Minnesota Government Workers Back to Work

About 22-thousand Minnesota state employees will begin heading back to work today after Governor Mark Dayton signed off on a new budget bill ending a 20-day shutdown of government services.

While most services will get back to normal, some state parks, damaged by recent storms, may have to remain closed until they can be cleaned.

Area Artist Named a Fan-Favourite

(Photo courtesy Sunday Wilde)


A blues artist from Atikokan has won a fan-based award from the Independent Music Awards.

Sunday Wilde's song "That Man Drives Me Mad" was selected as the favourite blues song by fans in an on-line vote that began in February and ended last month.

"I'm excited," says Wilde. "I live in Atikokan which is a small town which is far from big cities. Because of the Internet, music is out there more and more."

Wilde says the award will help her bring her music to a wider national audience.

She's also launched a new website to help promote herself.

Newcomer the Best of Quest

Charity Alverson is this year's winner of the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce's Quest for the Best.

She beat out 2009 winner Brittany Hayes in a final sing-off to win the grand prize.

"I am absolutely elated and in really shocked," says Alverson. "There was a lot of incredible talent here tonight. It was a definite toss-up between everyone."

A total of twenty performers took part in the event that pitted newcomers against former winners.

Minister Responds to Forest Fire Activity

(Mitch Miller/Ministry of Natural Resources photo)


Ontario's Natural Resources Minister says the province is committed to any and all resources in battling the dozens of wildfires in northwestern Ontario.

More than 112 fires are burning, mostly in the remote north - some large in size.
Linda Jeffrey says it's taxing resources.

"While the number of fires we've had in Ontario is about the same as last year, the magnitude and complexity of these fires is much greater," says Jeffrey. "Today the total area burned is 300,000 hectares. That's five times the average."

Ontario is receiving assistance now from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, the Yukon and Quebec.

More Evacuations Planned

(Trevor Gauthier/Ministry of Natural Resources photo)


More evacuation of residents from the far north because of the forest fires is planned.

Mike Morton of the Emergency Management Ontario says as many as 1,800 residents will join the 1,500 who have already been evacuated.

"All of the evacuees are currently housed in reception centres and hotels," says Morton. "Today's evacuees will be going to places such as Moosenee, Ottawa and Arthur which is near Kitchener-Waterloo.

The latest evacuees come from Sandy Lake, Kingfisher Lake and Wunnimun Lake First Nations.

More Evacuations From Far North Likey

(Ministry of Natural Resources photo)


Forest fires in northwestern Ontario have communities scrambling to find accommodation for thousands of people who may have to be evacuated.

Eighteen First Nation communities in the remote north and one municipality have declared states of emergency.

25-hundred residents from ten communities that have been either partially or fully evacuated are now being housed in communities such as Sioux Lookout, Dryden, Greenstone and Thunder Bay.

Emergency officials expect more communities to face evacuations in the coming days.

Nineteen new fires were reported yesterday bringing to 105 the number of active fires in the northwest.

Weather Warning

Severe thunderstorm watches have now been issued by Environment Canada for the entire Rainy River district.

It says a system approaching the area, south of Lake of The Woods, could affect the district later this morning with large hail, heavy rain and strong winds possible.

There is also a report that emergency sirens are sounding in Warroard.

The U.S. National Weather Service has had a severe thunderstorm watch in place for Koochiching County for most of this morning.

Youth Arrested

Four youth face charges in connection with a rash of break-ins in the Morson area.

OPP say a number of cabins at a tourist resort and several homes were broke into over the weekend with damages estimated to be over $100,000.

The four accused will now appear in Fort Frances court next month on break and enter and possession of stolen property charges.

Highway Work to Start

A section of Highway 11 in the Rainy River district is getting a face lift.

Work will be done along a twenty-four kilometre stretch of the highway between Highways 71 and 613.

The $5.2-million project is to commence this month and be complete in September.

Minnesota Budget Get House/Senate Approval

Minnesota lawmakers have approved a budget deal that will end a 20-day state government shutdown.

It still needs the signature of Governor Mark Dayton.

The state House and Senate approved the budget during a special session, with the last vote coming early this morning.

Premier to Protect Ontario Interests

Premier Dalton McGuinty says he wants to make sure Ontario's interests aren't ignored as he heads into three days' of meetings with his provincial and territorial counterparts.

The Council of the Federation is expected to talk about First Nations and health care.

But McGuinty says he wants to make sure that a new Parliament dominated by the West and Quebec doesn't affect Ontario.

Quest Goes Tonight

Quest for the Best goes tonight (Wednesday) at the Memorial Sports Centre in Fort Frances.

Sarah Hallakis, a summer student with the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce says there's a new format for twenty performers involved.

"The first group to sing will be newcomers to Quest or people who haven't won Quest yet," says Hallikas. "The second round are past Quest winners so we're pitting them against one another."

Hallikas says the winner of each group will then sing-off for the $1,000 grand prize.

The doors open at 6 p.m. with the entertainment beginning at 7 p.m.

Falls Airport Commission Hopeful

International Falls Airport officials are hopeful a new carrier will take over air passenger service from Delta Air Lines.

Delta has given notice it wants to end service to the Falls by the middle of October.

Airport Manager Thor Einarson says it's a position they've seen before.

"We've always come through at the end of the game," says Einarson. "It's always been a battle. It's always been fight. It will always change. I feel confident that at the end of the game we'll have something. We'll have good service. I'm really confident of that."

Delta has indicated that Wyoming-based Great Lakes Airlines may be interested in serving the Falls.

Bass Tournee Survey

The economic impact of the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship is being studied this week.

Out-of-town-visitors and anglers will be asked a variety of questions.

Consultant Tannis Drysdale says it will update a similar survey conducted about 15 years ago.

"We'll be using some of the same questions, particularly with the anglers," says Drysdale. "We have a much similar form and format for the visitors. We'll have people on site during certain set periods of time to check the number of out-of-town visitors who are attending the tournament and ask them questions."

A final report is expected out by the end of August.

More Evacuations

(Ministry of Natural Resources photo)


There's been more evacuations from Ontario's far north due to forest fires.

385 residents from Fort Hope and Sandy Lake were flown out yesterday to Geraldton, Winnipeg and Sioux Lookout.

Ninety-four fires are still active, none in the Rainy River district.

Smoke in Rainy River District

(Ministry of Natural Resources photo)


Smoke from several fires in the far north could become a concern for areas elsewhere in northwestern Ontario.

Environment Canada says smoke could be experienced in the Rainy River district today.

Debbie MacLean of the Ministry of Natural Resources says it's also spreading well out of the province.

"We have a satellite imagery on and yesterday it was drifting to the east as far as New Brunswick," says MacLean. "Smoke tends to have a long distance travel effect and people will just have to deal with that I guess."

MacLean says more than two-thousand forest firefighters are working full out to contain the blazes.

Humidex Advisories Issued

Air conditioners will be humming across the Borderland again today.

Environment Canada is forecasting temperatures to reach as high as 33 C during the day, prompting a humidex advisory for the Rainy River district.

Meantime, a heat advisory, issued by the U-S National Weather Service for Koochiching County, remains in effect until at least tomorrow night.

Wisconsin Man Not Appealing Ruling

A Wisconsin man is expected to begin serving jail time today after losing an appeal of a conviction for failing to pay tolls at the bridge linking International Falls with Fort Frances.

Falls City attorney Steve Shermoen says Dean Crist has indicated he will not appeal last week's ruling by the Minnesota Court of Appeal.

The Appeal court upheld a ruling last fall by a Koochiching County court judge.

Crist was convicted of five misdemeanour theft counts and sentenced to three consecutive 90-day jail terms.

Walk for Good Life Set

(Good Life for Young People photo)


A 7-day 500-kilometre walk around the Kenora and Rainy River districts is set to go next month.

It will be the third year for the Walk for Good Life organized by the group Good Life for Young People.

CEO Teresa Hazel says it's a journey of self discovery and accomplishment.

"They walk together and they learn together and they dream together," says Hazel. "We bring in elders from different communities so they get cultural teachings and they get a sense of community."

The event is open to anyone with registration made through the group's Fort Frances office or its website.

Man Killed in ATV Accident

A Minnesota man is dead following an ATV accident in Littlefork.

Koochiching County Sheriff's office say 34-year-old Randy Scott Berg was operating the ATV Sunday afternoon when he lost control and the machine rolled on top of him.

Delta Seeks Air Passenger Service Changes

Delta Air Lines is seeking federal approval for changes to its flights at International Falls.

Delta wants two subsidized routes handed over to another air carrier.

It's part of a host of changes the airline is seeking at airports across the United States.

Delta says it has been losing $14 million a year serving 24 cities.

Flights out of International Falls have been averaging 53 per cent capacity.

Nexus Program Aids to Smuggling

Newly released documents show Nexus travellers who are supposed to be low-risk have been caught trying to smuggle goods into the country illegally.

The program is to border patrol more efficient by allowing Nexus members who have
already undergone security clearances to pass through customs more quickly.

But documents obtained under the Access to Information Act show more than a hundred Nexus travellers were caught smuggling goods valued in the thousands of dollars in the second half of 2010.

The goods include a $16,000 engagement ring, a set of tires installed on a car that was crossing the border and a boat attached to a trailer.

In many cases the travellers did not initially declare the items then later admitted to attempting to smuggle them.

Forest Fires Situation Extreme

The forest fire situation in northwestern Ontario remains extreme.

Ninety-six fires, mostly in the region's remote north, continue to burn.

Over 250-thousand hectares of forest have been blackened.

That's prompted the evacuation of residents from Cat Lake, Kee-Way-Win and Fort Hope.

The Ministry of Natural Resources has also imposed a restricted fire zone in an area north of CN's northern rail line until further notice.

Hot Weather Blankets Borderland

The temperatures in the Rainy River district and Koochiching County reached near record highs on the weekend.

Yesterday, Fort Frances reached 32 C, but with the humidity it felt like 42 C or 108 F.

Atikokan hit 33 C, 41 C with the humidex.

The thermometer in International Falls reached 91 F.

Senator Not All Happy with Budget Deal

Minnesota legislators could be recalled this week for a special session following last week's tentative deal to end the government shutdown.

District 3-A Senator Tom Saxhaugh says while the deal gets services back, it's done little to solve the budget issue.

"I guess the good news is that it's over and we don't have the cuts we were trying to avoid," says Saxhaugh. "The bad news is we've kicked the can again and we're going to have to deal with that $1.4 billion or more two years from now."

A special session was expected today, but work continues on the detailed budget bills.

Electronic Waste Depots in Fort Frances

Ontario Electronic Stewardship comes to Fort Frances today to collect unwanted old televisions, computers, cellphones and stereos.

Depots will be at the Memorial Sports Centre beginning at 2 p.m.

Spokeperson Sean Magee says it's part of a northern tour to help divert the materials from landfill.

"we've had actually a bigger turn out for most of the places we've been to," says Magee. "We've collected over 70 tonnes of electronic waste. It's been a real great success."

The Recycle Your Electronics tour has also been to Rainy River and Atikokan.

Kids Pro Winners

For the first time, the Kids-Pro side of the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship has been shared by a pair of youngsters.

13-year-old Kale Bruyere-Huntley fishing with Mike Adams and Michelle Desalnier and 11-year-old Kobi Ward fishing with Joe Thrun tied for first with just over eleven pounds of fish each.

A total of twenty youngster shared the day with tournament anglers.

Accident on Highway 502

At least two people were taken to hospital in Fort Frances following a two-vehicle accident on Highway 502 Friday morning.

It happened at around 9:30 a.m. in the area of of the Crow Rock Bridge, about 7 kilometres north of Highway 11.

Police the two people were from one of vehicle and sustained injuries that are described as serious.

Wisconsin Man Loses Appeal

A Wisconsin man has lost a bid to have charges for failing to pay the toll at the bridge linking International Falls with Fort Frances overturned.

The Minnesota Court of Appeals, last week, upheld the conviction of Dean Crist.

Crist was convicted in a Koochiching Court last year on charges of theft of services for crossing the bridge several times without paying.

He appealed on several grounds, including claiming the Court did not have jurisdiction over the case on an "international bridge."

But the Appeal's court says the theft did not occur on the bridge, but on private property within the city of International Falls.

Area Bus Company Concerned

A bus company, providing service to Fort Frances and Atikokan, isn't happy with the arrival of a subsidized out-of-province company.

Caribou Coach president Sandy Smith says Pacific Western's arrival will hurt the local companies.

"With a specific company like Pacific Western coming in and exclusively taking away a third of the ridership from us and other carriers, that puts a real dent in the number of passengers we carry," says Smith.

Smith says Pacific Western is to service all patients who qualify under the Northern Health Travel Grant program.

College Support Staff Back Strike Action

Students head back to Ontario colleges in just over a month but labour trouble is already looming.

Support staff at community colleges represented by OP-SEU, including those at Confederation College, have voted 77 per cent in favour of a strike mandate.

Negotiators for the province's 24 colleges are urging the union to return to the table to work out a settlement before school starts.

Goldcorp Evacuates Employees

Advancing forest fires have forced Goldcorp to evacuate most of its 380 employees from the Musselwhite gold mine north of Pickle Lake.

Electricity to the mine is being provided by generator because the fire destroyed a section of a transmission line.

A crew of 50 employees, including the mine's general manager, will remain at the site to monitor operations and co-ordinate with firefighters.

Hwy 602 Still Closed

The Ministry of Transportation says it could be at least a month or more before a section of Highway 602 can be reopened to motorists.

A section of the Highway was closed Wednesday by the collapse of a concrete culvert, about 3 kilometres south of Emo.

A Ministry spokesperson says it's hoped repairs can be complete by mid or late August.

Hudak Releases Northern Ontario Platform

Leader Tim Hudak says he has big plans for the north now that his Progressive Conservatives have released their northern election platform.

Hudak is promising more input from northerners on the decision-making at Queen's Park with regular cabinet meeting in northern Ontario and consultations with First Nations.

Other pledges include job creation, making better use of natural resources and improvements to forestry wood supply programs.

Energy Retailer Help Provided

The constituency office of area MPP Howard Hampton wants area residents to know what they're getting into when an energy retailer comes knocking.

Sarah Campbell, a constituency assistant, has been holding information sessions across the riding.

Campbell says low-income earners and seniors are often the targets.

"Far to often when these retailers come to the door, they talk very quickly and give people about eight pages of terms," says Campbell. "So people are given a different understanding (of what they're getting into)."

Campbell says while not always able to get people out of unwanted contracts, she has been able to get better terms from companies for them.

Budget Impasse Deal Reached

Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton and Republican legislators say they have reached a deal to end a budget impasse that's led to a two-week shutdown of government services.

The two sides agreed on a proposal that would raise $1.4-billion in new revenue, half by delaying state aid checks to school districts and the other half by selling tobacco payment bonds.

Quetico Celebrating Park Day

Ontario Park Day is tomorrow and Quetico Provincial Park will be celebrating with a unique program.

Park Naturalist Susan Bourne says the park and Friends of Quetico are hosting a canoe and kayak symposium at French Lake.

"The day is fulled with all kinds of activities," says Bourne. "There will be instructors. Different people talking about safety and how to pack. There will also be fun paddling going on."

It starts at 8 a.m. and you can register by going to the Friends of Quetico website.

Board Covering Policing Costs

The Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship is not changing the route of next week's Parade of Boats.

President Gord Watson says the board has decided to pay the cost associated with the OPP controlling traffic along the route.

OPP indicated it could cost up to $1,200 to have officers at select intersections.

Watson says the board likes the downtown route and has adjusted its budget to cover the costs.

Ontario Public Sector Job Cuts

Public sector workers in Ontario have received the first wave of pink slips expected as part of planned government cuts.

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union says its members have received 274 layoff notices, kicking off a process that will eliminate 19-hundred jobs between now and next March.

The five per cent reduction in public sector jobs was announced in the province's budget.

First Nations Water Complaints

The Council of Canadians says First Nations shouldn't let the federal government off the hook when it comes to providing safe drinking water for all.

Maude Barlow, the council's national chair, says the United Nations has recognized water and sanitation as a human right.

She says that means Ottawa is obligated to come up with a plan to fulfil that right, and yet dozens of First Nations communities continue to go without clean water.

DSSAB CAO Retires

The Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board is losing its long-time chief administrator officer.

Donna Dittaro retires at the end of October, but the board has already appointed land ambulance manager Dan McCormick to serve as CAO on an interim basis.

Chair Ross Donaldson says the board will take some time in filling the job more permanently.

"It won't be a process we're going to hurry," says Donaldson. "We're going to take our time to make sure we get it right."

Dittaro leaves after 12 years with the DSSAB.

Forest Fires Update

(Ministry of Natural Resources photo)

Six new forest fires in northwestern Ontario have brought to 81 the number of active fires in the region.

None are in the Rainy River district.

A fire that cut power to several communities and the Musselwhite Mine is one of the main priorities for the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Slate Falls, Mishkeegogamang and Pickle Lake have all declared states of emergency because of the power outage.

Hydro crews are now working to rebuild more than 80 poles destroyed.

194 residents of Cat Lake have also been evacuated to Kapaskasing because of smoke from area fires.

College Support Work Cast Ballots

About 270 support workers with Confederation College will be among thousands across the province voting today on whether to give their union a strike mandate just before school starts.

The contract between OPSEU and the province's 24 community colleges expires at the end of August.

First Nations Education Concerns

A child welfare advocate says she believes the federal government is failing First Nations when it comes to education.

Cindy Blackstock made the comments during the Assembly of First Nations in New Brunswick.

She says all children regardless of their ethnicity deserve clean and safe schools that deliver quality education, but that's not the case for aboriginal children.

Peter Penashue, the federal minister of intergovernmental affairs, says Ottawa recognizes there is a problem with education and is making the issue a priority.

No Skirting Fishing Laws

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says there's no way to get around the state's fishing license requirements during the government shutdown.

The DNR says some contract license agents and resorts have been issuing so-called "temporary licenses" on the condition that buyers promise to purchase a legal license when the shutdown ends.

But DNR Enforcement Chief Jim Konrad says anyone caught fishing without a valid license could be ticketed.

OPP Hires Students

Ontario Provincial Police have two new summer students on duty.

Hailey Clendenning and Sam Berube join as part of the OPP's Youth In Policing Initiative.

The students will be involved in such activities such as bicycle patrols and coordinating the OPP's bike rodeos in Fort Frances, Rainy River and Emo.

Fort Frances Teen Heads to Peru

A Fort Frances teen is close to reaching her fundraising goal for a humanitarian trip to Peru.

Tylyn Silander is travelling a small rural community in the South American country August 1 through a program offered by World Vision.

"What I'm doing there is we're doing a photography workshop, "says Silander. "It's a form of art therapy through technology that they don't have."

Along with raising five thousand dollars for the trip, Silander also found sponsors for five needy children.

Native Leaders Call for End to Federal Agency

Some scathing criticism for the Department of Aboriginal Affairs.

The Assembly of First Nations wants it abolished.

National Chief Shawn Atleo says there's a strong consensus that bureaucracy has been a failure for First Nations, pointing to the recent Auditor General's report that spoke of a deteriorating quality of life on reserves.

The Assembly is meeting in Moncton, New Brunswick.

Deer Lake Residents Go Home

(Ministry of Natural Resources photo)

Residents of Deer Lake are returning home - a week after being evacuated from the remote community because of smoke from forest fire.

But residents of Sandy Lake, Cat Lake, North Spirit Lake, Kee-way-win and Koocheching remain on evacuation alert.

There were four new fires in the Far north were reported last night.

There remain no fire activity in the Rainy River district.

OPP Defends Parade Costing Decision

Ontario Provincial Police are defending their decision to charge the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship for traffic control during next week's parade of boats.

That cost could be as high as $1,200.

Detachment Commander Inspector John Kendrick says the need to reduce hours of service to meet the demands of a new policing contract contributed to the decision.

"So parades was one of the areas that was deemed a non-essential service," says Kendrick, "and we've moved to a more of a pay-for-service, or paid duty rate because we don't staff parades on overtime. It's always done with existing officers."

Kendrick says officers are needed on the parade route to ensure emergency vehicles can pass safety through if needed.

The OPP policy change will also impact the Fort Frances Christmas Parade of Lights if its route goes down Scott St.

Fight for Timber Continues

The town of Atikokan isn't giving up hope on securing a wood allocation that would help complete the sale of the former Atkokan Forest Products Mill.

Forestry Minister Michael Gravelle says there's just not enough available wood.

Mayor Dennis Brown is still optimistic resources can be found for the company that wants the mill.

"We're going to have meetings with the new buyer," says Brown. "They're coming to northwestern Ontario to meet with us. There's a little ray of hope that maybe something can be worked out and get the mill working again, but it's a struggle."

Timber that had been used by the former mill has since been given to AbitibiBowater's mill in Fort Frances.

Minnesota Loggers Get Reprieve

Loggers in northern Minnesota have been granted the right to continue working in State owned lands during the shutdown, until Monday at least.

That's when another court hearing on the issue will take place.

Three Koochiching County business owners went to court last month after the Department of Natural Resources halted their operations because of the shutdown.

A county judge gave them temporary permission to keep working before the Supreme Court transferred the case to the judge handling all shutdown matters.

Missing man Found

The body of a missing angler has been found in Wenasaga Lake, near Ear Falls.

78-year-old Richard Carroll of Finlayson, Minnesota was located Tuesday morning.

Carroll was reported missing last weekend after his boat was found capsized.

More Forest Fire Help

(Ministry of Natural Resources photo)

More out-of-provinces resources are arriving to help battle several forest fires in northwestern Ontario's far north.

One hundred firefighters from British Columbia arrived Tuesday with another one hundred expected later this week.

The Ministry of Natural Resources is also receiving additional air support from Alberta who's loaning two waterbombers and light aircraft.

They'll join a fleet of waterbombers already in from Quebec.

Northern Artists Tour Begins in Fort Frances

Northern Ontario artisans will be showcased in a touring exhibition that's kicking off at the Fort Frances Museum Thursday.

Sarah Marusyk, a spokesperson for the Ontario Crafts Council, says it's an effort to bring more awareness to the region's artists and crafters.

"Basically this show features 44 pieces of craft that reflects the diversity and quality of work that's being created in northern Ontario," says Marusyk. "The exhibition is part of the Ontario Crafts Council's project called 'Growing Ontario Craft Community North."

The event also features a piece by local potter Mara Henteleff who will be on hand to talk her work.