Comment Wanted On Two Mines

Public comment is being sought on two mining projects in the Rainy River district.

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is gathering comment on separate reports identifying the environmental impacts and measures to mitigate them of Osisko Mining's Hammond Reef Gold project near Atikokan and New Gold's Rainy River project near Barwick.

Comment is due by the middle of February.

CUPE Seeks Funding For Developmental Services

The Canadian Union of Public Employees says only adequate funding for staffing and programs can resolve a crisis in developmental services.

It delivers that message as CUPE ramps up for new contract talks with more than 50 different agencies across the province.

It says underfunding is most obvious among the 23,000 people on wait lists for services while staff, programs and supports are being reduced.

Fort Frances Woman Helping Homeland

A relative newcomer to Canada and Fort Frances is using her talents to help children back in her homeland.

Missy Andrusko, who runs a catering business in town, has been staging dinners featuring authentic Ethiopian dishes to raise money.

Andrusko says it's providing some hope to some very needy children.

Her next dinner will be this Friday at the Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Frances.

Joint Parish Created Between Churches

A new cross-border relationship has developed between two area churches.

St. Paul Lutheran in International Falls and the Church of the Lutheran Hour in Fort Frances are now working as a joint parish.

Pastor Jacob Quast, who divides his time between the two churches, says it's quite unique.

Quast had been filling in at the Falls church for several months with a formal agreement for a joint parish being finalized in November.

He was officially installed as the pastor at St. Paul Lutheran yesterday.

Children's Services Fair

An opportunity to learn how to have 15 minutes of fun with your family.

A Children's Services Fair takes place next Monday at the Fort Frances Library.

The Northwestern Health Unit's Miranda Sigurdson says a number of services will be showcased.

The event also coincides with Family Literacy Day and is free to attend.