intent to terminate existing professional and management services agreements between the organizations.

Duluth-based Essentia is interested in taking over full control of the International Falls hospital.

Hospital officials says the notice is intended so negotiations can progress and does not impact operations or hospital care.

Essentia presented its proposal in April.

Rainy Lake has since presented a counter proposal.

Relays Set To Go

Relays for Life are set to go in Rainy River and Fort Frances tonight.

Twenty teams in Fort Frances will walk the track at Fort Frances High School for 12 hours in support of the Canadian Cancer Society.

Chair Jennifer Anderson says the public is invited to participate.

This year's theme is around the game Monopoly.

The event begins with cancer survivors gathering for a dinner at 4:30 p.m.

Opening ceremonies will take place at 6:30 p.m. before the open lap at 7 p.m.



Rainy River's Relay For Life is at Riverview School.

It begins with a survivors' dinner at 5 p.m. before the ten teams involved take to the track at 7 p.m..

Committee member Georgia Kreger says this theme is "Decades of Hope" with team dressing up to celebrate their favourite decade of time.

The fundraising goal has been set at $55-thousand.

Luminary ceremonies are planned at both events at around 10 p.m.

Atikokan High School Graduation

The final high school graduation in the Rainy River district takes place today in Atikokan.

Fifty graduating students will received their diplomas at a ceremony scheduled for Grayson Hall beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Kayla Goranson will make the valedictorian address.

Aboriginal Day Celebrated

This is National Aboriginal Day in Canada and First Nations across northwestern Ontario will be recognizing the day.

Couchiching First Nation stages its annual pow wow.

A princess and brave pageant is also scheduled.

University Pub To Offer Pregnancy Tests

A student pub at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay will be offering pregnancy tests in its bathroom dispensers.

Healthy Brains for Children Thunder Bay is behind the initiative.

Spokesperson Marilyn Leiterman says they hope the move will help prevent Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.

The tests will costs 3 dollars and be in place before this September.

Coventry Resumes Drilling

Conventry Resources has resumed drilling in the Nestor Falls area.

The mining company is focusing on its West Cedartree Gold project, an area of a much large exploration project near Cameron Lake.

The work will be to determine the extent of potential mineral deposits.

Science North Celebrates

Science North is celebrating its three year anniversary in northwestern Ontario.

Spokesperson Emily Kerton says it means a lot for them to be able to reach out to the small communities.

Science North will bring its annual science summer camps to Atikokan next week and to Fort Frances in early July.