Water Trail Progressing

The development of an all-water trail route through northwestern Ontario is being welcomed by Trans Canada Trail.

 

Path of the Paddle recently received Ontario Trillium Foundation funding for the project.

 

Trans Canada Trail's Ontario manager Melissa Pomeroy says it's key funding.

 

They hope to have the trail, that will pass through several area waters and Atikokan, in place by 2017.

Tree Of Kindness Growing

A tree of kindness is growing in the Rainy River district.

The United Native Friendship Centre is asking people to add leaves to its tree by identifying acts of kindness they did recently.

Spokesperson Steve Latimer says it's part of efforts to celebrate Day of Pink next Wednesday.

Latimer says people are encouraged  to visit and write their good deeds on pink hands that will be placed on the tree.

UNFC is also asking other organizations to create their own trees.

Salvation Army Celebrates

The Salvation Army is kicking off its 100 year celebrations in the Fort Frances area this weekend.

 

It starts today with an appearance from a Salvation Army brass band from Bermuda.

 

Lieutenant Dennis Maybury says they'll first perform this morning at Rainycrest before marching down Scott St. at 11:30 this morning.,

 

A public performance is planned for tomorrow, but it's been sold out.

Snow And Ice Still Hindering River Access

A chance to get a little spring fishing in along the Rainy River could be remote for many Minnesota anglers this weekend.

 

An access to the river near Birchdale remains socked in with snow and ice.

 

Koochiching County Land Commissioner Dennis Hummitzsch says any work to remove it won't be worth it.

 

Hummitzsch says only the weather and water flows will determine when the ice leaves.

Hydro Protest In Nestor Falls

A protest over rising hydro costs is planned in Nestor Falls today.

The noon hour gathering is part of a province wide demonstration.

The event is taking place at Dalseg's Trading Post parking lot.

Suicide Awareness Training At Medical School

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine is incorporating suicide awareness training into its MD curriculum.

 

Professor Brian Ross says students will spend the first two years of training in class.

 

The School is the one of the first North America to have such a program in place.

Weight Restrictions In Place

Spring truck weight restrictions after now in effect on Minnesota state highways within its north-central and north frost zones.

Spring load restrictions are already in place for the state's south, southeast, metro and central frost zones.

Fire Death Prompts Demands For Better Fire Safety

The death in a house fire in the remote community of Fort Severn has prompted calls for a better approach to fire safety and prevention in First Nations.

 

Nishnawbe-Aski First Nation wants governments and emergency service providers to begin putting more emphasis on prevention.

 

Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler says a chronic lack of firefighting services and substandard housing, many without smoke detectors or fire extinguishers, is becoming a deadly combination that claiming too many live.

 

Monday's fire at Fort Severn fire comes just weeks after four perished in a house fire in Mishkeegogamang near Pickle Lake.

Goldcorp Extends Takeover Offer

Goldcorp is extending an offer to takeover Osisko Mining while it studies a partnership agreement Osisko says it has another mining company.

 

Goldcorp's offer was to expire today, but it's now set April 15th as an expiration date.

 

The move comes after Osisko announced that Yamana Gold is acquiring a 50-per cent stake in the company's mining and exploration assets which include the Hammond Reef Gold project near Atikokan.

Sewer Project Still Part Of Bonding Bills

A project to extend sewer services to the Island View area east of International Falls continues to be on a list of projects that could received State funding through a bonding bill.

More than $8.5 million dollars has been earmarked for the Voyageur Clean Water project in two separate bills making their way through the House committee level.

They come up for discussion against today.

Minnesota Kicks Off Its Construction Season

Minnesota plans to spend more than a billion dollars this year to fix up highway and bridges across the State.

It includes a $6.6 million improvement to a section of Highway 11 in the area of Pelland, west of International Falls.

There will also be new railway gates on Highway 11 in International Falls, costing $325-thousand.

ETFO Proposed Education Changes

Ontario's elementary teachers have released a plan they say will result in a better learning environment for students.

The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario wants such things as smaller class sizes in the intermediate grades, more meaningful assessment of student success and more resources for special needs students.

President Sam Hammond says their proposals come directly from education professionals and are priorities for parents.

Healthy Smiles Grow

Ontario is expanding it's healthy smiles program.

A change in eligibility allows 70 thousand more children from low income families to access free dental services through the program.

That brings to 460 thousand, the number of children now eligible for dental care through Ontario's low income dental programs.

More Recognition For Atikokan Musician

Another award nomination for Atikokan artist Sunday Wilde.

She's up for Blues Artist of the Years in the this year's SiriusXM Indies to be handed out in May.

Wilde is also up for blues song of the year in the Independent Music Awards.

Festival Results Day 3

Reece and Scott Jolicoeur among top performers in the instrumental division of the Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts.

Both earned two first place finishes yesterday.

Competition in the vocal division has wrapped up with the newly formed Rainy River District Youth Choir claiming it's first-ever first place finish.

Bands take over the stage today at the Townshend Theatre starting at 9 AM


Violin Solo, Method Courses, Level 1
FIRST:  Mackenzie Jolicoeur

Guitar Solo, Level 1
FIRST:  Rachel Anderson
SECOND:  Connor Dent

Guitar Solo, Level 2
FIRST:  Reese Jolicoeur

Guitar Solo, Grade 1
FIRST:  Scott Jolicoeur

Guitar Solo, Beginner
FIRST:  Resse Jolicoeur

String Solo, Popular Music, Intermediate
FIRST  Scott Jolicoeur

Instrumental Duets, Junior
FIRST:  Bryan Ribey and Sarah Ribey

Instrumental Solo, Brass, Short Recital Piece, Junior
FIRST:  (Tie) Sarah Ribey and Bryan Ribey

Ensembles, Beginner
FIRST:  Robert Moore School, Grade 4 Class, Directors Ms Donald and Mr. Cuzzolino

Bands and orchestras, Beginner Band
FIRST:  J. W. Walker School, Grades 7 and 8 Band, Directors Mr. Dutton and Ms. Bonner-Vickers
SECOND:  Robert Moore School, Grades 7 and 8 Band, Directors Mr. Dutton and Ms. Avis


Vocal Results

Classroom Choruses, Kindergarten (English)
FIRST:  Robert Moore School Early Learning Class, Directors:  Ms. Cain, Ms. Solomon, Ms. Wishert
SECOND:  Robert Moore School Early Learning Class, Directors:  Ms. Eldridge, Ms. Kivimaki

Classroom Choruses, Grade 2 (English)
FIRST:  Donald Young School, Grades 1 and 2 Class, Director Ms. Martin-Brown

Massed Primary Choir, Grades K to 4 (English)
FIRST:  St. Michael’s School, Director Mr. Brown

Girl’s Choir, Grades 4 to 8 (English)
FIRST:  Robert Moore Girls’ Choir, Grades 4 to 8, Director:  Ms. Von Niebelschutz

Community Choirs, Open
FIRST:  Rainy River District Youth Choir, Director:  Ms. Campagna

Contemporary Solo, 9 and 10 years
FIRST:  Christian Wiedenhoeft
SECOND:  Emma Bone

Contemporary Solo, 11 and 12 years
FIRST:  Brianna Eldridge
SECOND:  (Tie) Sarah Ribey, Star Martin

Vocal Duet, 9 to 12 years
FIRST:  Callahan Wiedenhoeft and Christian Wiedenhoeft
SECOND:  Katelyn Bruyere and Joelle Bruyere

Sacred Solo, Examination Courses, Grade 1
FIRST:  Emma Bone
SECOND:  Emma Toriseva

Vocal Duet, Trio or Quartet, 13 to 15 years
FIRST:  Anna Schwartz, Katelyn Bruyere and Rachel Anderson

Original Composition, 13 and 14 years
FIRST:  Anna Schwartz

Original Arrangement, 11 and 12 years
FIRST:  Callahan Wiedenhoeft

Sacred Solo, 13 and 14 years
FIRST:  Abigail Lücke

Secular Solo, 19 years and over
FIRST:  Kenneth Brown

Contemporary Solo, 5 and 6 years
FIRST:  Taylor Godin

Contemporary Solo, 13 and 14 years
FIRST:  Avery Cates
SECOND:  Emma Dykstra

Contemporary Solo, 15 and 16 years
FIRST:  McKenna Begin
SECOND:  Faith Pollard

Traditional Folk Song, Examination Courses, Grade 6
FIRST:  Jillian Armstrong

Contemporary Solo, 19 years and over
FIRST:  Kenneth Brown

Vocal Duet, Open
FIRST:  Betty Anne Lücke and Abigail Lücke

Vocal Duet, 13 to 15 years
FIRST:  McKenna Begin and Faith Pollard