Path Of The Paddle Getting Closer To Reality

The dream of creating a canoe route across the region remains alive and well.

Path of the Paddle has been officially incorporated and a committee is hard at work finalizing the route.

Melissa Pomeroy is director of the Trans-Canada Trail in Ontario and says they hope to the Path in place by 2017.

Pomeroy says the route through Quetico Provincial Park is complete while others going through Rushing River, Turtle and White Otter areas should be finalized by next spring.

Provincewide Bargaining Proposed

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Ontario intends to create province-wide bargaining for teachers.

Education Minister Liz Sandals introduced the School Boards Collective Bargaining Act yesterday,  that if passed, would establish a clear process in future negotiations.

The proposed model would feature a central bargaining table where government, unions and teacher federations would tackle issues with province-wide impacts, such as pay and benefits.

Local bargaining would also occur involving school boards and local federations and unions.

The government wants the Act in place before teachers contracts end next August.

Campbell Dealing With Complaints On High Hydro Rates

Hydro prices in Northwestern Ontario continue to be an issue for Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell.

Campbell says she has been getting flooded with calls and emails from residents who can't afford their bill.

She says blame can be blamed on the Liberals and the cost of cancelling two gas plants in southern Ontario.

Campbell says since 2007, the off-peak hydro rate has gone up by 140-percent.

Anglers Charged

Four Minnesota men are out $740 each after pleading guilty to overfishing.

The men were charged following a recent Minnesota Department of Natural Resources investigation.

The men were found to have 84 sunfish over the legal limit after conversation officers had searched freezers in several locations.

The DNR says the fish were from lakes around Effie, about 70 miles southwest of International Falls.

Walk A Mile In Her Shoes

You might see a lot of red shoes this afternoon in International Falls.

It's part of the annual Walk A Mile in Her Shoes aimed getting men, especially, to bring more awareness to the issue of sexual and domestic violence.

Friends Against Abuse LeeAnn Meer feels the campaign does make a difference.

The walk begins at 4 p.m. at Backus Community Centre.

Rainy River Woman Wins Lottery Prize

A Rainy River woman is a little richer today.

Marilyn Jenson was one of 30 early bird winners in the Canadian Cancer Society's Lottery.

Jenson picked up $25-thousand dollars in cash.

Sister Kennedy Centre Celebrates

It's a week long celebration at the Sisiter Kennedy Centre in Fort Frances.

The Centre kicked off its 30th anniversary with some of those involved in its development on hand Monday.

Deanne Cunningham, mayor during the planning and construction, credits Sister Betty Kennedy who help ran smaller centre out of a an area church for getting the ball rolling.

Dave Bourgeault helped head the fundraising campaign at the time and says it was an easy sell.

The Centre is holding a variety of events this week to mark the anniversary.

New Senior Award Handed Out

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One of Fort Frances' oldest residents is the first recipient of a new award being offered by the Sister Kennedy Centre.

Hubert Medhurst has received the first ever Senior Citizen of the Year award.

Director Nick Wihnann says the 106-year-old has been a big part of the centre since its development thirty years ago.

Wihnann says selection of Medhurst for the inaugural award was an unanimous selection by the board.

Armed Robbery In International Falls

International Falls Police Department is hoping for witnesses will step forward to aid in their investigation into an armed robbery in that city.

Police says someone entered Koerter's Amoco Sunday night at about 7 p.m., armed with a knife and demanded cash before fleeing on foot.

An undisclosed amount of money was taken.

Road Closure

A road to Mitaanjigaming First Nation will be closed temporarily this week.

The Mitaanjigaming access road, formerly known as Stanjkoming Road, will be closed at kilometer 2 Tuesday, October 22 and Wednesday, October 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days.

The Ministry of Transportation says the closures are necessary while a construction project along the road takes place.

Ontario Will Cover Medical Trips To Manitoba

Ontario's health minister is ensuring area residents that if they can get medical care in Manitoba, the province will cost the costs.

Deb Matthews clarified the province's policy in response to questions in Queen's Park about a Kenora cancer patient who was recently denied permission to travel to Winnipeg for treatment.

Matthews says part of the problem stems from a directive issued by the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority to Manitoba physicians that was not accurate and has been corrected.

Cyber Summit In Minnesota

Officials in Minnesota are gathering in Minneapolis to share notes on the cyber threats they face and how to manage the risk.

The Better Business Bureau's Dan Hendrickson says it's a real issue that requires a statewide solution.

It's estimated that nearly half of the data breaches in the U-S last year were from malicious attacks.

House Fire In Fort Frances

No injuries reported in a house fire that occurred Tuesday morning in Fort Frances.

Member of the Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Service were called out at around 6 in the morning to the home in the 11-hundred block of Second Street East.


Damage was extensive

The cause of the blaze is under under investigation.

New Contract For CN Police

CN Police have a new contract.

The Canadian National Railways Police Association says its member have ratified a new four year deal that begins in January.

The agreement provides for wage and benefits improvements for the 74 officers with CN across Canada, including here in Fort Frances.

MP Wants National Rail Strategy

A northwestern Ontario MP is looking for changes to the laws that govern train transportation.

Thunder Bay MP Bruce Hyer says this weekend's fiery derailment in Alberta should be a call to action for the Harper government

Hyer wants the feds to develop a national rail strategy.

City Supports Return Of Ranger Camps

A campaign to re-open Ontario ranger camps has some municipal support.

Thunder Bay city council is sending a letter to the provincial Liberals asking them to bring back to Ontario Ranger program.

The program saw young people from across the province work in provincial parks and other ministry of natural resource related jobs until it was cut over a year ago.

MnSure Information Session

Koochiching County residents will get some information about Minnesota's new heath insurance marketplace, MNsure.

Rainy Lake Medical Center's Foundation will host a presentation October 30th at Rainy River Community College with MnSure officials on hand to answer questions.

MnSure is being put in place for individuals and small groups to obtain health coverage as part of President's Obama's Affordable Care act.

Bell To Track Your Use

Starting next month, Bell will be tracking what its customers do online, what TV shows they watch, and what kind of mobile apps they use, unless they opt out.

The company has updated its privacy policy to say on November 16, they will start collecting customer data.

They say it's to improve network performance, create marketing reports and sell targeted ads.

You can opt out, though, by registering on Bell's website.

Seniors Recognized

Two seniors from the Rainy River are being recognized by the provincial government.

Alex Broski of Atikokan and Janet Loney of Emo are among 21 receiving Senior Achievement Awards, the province's highest honour for seniors that recognizes those who've made outstanding contributions in their communities.

Broski is cited for his leadership in a range of projects with the Lions Club, being a founding member of Atikokan's Sports Days, and chair of the local Christmas Cheer fund for three decades.

Loney created Emo's Meals on Wheels program, and helped establish the Assisted Living Building Committee.