New Gold Preparing For Mine Construction

New Gold continues to prepare for construction and eventual opening of its planned open pit mine north of Barwick.

It's recently hired an engineering team and has began identifying potential equipment purchases.

President Randall Oliphant says they're benefiting from a slowdown in mine development that's helping to keep costs down.

Oliphant says many of the costs are coming in or below estimates.

LGBT Training In Fort Frances

Educators, administrators and reps from other agencies are gathering today in Fort Frances for the start of a two day conference relating to lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-gender students.

Rainy River District School Board's Casey Slack says i'ts the third time officials with EGALE Canada have offered this type of training.

Slack says a separate session will be held Wednesday with students.

Education Week

This is education week across the province.

Education Director with the Rainy River District School Board Heather Campbell says the theme is excellence in education.

Schools across the district has holding various events in recognition.

Here is a list of all events

Crossroads
 May 5 – Cultural activities
 May 7 – School Speech Contest in the morning, and Jump Rope for Heart in the afternoon
 May 8 – Pancake breakfast, and talent show
 May 9 – Earth Day/Re-use it Fair

Donald Young
 May 6 –Staff vs. students volleyball games
 May 7 – Community Spring Tea from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.
 May 7 – Family Math Night from 5:30 to 7:15 p.m.
 May 8 –School Speech Contest
 May 9 – Jump Rope for Heart

J. W. Walker
 May 6 - Pancake breakfast
 May 7 - School Speech Contest
 May 8 - Art Extravaganza, and Lunch with a Learner

McCrosson-Tovell
 Focus throughout the week on Science and Technology in classrooms
 Mental Health announcements and student participation in yoga each morning
 May 6, 7 – Online book discussion

Mine Centre
 May 5 – Student assembly with a presentation by students in Grades 7 and 8
 May 5 – staff vs. students dodge ball
 May 6 – School-wide Math Inquiry
 May 7 – School Pow Wow
 May 8 – Kindergarten to Grade 2 Spring Tea, and Youth Mental Health Week activities
 May 9 – School-wide Buddy Reading

Nestor Falls
 May 6 – Monthly assembly and School Speech Contest
 May 8 – Spring clean-up

North Star Community
 Buddy Reading visits throughout the week
 Giant Map activities in the gym all week
 Family members are invited to participate with their children in math and reading activities during
 the first block all week.
 May 8 -– Principal will do a zany activity if the students have met the challenge of reading 5,000 books in one week

Riverview
 May 5 – Mental Health presentation
 May 7 – Whole school team building activities
 May 9 – Parent Council will be hosting a Spring Tea from noon to 2:00 p.m.

Robert Moore
 May 6 – Art Extravaganza
 May 7 – Book Fair
 May 8, 9 – Book Fair
 May 8 – Pancake Breakfast

Sturgeon Creek School
 May 5 – School Speech Contest
 May 8 – Spring Tea and concert

Sturgeon Creek Alternative Program
 May 8 – Grandparents Day, Festival highlights, speeches, and spring Concert in the Evening
 May 9 – Pitch in Day, and Buddy Day.

Rainy River High School
 May 8 – Mental Health presentation for students
 May 9 – Entrepreneur workshop, and career choices presentation

Atikokan High School
 May 6 - Dressing Room project geared towards Grades 9 and 10 girl’s self-esteem

Rainy River High School
 May 5, 7– Mental Health presentations for students
 May 6 – Yoga demonstration
 May 7 – Visit from local artist, Peter Spuzak

Fort Frances High School
 May 8 – Mental Health Awareness Forum
 May 9 – The school will host Grade 8 students for the transition to high school with a Mini We Day.

Parents of elementary and secondary students are invited and encouraged to attend the EQAO Parent Forum on Saturday, May 10 at La Place Rendez-Vous, Fort Frances.

PC Candidate Election Ready

The candidates in the Kenora-Rainy River Riding are hitting the hustings for the June 12th provincial election.

Conservative candidate Randy Nickle says it's been a whirlwind couple of days in the wake of the Liberal government's budget last Thursday.

NDP incumbent Sarah Campbell and Liberal candidate Anthony Leek spent part of their weekend at the Kenora Home show.

The Green Party by Tim McKillop of Pickle Lake. 

Hospital To Hire Intern

Atikokan General Hospital is receiving provincial funding to hire an intern.

The $31,500 from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund was announced prior to last Friday's election call.

The hospital will use the money for a senior management assistant intern.

New Police Chief Hired

Treaty Three Police Service has new police chief.

Louie Napish from the Eagle Lake First Nation takes over from Dan Davidson who was serving in an interim capacity.

Napish has been with Treaty 3 Police for the past 18 years, most recently serving as deputy chief.

Funeral For Oberstar

Funeral services for a long-serving Minnesota congressman will be held this week in Maryland.

Jim Oberstar died Saturday at the age of 79.

He represented northeastern Minnesota for 36 years and was instrumental in helping the State and area communities with several projects.

Cold Start To The Year

The National Weather Service out of Duluth says the first four months of the year in International Falls ranks as the second coldest start in history.

The average temperature came in at 11.6 F - that's -11 C.

It's 0.3 degrees warmer than the start to 1950.