New Fishing Rules In 2014

Anglers will be facing some new rules when they drop their lines in area lakes next year.

As of January first, catch limits for crappie and bass will be reduced while a new size limit is placed on northern pike caught in lakes within the Ministry of Natural Resources zone 5.

Richard Boileau was part of a citizen committee that helped craft the new rules and is pleased with the changes.

Boileau says the measures will help sustain the fisheries for generations to come.

The fishing regulations for Rainy Lake remain unchanged for smallmouth bass and pike, but catch limits for crappie are reduced.

A Positive End To 2013 For Fort Frances

2013 appears to be ending on a positive note for the town of Fort Frances.

Mayor Roy Avis says steps council took to deal with a million dollar budget shortfall at the beginning of year, and some help from the Ministry of Finance have helped the bottom line.

But Avis says the financial challenges aren't going away just yet with a further reassessment of Resolute Forest Products and increased policing costs anticipated in 2014.

Avis says he'd hoping to maintain exiting services as best they can at an affordable level.

Red Cross Home Care Strike End

Twenty personal support workers with the Red Cross Care program out of Thunder Bay head back to work today.

The Service Employees International Union announced that a two-week old strike was over on their website, Christmas eve.

But there more labour unrest in the region.

Unifor is applying for conciliation after talks with Dryden's Revera Home Health Care broke down on Monday.

The 35 health care workers there have been without a contract since June.

Unifor will also resume conciliated talks with Revera in mid-January for over 25 office and client services staff based in Thunder Bay who are seeking their first contract.

Teen Found

A Fort Frances teen who was the subject of an OPP search last week has been found.

Police says 15-year-old Adrianna Copenance was located on Christmas Day in Mitaanjigaming First Nation.

She had been reported missing last Thursday.

Run Aids Falls Schools

The cold weather didn't stop some 30 runners from getting out on Christmas Eve in support of International Falls schools

They participated in the Partners in Education's 3rd annual Reindeer Run, braving sub-zero temperatures to do so.

The run netting $500.00 for the Wishing Willow Program which provides extra requested classroom supplies.

Another 16 youth participated in the 1 K event which was held in doors.

Flu Activity Up In Minnesota

Photo credit: NHSE

People across Minnesota are being urged to find time for a flu shot.

State health officials are reporting a rise in influenza activity.

The Department of Health's Jennifer Heath says among the strains now circulating is the H1N1 virus which emerged in 2009.

Heath says the H1N1 strain is among those covered with this year's flu vaccine.

Cold December

It's turning out to be one of the coldest months in many years.

The U.S. National Weather Service says the average temperature for December through to Christmas Day in International Falls is -3.3 F, or minus 19.6 C.

That ranks as the 3rd coldest December to date.

The coldest December in International Falls was in 1983 with the average temperature coming in at -5.1 F or minus 20.6 C.