Greyhound Bus Service Up in the Air

The fate of Greyhound service in Northwestern Ontario remains up in the air.

The Ontario Highway Transport Board's 90 day deadline ended at midnight, allowing Greyhound to withdraw from the region if it desires.

But Kenora-Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton feels confident bus service will be available to some communities along Highway 17.

However, Hampton says the McGuinty Government hasn't stated if they are in talks with the provider to continue service elsewhere in the northwest.

Local Sports for Tuesday December 1

Fort Frances Muskie Girls hockey team grabbed another victory last night with a 4-2 win over the Lake of the Woods Bears in Baudette.

Jillian Langtry had a pair of goals for the Muskies with singles off the sticks of Shae-lynn Smith and Courtney Bethune.

Dana Cridland earn the win in net.


The Pharmasave Midget Wildcats played the Junior Varsity Bears in Baudette, winning 6-nothing.

Tressa Galusha with a pair, Alison Brown, Bridget Jorgenson, Paige Ward and Katrina Wreggit scored for the Wildcats.


Fort Frances Muskies boys hockey team resumes NORWOSSA action tonight with a game against Dryden at the Ice for Kids Arena.

The 4-and-oh Muskies beat Dryden in their first match-up last Tuesday in Dryden 6-3.

Game time is 7 p.m.



Fort Frances Bantam Girls under-14 Leafs opened their season last night with a win.

The Leafs beat the International Falls Broncos junior varsity team 4-3.

Shelby Tymkin, Shilo Beck, Hailey Clendenning and Katie Sinclair scored for the Leafs.

They will head to Superior, Wisconsin for a tournament this coming weekend.


Boys hockey and girls basketball gets underway in International Falls tonight.

The Broncos boys hockey team hosts Hibbing in its season opener beginning at 7:30 p.m.

The varsity girls basketball team begins its season with a home game with Ely at Falls High School also beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Kettle Campaign Starts Today

The Salvation Army's Christmas Kettle Campaign is underway.

Fort Frances Mayor Roy Avis kicked off the campaign by manning kettle at Walmart this morning.

Captain Angel Sandoval says they're hoping to raise 15-thousand dollars this year.

"Don't hesitate to donate," says Sandoval. "Every donation you do to the Salvation Army is used locally in Fort Frances and the district."

Kettles have also been set up at Canadian Tire, Safeway, the Place and LCBO throughout the month of December.

The Salvation Army is also still looking for volunteers to man the kettles, even for just an hour or two.

To help, you can call the Salvation Army at 274-3871.

Green Party Eyes Next Election

The new leader of the Green Party in Ontario says northwestern Ontario will get attention from the Party.

Mike Schreiner says he intends to bring the Green's platform to the region as he travels the province in the near future in anticipation of the 2011 provincial election.

Schreiner says part of the plan for the north is helping to build a diversified economy.

"I don't want the people of the north to simply be the suppliers of raw material then have the value-added and most of profits in the south and other parts of the world," says Schreiner. "I think we can be investing in more value-added, more diversified production in the north to keep most of the dollars in the north."

Schreiner is making his role as leader a full-time job with a continued presence at Queen's Park and intends to run Green Party candidates in every riding in the 2011 election.

HST Protect Continues

A continuing protest over tax harmonization at the Ontario legislature has derailed the daily question period in the chamber.

Progressive Conservatives Randy Hillier and Bill Murdoch have been staging a sit-in over the government's refusal to hold provincewide public consultations on the tax change.

The two remained in the legislature overnight despite being ordered to leave by Speaker Steve Peters.

But Hillier and Murdoch were rejoined by their caucus colleagues today and continued to shout and pound their desks.

Following a brief meeting to try to resolve the impasse, the speaker began question period by again asking Hillier and Murdoch to leave, but they remained in their chairs.

The speaker then said he was not prepared to continue and would``let the clock run'' down on the daily session.

School Board Elections Tonight

The election of chair and vice chair will lead tonight's meeting of the Rainy River District School board.

The elections for the two top position are done on an yearly basis.

Dan Belluz is the current chair while Judy Eliuk is vice-chair.

Trustees will also elect their representative to the Ontario Public School Board's Association, a position currently held by Eliuk.

DriveTest Strike Continues

The provincial government says it will not legislate an end to a strike by driving examiners.

Labour Minister Peter Fonseca insists the most productive solution is a negotiated settlement with the help of government mediators.

The strike affects 93 full-time and part-time DriveTest sites, including one in Fort Frances, which grant or renew licences to novice drivers and those over 80.

It's now into its fourth month.

Back to Work Legislation Tabled

Legislation to end the strike at CN Rail is expected to be passed in the House of Commons within days.

Labour Minister Rona Ambrose has introduced a bill to force striking locomotive engineers back to work and to send outstanding issues to binding arbitration.

Ambrose says the transportation system is a vital part of the economy and a strike could hurt the fragile recovery.

About 17-hundred engineers walked off the job after talks broke down Friday night.

Murdered Women Remembered

Six women murdered in the Rainy River district at the hands of men are to be remembered in a dedication later this week.

The Atikokan Crisis Centre will be planting the trees in front of its second-stage complex.

Executive Director Donna Kroocmo says its important to have a visual reminder that violence against women happens here.

"People don't think it happens locally, but it does," says Kroocmo. "These are women that were murdered by their partners in the Rainy River district. I want to plant the trees with a plaque in front of the tree that identifies her name, age and date of death."

The dedication is to coincide with National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women and the twentieth anniversary of the 14 women killed at a Montreal University.

Health Plan Released

A long-awaited health plan for northwestern Ontario has now been released by the Northwest Local Health Integration Network.

The plan includes suggestions to improve wait times in emergency rooms, improve access to primary, long term and specialty care, and the prevention of chronic disease.

Executive Director Gwen Dubois-Wing says the goal of the three year integrated health plan is to improve access to the health care system.

"As we talked with people they would relay their concerns about gaps within the system," says Dubois-Wing, "so how do we build a more robust system so that people don't experience the gaps and their care needs are addressed."

Dubois-Wing says they will be working with hospitals and other health care providers in the region to implement the plan.

Local Sports for Monday November 30

Fort France Midget AA Canadians fell 6-3 to Wayzata in the B-side final of the Gus Lindberg Memorial Midget Double-A hockey tournament held at the Memorial Sport Centre on the weekend.

Ryan Lundy, Jeff Gustafson and Tarran Romyn scored for the Canadians who went 1-1-1 during the round robin portion of the tournament.

Thunder Bay's Current River Comets beat Duluth 4-3 in the A-side final.



A pair of bronze medals for girls hockey teams playing at tournaments in Warroad on the weekend.

The Nor-Fab Flames brought home the bronze in the pee-wee side with a 4-3 win over Grand Forks.

The Dynamic Homes Hurricanes Atom girls rep team also earned bronze after losing to Roseau 4-2.



Fort Frances Muskie Girls Hockey team captured gold at the Northern Shield Classic in Dryden, beating Red Lake in Saturday's final 3-1.

Jillian Langtry had two goals and Danielle Jean had one.

Melissa Payne had the win in net.



Fort Frances Muskies Boys hockey team defeated Detroit Lakes, Minnesota 5-3 to win the Thanksgiving Shootout trophy.

Friday, the Muskies hammered a team from Bagley-Fosston, Minnesota 19-0.



Fort Frances rinks skipped by Tierzah Keffer and Ethan Jordbro fell short in their bids to advance to the provincial junior curling playdowns.

Keffer finished with 1 win and 3 losses at the Inter-Regional event in Atikokan on the weekend.

Jordbro was 2-4 on the men's side.


Fresh of its gold medal win in at a Dryden tournament, the Fort Frances Muskies girls hockey team is in action tonight in Baudette.

Muskies face the Lake of the Woods Bears beginning at 7:30 p.m.


International Falls boys hockey team has been ranked fourteenth in the state in a pre-season poll of Class A high schools.

Broncos open their season tomorrow against Hibbing.


In minor girls hockey from the weekend, the Fort Frances Atom Leftovers tied the Emo Penguins 2-2 on Saturday.

Jenna Clendenning and Kelsey Langtree scored for Fort Frances.

Warm Weather Comes to an End

A high of 28 degrees Friday ended a string of 242 consecutive days that International Falls had recorded a high temperature above 32 degrees.

It's the 3rd longest stretch at International Falls followed behind the 246 string of days in 1958 and the 244 days in 2001.

Parade Winners

Fort Frances' downtown area was brighten Saturday evening with the annual Parade of Lights.

More than 20 organizations participated.

Awards went to Mike Tullio, Boston Pizza, Rainy Lake Conservancy, St Mary’s Youth Group and the Novice Girls Hockey Team for their floats.

Cancer Drug Funded

Just months after Ontario's ombudsman criticized the government, the Health Ministry is extending funding of a potentially life-saving cancer drug.

Health Minister Deb Matthews says Ontario will now fund Avastin for up to 24 two-week treatments if medical evidence shows their disease hasn't progressed.

Government figures show the average length of survival for people who receive Avastin with other chemotherapy is close to two years -- compared with a little over a year without the drug.

More Residents Asked to Get H1N1 Shot

The push to get Ontario residents inoculated against H1N1 is turning next to workplaces and college and university students.

Ontario has launched a $650-thousand "Join the Resistance'' ad campaign to encourage college and university students to roll up their sleeves for the flu shot.

Ontario's chief medical officer of health says that almost half of those hospitalized in Ontario for H1N1 are people under 20.

Forensic Unit Opened in Northwest

A new OPP forensic identification services unit has opened in Thunder Bay.

The state-of-the-art building provides the OPP and area police services with advanced tools to analyse evidence.

The $6.6-million facility includes a bio-hazard lab, bloodstain room for blood spatter examination and modern fingerprinting technologies.

Community Safety and Correctional Services Minister Rick Bartolucci says it'll advance the science of criminal investigation in northwestern Ontario.

National Day of Remembrance Marked

Area agencies will mark a National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women with events across the district this week.

Both the United Native Friendship Centre and Rainy River District Victims Services are promoting activities to bring public awareness.

Peggy Loyie of Victims Services says violence against women is happening in our own back yard.

"This year marks the 20th year since the Montreal massacre where 14 women were killed at École Polytechnique," says Loyie, "but in those 20 years since we've been able to name at least nine women who have been murdered in our district alone."

Among events planned will be a solemn ceremony at Knox United Church this Sunday.

NEXUS Centre Opens Today

The NEXUS Enrolment Centre opens is doors in Fort Frances today.

The centre is to be located at 301 Scott Street.

Area Port Director for the U-S Customs and Border Protection Christine Lessard says the move from International Falls will help deliver the program more effectively.

"It was felt this would give us a bigger and better space with easier access for customers," says Lessard.

The centre serves as an interview site for those applying for the NEXUS card, considered an acceptable form of identification to cross the border.

Border Water Patrols Enhanced

Canada and the U.S. governments are giving more powers to authorities to police force border waters.

A framework agreement will allow specially designated Canadian and American law enforcement personnel to jointly work on marine law enforcement vessels in boundary waters, such as Rainy Lake and Lake of the Woods.

Justice Minister Rob Nicholson says the officers will have the powers to enforce laws from both sides of the border.

"This will enhance our security on both sides of the border," says Nicholson, "by reducing smuggling and trafficking illegal drugs, guns and people."

Nicholson says its hoped to have the new units in place next summer.

CN Locomotive Engineers Strike

Canadian National Railway locomotive engineers walked off the job at Midnight Friday after mediated contract talks collapsed.

Pickets were set up across northwestern Ontario including in the Rainy River district.

CN communications director, Mark Hallman, says supervisors and managers who are qualified engineers are taking over operation of the locomotives to minimize any possible disruption of freight service.

Teamsters union spokesman Stephane Lacroix says the dispute centres on CN's demands to limit a wage increase to 1.5 per cent and to revise mileage caps for the engineers.

With no further contract talks scheduled, the railway is pushing for binding arbitration to settle the dispute.

The union is offering to submit wage issues to binding arbitration on the conditional that all other outstanding issues are resolved at the bargaining table.

Meantime, a senior government official says Ottawa is prepared to table back-to-work legislation today to end the strike if the two sides haven't reached an agreement.

The official, who declined to be named, said the government would prefer the union and the company to negotiate but to protect the Canadian economy it could not let the strike continue.

Local Sports for Friday November 27

Fort Frances Lakers managed just 18 shots in a 4-2 loss to the K and A Wolverines in Thunder Bay last night.

The teams were tied 2-2 in the second with the Lakers getting markers from Jake Ransom and Morgan McNeill before the Wolverines scored twice in the third for the win.

Netminder Jameson Shortreed stopped 53 of 57 shots in the loss.


Fort Frances Canadians host the Gus Lindberg Memorial Midget AA hockey tournament at the Memorial Sport Centre this weekend.

Six teams have entered with the Canadians playing their first game tonight against Kenora's Saint Thomas Aquinas at 6:15 p.m.


Nor-Fab Flames Peewee Girls and the Dynamic Homes Hurricanes Atom Girls teams are in tournaments in Warroad this weekend.

Nor-Fab opens play tonight against Warroad while the Hurricanes begin the tournament with a game against Roseau tomorrow.


In high school hockey, Fort Frances Muskies boys team travels to Detroit Lakes for a pair of exhibition games while the girls team is in Dryden for a tournament.

The girls first game is this afternoon against Sioux Lookout.



Atikokan is the host site of the Junior Men's and Women's Inter-Regional Curling Playdown.

Seven men's and four women's teams are competing in the 3-day Tournament.

Fort Frances is represented by Ethan Jordbro's rink on the men's side and Tirzah Keffer on the women's.

Out-of-Province Health Visits Increase

Health Minister Deb Matthews says she's trying to tackle a huge increase in out-of-province visits covered by Ontario health insurance.

A new report says Ontario agreed to fund almost 12-thousand procedures or treatments outside the province last year, up from about 2-thousand in 2001.

Matthews says the government is putting more money into reducing those visits.

More Flu Clinics Here

The Northwestern Health Unit has unveiled its December schedule for vaccinations clinics for the H1H1 flu.

Clinics in Rainy River, Fort Frances and Atikokan have been scheduled through to the middle of December.

But in other parts of the province they appear to be coming to an end - despite the fact that many people have not got the shot.

Public health units in Hamilton and Stratford plan to close their clinics next week, saying demand for shots is dropping.

Legal Aid Boycot Grows

A boycott of the legal aid system in Ontario could be widening to include all offences.

The Criminal Lawyers' Association is considering its options but some lawyers are pushing hard for an escalated protest to back demands for higher fees.

The boycott now only applies to cases involving guns and gangs and homicides.

Lawyers voluntarily take on legal aid work so the government can't force them back to work.

Lodge Burns

OPP say foul play is not suspected in a fire that destroyed a tourist camp in northwestern Ontario.

Yesterday's fire levelled the main lodge at Cedar Point Lodge near Waldhof, west of Dryden.

No one was injured.

Donations Wanted

The Salvation Army will be seeking donations of non-perishable foods and money from parade goers.

They'll be aided in tomorrow's parade by staff and management of B-93 and other volunteers.

Captain Angel Sandoval is hoping people will help out.

"We expect people will provide economical contributions," says Sandoval, " food and gifts. Everything is welcome. We have a big increase in the number of people asking for help this year."

Sandoval cites the economy as a reason for the increase.

Parade of Lights Tomorrow

The fifty-second annual Parade of Lights goes tomorrow evening in Fort Frances.

More than 20 organizations have confirmed entry to date.

Set up takes place at 3 p.m. in front of the Fort Frances Volunteer Bureau with judging at 4 p.m. and the parade starting at 5 p.m.

While not prohibited, parade organizers are asking motorists to avoid parking on Scott Street until the parade is over.

RIDE Program Out in Force

The Ontario Provincial Police kick off their 2009 Holiday RIDE campaign today.

The Province wide initiative will wraps up on January 2.

Constable Dave Cain says holiday party guests shouldn't feel their only option is to drink and drive.

"We're reminding the public that there is no excuse for drinking and driving," says Cain. "There are many other ways to get home whether you take a cab or arrange ahead of time for a designated driver."

Last year, OPP laid more than 300 impaired driving charges on Ontario's roads.

CAS Commission Announced

The Ontario government has appointed a promised commission to study the workings of the children's aid system.

It follows complaints Children's Aid Societies are not able to do a proper job of protecting children with their current budgets.

Premier Dalton McGuinty has refused to commit new money, saying his government has raised budgets by 30 per cent.

Critics have said children were at risk of being left in abusive homes and are facing higher suicide rates in one part of northern Ontario.

They also complained the promised commission had yet to get off the ground.

Laurel Broten, the minister of children and youth services,announced the appointment of the commission Thursday.

Broten says the commission is an opportunity "to find creative solutions to improve services children and youth are receiving in Ontario within available resources.''

Pikangikum Help Needed

An appeal for supplies for children and youth in Pikangikum First Nation has generated a strong response in the Rainy River District.

Family and Children Services Rainy River is spearheading the drive after responding to pleas for food and clothing from Sioux Lookout's Tikinagan Child and Family Services.

Jacquee Loerzel says a variety of items are still needed.

"We're looking for things like cases of enfamil infant formula with iron," says Loerzel, "cases of diapers sizes 4 to 6, winter clothing including hats, mitts, boots and jackets for infants, children and youth. We're also looking for fleece blankets, ski pants and wool socks. We're also looking for non-perishable food items."

The items can be brought to Beaver Mills in Rainy River, Cloverleaf in Emo, Walmart and Safeway in Fort Frances or to FACS offices in Fort Frances and Atikokan.

Local Sports for Thursday November 26

Fort Frances Lakers travel to Thunder Bay today for a game against the K & A Wolverines.

The Lakers trail the Wolverines by three points for fourth place in the SIJHL.


The top two teams go head-to-head tonight in the Fort Frances Women's Volleyball League.

2nd-place Gillions insurance is 3-points back of league leading A Buck or Two as both teams have pulled away from the rest of the field in the standings.

Third place has turned into a battle before the Wildcats, the Wenbergs, Scared Hitless and Lac La Croix.

Air Service Plan Put Forward

An early morning departure and an evening return flight to Falls International Airport have been included in a new proposal from Mesaba Airlines.

The new proposal comes after Mesaba’s initial offer for air passenger service was rejected by the U-S Department of Transportation in October.

City and airport officials had expressed concerns with its scheduled that offered flights during the mid-afternoon.

Mesaba, which was acquired by Delta as part of its merger with Northwest Airlines, was the only carrier to submit a proposal for the Falls airport.

Sid Ryan Heads OFL

Sid Ryan is to be named president of the Ontario Federal of Labour at a convention in Toronto today.

The longtime CUPE Ontario president replaces Wayne Samuelson who, after 12 years in office, decided not to seek re-election.

Elk Plan Drafted

An elk management plan has been drafted to deal with the population of the animals in the province.

Elk numbers have exploded in the Bancroft area, but have dropped off in the Cameron Lake area near Nestor Falls.

Christie Curly of the Ministry of Natural Resources says while there are no plans to import more elk to Ontario, there has been some discussion of moving elk from one area to another.

"The plan doesn't have the answer in it," says Curly. "What it does say is that trans-location, that relocation of animals from one location to another, is often suggested as a potential management tool. We really need to review the risks and benefits associated on a case-by-case basis."

The MNR began importing elk into Ontario from Alberta about a decade ago with mixed results.

Drivers Getting the Message - Not to Text

Ontario's cellphone ban is one month old today and police say most people seem to be getting the hang of it.

But a lot of drivers are having a hard time giving up the dangerous habit of talking or texting while driving.

So far, OPP have given out more than 1,100 warnings and about two dozen tickets.

None of the tickets have been issued by police in the Rainy River district.

Human Remains Identified

Human remains found north of Pickle Lake are those of a 51-year-old Kitchener man.

Jeffery Boyd had been reported missing to Waterloo Regional Police on November 8th.

His body was discovered by a hunter on Saturday, 65 kilometres north of Pickle Lake.

Police are not releasing the cause of death although they say an investigation continues into why Boyd was in a remote part of northwestern Ontario.

New Centre Name

The Atikokan Crisis Centre has come up with a new name.

It's to be called the Rainy River District Women's Shelter of Hope.

Executive Director Donna Kroocmo says the name was selected by the board out of several offered by an Atikokan resident.

"That one stuck with them," says Kroocmo. "and they liked that word 'hope.' They tried to incorporate into the new idea of the Rainy River district versus Atikokan. I know it's wordy and length but they way they've done it with the logo and the umbrella over the top of name it looks very nice and works very well."

Kroomo says it could be up to a year before they can incorporate the name because of the legal process necessary for a name-change.

Local Doctors to Head Physicians Group

A Fort Frances physician is being named to head a provincial physicians' group.

Doctor Robert Algie is to become president of the Ontario Colleges of Family Physician for the next year.

Algie has practiced in the Fort Frances area for the more than 28 years and joined the OCFP board seven years ago and its executive in 2006.

He's to assume the presidency at a conference being held in Toronto this week.

Local Sports for Wednesday November 25

Fort Frances Lakers ended a 7-game losing streak with a 9-6 home win against the Wisconsin Mustangs last night at the Ice for Kids Arena.

Colton Kennedy led the way with three goals with singles coming from Henry Gutierrez , Dwight Lee, Tim Hennessey, Anders Wick, Jordan Carne and Tyler Stevenson.

The two teams combined for 112 shots in the game.


Fort Frances Muskies boys' Hockey team exploded for four goals in the final period to defeat the Dryden Eagles 6-3 in Dryden.

Nathan Calder, Brendan Cawston, Devin Ball, Davis Smith, Jeff Cridland and Jon Cousineau all found the back of the net for the Muskies.

Wes Brown picked up the win between the pipes.

Local Sports for Tuesday November 24

Fort Frances Lakers will look to crack a 7-game losing streak tonight when they host the Wisconsin Mustangs.

It's the first time the U-S club has visited the Fort.

The Lakers will also be holding a bake sale and toy drive, with fans asked to bring a toy to be donated to the Salvation Army and United Native Friendship Centre.

Game time at the Ice for Kids Arena is 7:30.


Fort Frances Muskies boys hockey team travels to Dryden today for a NORWOSSA contest against the Eagles.

It's the first meeting of the season between those two teams.

NEXUS Centre Moving

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection is moving its NEXUS Enrollment Center from International Falls to Fort Frances.

The centre is to be located at 301 Scott Street beginning Monday.

The centre serves as an interview site for people seeking applications to the Nexus Card program for crossing border.

The centre was initially set up in International Falls over a year ago.

Local Business Owners Get Update on Abitibi

AbitibiBowater's Fort Frances mill manager says the company continues to look at alternative paper production for a machine targeted for closure.

Machine number six is currently operating to deal with customer orders, but is expected to idled by the middle of December.

Speaking yesterday to the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce, John Harrison said that doesn't mean it won't be restarted in the future.

"We continue to search for what other grades that we could trail that we could potentially find something to make on number 6 in the years to come" said Harrison, "so we're not going to give up on number 6."

Harrison also told the gathering he felt AbitibiBowater was still on the right path in its efforts to emerge from credit protection as a stronger company.

Ultrasound in Place

The Rainy River Health Centre has now has an ultrasound machine.

Ultrasound equipment technicians were at the health centre last week to provide training for staff and physicians.

Hospital officials says having ultrasound in the emergency department will assist medical staff make accurate diagnoses and set up the required supports and transfers for patients.

Delivery of the machine was made possible through a local fundraising campaign this summer that raised over 50-thousand dollars.

Surgical Team Recognized

Some recognition for staff in the operating room of LaVerendrye Hospital in Fort Frances.

Riverside Health Care Facilities Surgical Services Team was named best overall performer among non-academic hospitals by McKesson Canada and OR Manager.

Director of Surgical Services Cindy Cole says its testament to the men and women working in the O.R.

"It's the entire team," says Cole. "and we have a great team of surgeons, nurses, anesthetists and housekeeping aids and it's a collaborative effort in how our day progresses through the surgical slate."

The award was given out based on Riverside's ability to meet or exceed a number of key performance areas.

Assault Police Incident

An area man remains in custody following an incident in Fort Frances on the weekend.

OPP were called to a downtown establishment Sunday where they learned an intoxicated man involved in a dispute became confrontational when asked to leave.

Police later located the man and placed him under arrest, at which time he became confrontational with police.

The 36-year-old man from Seine River now faces charges of assaulting police and trespassing.

School Bus Accident

A 76-year old man has been charged following an accident yesterday afternoon involving a school bus in Fort Frances.

O-P-P say the driver of a pick-up truck ran a stop sign at the intersection of Minnie Avenue and Second Street East and was struck by the bus that was loaded with children at the time.

None of the children on board, nor the drivers of the two vehicles were injured.

There was no damage to the bus, and only minor damage to the truck.

Young Mayors Speak Out

Young mayor hopefuls had their say at Fort Frances town council last night.

The winners of a Local Government Week essay contest sponsored by the town spoke on what they would do if they were mayor.

St. Francis School Grade 5 student Emma Noga said the town's finances would be focus of her attention.

"When we talk about money, I would make wise choices and spent it on things we need like schools and orphanages, " said Emma. "Also sometimes on parks and playgrounds."

Emma said she'd also promote more environmental-friendly buildings and transportation.

Robert Moore School Grade 5 student Maddison Krikke said one of her goals would be to restore Pither's Point Park.

"I would bring the lifeguards back to work at the beach in the summer," said Maddison. "I clean it up and get people to help because I think they would like it. There's a hotel there now. All that's needed is a beautiful beach like it was before."

Maddison also proposed developing a small zoo and making the community more environmentally friendly.

HST Protest Continues

The premier says he looks forward to seeing the Tories in the legislature today so they can continue their debate over the controversial HST.

Monday, the Progressive Conservatives stormed out of the legislature in a protest over the merged tax after their Leader Tim Hudak tried to unsuccessfully get the premier to hold public hearings on the legislation.

The New Democrats say the Tories should do more than walk out of question period to protest the harmonized sales tax.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says the Conservatives should convince their federal cousins in Ottawa to abandon the plan to harmonize sales taxes.

Student Drug and Alcohol Use Studied

Northern Ontario students use cannabis and alcohol more than their provincial counterparts.
That according to the Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey.

Dr. Robert Mann says students in the region are binge drinking more than the rest of Ontario as well.

"In the north about 32-per cent of students in the grades 7 to 12 reported at least one binge drinking in the past month compared to about 25-per cent in the province." says Dr. Mann.

The study also found 64-per cent of northern students to drink alcohol while 32-per cent used marijuana.

Human Remains Investigated

A post-mortem is to be conducted in Toronto today as an investigation continues into the discovery of human remains in northwestern Ontario.

A hunter came across the remains near Pickle Lake and investigators are trying to determine the person's identity and the cause of death.

Police say there is no evidence at the scene to suggest there was foul play.

Off-Road Vehicle Warnings

Recent complaints about the use of all-terrain vehicles and dirt bikes within the town of Fort Frances has prompted a warning to users from the OPP.

Constable Anne McCoy says the vehicles are considered for recreational use and not licenced for operation on municipal streets.

"It's a municipal by-law, but there are also provincial regulations under the off-road motor vehicle act," says McCoy, "that regulate where you can ride. The fact that you need to be licensed if your off your personal property. People need to be aware of these legalities."

McCoy says most of the complaints received were about young people riding dirt bikes in the prohibited areas around Fourth Street and near the C-N tracks.

Visitor Restrictions Lifted

Visitor restrictions at all of Riverside Health Care Facilities have been lifted.

The restrictions were put in place at the end of October at hospitals in Emo, Rainy River and Fort Frances as well as Rainycrest in response to the outbreak of the H1N1 flu.

They included children under the age of 18 being prohibited from visiting.

Officials say the number of people with the virus seeking care has eased, allowed them to remove the restrictions.

Visitor Restrictions Lifted

Visitor restrictions at all of Riverside Health Care Facilities have been lifted.

The restrictions were put in place at the end of October at hospitals in Emo, Rainy River and Fort Frances as well as Rainycrest in response to the outbreak of the H1N1 flu.

They included children under the age of 18 being prohibited from visiting.

Officials say the number of people with the virus seeking care has eased and allowed them to remove the restrictions.

Waterfront Projects Nears End

Work on the Fort Frances waterfront landmarks is expected to come to an end this week.

Community Services Manager George Bell says a final site meeting Friday with the contractor responsible for relocating the tugboat Hallet and former fire tower from Pither's Point Park will bring the project to a close.

Bell says costs fell within the budget of almost $1.1 million.

Councillor's Request Denied

Fort Frances councillor Ken Perry was denied by his fellow councillors last night a request for more time in moving a construction trailer from his property.

Perry had sought permission to keep the trailer until next May.

But Chief Building Official Rick Hallam told council that the councillor had been given plenty of opportunity to comply with municipal by-laws in removing the trailer.

"We've had many verbal discussions with respect to this issue," said Hallam. "It finally got to the point that we had to act through the proper challenges being the official the letter to remove the trailer."

Perry had cited work and personal reasons for being unable to meet a most recent removal date of September 15.

Local Sports for November 23

Fort Frances Lakers dropped a pair of games in Thunder Bay on the weekend to the league leading Fort William North Stars.

Saturday, the Lakers were trounced 11-2.

Mike Jourdain and Henry Gutierrrez scored for the Lakers who were outshot 56-17.

Tyler Stevenson with a pair and Colton Kennedy scored in a 5-3 loss to the Stars Friday.

The Lakers are home to the Wisconsin Mustangs tomorrow.


Fort Frances Muskies girls hockey team captured silver at the Miller Aces Hockey Tournament in Altona, Manitoba.

Muskies lost the championship game 4-3 to Pembina.

Jesse Baker scored all of Forts goals.

The Muskies boys hockey team won a pair of games against Red Lake in NORWOSSA action, with wins of 9-0 and 10-0.



Three Fort Frances girls hockey teams battled for medals at tournaments in Kenora.

The Rolling Lake Lightning struck gold with a 5-0 victory in the championship game on the novice side.

The Lightning went undefeated in the tournament.

The pink Novice Timbits lost a nailer-biter in the bronze medal game by 5-4 score in overtime.

The Fort Frances peewee Super 8 girls team also battled for bronze, losing 6-1 in the game.


The Fort Frances Kaemingh Esso Atom girls hockey team earned bronze at a tournament in Thunder Bay with a 2-1 win in a shootout.

Emma Noga scored in regulation time with Chivon MacKintosh notching the winner in the shootout.

And the Pharmasave midget Wildcats girls were beat out for the bronze by Dryden 4-1 in a Thunder Bay tournament.


The Lakewood Tire Eagles girls hockey team took home a gold medal at a tournament in Thunder Bay on the weekend.

The Eagles went undefeated in 6 games, capped by a 5-0 win in the championship game.


The Rainy River Community College women's hockey team has been ranked number two in the west division by the American Collegiate Hockey Association.

The defending ACHA-division two champions are 3-1 on the season and include Brenley Anderson of Rainy River and Katie Stearns of Fort Frances.

Former Officer Charged

More charges have been laid against a retired provincial police officer who once worked in Minaki and Whitedog.

Robert George Lewis was charged last week on two counts of gross indecency and two charges of indecent assault in connection with incidents that took place between 1976 and 1978 when he worked as an officer in the Kenora area.

Lewis now lives in Fenelon Falls and faces a number charges in connection with several sexual-assaults that occurred while he worked with the OPP across the province.

Visitor Restrictions Lifted

Visitor restrictions at all of Riverside Health Care Facilities have been lifted.

The restrictions were put in place at the end of October at hospitals in Emo, Rainy River and Fort Frances as well as Rainycrest in response to the outbreak of the H-1-N-1 flu.

They included children under the age of 18 being prohibited from visiting.

Officials say the number of people with the virus seeking care has eased and allowed them to remove the restrictions.

Robert Moore Memories Collected

The search is on for former students and staff of Robert Moore school.

A meeting at the Fort Frances Library tonight at 7 p.m. will be held to discuss how to celebrate the closing of the nearly 100-year-old school.

Spokesperson Cynthia Donald says the possibilities right now are endless.

"We do have some ideas," says Donald, "like maybe a picture gallery, tour through the school, maybe some t-shirts or some cups."

Robert Moore is being replaced by a new school to open in the fall of 2010.

Tax Bill Looming

A $250-million loan between Canadian and U.S. subsidiaries of AbitibiBowater is forcing the company to juggle its corporate structure to avoid a big tax bill.

The Montreal-based company, which is operating under court protection from creditors, faces a more than $55-million withholding tax in Canada, and potentially more in the United States, unless it is able to repay an inter-company loan this year.

In court documents filed last week, the U.S. holding company AbitibiBowater US Holding LLC says it "does not have sufficient funds" to repay the $200-million loan.

Hamper Requests Collected

The Salvation Army in Fort Frances is giving the opportunity to those who need Christmas hampers this year to register this week.

Captain Angel Sandoval says residents requiring a hamper can pick up forms today and tomorrow at the Citadel.

"We are asking to the families who are going to apply for the Christmas hamper to bring the proper i.d." says Sandoval. "Not only for them, but of their kids as well and the income and expenses they have."

Registration forms must be returned by Wednesday or Thursday of this week

New H1N1 Numbers

The Ministry of Health says there were 20 new cases of the H1N1 flu virus this past week in northwestern Ontario.

Since the second wave of the virus began back in October, there have been 62 cases confirmed in this region.

Overall, the province says the number of cases of H1N1 were actually down this past week.

Bio-Energy Industry Explored

Researchers looking into the future of a bio-energy industry for the town of Atikokan have wrapped up their work, but say its not the end.

Lakehead University and a team of researchers and students spent three years examining the issues surrounding a bio-energy economy.

The university's vice-president of research Rui Wang says the information gathered provides a blueprint for other agencies to take the next step.

"We have all sort of scientific data," says Wang, "and strong recommendations. We need to work together with all stakeholders to make sure that it (the bio-energy industry) will generate a long-term impact to the region."

More than 20 reports and one patent were generated out of the researchers work.

Farmer Market Project Advances

The Clover Valley Farmer's Market and its food box program has entered a third round of voting in an on-line contest.

The market is seeking a share of half-a-million dollars, insurance company Aviva Canada, will dole out to projects across Canada early next year.

The public is being encouraged to vote.

To support the Clover Valley Farmers' Market project, go to http://www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf3715 and click the 'Cast Your Ballot' button.

New Green Leader

Ontario's Green Party has a new leader who hopes to help elect heir first MPP to Queen's Park.

Toronto entrepreneur Mike Schreiner was chosen to replace Frank de Jong at the party's leadership convention in London.

Schreiner says the party will fight to win a seat in the 20-11 election.

Local Sports for Monday November 16

Fort Frances Muskies girls hockey team has started the season 0-2 after losing games to Kenora and Dryden on the weekend.

Saturday, Muskies fell 6-3 in their home opener to Dryden.

Anikka Mctavish, Ericka Tymkin and Taylor Dixon scored for Fort Frances.

Friday, the Muskies lost by the same 6-3 score to Kenora.

Jillian Langtry had a pair and Danielle Jean the other goal.


Fort Frances Muskies boys hockey team scored the winner with 1-second left to play en route to a 3-2 victory over Dryden in the final of the Morden Manitoba High School Tournament.

Muskies open their NORWOSSA season tomorrow.


The Fort Frances Nor-Fab Flames Peewee Girls Rep team earned a pair of wins on the road, defeating Cloquet 3-2 and Proctor 11-2 in games played Saturday.

Amber Jourdain, Myla Angus and Amy Penner scored in the game against Cloquet in which the Flames outshot their opponents 31-9.

In the game against Proctor, Madisyn DeGagne had four goals, Amber Jourdain with a hatrick and Jessica Coran with two.

Myla Angus and Abbi Perreault rounded out the scoring


In Atom girls hockey in Emo Friday, Fort Frances Kaemingh Esso beat Nestor Falls Marine 7-1.

Maighyn Degagne had four goals for Esso with Emma Noga collecting a pair and Khali Degagne the other.

Avery Cates scored for Nestor Falls

At a bantam boys hockey tournament in Emo, Fort Frances Canadian Tire won the b-side championship with a 4-1 win over Emo.

Jordan Windigo had a pair with Josh Gwinn and Jayme Taylor adding singles for Canadian Tire.


Rainy River Community College Women's hockey team swept Minot State University on the weekend.

Brenley Anderson had 4-goals in the Voyageurs' 6-4 win Sunday in Minot.

Saturday, Anderson got the winning goal with 4-minutes left in the third to give Rainy River a 6-5 decision.


On the court, the Voyageurs' men's basketball team split a pair of games, defeating Hibbing 81-70 Friday before falling 77-75 in overtime to Mesabi Range.

The women's basketball team opened its season with a win Friday 75-63 over Hibbing.

HST Introduced Today

Ontario's Liberal government will introduce legislation today to harmonize the province's eight per cent sales tax with the five per cent G-S-T.

In addition to creating a single, 13 per cent sales tax next July, the bill also includes a series of cuts to income, small business and corporate taxes that take effect in January.

Finance Minister Dwight Duncan says the province needs to make businesses more competitive so they can hire more people and lower prices for consumers.

He says the tax package is about creating jobs and rebuilding Ontario's economy as it emerges from the recession.

The bill also provides for tax rebate cheques of up to one-thousand dollars for families to help offset the impact of the H-S-T in the first year.

The opposition parties call the H-S-T a blatant tax grab which will add eight per cent to many items now exempt from the provincial sales tax, including gasoline, home heating fuel and hydro bills.

The National Citizen's Coalition estimates the H-S-T will cost the average taxpayer an additional 800 to one-thousand dollars annually.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River M-P John Rafferty is still confident people can still halt the Harmonized Sale Tax from moving ahead.

Rafferty says opposition to the blended tax is growing as more and more people begin to realize the true impact HST will have on their budgets.

Rafferty has asked the federal government not forward $4.3 million to Ontario toward the harmonizing of the sales tax, a motion that expected to come up for debate early in the new year.

Local Sports for Friday November 13

Fort Frances Muskies junior and senior girls basketball teams are NORWOSSA Champs.

The senior girls earned the right to play in the NWOSSA title next weekend in Thunder Bay following a 26-13 win over Kenora's Beaver Brae Broncos yesterday.

The Muskies will play the winner of the SSSAA championship between Hammarskjold and St. Patrick's High Schools.

Erika Moffit scored 12 while Chantal Jodoin chipped in 11 points to help the junior girls to a 34-24 win over Dryden.

The Muskies junior boys volleyball team was upset by Dryden in the finals 3-sets to one.


The senior boys volleyball team was eliminated from in a semi-final game with Dryden in four sets.


Fort Frances Muskies girls hockey team kicks off its season on the road today in Kenora before tomorrow's home opener at the Ice for Kids Arena against Dryden.

Prior to the drop of the puck at 7:15 p.m., there will be a tribute to longtime Muskies supporter Cam Smith, who recently passed away.

The boys team travels to Morden, Manitoba for a tournament.


Fort Frances Lakers ended a three-game home stand winless following a 5-3 loss to Sioux Lookout last night.


Henry Gutierrez, Jordan Carne and Anders Wicks scored for the Lakers who are idle until next Wednesday.


Fort Frances Midget Canadians take to the road this weekend for a three-game set against Shattuck-St. Mary's in Faribault, Minnesota.


The pee-wee girls Norfab Flames travel to Cloquet and Proctor tomorrow before returning Sunday for a game against the BDO Dunwoody Bantams.


In girls hockey last night, Super 8 and the Lakewood Eagles tied 5-5.

Madison Degagne had a hat trick for Super 8 with Amber Jordain adding a pair.

Amy Penner had a hat-trick for Lakewood with Jessica Coran and Rachael Dean notching singles.


Fort Frances Atom AA Girls team, the Dynamic Homes Hurricanes will play its first game of the season Sunday at the Ice for Kids Arena against the Causeway Cougars.


There is bantam hockey tournament in Emo this weekend.

In play today, the Holmlund Leafs beat the Kennedy K-9's 4-0.

Emo Predators defeated Fort Frances Canadian Tire 4-1.



Rainy River Voyageurs women's hockey team heads to North Dakota for a pair of games against Minot State University.


The Voyageur's basketball teams begin their seasons today.

Both the men and women's teams are playing at the Mesabi tournament in Virginia.

Growth North Session Planned

The province is giving more communities in northern Ontario an opportunity to have a say into the new Northern Growth plan.

A meeting Monday night will be held through Contact North's video-conference sites, including those in Fort Frances and Atikokan.

The session begins at 5:30 p.m.

Border Enforcement Working

A hardening of the Canada-U.S. border appears to be yielding early results.

U-S. border officials say increased enforcement, improved police co-operation and new technology are behind the gains.

The U-S seized almost 18-thousand kilograms of marijuana this year, compared to just over 4-thousand in 2008.

The number of people caught illegally entering the U.S. from Canada fell from 8-thousand to just under 7-thousand

A U-S. security official says there are about 15-hundred staff working the northern border now compared to about 900 in 2006.

College Talks Break Down

Contract talks between Ontario's community colleges and the union representing full-time faculty have broke off.

As a result, Colleges Ontario says it will exercise its right to will introduce a new contract that gives full time teachers, including those with Confederation College in Fort Frances, an eight per cent wage hike over four years.

Chair of the college's bargaining team Rachael Donovan says the increase is in line other recent public sector contract agreements.

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union was not immediately available to comment on move.

Missing Hunter

A search is underway in the Kenora area for a hunter who has been missing for the past four days.

OPP say the 50-year-old unidentified man is believed to be hunting in the Minaki and Whitedog areas.

He was last seen on Monday morning.

Crash Victims Identified

OPP have now released the names of three men killed in last Friday's plane crash near the remote community of Cat Lake.

The pilot has been identified as 50-year-old Mike Pateman from Dryden.

The names of the two passengers in the Lockhart Airways Cessna 310 have been confirmed as 46-year-old Ronald Oombash from Cat Lake and 29-year-old Dean Meekis from Deer Lake.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

Regular Flu Shots Available

Vaccine for the seasonal flu is now being rolled out to the public by the Northwestern Health Unit.

Up until now, the Health Unit had been focusing on providing residents in the Kenora and Rainy River districts with the H-1-N-1 flu shot.

Director of Health Protection Arlene Lesenke says residents can now get both shots at the same time if they desire.

"Even though our clinics are advertised for H1N1 right now, we usually do have seasonal influenza vaccine with us," says Lesenke. "If people are looking for that we are administering that as well."

Nearly 9,000 doses of vaccine have been provided to area residents since flu shot clinics began two weeks ago.

Vote for Clover Valley Farmers' Market

The Clover Valley Farmers' Market is looking for your vote.

The market's food box program is competing in on-line contest sponsored by Aviva Canada which will provide half-a-million dollars to a variety of projects that promote positive change.

Kim Cornell says part of the contest requires computer users to cast ballots.

"Somebody gave us the idea and we felt what the heck," says Cornell. "You don't have get one of the big (cash prizes) ones. They give out several small ones as well.

To vote, click this link www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf3715.

Local Sports for Thursday November 12

Fort Frances Muskies court teams will be battling for NORWOSSA championships today in Kenora.

The junior girls and senior girls basketball teams along with the junior boys volleyball team, all earned byes to this afternoons finals.

The senior boys volleyball team plays Dryden in a semi-final match with the winner to meet Kenora.


Fort Frances Lakers host the Sioux Lookout Flyers tonight in the last of a three-game home stand.

Game time at the Ice for Kids Arena is 7:30


Joe Basaraba has made it official.

The former Fort Frances Muskies was one of the first players to forward signed letters of intent to play for the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs next season.

Basaraba is currently playing with Shattuck-St. Mary’s High School.

Yesterday was the first day for of an NCAA early signing period.


Fort Frances women's volleyball league continues play tonight.

A Buck or Two has opened up a 5 point bulge on Gillon's Insurance for the league lead.

Lac La Croix is in a tight battle for third with four other teams separated by just four points.

Local Sports for Tuesday November 10

Fort Frances Thunderhawks have their paperwork sorted out and will play their first game tonight against the Kenora Thistles.

The new senior hockey club was forced to cancel two games with the Thunder Bay Twins on the weekend after learning not all of its players had been signed in time to be covered through Hockey Canada insurance.

General Manager Dean Bruyere says the situation has been sorted out and tonight's games with the Thistles at the Ice for Kids arena is a go.

It starts at 7 p.m.

In Bantam girls play from Monday night, the BDO Dunwoody Stars tied Energy 1-1 in a goaltending battle between Shailyn Loyie and Callie Clendenning.

Danielle Jackson and Shelby Rea scored the goals for their respective teams.

Network Up for Award

Northern Diabetes Health Network is up for a provincial award.

The network's Northern Ontario Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative is among finalists for an Innovation in Health Care Award to be presented later this month in Toronto.

The Initiative helped identify priority needs of Aboriginal communities and organizations in dealing with diabetes among First Nations people.

Airport Usage

Almost 650 aircraft used the Fort Frances airport in August.

That's about a 6 per cent drop from the number recorded in July and a decline of nearly 13 per cent from that recorded in August 2008.

Of the airport users this August, 139 were private aircraft and 63 were international flights.

Contract Offer Declined

People looking to get their driver's licence are not going to be behind the wheel any time soon.

Ontario's striking driver examiners, represented by the United Steelworkers, have rejected DriveTest's latest offer by 78 per cent.

The strike, which began in August, affects 93 full-time and part-time DriveTest sites, including the one in Fort Frances.

Managers at some DriveTest centres in Ontario are giving driving exams while unionized employees are on strike.

Six locations, including one in Thunder Bay, opened today.

Only partial services will be offered: written tests for all classes of licences, road test for commercially classified licences and out-of-province or out-of-country licence exchanges.

Sixth Street School Plans

It could be some time before Community Living Fort Frances District determines exactly what it wants to do with the former Sixth Street School in Fort Frances.

The agency purchased the vacant school and property for a dollar from the Rainy River District School Board.

Executive Director Alanna Barr says it could be a resources centre, but there's a lot of planning to do first.

"We're just looking at our options," says Barr. "and considering what is our best options that will meet our need, not only in the long-term, but in the short term as well."

Barr says its likely the existing school will be demolished as it is not accessible and would be too costly to bring it up to standard.

Local Soldier Recognized

A Fort Frances area soldier currently on duty in Afghanistan is being hailed a hero.

Sergeant Russell Gregoirie was recently awarded the Medal of Military Valour for his actions in June 2008 in which he helped lead a group of soldiers to safety while under heavy fire.

His girlfriend Angela Halvorson says she's proud of his accomplishments.

"I think what he does over there is amazing," says Halvorson. "For them to recognize him for his efforts and the fact that he had to go above and beyond to do what he did is pretty amazing.

Halvorson says Gregoirie is now part of a troop providing security to a reconstruction team helping to rebuild war-torn areas of the country.

He's to receive his medal at a ceremony to be held at a later date.

Soldiers Remembered

Hundred of residents gathered at cenotaphs across the Rainy River district for Wednesday's Remembrance Day ceremonies.

In Fort Frances, Pastor Barb Miller asked that we never forget the sacrifice soldiers have made.

"May we never forgot the price that men, women and their families have paid so that we can live in freedom," said Miller. "May we generally honour them by working for peace."

Ceremonies were also highlighted by a group of young students from F.H. Huffman School reciting the poem "In Flanders Fields."

Parents Charged

The parents of two young children have been charged after OPP found the youngsters, one without clothes and the other wearing only a diaper, alone on a Kenora street.

The toddlers, aged one and two, were found around 4:30 a.m. Sunday.

Police were led to the children's home where they found the parents inside and a large quantity of marijuana.

A 42 year old man and a 38 year old woman face charges of failing to provide the necessaries of life, as well as drug trafficking charges.

The children have been turned over to Children's Aid.

Citizen of the Year Named

Fort Frances' Citizen of the Year says she's honoured but humbled by the recognition.

Diane Maxey was bestowed the honour in an announcement by Mayor Roy Avis last night.

Maxey says its an honour she accepts on behalf of the many people she works with.

"No one person ever does anything by themselves," says Maxey. "It takes many, many people. It takes a team to make anything work well. That's what I always been privileged and honoured to have with me, people who are committed and willing to do things. It's a great honour."

Maxey is best known for her development and direction of the Choraliers and the Rainy River Hand Bell Ringers

Northern Producers at Royal

There is a strong northwestern Ontario flavour to this year's Royal Winter Agricultural Fair in Toronto.

Seventeen different products from companies between Thunder Bay and Kenora are on display at this year's agricultural showcase.

Rural Agricultural Coordinator for the Rainy River Futures Development Corporation Jeannette Cawston says attendance at last year's event convince them to join forced with other communities this year.

"All of the Community Future Development Corporations are on side to send their product," says Cawston, "like Atikokan, Kenora, Thunder Bay, Dryden and Rainy River district. We have products from all those regions. So we're going there are a region and try to knock their socks off."

The fair includes a separate section for northern Ontario which Cawston says better help local producers promote their products to fair goers.

H1N1 Flu Shots Available to All

The Northwestern Health Unit is making the H1N1 vaccine available to the general public.

Acting medical officer of health Doctor James Arthurs says he feels that a majority of people in the priority groups who want the vaccine have received it, and it's times to open it up to others.

The first of a number of walk-in clinics will happen today (Tuesday) at Robert Moore School in Fort Frances.

The vaccination for pregnant women is available by appointment through the Northwestern Health Unit.

Crash Victims Identified

Two of three men who were killed in Friday's plane crash in a remote section of northwestern Ontario have been identified.

Cat Lake First Nation search coordinator Russell Wesley, says Ronald Ombash of Cat Lake and Dean Meekis, formerly of Deer Lake, were both passengers aboard the Lockhart Air Service charter plane that went down southwest of the community.

Wesley, who says he was related to both men, says their deaths are a great loss for the community and grief counselling has been made available.

The pilot has not yet been identified.

Seeding Money Announced

The province is setting aside six-million dollars to purchase $13.5-million tree seedlings for forest renewal.

Forestry Minister Michael Gravelle says the sector will eventually rebound and this will help ensure its future is strong.

He says 70 jobs will be created this winter for site preparation with another 420 planting jobs being added next summer.

Paper Machine Keeps Going

A paper machine at the AbitibiBowater mill in Fort Frances that was to shutdown at the end of October is being allowed to continue at least until the middle of December.

The extended operation of machine number six was identified in court documents filed last week as part of ongoing monitoring of the company during the creditor protection process.

A recent increase in customer orders is allowing the AbitibiBowater to continue operating the machine for up to an additional six weeks.

Pensions Up for Discussion

AbitibiBowater workers and former employees in the Fort Frances area will get an update today (Tuesday) on what's being done to protect their pensions.

Two sessions are part of a series of meetings hosted by the Communication, Energy and Paperworkers Union across eastern Canada.

Pensioners are to receive an update on what the company and union have proposed to maintain their benefits while the company restructures.

Contract talks were recently suspended until the two sides would talk with governments over the pension issue.

Deer Problems Discussed

Some residents in Fort Frances are looking for a solution to an increased presence of deer in the community.

About twenty property owners were at town council last night for a Ministry of Natural Resources presentation on the reasons behind deer being seen in town.

Helen Crook calls the damage caused by the animals a horrible problem.

"What can we do?," asked Crook. "We really need better bylaws. We need to have higher fences. We need some help. It's causing us endless amounts of trouble."

The town has a ban on the public feeding of deer, but the MNR says its going to take a couple of severe winters to help reduce the herds.

Local Sports for Monday November 9

Fort Frances Lakers dropped a pair of home games on the weekend.

Yesterday, Lakers fell 8-0 to the Fort William North Stars in game that saw 10 players ejected in the third period.

Friday, the Lakers lost 4-3 to the the K & A Wolverines in a shootout.


Fort Frances Thunderhawks were forced to cancel their weekend series with the Thunder Bay Twins.

No official reason has been given, but a published report suggests it was due in part to the Thunderhawks not having enough players officially registered with Hockey Northwestern Ontario in time to be covered by Hockey Canada insurance.

No make up dates have been announced.


The Rolling Lake Thunder and Esso Atom girls hockey teams played to a pair of ties on the weekend, 0-0 Friday and 3-3 Sunday.


In Sunday game, Annaliese Hayes with 2 and Jenna Clendenning scored for the Thunder.


Emma Nova with a pair and Maddy Morrison responded for Esso.


The Fort Frances NorFab Flames peewee girls rep team fell 6-2 to the Fort Frances Firemen peewee boys team Sunday.

Amber Jourdain and Amy Penner scored for the Flames.


Cameron Turriff led the Firemen with a hat-trick.


Austin Angus with a pair and Tanner Angus had the other goals.


Rainy River Voyageurs women's hockey team split a pair of home games against the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs.


Saturday, UMD scored three times in the third to earn a 3-2 win.


Yesterday, the Voyageurs got goals from four different players in a 4-1 win.


Sioux Lookout is the site of the NORWOSSA 'A' Playoffs today.

The Rainy River Owls junior girls basketball team is up against Red Lake this afternoon in a bid to play Kenora's Thomas Aquinas in tomorrow's final.

Atikokan's senior boys volleyball team is playing Red Lake with the winner advancing to tomorrow's final against Thomas Aquinas.

Cat Lake Plane Crash

Three people have been killed in a plane crash in a remote part of northwestern Ontario.

An official at CFB Trenton says the wreckage and bodies were spotted by a search and rescue crew Sunday evening about 20 kilometres from Cat Lake First Nation, north of Dryden.


The Lockhart Air Service charter plane with three people aboard left Sioux Lookout for Cat Lake on Friday.

The plane was reported overdue late that evening and a search was launched.

No word yet on the identities of the victims.

College Look Changing

The face of Confederation College is changing.

Seventy-per-cent of this year's first year students did not attend high school the previous year.

Coordinator of Counselling Services Jim Lees says the economy and changes within the workplace have forced many people back to school.

"We have the forest industry not doing very well and lots of people coming back into the learning environment who are into their 30's, 40's and sometimes in their 50's," says Lees. "The different generations definitely have different expectations about school. They process information differently. They have different work styles and they have very different attitudes toward authority."

Lees notes it's interesting to see the so-called baby boomer generation learning how to use a mouse alongside a generation of students who have never known a world without Internet.

More School Closures Possible

An education advocacy group says Ontario will see an unprecedented number of school closings unless funding models are updated.

In a report due out later today, People for Education says schools are threatened by an ever-shrinking school-age population due to declining birth rates.

It says 172 Ontario schools are slated or recommended to close over the next three years and another 163 are under review.

Student Leadership Fostered

A new student leadership program has been set up by the Northwest Catholic District School Board.

Education Director Mary-Catherine Kelly says they're now in the process of identifying students for the program aimed at giving them a stronger voice in their schools.

"The kids are going to get a chance to create a student leadership environment in each of our schools," says Kelly, "and be able to initiate community activities, moral and exciting activities within the culture of the school."

Kelly says plans includes bringing students from all of the schools together through a video-conference session and to a regional event in Thunder Bay in the future.

Unions Opposing Dalton Days

Ontario government unions don't want any part of Dalton Days.

The premier has raised the idea of unpaid days off for public sector workers to help deal with the province's record $25-billion deficit.

But CUPE, OPSEU and the Ontario Nurses Association say the Liberals should not try to resurrect former NDP premier Bob Rae's idea of unpaid days off -- or Rae Days.

Union leaders say there must be consultations and negotiations.

Rafferty Fighting HST

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty is on a crusade to kill the harmonized sales tax in Ontario.

Rafferty tabled a motion in the House of Commons last week calling on the federal government to cancel the $4.3 billion dollars it intends to give the province for harmonizing the PST and GST.

Rafferty is also planning to tour the province to solicit support to the motion.

"What I'm hoping we can generate some support," says Rafferty, "the same kind of anti-HST support there is out in B.C. right now to get Ontarians fire-up to really start thinking about what HST means to them and their families.

Rafferty says the planned HST will hurt seniors and those on fixed incomes the most.

Local Sports for Friday November 6

Fort Frances' newest senior hockey club will play its first game this weekend.

The Thunderhawks, which are made up of former pro, college and junior players, are hosting the Thunder Bay Twins for a pair of games.

General Manager Dean Bruyere feels the team can be competitive.

Saturday the Thunderhawks will play in Fort Frances at 6:45 p.m. and again in Emo Sunday at 1 p.m.


Fort Frances Lakers are at home for a pair of games this weekend.

Friday they face the K & A Wolverines at the Ice for Kids Arena at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday the Lakers do battle against the Fort William North Stars beginning at 3:30 p.m. in the afternoon.


Fort Frances NorFab Flames peewee girls rep team faces off against the Fort Frances Firemen Peewee boys team on Sunday.

Game time at the 52 Canadian Arena is 6 p.m.