New Membership Fees For Out Of Town Library Users

The Fort Frances Public Library and Technology Centre is offering some new fees for its out of town users.

It's introduced a one month household membership for ten dollars and a six month one for $43.50.

Chief Librarian Alicia Subniak-Kilgour says they're hoping it will lead to more visits.

Subniak-Kilgour also hopes the shorter membership will appeal to visitors in Fort Frances, allowing them to access the library's on-line services.

Liberal Hold Just Two of Five Former Seats

The minority Liberals managed to retain just two of the five seats up for grabs in byelections in southern Ontario.

The Grits kept former premier Dalton McGuinty's seat in Ottawa South and a Toronto area riding.

The New Democrats scored victories in Windsor and London, while the Progressive Conservatives' lone win was in Toronto's Etobicoke Lakeshore riding.

All five were held by Liberals who stepped down earlier this year.

Special Session Considered

Governor Mark Dayton's office is in talks with Minnesota legislative leaders about a special session to provide disaster aid to communities hit by severe storms in June.

President Barack Obama recently signed a federal declaration for 18 Minnesota counties, but that aid must be partly matched by the State.

OPP Want Motorists To "Move Over"

OPP will be cracking down on motorists who fail to give room to emergency vehicles and personnel stopped on the side of the road dealing with an incident.

Constable Anne McCoy says Ontario has had a "Move Over law"  since last August.

It requires motorists approaching emergency vehicles parked on the side of the road to slow down and move over safely.

McCoy says five OPP officers have been killed since 1998 by motorists who failed to slow down.

A similar law also exists in Minnesota.

Resolute On Target With Mills

Resolute Forest Products says it's on target to open its new sawmill in Atikokan and a retooled plant in Ignace next year.

President Richard Garneau says construction on the Atikokan plant will start soon, but must still do some site work at Sapawe.

The company is spending $50 million to construct the Atikokan plant and $32 million to upgrade its Ignace operation.

Resolute Reports Loss

Resolute Forest Products is reporting a net loss of $43-million for its second quarter of this year.

Softer prices and ongoing restructuring costs are blamed.

Resolute reported a $17-million loss in the same period last year.

Boise Reports Loss

Boise Inc. is reporting a loss in its second quarter of $2.2 million.

That compares with a net income of $13.7 million last year.

Part of the loss is attributed to the planned shutdown of two paper machines at its mill in International Falls.

Detour In Koochiching County

A traffic note for motorists who use Highway 65 in Koochiching County.

Bridge work along the highway continues south of Littlefork.

A detour using County Road 8 is still in effect until August 9.

Starting today, a second detour is in place around Silverdale requiring motorists to use St. Louis County Roads 74, 356 and 23 and Bureau of Indian Affairs 11 until the end of the month.

Quetico Park Celebrates

Quetico Park is celebrating a milestone this weekend.

It was one hundred years ago that Quetico was designated a provincial park, one of the first in the Ontario Provincial Parks Act.

Several events are planned including an open barbecue at French Lake hosted by the Quetico Foundation tomorrow night.

Other events include a guided hikes and native drumming

Hartnell Enters Plea In Gun Smuggling Charge

A Fort Frances man has apparently entered a plea in connection with a gun smuggling case in North Dakota.

Reports out of Fargo say 29-year-old Shawn Hartnell plead guilty to conspiracy to illegally exporting firearms in federal court this week.

He and another North Dakota man were scheduled for a jury trial Tuesday.

Hartnell was arrested in February following an lengthy investigation involving authorities on both sides of the border.

Forest Fire Activity Remains Low

Not much work lately for Ministry of Natural Resources fire crews in northwestern Ontario.

The cool and damp weather has knocked down the fire hazard to low across the region.

There are 33 active fires, 30 of which are being monitored.

Three others are listed as being under control.

Jury Makes Recommendations

A jury is out with its recommendations following an inquest into the death of a Thunder Bay construction work.

24 year old Gustavo Argueta was killed two years ago while inspecting a bridge over the Mackenzie River, east of Thunder Bay.

Among its suggestions, the jury recommends the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities develop and implement a standardized, mandatory training program for elevated platforms.

Medical Student Gets Research Award

A Fort Frances student is among sixteen at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine receiving research awards.

Graham Gaylord will use his $6-thousand toward a project that analyses doctor referral patterns in northwestern Ontario.

New State Law In Place For Coin Dealers

A new state law now in effect offers greater protection for those who buy precious metals in Minnesota.

The law requires criminal background checks for those who deal in gold coins and other metals.

Anyone convicted of a financial crime in the past 10 years will be also barred from dealing.