Thunder Bay Teen Dies in Accident

A Thunder Bay teen is dead after a fatal accident on Highway 71 in Sioux Narrows.

OPP says a vehicle lost control early yesterday morning, rolled and ejected the driver.

18-year-old Nicholas Corrigan died at the scene.

Missing Thunder Bay Man Found Dead

The search for a 69-year-old man from Thunder Bay has ended tragically.

Illinois State Police say both Ed Spakowski and his dog were found dead yesterday.

The circumstances surrounding the death aren't known, but police do not believe anything suspicious.

Spakowski disappeared last week after picking up an RV in Elkhart, Indiana to drive back to Thunder Bay.

More Forest Fires Reported

The forest fire situation in the Rainy River district is quiet, but continues to heat up in the Far north.

Three new fires were reported yesterday with 73 still active, almost all north of the Red Lake and Sioux Lookout areas.

Fires have burned over 105-thousand hectares so far this season, more than twice the ten year average.

Health Unit Report Card

The Northwestern Health Unit is giving itself top marks in the release of a new public health report card.

The report outlines a variety of programs and the progress made in improving people's health.

CEO Mark Perrault feels they're doing very well in meeting that objective.

"Through restructuring which has saved money we've actually improved our services," says Perrault, "and we're delivering more programs now than we did three years ago."

One of the highlights from 2010 was the health unit's unconditional accreditation from the Ontario Council on Community Health Accreditation.

New Northwest Cancer Plan

Regional Cancer Care Northwest is embarking on a four year cancer plan.

Vice President Michael Power says it will include a new integrated cancer screening program.

"We're buying a new OBSP (Ontario Breast Screening Program) coach where we will add not only breast screening mammography," says Power, "but will also offer pap testing for cervical cancer screening as well as colorectal cancer screening through the distribution of kits."

Cancer Care Northwest also plans to start a new Palliative Care Program.

New Wood Logo

There's new logo being attached to Ontario lumber.

It's to help consumers to see if the wood they buy is manufactured in this province.

Marianne Berube of Ontario Wood Works says until now, people couldn't tell.

"This follows like Agriculture Ontario and it's 'Good Things Grow in Ontario,' says Berube. "This is somewhat like a segue since that has been so successful why don't we do it for our wood products."

The logo will be placed on wood products, including lumber, flooring and furniture.

Highway Closure

A section of Highway 71 has been closed because of a traffic accident.

There are no details of the accident yet available, but OPP say it happened about 6:30 a.m. this morning on the Highway at Frickas Road in Sioux Narrows.

No word when that section of the highway will be reopened.

Deer Lake Evacuated

Nearly 500 residents of the remote community of Deer Lake are being evacuated because of a nearby forest fire.

The province is co-ordinating with federal and defence officials to evacuate residents whose health is most at risk.

The more than 480 residents will be airlifted to Geraldton.

New Fire in Rainy River District

Just one new forest fires being reported in the Rainy River district.

The less than one-hectare lightning-caused fire is burning near Mayhew Lake, northeast of Atikokan.

The Ministry of Natural Resources has classified it as being under control.

Thunder Bay Man Missing

Authorities are looking for a Thunder Bay man who drove to Indiana to pick up an R-V, but never returned home.

Police in Thunder Bay and Indiana know that Ed Spakowski made it to the Elkhart RV factory on June 30 and picked up the unit, but did not get on the toll road heading home.

Police say there's also no indication Spakowski has come back into Canada.

Home First Expansion Proposed

The Northwest Local Health Integration Network wants to expand its Home First program for seniors in the region.

The program is aimed at trying to get people, now in a hospital bed, back home.

CEO Laura Kokochinski says it's part of a broader provincial initiative.

"That we're moving in that direction," says Kokochinski, "that people will not wait any longer in an acute hospital where there's lots of bacteria and virus floating around and people can actually get sometimes sicker while waiting in a hospital. So it's to take them back to their home environment where they'll wait."

Kokochinski says enhancing home care services and putting in supportive housing also helps build toward the Home First philosophy.

Ride for Memories

The Alzheimer Society of Kenora-Rainy River has started the planning for its annual Ride for Memories and poker derby.

Executive Director Lynn Moffitt says this year's motorcycle rider will have start locations in Kenora, Dryden, Sioux Lookout and Fort Frances.

"And they meet up along the ride," says Moffitt. "The host location for the awards ceremony and dinner will be at the Adventure Inn in Fort Frances."

Money raised is used to help fund various patient programs.

Registration packages for the August 27 event can be obtained at the Adventure Inn or by visiting the agencies website at www.alzheimerkrr.com.

Loggers Concerns Still in Court

Another court will now rule on whether Minnesota loggers can continue working during the government shutdown.

A Koochiching County judge last week granted a temporary restraining order allowing loggers to continue harvesting timber.

But the State's Supreme Court is backing a request by the Department of Natural Resources to have the case assigned to the same judge who determined which agencies would be allowed to work through the shutdown in a separate case.

It's unclear when the case will now be heard.

Economic Development Funding

The Atikokan Economic Development Corporation is receiving half-a-million dollars in federal funding.

The money allows the EDC to carry out loan programs aimed at helping small and medium sized businesses in the community.

Similar funding last year helped the Corporation provide assistance to 18 businesses that created or maintained 51 jobs.

Boating Accident

A close call for three teens on Lake of the Woods.

OPP say the girls were in a boat heading to a camp near Kenora when the operator lost control causing one of the girls to be thrown into the water and be struck by the prop of the motor.

The girl was pulled from the water and taken back to Kenora where she was transported to hospital for treatment of injuries to her neck and head.

Active Forest Fire Day

The Ministry of Natural Resources experienced one of its busiest days yesterday this forest fire season.

Twenty-seven new fires popped up as a result of Monday night's storm that brought a lot of lightning.

One of the new fires is located just west of Lac La Croix First Nation.

It's less than a hectare in size.

Sixty-five fires are now active in northwestern Ontario.

Hydro Still Out

About two hundred residents living to the east of Atikokan are still without power this morning.

The outage was caused by Monday's storm.

Hydro One says it hopes to have electricity restored to that area by this afternoon.

Building Demolition Continues

The clean-up of a burned out building in downtown International Falls could be complete by the end of this week.

The former Ace Hardware Store was razed last week.

The rubble is expected to be moved from the site starting today.

Demolition costs are being borne by the building's owners, but the city has agreed to use $15-thousand, initially set aside for safety barriers, toward the work.

RRDSSAB Tries to Fill Home

The Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board is making homes, originally constructed for low-income aboriginal people in Atikokan, also available to non-natives.

Assistant Housing Manager Michelle Shute says it's a move designed to help occupy the homes.

"The Atikokan Native Non-Profit Homes has had a history of high vacancy rate," says Shute. "The Rainy River DSSAB, as a property manager for Atikokan Native, has attempted to increase tenancy by promotion and communication with other local agencies but their vacancy rate continues to be quite high."

Just four of seventeen homes are currently occupied.

New Plant Operator Selected

The town of Atikokan has handed its water and sewage treatment plants over to a new operator.

Red Lake-based Northern Waterworks took over from Ontario Clean Water Agency last Friday.

Mayor Dennis Brown says cost was the biggest factor.

"Northern Waterworks came through with a much cheaper proposition that we couldn't turn down," says Brown. "They basically were about $90-thousand a year cheaper than OCWA. That's substantial."

Brown says the change should have virtually no impact on residents use of the services.

Housing Fundraising Continues

Fundraising continues on a new home to be used by locums provided emergency room coverage at Rainy River Health Centre.

Rainy River Mayor Deb Ewald says they've raised about 30-thousand dollars so far.

"We're looking at sending out the pledge forms and that kind of thing," says Ewald. "We have one more public presentation on (Wednesday) in Morson. After that it's more fundraising."

The estimated cost of construction for the duplex unit is about $500-to-600 thousand.

Concert Hailed A Success

(Irvin N. Anderson Amphitheatre)

The final numbers are being counted, but the city of International Falls is hailing Saturday's opening of the Irvin N. Anderson Amphitheatre a huge success.

As many as three thousand people were expected for the concert featuring the Canadian rock group Loverboy.

Both city police and fire officials says no problems were reported.

The warm weather did result in a lot of thirsty patrons.

Mayor Shawn Mason says the Rotary Club sold a total of 37 and a half kegs of beer - the most they've sold at any event.

Tornado Warning Issued

(File photo)
A system that brought heavy rain and lightning to the Rainy River district last night also resulted in a tornado warning from Environment Canada.

It came about 9 p.m. and covered areas including Fort Frances, Emo and Rainy River.

Meteorologist Ria Alsen says a report from an individual in Devlin prompted the warning.

"He thought it was a funnel cloud," says Alsen. "He couldn't actually see it touching the ground so we're not actually sure it was an actual tornado. With the funnel cloud report and given the strong thunderstorm cells we were seeing on radar, it was enough reason to issue the tornado warning for the regions near Devlin and Fort Frances. In fact the cell was headed right for Fort Frances at that time, so we put out the warning right way."

No sirens were sounded by emergency personnel in Fort Frances because no actual signs of a tornado could be identified.

Weather Record Set

At least one weather record was broken yesterday.

Atikokan's high of 33.4 C shattered the old mark of 31.8 C set back in 1988.

Fort Frances hit 31.2 C, just shy of the 1988 mark of 31.5 C.

Border Issues Discussed

There was a brief discussion over the weekend on how to improve access across the Canada U-S border.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River M-P John Rafferty says his brief talk with Minnesota Senator Al Franken in International Falls set the stage for broader discussions in the near future.
"We've made a plan to get together as soon as we can," says Rafferty. "Possibility later this month or in October when the U.S. Senate is back in Washington."

Rafferty says Franken was well understanding of the issues, including the turn-back of American tourists with often decades old drunk driving charges.

More Lake Enforcement

An enforcement of fishing and camping regulations on Lake of the Woods has resulted in twenty-six charges and another 39 warnings against anglers.

The blitz by Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officers came last weekend.

Patrols conducted included the southern part of the lake toward Morson, Nestor Falls and the mouth of the Rainy River.

Over one hundred resident and 260 non-resident anglers were checked.

Charges included having too many fish, fishing without a license and fishing with an extra line.

At least one charge was laid for camping without a permit.

Liberals Released Education Progress Report

Ontario's Liberals say gains that have been made in education since they took office could be lost if they lose the election.

Education Minister Leona Dombrowsky says the Progressive Conservatives have dismissed the idea of full-day kindergarten in the past as a frill.

She says the Tories are only promising to keep it now because it's the politically smart thing to do _ yet they haven't given any details about their plan.

The progress report on education is one of several updates the Liberals are planning before the election campaign officially begins at the end of the summer.

Power Restored

Power has been restored to over two thousand Hydro One customers in the west end of the Rainy River district.

They lost electricity shortly after midnight this morning.

An equipment failure is blamed for the outage that impacted several areas, including the town of Rainy River, the townships of Morson and Morley and Big Grassy and Big Island First Nations.

July 4th Celebrations in International Falls

Plenty of activities to held celebrate the 4th of July in International Falls

Food and game booths as well as craft tables will open at Smokey Bear Park at 11 a.m.

A Kiddie’s Parade will begin at 12:30 p.m. running along Third Street from Ninth Avenue to Third Avenue.

The main parade goes at 1 p.m. on Third Street from Twelfth Avenue to Third Avenue.

Fireworks will begin at 10 p.m. over the area between Falls High School and Rainy River Community College.

Fort Wins! Fort Wins! Fort Wins!

Fort Frances has retained bragging rights for at least a year after winning the International Pulling for Peace Tug of War Saturday over International Falls.

Fifty people on both sides of the Rainy River participated in the friendly challenge.

Mayor Roy Avis says it was a great event.

"It was a very good day," says Avis. "There's no real winner. It's a pull for peace. We all enjoyed it. We had tremendous turnout, tremendous community support. It was great."

The Americans took the loss admirably, but attributed it to a gravel and slanted ground, compared with the grass on the Canadian side.

Facilities Officially Open

(Voyageurs National Park Superintendent Mike Ward at official opening)

The new headquarters for Voyageurs National Park and the Irvin N. Amphitheater were officially open Saturday with ceremonies and a concert in International Falls.

Park superintendent Mike Ward says it brings much more visibility to the park.
"For us it means great efficiency. A fabulous building to work out of for a long, long time," says Ward. "It's also got a symbolic link to the city for us working together on a project in a tangible way. Everybody can see it's a a building we're going to be in for a long time."

The headquarters and amphitheatres are part of a much larger waterfront development project the city has also dedicated in honour of long time former U-S congressman James Oberstar.

Former Mayor Dies

Funeral services were held Saturday for a former International Fall mayor.

Jack Murray died last Tuesday.

He was 89.

Murray, a marine aviator during World War II in the Pacific, held office for 28 years, 14 as mayor.

Falls Mayor Shawn Mayor calls him a great leader who will be missed.

Government Services Shutdown

Minnesota's state government has shut down non-essential services.

District 3 Senator Tom Saxhaugh says it could be at month or more before some kind of resolve can be found over the State budget.

"It's the same old argument," says Saxhaugh. "Are you going to do the whole thing with cuts to your budget or are you going to raise some revenue? That combination is really where the crux of the matter lies."

Governor Mark Dayton and Republican leaders have been at odds for six months on how to solve a five-billion dollar deficit.

Court Yards Open

Rainycrest Long Term Care gave area residents a look at their new court yards Thursday as part of a staff and volunteer appreciation bar-b-que.

They include flower beds, gardens and benches.

Administrator Edith Bodnar says they're well utilized.

"The residents love them. The families love them," says Bodnar. "They like to go out there and sit on the benches. As we get more furniture I'm sure they'll be used much more."

The court yards were installed as part of other renovations to the home completed last year.

Mini King and Queen Crowned

(Photo courtesy Mike Anderson)

Some royalty of our own on Canada Day.

Fort Frances youngsters Liam Dent and Piper Lidkea were named this year Mini King and Queen.

A total of twenty boys and girls participated.

Tug of War of Words

A "friendly" war of words is being waged in advance of the International Pulling for Peace tug of war between International Falls and Fort Frances.

America's captain, former Minnesota Viking great Matt Blair, complains Canada's team doesn't have enough women on its squad.

Fort Frances councillor Rick Wiedenhoeft counters with accusations of a lack of homegrown talent on the U.S. team.

"The celebrities on the Fort Frances team are all from Fort Frances," says Weidenhoeft. "where International Falls brought in celebrities from across the state of Minnesota so he has nothing to protest about."

The "friendly" tug of war competitions go this Saturday.

Time of Use Billing Explained

Fort Frances Power Corporation customers will soon be getting more information about changes to their hydro bills.

CEO Jorge Ruppenstein says they're in the process of transitioning residential and small businesses customers onto the new time-of-use billing system.

"Our big users will be staying on the existing rate structure," says Ruppenstein. "We were not mandated to transition large customers to time-of-use rates."

Ruppenstein says pamphlets explaining the new billing system will soon be mailed out to customers.

Volunteer Firefighters Get Pay Hike

The town of Fort Frances is revising the pay received by its volunteer firefighters.

They'll now receive an hourly rate that's equal to that of a fourth-class firefighter.

The increase moves the current rate of $20.70 an hour to $22.42.

The wage for new hires will be 70 per cent of the new rate for a one year period.

There are about twenty volunteer firefighters now with the Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Service.

Moffat Funding Distributed

Nine groups will share in more than $37-thousand from Winnipeg's Moffat Foundation.

The largest share, $8,500, is going to the Salvation Army for the purchase of bedding, blankets and mattresses for people in need.

The town of Fort Frances is getting $5,800 to purchase new equipment at Sunny Cove Camp.

Five-thousand dollars was given to the group coordinating the community garden in Fort Frances.

The Fort Frances Highlanders Pipes and Drums, the 908 Rainy Lake Air Cadet Squadron and Friends of Little League also received funds.

Visitor Restrictions Lifted

Visitor restrictions at Rainycrest Long Term Care have been lifted.

The Fort Frances home put restrictions in place two weeks ago due to an increase in the number of cases of gastroenteritis.

Although the restrictions are lifted, the home is still advising the public to take precautions when visiting and recommends people with flu-like symptoms not to visit at all.

Housing Funds

The cities of International Falls and Littlefork are receiving State funds to help upgrade the homes of some low-to-moderate income families.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development is proving over $346-thousand toward the program that's coordinated by Kootasca Community Action.

It will help upgrade about 14 homes in the two cities.

Shuttle Service to Concert Available

Organizers of the July 2 concert in International Falls featuring Loverboy will be providing some help for concertgoers to get to the event.

City councillor Tim McBride says shuffle service will be available at the Falls Chamber of Commerce office.

"We will have some cab shuttle service going on most of the day," says McBride, "beginning shortly after 2 p.m. until the end of the concert. It won't be that much of a wait time. You should be able to get on a cab, a van or small bus and get back to your destination.

McBride says people may also bring folding chairs and blankets, but coolers will not be permitted.

Atikokan Canoer Reaches Northwestern Ontario

An Atikokan man on a cross country canoe trip is close to reaching his hometown.

Mike Ranta is paddling the Voyageurs route.

He began his journey in late April from Rocky Mountain House, British Columbia.

Ranta is doing it to raise awareness about the Atikokan youth centre.

"I'm just trying to instill in the kids there that through hard work and some dedication and being true and honest, there's nothing we can't do in their lives," says Ranta. "If we don't set out mind to it, we can't do it."

He hopes to reach Atikokan on Canada Day and conclude the trip in Montreal in August.

Child Care Agencies Set to Merge Friday

The merger of two child care agencies in northwestern Ontario should be complete this week.

Kenora-Patricia Child and Family Services is joining forces with Family and Children Services of Rainy River July 1.

The new agency will be known as Kenora-Rainy River Districts Child and Family Services

The amalgamation was supposed to be complete in April, but some financial issues held up the merger.

Liberals Holding Off on Election Platform

Premier McGuinty says the Liberal election platform will be released "in the fullness of time."

The Tories and New Democrats have issued platforms for the October 6 election but McGuinty says he's in no hurry to join them.

The premier says when it comes, the Liberal platform will be a "natural extension" of what his government has been doing over the last eight years to strengthen public services and the economy.

Liberals Optomistic - Auditor General

Ontario's Auditor General says the Liberal government's plan to slash the increase in annual spending by almost 400 per cent is too optimistic.

The Liberals have increased spending about seven per cent a year since they were first elected in 2003, but in this year's budget said they would slash it to 1.8 per cent annually.

Auditor General Jim McCarter says the Liberals' estimates are based on optimistic assumptions when they are supposed to be more cautious and less risky.

More Female Candidates Needed

A national organization is warning there aren't enough women running in the fall election to improve female representation in Ontario politics.

Equal Voice says only 28 per cent of the nominated candidates to date are women.

The Liberals have 23 candidates compared with the NDP's 20 and Conservatives 19.

Cash Lottery Nearly Sold Out

Riverside Foundation for Health says tickets for its Canada Day Cash Lottery are nearly gone.

90 per cent of tickets have been sold with the top prize of 10-thousand dollars to be given out on Canada Day.

Volunteers will be selling tickets this week during Mall Days in Fort Frances and on Canada Day.

They can also be obtained by calling the Foundation office.

Catholic Board Faces Budget Shortfall

The Northwest Catholic District School Board will begin the next school year with a sizable deficit.

Superintendent of business Chris Howarth says the more than $930-thousand shortfall was brought upon by increasing expenses and declining revenues from the province.

"Unfortunately we had to trim the literacy coach teaching position in the school which saved approximately half-a-million dollars," says Howarth. "We were able to maintain all of our other programs and we were actually able to expand a few of them where we could. The province is in difficult fiscal times and this is kind of a reflection of that."

Four-and-a-half positions will be eliminated with the end of the Literacy coach program.

Building to Fall

The city of International Falls is giving owners of a burned out downtown building five days to have its torn down.

Mayor Shawn Mason says council decided it should not be the city's responsibility for tearing down the former Ace Hardware building.

"It was the Corporation that made the decision not to purchase insurance from an insurance carrier," says Mason, "so therefore they are self-insured and the taxpayers should not bear the burden of this cost."

The city is also giving owners an additional nine days to removal the rubble.

Demolition started Monday.

Union Gas Hikes

Union Gas Customers in northwestern Ontario can expect to see higher bills starting July 1st.

It's because of changes in the cost of natural gas.

The increase will mean an average of $46.00 extra a year for Fort Frances customers.

Union Gas's customers elsewhere in northwestern Ontario will see about a $44.00 a year increase.

NDP Releases Platform

Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath thinks her election platform will appeal to a broader base than that traditionally targeted by her party.

Horwath, who released the bulk of her party's promises for the fall election on the weekend, describes it as a practical approach that deals with the concerns of people across all political spectrums.

OPP Youth Camp Opens

Forty youth from across northwestern Ontario have gathered at Sunny Cove Camp in Fort Frances for the Ontario Provincial Police's annual summer camp.
Constable Anne McCoy says it's aimed at young people who may not get such an opportunity otherwise.

"And helping them with team building, mentoring opportunities, self-esteem building exercises," says McCoy, "and spending some time together in a none-crisis type of situation."

The youth will take part in a variety of events during the week.

Relay for Life - Fort Frances

Nearly two hundred people took part in the Relay for Life fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society in Fort Frances on the weekend. Chair Duane Cridland says over $68-thousand was raised. "A real great successful (event)," says Cridland. "Fort Frances again showing its true colours when it comes to donating and getting behind the spirit of a good cause." The event was highlighted by an impromptu Cuts for Cancers event which raised about $10-thousand.

Gold-Silver Deposit Discovered

A mining company doing work north of Barwick is reporting the discovery of a new gold and silver deposit.

Bayfield Ventures released details of it find in a news release this morning.

The company says it was discovered during recent drilling done to determine the extent of gold and silver mineralization in its so-called Burns block, found last year.

The property is located adjacent to the Rainy River Resources gold project.

Fire Fight Continues

Fire crews are working round-the-clock to stop a raging wildfire from reaching the Mishkeegogamang First Nation near Pickle Lake.

The fire is blazing out-of-control about nine kilometres east of the community.

It's been burning for two weeks and now covers 577 square kilometres -- doubling its size over the weekend.

Residents were evacuated to Sioux Lookout, Geraldton and Ignace last week because of smoke.

Company Faces Order in Industrial Accident

A total of eight work orders have been issued to a Sudbury company after a fatal industrial accident near Thunder Bay Friday.

Tera North Construction is facing the orders issued by the Ministry of Labour after a 24-year-old man fell from a scissor lift.

The accident happened while the company doing work at a bridge on the Trans Canada Highway.

Cops Want Improvements to Mental Health Services

Ontario's police chiefs want the McGuinty government to boost mental health services.

They say an ever growing number of people with mental health problems are getting into trouble with the law, forcing police to spend more and more time doing work that should be assigned to health care workers.

Relay for Life - Rainy River

Another huge fundraising total for Relay for Life in in Rainy River.

About a dozen teams raised more than $37-thousand in this past weekend's fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society.

The event included a Cuts for Cancer event that collected about $2,700.

First Nations Community Evacuated

A raging wildfire has prompted the Chief of Mishkeegogaming First Nation to order the evacuation of the entire community near Pickle Lake.

About 150 residents are now in Geraldton, 195 in Sioux Lookout and 105 in Ignace.

The fire is burning 15 kilometres east of New Osnaburgh, and has grown to 300 square kilometres.

Drownings Report Released

A team looking at last summer's drowning deaths in Ontario has made 12 recommendations to try to prevent such needless tragedies.

Topping the list -- learning to swim, avoiding alcohol while swimming and boating, wearing a life-jacket and closely supervising children around water.

Two drownings involving Fort Frances area men were part of incidents reviewed.

Relay for Life - Fort Frances

Almost twenty teams will participate in a Relay for Life event at Fort Frances High School tonight.

Committee member John Homer says the public can also come out to help support the teams or take in the festivities.

"Everybody is invited, you don't have to be from Fort Frances," says Homer. "Come on down and get out for this event. Bring a little bit of cash. We're going to have pulled-pork sandwiches and all kinds of stuff going on. The teams are selling bracelets and all kinds of other things so come on down."

Homer is also encouraged by the number of young people taking part this year.

Relay for Life - Rainy River

Relay for Life is also taking place Friday night at Riverview School in Rainy River.

Organizer Andrew Hartnell says they have twelve teams signed up.

"We have different team competitions," says Hartnell. "We give each other points and whoever gets the most points at the end of the night gets a prize. We have a bunch of entertainment. We have karaoke. We have different singers, belly dancers and different kinds of competitions throughout the night to keep everyone busy."

A Cuts for Cancers event is also planned.

Community Garden Underway

Planting is well underway at a community garden in Fort Frances.

Becky Holden of the Northwestern Health Unit says all plots are spoken for, but they are still taking names.

"We are bringing a couple of raised beds out," says Holden, "and just in case anyone changes their mind. People have until the end of June to plant their beds before we take them off our list. If anyone is interested, we encourage them to contact me."

An official opening for the town's first-ever garden happen Thursday night.

Back-to-Work Debate On

Debate on the back to work legislation is underway in the House of Commons.

MP's were to head home Friday, but debate on the bill to end Canada Post's lock-out of its workers isn't likely to come to an end sometime Saturday.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty says he can't support the bill.

"We have a government that believes it's okay to look into collective agreements," says Rafferty, "get rid of collective bargaining, lock workers out and then to bring forward back-to-work legislation, that if you read it, is disastrous for postal workers and good for Canada Post."

Rafferty says he won't have his say on the bill until today or early Saturday morning.

Wood Supply Alloted

AbiBow Canada's mill in Fort Frances has secured a new wood supply from the province.

General Manager for its Ontario operations Roger Barber says they'll receive 317-thousand cubic metres of wood annually.

"It includes merchantable softwood fibre for our pulp and paper facility," says Barber, "as well as unmerchantable fibre that will become biomass as a feed stock for our biomass boiler."

Barber says the supply provides the mill with more long term security and a better fibre cost structure.

Enforcement Blitz

Nineteen charges and 18 warnings were made during an enforcement blitz earlier this month by the Ministry of Natural Resources in the Fort Frances area.

Nearly 800 people were checked during the June 11 inspection conducted on Highway 11 in Couchiching First Nations.

Most of them were out-of-town residents.

The charges and warnings were for such things as over-limits, improperly packaged fish and fish that could not be easily identified.

Mine Centre School

(Mine Centre School principals, past and present, gathered recently to bid farewell to old facility)

Students attending Mine Centre School in September might be starting the school year in the existing school.

A new school is being constructed, but officials with the Rainy River District School Board say it may not be complete by the time students return in the fall.

School staff have been instructed to prepare to begin the new year in the current facility.

New City Manager

Dryden has a new City Manager.

Joe van Koeverden will assume his new duties July 11.

He's currently the regional director for Northwestern Ontario at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing in Thunder Bay.

Colleges Budget Approved

The trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system have approved a budget that raises tuition, cuts programs and eliminates positions.

Tuition at the State's 25 colleges, including Rainy River in International Falls, will go up an average of nearly 4 per cent.

Overall, the system will operate with about $76-million less than it had in the current fiscal year, primarily because of anticipated cuts in state aid.

Golf Tournament Looks For More Golfers

The RBC Charity Golf Classic at Heron Landing Golf Course this Saturday is in search of more participants.

The event raises money for the Fort Frances Community Chest.

Spokesperson Joelle Blanc says it's an important program to the Rainy River District.

"We're here to help people in medical emergencies," says Blanc. "If they're sent to Winnipeg, Thunder Bay or elsewhere, we can help them maybe with hotel accommodations or meals while they are there with their loved ones."

Teams or individuals can register by calling Lisa at 274-7271.

DARE Wraps Up

OPP have wrapped up its DARE program.

Graduation ceremonies and a dance were held Tuesday night for the final group of students from the Fort Frances area who participated in the program aimed at making youth more aware of the dangers of alcohol and drugs.

The night also included a cheque presentation of just over $3,800 from the local Tim Hortons store its recent Smile Cookie campaign.

Police will be introducing a new program to schools in the fall around Internet safety and bullying Tim Hortons remaining a key sponsor.

Search for Driver Continues

OPP continue to search for the driver of a vehicle involved in an accident on the Trans Canada Highway west of Marathon.

An arrest warrant is out for 23-year-old Ibrahim Lugoloobi Sendagire.

Police suspect him as the driver who fled on foot Monday afternoon after a vehicle first struck a construction flagman and then hit a rock cut.

Police have issued warnings to motorists in the area to avoid picking up anyone who fits his description.

Equipment Fails

Hydro One is blaming Wednesday morning's lengthy outage in the Rainy river district on equipment failure.

As many as 500 residents living in parts of Alberton and LaVallee townships were without electricity for several hours.

Crews had power back on by 9 a.m.