Health Survey of Students Released

Junior and senior high school students in northern Ontario are more likely to be overweight or obese than there counterparts in southern Ontario.

Doctor Robert Mann of the Center for Addiction and Mental Health says that finding in a recent survey was somewhat surprising.

"I was a bit surprised," says Dr. Mann, "because I see the difference in the kinds of opportunities that young people have to go out and participate in unsupervised and unstructured physical activity outside in the north as compared to say in a dense, crowded, urban environment."

Mann says the survey also found a high number of students, 30 per cent, showing high rates of physiological stress.

Marriage Services Expanded

The town of Fort Frances will now offer civil marriage services in other communities.

New fees were put in place this week in response to a number of requests from non-resident couples seeking the town's marriage services.

The fees for services done in town range from $375 to $437.

Marriages performed outside the town will cost $490 plus extra costs for travel and time.

Atikokan EDC Receives Funds

The federal government is contributing $375-thousand to the Atikokan Economic Development Corporation.

The money allows the agency to offer new and existing small and medium-sized businesses repayable loans, equity and loan guarantees.

Similar funding last year helped the Corporation assist more than 17 area businesses and maintain 48 jobs.

Eye Van Visits Fort Frances

The Canadian National Institute for the Blind's Eye Van visits Fort Frances this week.

It will be located at Rainycrest Long Term Care beginning today until July 23rd.

Along with eye care services, specialized diabetes educators will be on site to provide diabetes screening.

The Fort Frances Community Clinic will also be providing lower leg assessments today and next Wednesday.

Outreach Program Gets Funds

Lakehead University will be providing science classes to kids across Northwestern Ontario for another three years.

The university received $36,000 in grant money for its outreach program.

L.U. student Brenda Magajna says the program is designed for grades 7 to 12.

"We're trying to give them a feel for what kind of things they could be doing if they went into the field of science and biotechnology," says Magajna. "We do an outbreak activity where all they are doing is exchanges pieces of paper and we discuss how germs are spread. So we're talking a little of epidemiology."

In the past, the workshops have been held in Fort Frances, Dryden and Atikokan.

Roller Derby Planned For September

The first ever roller derby game to be played in Fort Frances is being planned for this fall.

Officials with the Fort Freakshow Derby Dolls have set September 11 as a tentative date for their first game.

An opponent has yet to be determined.

Meantime, the Derby Dolls will continue fundraising efforts with its Black and Blue Ball scheduled for this Saturday night at the Fort Frances Legion.

Raw Sewage By-Passes Plant

The town of Fort Frances says it was forced to send more than 9-thousand cubic meters of untreated sewage into the Rainy River earlier this month.

The by-pass of the sewage treatment plant happened during two large rainfalls on July 1 and July 4.

Operations and Facilities manager Doug Brown says sump pumps still tied into the system were also a factor.

"We got a little scare here, but we have very little control," says Brown. "If we keep dumping our sump pumps from our ground water weeping tile systems for our foundations into the sanitary sewer system, we're still going to create these problems."

Brown says it was the first time the town has by-passed the plant since March 2006.

Abitibi Fined

Abitibi-Consolidated has been fined $125-thousand for a violation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

It relates to an August 2008 incident at the Fort Frances mill in which three people, including a student worker, were injured by an arc flash while they were working on a paper machine.

The two electricians suffered first, second and third-degree burns while the student suffered first degree burns.

The company has since implemented a number of initiatives to prevent a similar occurrence.

Smoke Free Parks Promoted

The Northwestern Health Unit is asking area municipalities to help make its parks and playgrounds smoke free.

Chair, and Fort Frances Councillor John Albanese says they're calling for signs to be erected that asks people not to smoke in areas frequented by young people.

"(It's) to discourage people from lighting up a cigarette," says Albanese. "It's not enforceable. It's just a caution for people to respect the healthy lungs these young kids have."

Albanese says several communities including Fort Frances, Emo and Dryden are supporting the voluntary initiative.

The Health Unit is paying for the signs while participating communities cover the cost of installing them.

Third Street Repairs Continue

It's going to take another two days before repairs to a sink hole on Third Street East in Fort Frances are completed.

The hole was due to a break in a sanitary sewer pipe that was discovered Saturday.

Town officials says repairs, which have led to a closure of the road between Portage and Mowatt Avenues, should be finished by tomorrow night.

College Camps for Youngsters

Confederation College's campus in Fort Frances is providing a number of educational camps for young people this summer.

The first, a beginner culinary camp, began yesterday.

Program officer Kathy Egan says it expands on a program offered last year.

"I did culinary ones last year, "says Egan, "and they were so popular that I decided to open the selection up to this age group, 11 to 15 age-group, because there appears to be a need."

Egan says some, like the sports camp, are full, but others still have some spaces available.

Mining Deal Signed

Ontario has signed a memorandum of understanding with India's Ministry of Mines.

Minister Michael Gravelle says the agreement shows that the two can work together on a broad range of mineral projects.

"We have extra-ordinary high class technological expertise which is of great interest to the mining industry in India as they begin to develop and grow that industry," says Gravelle. "We see some opportunities certainly from our perspective in terms of job creation in our mining supply and services sector."

Gravelle says the agreement will also benefit the northwest by bringing more jobs to the region.

More Ticks in Thunder Bay

Another lyme disease positive tick has been turned in to the Thunder Bay Health Unit.

The tick was plucked off of a human who picked up the tick within Thunder Bay's city limits.

It's the second positive test for Lyme disease in a tick since the health unit started monitoring and testing in 2005.

Broadband Expansion

More homes in the remote northwest will be getting high speed internet.

Federal Public Safety Minister Vic Toews says the project will be completed by the end of next year by three companies, TBay Tel, Spectrum Telecom Group, and Galaxy Broadband Communications.

There are about 45 hundred households that will benefit.

The over $8-million cost is being split between the federal and provincial governments.

Small Forest Fires Reported

Another relatively quiet weekend for forest fires in northwestern Ontario.

Just three new blazes were reported over the past three days.

One of the fires was located on an island on Lake of the Woods just north of Morson.

Life Jacket Use Promoted

The OPP Marine Unit has launched a new campaign on Lake of the Woods promoting life jacket use.

Members of the Marine Unit handed out red t-shirts over the weekend to kids proclaiming, "I got caught wearing my life jacket".

The OPP says while most of the t-shirts were handed out to youth, some adults were also rewarded.

Castin' For Cash Winners

Strong catches on both days of the tournament helped the team of Jon Evans and Gus McFaddin win Lake Despair Lodge's Castin' for Cash bass fishing tournament over the weekend.

The pair combined for a two-day weigh of 29.35 pounds of bass.

That was almost a pound more than the team of Kevin Caul and Ted Heyens who placed second.

A total of 68 teams competed.

Julian Austin to Judge Quest

One of the artists playing at this year Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship will also be a judge for the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce's Quest for the Best.

Julian Austin will join John McEvoy, B-93's own Adam Armit and a presently unnamed individual in determining the best vocalist in the Borderland July 22st

Austin's will then perform the next night with George Canyon.

Swimming Advisories Issued

The Northwestern Health Unit has issued swimming advisories at two beaches in the Rainy River district.

Warning signs were posted at Emo beach and Rainy River beach late yesterday after higher than expected levels of E-coli bacteria were discovered during routine water testing.

High e-coli levels can pose a number of health issues for swimmers, including skin, eye, nose and throat infections and gastrointestinal illness.

The advisories will remain in effect until further testing reveals more satisfactory results.

Pither's Point Park Position Outlined

The town of Fort Frances has used a high-gloss pamphlet to outline its position regarding the issues around Pither's Point Park and surrounding lands.

The pamphlet was mailed to residents this week.

It says the town has made many attempts to settle disputes with area First Nations, including offering what it claims to be a financial proposal based on fair market value, but all of its proposals have been rejected.

The town recently won a court motion to continue operating the park which First Nations are attempting to appeal.

Bears Spotted

Officials in Fort Frances say the number of bear sightings in the town are in the "normal range'' this year.

There have been 20 reported sightings since the first one back on April 30.

Garbage is a big draw for the bruins.

Officials says people can help minimize the problem by putting out their garbage on the morning of collection.

Miss Northwestern Ontario heads to Toronto

(Photo Courtesy http://feliciaschmutz.onsugar.com/)

Felicia Schmutz heads to Toronto today where she's taking part in this year's Miss Teen Canada-World Pageant.

The representative for northwestern Ontario says she's received tremendous local support in her bid for the title and is looking forward to meeting the over 60 other young women who are taking part.

"I'm just so excited because of things I've hearing about the event," says Schmutz. "On Sunday night it's going to be a whole night about Free the Children. And also meeting these girls. I've been reading their blogs and got to know them."

Schmutz says she received tremendous support from the area and sponsors who helped her make the trip.

Area residents can show they're support for Schmutz by voting for her in the people choice category by going to http://www.missteencanadaworld.com/this_year/contestants

Teaching Jobs Limited

A federal agency is suggesting the prospects of finding a teaching job in an elementary school in northwestern Ontario over the next few years will be limited.

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada says the profession currently is relatively young with only about a quarter of all teachers now employed over the age of fifty.

Declining enrolments and school closures are also cited as having on impact on job prospects.

The agency says prospects are better for teachers who willing to relocate to remote or First Nation communities or work casual or on-call.

Castin' For Cash Starts

Lake Despair Lodge, north of Devlin, kicks off its tenth annual Casting for Cash this weekend with over sixty angler teams competing in the annual bass fishing tournament.

Nellie Godin says there will be plenty of events around the two day tournament.

"After the weigh-ins on Friday evening there's a big fish-fry supper," says Godin. "There are food booths here who don't care for fish. Then there will be little music afterward. On Saturday after the weigh-ins and presentations we have some more music and dancing."

Fishing gets underway at 8 a.m. with the weigh-ins scheduled for 4 p.m. both today and tomorrow.

Access Roads in Rough Shape

The Ministry of Natural resources is advising people to use caution while travelling on resource access roads.

They say not all roads receive regular maintenance and could be a danger to travellers.

The risks include washouts, water over the road, and heavy rutting.

The advisory comes following last weekend's heavy rainfall across northwestern Ontario.

Fire Hazard Remains Low

High humidity levels are helping to control the forest fire hazard in northwestern Ontario.

Jeff Antoszek of the Ministry of Natural Resources says there is enough moisture in the air to keep forest from getting tinder dry.

"Even though it is hot and muggy out, the fire hazard isn't increasing at the same rate," says Antoszek. "In the spring time when it is very warm and dry, the fire hazard escalates very quickly."

The fire hazard in the Rainy River district is currently low.

Parade of Boats Returns

The Parade of Boats is returning to the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship.

It's being renamed the Boston Pizza Parade of Boats following a sponsorship agreement with the local restaurant operator Dale Fortes.

"When we learning it wasn't part of the Bass tournament last year we were disappointed but understood the reasons for it," says Fortes. "We have the opportunity with Boston Pizza to bring it back and make sure the fans are treated to the Parade of Boats."

As part of its commitment, the restaurant will award $1,000 in cash to the best dressed boat as voted by parade-goers.

Forest Tenure Opposed

The Ontario Forest Industry Association is calling on the provincial government to cancel its plans to reform the forest tenure process.

President Jamie Lim says it's going to have a negative impact on the forest industry.

"It's going to increase costs for the forest sector," says Lim. "It's going to reduce efficiencies. It's going to create a reduction in wood supply in the provincial and local levels. Most importantly it going to create an absolutely large degree of uncertainty."

The Association is part of a province wide coalition made up of unions, forestry groups, municipalities and business leaders voicing their opposition to the changes how the province's forest are allocated and managed.

However, the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association isn't taking a stand for or against the province's proposed reforms.

President Anne Krassilowsky says there's too diverse a forest industry for them to determine if the province's proposed changes is right for the region.

New Attorney for I. Falls

(New City Attorney Steven Shermoen with International Falls Mayor Shawn Mason)


The city of International Falls has a new attorney.

Local lawyer Steven Shermoen takes over from Joe Boyle who will retire at the end of this month.

First Nations Leader Coming to Fort Frances

A British Columbia First Nations leader, who's been identified as one of the "Top Fifty Canadian to Watch" by MacLeans Magazine is coming to Fort Frances.

Chief Clarence Louie of Osoyoos will be a keynote speaker at the Northern Networks Trade Conference hosted by the town in September.

Since 1985, Louie's leadership has helped his band become a multi-faceted corporation that owns nine businesses employing hundreds of people.

Bass Tournament Nearing

Organizers of this year's Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship are making a final push for more anglers, sponsors, volunteers and spectators.

The event will be held for the first time indoors at the Memorial Sports Centre in less than two weeks.

Chair Tom Fry says the need for volunteers is just a critical.

"There still some things happening at the Sorting Gap Marina," says Fry. "That's where the boats will be coming out and going in. All that stuff that took place before is still going to be happening but now we have to get them over to the arena and inside. It's split venue that's going to require a few more volunteers."

Fry says there's also room for more angler teams.

Those interested can register by visiting the Championship office at the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce building or by calling 274-0316.

Rain Hurting Crop Research

The weather has not been a friend to the Emo Agricultural Research Station this year.

More than 90 mm or 3.5 inches of rain has been record in early parts of July already.

Research technician Kim Jo Bliss says rainfalls this summer are having a huge impact on their
ability to conduct research.

"Our crops are showing signs of stress, turning yellow and falling down, or lodging, because of the heavy rains," says Bliss. "We're late getting our forages, our hay and pasture crops off the ground and we're still trying to plant stuff."

Bliss says the area has tile drainage, but its been unable to cope with the amount water received.

She says the full impact of the excess water won't be known until they begin collecting data later in the year.

West June

The month of June turned out to be a wet month in the Borderland.

Climatologist Sandy Radecki says the 156 millimetres of rain that fell far exceeded normal levels.

"Typically you only get about 113 mm," says Radecki. "It came in the early part of the month. The latter part of the month was fairly dry. The first part of the month is seemed as if it was rainy every other day."

In fact, the weather station at the Fort Frances airport recorded rain on 21 of 30 days last month.

The average temperature for the month was 15 C, a degree lower than normal.

Caul Bridge Work Clarified

One lane of traffic will be kept open when work crews are on site at Caul Bridge on McIrvine Road in Fort Frances this summer.

Officials with the town and White Contracting confirmed the work schedule yesterday.

Northbound traffic will be required to yield the right of way to oncoming traffic.

Crews will not be on site on weekends allowing for both lanes to open.

The rehabilitation of the bridge is expected to complete by August 20.

Ball Fields Renamed

(One of two fields at Kerry Park to be renamed)


The city of International Falls is renaming two of its ball fields after two prominent figures in the city's sports community.

The fields at Kerry Park will be renamed in honour of Roger Jerome and Roger Bolstad.

Both men died earlier this year.

Jerome was active in many sports organizations, including the men's slow-pitch league.

Bolstad was prominent figure with the city's fastball teams.

A dedication ceremony is to be held at a later date.

Weststar Aquires Land

Another mining company is about to move into the Rainy River district.

Vancouver based Weststar Resources is paying out $175-thousand and 3-million in shares to acquire claims located north of Rainy River Resources' gold project in Richardson township.

The company has started the process towards further exploration.

Beardy Chats with Queen

The Grand Chief of the Nishbawbe Aski Nation is feeling good after his meeting with the Queen.

Stan Beardy met with her majesty prior to her departure from Toronto yesterday.

He says it was important she met with him because it means she respects First Nation's treaty rights.

AbitibiBowater Restructuring Plan

AbitibiBowater could end nearly eighteen months of creditor and bankruptcy protection on October 1 if its restructuring plan wins creditor support next month.

A meeting on the plan takes place August 26.

The plan would see unsecured creditors receiving between nothing and 48 per cent when their debt is converted to equity, depending on their class.

Current shareholders will walk away empty-handed.

Others fall somewhere in between, including workers who received no severance when their mills were shut over the past year.

Lions Give the Gift of Sound

(Carter Kinnear (seated) and his mother Tammy joins with members of the Fort Frances Lions Club and Jackie McCormick of the Enhanced Learning Centre to show of his near hearing aids)


The Fort Frances Lions Club is helping an 11-year-old area boy hear many sounds for the first time.

Carter Kinnear is sporting new hearing aids, paid for in part by a two-thousand dollar donation from the club.

His mother Tammy is appreciative of the gift for her son who has a hearing defect since birth.

"It's made Carter's life completely different," says Kinnear. "His learning ability and basic skills that we take for grant, such as hearing birds chirp he's never been able to hear before; that's a new experience for him."

"It's amazing," says Carter. "I feel like I can hear everything now."

Lion's past-president Jacques Fiset says club members felt obligated to help out.

"Being that the hearing aids are needed and the Lions motto and ethics is hearing and eyesight, we decided to fill our commitment and help purchase the hearing aids for him," says Fiset.

Carter received his new hearing aids three months ago.

Extended Learning Programs Eliminated

The Rainy River District School Board won't be offering any before or after school care for students attending full-day junior kindergarten at Atikokan's North Star School this fall.

Education Director Heather Campbell says only a handful of parents expressed interest in having their children taking part which wouldn't have been financially viable for the board.

Campbell says the decision does not prevent the board from offering the extended learning programs in future years.

MP's Earning Extra?

Two northwestern Ontario M-P's are in the spotlight.

New Democrats John Rafferty and Bruce Hyer are among 150 MPs who have outside business interests that could supplement their regular salary of $151-thousand a year.

Rafferty sees nothing wrong in that.

"I don't think its unreasonable to ask a member of Parliament or someone who's doing a public service for a short period time to wind up a viable business they'll likely be going back to after the election," says Rafferty.

Rafferty adds he has not seen any income from his communications and media monitoring business since he was elected.

Tour Du Fort Back Online

A new website for Tour Du Fort is finally on line.

President Kerry Zucchiatti says among the new features of Tourdufort.com is the ability to acquire passports or tickets online, including a new pick-three option giving concert goers the ability to select shows they want to see.

"By offering a few different purchase options we're hoping music lovers will pick something convenient for them and we'll see an increase in our attendance numbers," says Zucchiatti.

Zucchiatti says the new website is part of a new marketing strategy aimed better catering to the needs of its patrons and sponsors while pursuing new ones.

Wet July

It's turning out to be a wet July in the Borderland.

The U.S. National Weather Service says more than 6.18 or 15.6 centimetres of rain has fallen at International Falls since July 1st.

That breaks the old five-day record of 6.02 inches set back in August 1942.

Environment Canada says Fort Frances has already received a third of the rain it normally gets for July.

Annexation Hearings Start Today

A hearing into two competing annexation proposals involving the cities of International Falls and Rainer and Koochiching County gets underway today.

Ranier City Council approved a plan last June which proposed to annex lands around the city.

But Falls city officials expressed concerns because it included a foreign trade zone and put forward annexation plans of their own that the area.

Today's hearing at the Koochiching Court House includes two sessions for public comment this afternoon and tonight.

Missing Man Found

OPP divers have recovered the body of a man who had been missing since Canada Day after falling out of a boat on Rainy Lake.

The body of 43-year-old Robert Mainville of Couchiching First Nation was found in an area of Duck Bay yesterday morning.

The search by provincial police had been ongoing since last Thursday night when Mainville and another man fell into the lake.

The other man, whom police have not identified, was found alive that night and taken to LaVerendrye Hospital in Fort Frances for treatment.

Highway Closed

(Submitted photo)


A large sinkhole has closed Highway 11 west of Kashabowie.

Provincial Police says the sinkhole impacts both lanes of the highway and is located about 10 kilometres west of Burchell Lake Road.

Heavy rain is to blame.

The highway is not expected to reopen until crews complete repairs sometime today.

For motorists travelling to Thunder Bay from the Fort Frances area, it means having to detour through Highway 502 and Dryden.

Rainy Weekend

Isolated thunder storms and scattered showers blanketed northwestern Ontario over the weekend

Huge rainfall amounts were recorded across region.

The highest, 13 centimetres, was recorded at a weather station in Quetico Provincial Park at the Ontario-Minnesota border.

Another weather station at Quetico's northern boundary measured rainfall at 117 millimetres.

In Fort Frances, a total of 60 millimetres of rain fell Saturday night and Sunday morning.

Flooding to be Addressed

The mayor of Fort Frances says the town is working towards eliminating flooding of the Portage Avenue underpass in the future.

Responding to questioning over last Thursday's heavy rains that led to water pooling in the underpass, Roy Avis says it's something they hope to avoid in the future.

"There is another tender that's in the process of being let to do the pumping system," says Avis. "All this ties into the work we're doing at the Fifth and Third intersections. We're rerouting the storm sewers. It was just unfortunate we got a heavy rain like we did that day and it filled up. One of the pumps didn't have the capacity to move it."

Avis says the work recently done at the underpass focused only on the roadway itself.

Atikokan Mayor Seeks Another Term

One of the Rainy River district's longest serving municipal politicians is making a bid for re-election this fall.

Atikokan's Mayor Dennis Brown says he's vying for his another term as mayor.

"There are some good times for Atikokan," says Brown. "We're entering into a time we expect much better things to happen for the community and I just simply like to be a part of it to make sure it does go the way we see lining up."


Brown has been in municipal politics for 27 years, and Atikokan's mayor since 1997.

Children's Summer Programs Begin

The Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre kicks off its summer programming for children and teens today.

Different events will be held each day in the children's area which department head Andrea Avis says is benefiting from new technology.

"We have a smart table where kids can play games," says Avis. "There's lot of learning programs that are all loaded and all of the kids are working together and having a great time with that."

There are also a number of computers where children can surf the Internet with their parents permission.

Falls Wins Tug of War

It was the Americans coming out on top in the annual tug-of-war between Fort Frances and International Falls Friday.

It appeared the Canadians would earn a three-peat, but a hard tug near the end forced Fort Frances Mayor Roy Avis and his team to concede defeat.

"It was a good challenge. We fought hard, but we didn't make this time," says Avis. "We have to let them win at least once so the challenge will go out again next year."

Speaking for the Falls side, city administrator Rod Otterness was pleased their effort and looks forward to defending the title next year.

"It is fun to win," says Otterness, "there's no question about it. But the event from our perspective was exciting. There's a real scene of drama when the rope becomes taught and everyone beginnings pulling for their respective countries."

Plane Crash in Rainy River

A number residents lined-up to watch the Canada Day parade in Fort Frances were also witness to a float plane crashing into Rainy River yesterday morning.

The plane, ended up on its side, several feet from the American side of the river, just east of the Sorting Gap Marina with only its tail and left wing showing above water.

Emergency personnel from both sides of the border responded , as well as a private boater from the Fort Frances area.

The cause of the crash or whether anyone inside the plane was injured have not yet been released.

Rain Kicks of Canada Day in Borderland

It was a wet start to Canada Day in the Borderland yesterday morning.

Environment Canada says the area received more than 6-centimetres of rain in less than three hours, turning fields into lakes, leaving some roads washed out and some basements flooded.

In Fort Frances, the torrent of water quickly filled the Portage Avenue underpass, forcing one motorist to abandon their vehicle after it stalled in the high water in an attempt to drive through it.

Crews spent several hours pumping out the water before the roadway could be re-opened.

In Koochiching County, rainfalls were measured at 3-inches shattered a July 1st record set back in 1991.

HST in Effect

Customers in Ontario are now paying the new HST tax.

The levy kicked in yesterday and while some shoppers were annoyed at paying more for services like hair cuts, others in the province welcomed the tax.

Ontario Federation of Agriculture president Bette Jean Crews says many farmers will see savings on big-ticket items like irrigation systems and farm trucks.

HST is also be blamed for sharp increases in gasoline prices.

The harmonized sales tax is also being tacked onto the cost of renting a site at provincial parks.

Ontario Parks spokesperson Bruce Van Stall Dinen don't think the extra tax will impact reservations.

Camps sites, ranging from 25 to 40 dollars previously, increased by as much as $3.00 because of the HST.

Fall vs Fort

The town of Fort Frances and the city of International Falls will be a war today - well a friendly type of war anyway.

Residents on both sides of the border are being encouraged to come out to participate in the annual Tug-of-War between the two sister communities beginning at 12 noon.

Canadians gather at the Sorting Gap Marina while American combatants will assemble at Pat Roche Landing.

Fort Frances has won the last two events.

Body Recovered from Lake

Provincial Police have recovered the body of a missing man from Rainy Lake.

An OPP dive team located the body of 24-year-old Clayton Windigo yesterday morning, not far from where he went missing.

Windigo was last seen Sunday night while diving from a bridge on Highway 11 in the area of Bear's Pass when he entered the water, but failed to resurface.

Road Closure Today

There will be more traffic detours for motorists travelling to the north end of Fort Frances today.

Fifth Street, between Portage Avenue and Cornwall, is being closed beginning at 8 this morning, re-opening around noon.

Town officials say the closure is necessary because CN Rail is removing old railway track from within the roadway.

The work is not connected with the current road improvements being done along Portage Avenue.

Complex Future Still Uncertain

Fort Frances town officials say they're still uncertain what the impact Ontario's early learning program will have on the local Children's Complex.

Children as young as young as four could be attending full-day kindergarten in Fort Frances schools by the fall of 2011.

Chair of the town's Community Services Committee Councillor Andrew Hallikas says the impact on local day care services is still unknown.

"We have had meetings with local representatives of the boards of education, provincial representatives and current child care deliverers in the district," says Hallikas, "and the full impact of these changes is not yet clear."

The province is moving to make early learning available in all schools by 2014.

Airport Hanger Questions

Town councillors are raising some questions about what's inside the hangers at the Fort Frances airport.

They arose during discussion at Monday's meeting while council approved a new lease for one of the facilities.

Mayor Roy Avis noted the hanger had been used previously used as a storage unit.

"What I've been told being on council for the past thirteen years is that they're supposed to be used for aircraft," says Avis. "If it is to stimulate use of the airport, there should be an aircraft there."

Operations and Facilities Manager Doug Brown says a clause in lease agreements prohibits the storage of items such as boats or trailers in the hangers.

More Help to Manitoba

A quiet forest fire situation in northwestern Ontario is allowing the Ministry of Natural Resources to send additional crews to battle fires in Manitoba.

Crews from Thunder Bay, Fort Frances, Pickle Lake, Greenstone and Red Lake will join five others from the East Fire region in northern Manitoba.

They join the over fifty MNR personnel who have been in the province since last week.

Quest Line-up Set

Quest for the Best now has a full slate of contestants.

A total of twenty performers will compete in the local singing show.

It's scheduled for July 22 as part of this year's Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship at the Memorial Sports Centre.

Tickets, including those for the special V.I.P. section, are now on sale at Canadian Tire or at the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce office.

Volunteers Needed

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is seeking more volunteers to help monitor the states rivers and lakes this summer.

Volunteers will be part of a program that collects information to help measure the health of the waters.

The M.P.C.A. says help is needed in a number of counties including Koochiching.

Library Under Budget

It's appearing the final tab on the new Fort Frances Library Technology Centre will come under budget.

There is still some exterior work to do, but Community Services Manager George Bell says total construction costs are still running about $63,000 less than the original budget of $4.2 million.

The cost to furnish the new facility is also under budget by about $21,000.

Official Plans Comes Back to Public

A draft of Fort Frances' official plan comes before the public for comment this week.

Consultant Greg Hynde says the document which sets out guidelines for development addresses a number of key issues.

"It does conform with the provincial policies, all of them," says Hynde, "including the growth plan. We put in some guiding principals for sustainability that he province wants in your document. We have new policies and designations for environmental protection."

The town will hold two public meetings Wednesday to gather public input.

Caul Bridge Work Changes

Repairs to the Caul Bridge in Fort Frances may not lead to a closure of McIrvine Road after all.

Operations and Facilities Manager Doug Brown says the traffic over the bridge may be reduced to just one lane when the contractor begins improvements next week.

Brown says its also been determined the upgrades will only take two weeks to complete, half of what was initially thought.

Moffat Money Awards

(Mayor Roy Avis presents Moffat Family Fund cheque to members of the Fort Frances Girls Hockey Association)


Eight Fort Frances area organizations are sharing $37,500 in funding from the Moffat Family Fund.

Mayor Roy Avis handed out cheques to the recipients at Monday's council meeting.

The recipients were the Salvation Army ($10,000), KidsSport ($8,5000), United Native Friendship Centre ($5,000), Rainy River District Festival of the Arts ($3,500), Fort Frances Museum ($3,000), Fort Frances Highlanders ($2,000), Rainy River District Air Cadets ($3,000) and Fort Frances Girls Hockey Association ($3,500).

Bernier Passes

One of the most influential politicians northern Ontario has ever seen has passed away.

Former Kenora MPP Leo Bernier died over the weekend at the age of 81.

Bernier was a Cabinet minister in the Conservative government's of Bill Davis and Frank Miller, first elected to the Ontario Legislature in 1966.

He held the Northern Affairs portfolio from 1971 until 1985, retiring from politics in 1987.

Break-in Charges Laid

An area man faces charges in connection with a break-in and theft at a First Street home in Fort Frances over the weekend.

Provincial police says the owner left her home for only a few minutes only to return to find some prescription medication was taken.

Shortly after responding to that call, police stopped a vehicle for an unrelated matter, finding the missing medication in the driver's possession.

The 28-year-old man from Watten Township will now appear in court on charges of break and enter, possession of stolen property and failing to appear.

Search for Missing Man

Provincial police are searching for a man who is feared to have drowned in Rainy Lake last night.

Police say the man was diving with friends from a bridge on Highway 11 near the area of Bear's Pass, about 20 kilometres east of Fort Frances, when he entered the water and failed to re-surface.

Marine units and other officers have been on site since, but have been unable to locate the missing man.

His identify is known, but police are not released his name at this time.

Relays for Life Set Fundraising Record

(Eighty-five cancer survivors kicked off the Fort Frances Relay for Life with the traditional first lap)


A record-setting year for the Canadian Cancer Society with its Relay for Life fundraisers across northwestern Ontario.

The 440-thousand dollar mark was surpassed Friday with 21 teams participating in the Fort Frances event raising more than 54-thousand.

The Society's Fundraising Coordinator Margaret Saville says it was most ever raised through the 12-hour walks.

"That is truly an inspiration to all and I'm so grateful for all of the communities to come together to pull this off because it is amazing," says Saville.

Four teams at the Fort Frances event were near or above the $4,000 mark with Madison Degagne the top fundraiser collecting over $2,400.

I. Falls Celebrates Mill's 100th

(Boise's International Falls Mill Manager Bert Brown (left) joins with company president Alexander Toeldte to mark the mill's 100th year in operation)


One hundred years of paper making in International Falls was celebrated Friday.

Employees and their families and area residents gathered at Smoky Bear Park for festivities.

Mill Manager Bert Brown says it's the people that have helped keep the mill going for the past century.

"Really the cornerstone of the mill is the people," says Brown. "It's people inside the mill. It's relations they've built both inside and outside the mill and it's the community."

The mill opened in June 1910 under the guise of Minnesota and Ontario Paper Company, four years before the Fort Frances operation.

Water Restrictions In Effect Today

Water restrictions for Fort Frances and Couchiching First Nations go into effect today.

Operations and Facilities Manager Doug Brown says the measures are necessary because of a inspection of the water tower.

Brown says they'll be look at a paint-job done inside the tank two years is holding up.

The restrictions will last for three weeks with non-essential water use limited to homes on an odd-even day basis.

New Plan for Medical School

The Northern Ontario Medical School has unveiled a new strategic plan for the next five years.

Dean Dr. Roger Strasser says it focuses on five key areas including improving education, research and the learning environment along with keeping faculty happy.

"I've think we've set ourselves ambitious, but realistic and achievable goals over the next five years," says Strasser.

Strasser says the ultimate goal is to have the school recognized internationally.

BIA to Lose Coordinator

The Fort Frances Downtown Business Improvement Association is moving ahead without the services of a full-time coordinator.

B.I.A. members decided at a recent meeting to let its long-time coordinator Patti Anderson go at the end of July.

Chair Connie Cuthbertson says its part of their restructuring plan.

"She's done a fabulous job for us," says Cuthbertson, "but it really comes down to us needing to have more money to do more projects. She's very graciously understood our position all along. It's just a necessity at this time."

Cuthbertson says it's hoped the money saved can be used for other projects promoting downtown businesses.

Abattoir Get Award

The Rainy River District Regional Abattoir in Emo has been honoured by the province with a Premier's Awards for Agri-food innovation excellence.

Board president Steve Lowshaw accepted the award during a ceremony in Thunder Bay yesterday.

"It's very humbling and satisfying to see the recognition that was given to the work we've put into that innovation," says Lowshaw. "The next steps are to continue developing further markets, processing in the area. Help sustain and develop the agriculture industry with that facility."

The Abattoir has been in operation since February.

Boise Celebrates

Boise is celebrating 100 years of paper manufacturing in International Falls today.

The mill is holding celebrations at Smokey Bear Park with both Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty and Congressman Jim Obestar expected to attend.

The first paper was made at the mill on June 6, 1910.

Relay For Life in Fort Tonight

Organizers of Fort Frances' Relay for Life are promising the fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society to be the most exciting its ever been.

It's being held tonight at Fort Frances High School.

Committee member John Homer says they also have an indoor option if the weather turns nasty.

"We have access to the gym," says Homer, "and we will be inside the gym if it rains. That's one of the great things about this new venue. As much as the (Pither's) Point was a great place. If it rained, we had to be outside in the rain. We don't have to be there this year."

Opening ceremonies will begin at 6 p.m. with the survivor's walk kicking off the 12-hour event at 7 p.m.

Graduation for Fort High

It was a time to offer congratulations for graduating students from Fort Frances High School last night

One-hundred and 33 students received diplomas at ceremonies held at the Memorial Sports Centre last night.

Principal Al McManaman says area residents should feel proud of the class of 2010.

"I look back at the good things the kids did in terms of doing well on their assignments and tests" says McManaman. "We have a good group of kids representing our community who shown through community service and raising money for the Haitian relief effort. That kind of thing shows really well for our student body and our community."

Shane Beck was this year's valedictorian.

Alberton Accepts Group Homes

Alberton township council is to allow group homes within certain parts of its township.

Council approved changes to its zoning by-law Wednesday night - almost a year after Weechi-ti-win Family Services' failed attempt to relocate its training and learning center to the community.

Councillor Mike Ford says the changes are not about restricting anyone from setting up a home in the future.

"This is just about land," says Ford, "how land is used now - how land is used in the future. It's not dealing with what's on the land or who's on the land."

Group homes will be permitted in areas zoned rural or rural residential, but must meet certain criteria.

New Arena Planned for Atikokan

The town of Atikokan is looking to replace its arena.

Mayor Dennis Brown says a leak from the nearby swimming pool four years ago is believed to have caused damaged to the arena's ice surface, and doesn't think spending half-a-million dollars to fix the problem makes good sense.

"Because of the age of the arena and other things that need replacing, such as the boards, glass and refrigerated floor system, we should instead build a new arena," says Brown.

Brown says they're looking at an 800-seat facility that may include a fitness centre and walking track and attached the existing pool facility.

Costs are estimated at between $5-and-7-million.

Moose Research

Researchers from Ontario and Minnesota are gathered in International Falls Thursday to discuss the future of moose in their areas.

The one-day symposium examined the issues impacting moose populations such as climate change, disease and environment.

Hunter Fined

A Timmins, Ontario man has been banned from hunting for one year after being found guilty of shooting a deer on private property.

Sylvain Gravel was charged last year.

Court was told he admitting to shooting the deer to a Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officer who was investigating a complaint of a hunter trespassing on private land near Split Rock Road in Sifton township, northeast of Fort Frances.

Gravel was also fined three-thousand dollars.

Canada Day Preparations

Canada Day festivities are shaping up in the town of Fort Frances.

Organizer Dawn Booth says they have a full schedule of events planned for next Thursday, thanks in part to the response received in a call for help last month.

"Considering six weeks ago we were pretty much done and over with, we've made a pretty positive turn," says Booth. "Hopefully it will continue in this fashion and this year we'll be successful and next year we'll continue to grow."

The planning committee is now seeking entrants for the Canada Day parade which will run back along the Fort Frances waterfront.

Rainy River H.S. Graduation Held

The class of 2010 at Rainy River High School was recognized at graduation ceremonies held at the high school Wednesday night.

A total of 33 students received diplomas.

Principal Jim Chorney says the year overall was a positive one for the graduating students.

"We've introduced some new programs," says Chorney, "like our outdoor education program which has been a big hit and will hopefully continue to grow. Hopefully they have all matured and all enjoyed the year and ready for the next step."

Alica Joduin was this year's valedictorian.