Ignace Sawmill to Reopen

After sitting idle for five years, the AbitibiBowater sawmill in Ignace is set to re-open.

The company says it plans to spend $32-million in capital investments to reopen and upgrade the facility by 2014.

Yves Laflamme, a company vice-president, says the mill will also contribute to improving the cost of fibre for its pulp and paper mills in Fort Frances and Thunder Bay.

Liberals Promising Doctor House Calls

Ontario's Liberals are kicking off the last week before the provincial election campaign begins in earnest by courting seniors.

Health Minister Deb Matthews says the Liberals are promising to bring back doctor house calls for seniors if elected October 6th.

The Liberals say their promise will apply to anyone who has trouble getting to their doctor's office.

Both the NDP and Progressive Conservatives call the $60-million program an election gimmick.

Hudak to Hit the Road

The Progressive Conservatives are expected to launch what they're calling their "campaign for change'' later today.

Leader Tim Hudak will be joined by his caucus and candidates in Toronto to announce he's hitting the road as he tries to convince Ontarians he should be the next premier.

The election campaign officially begins next Wednesday.

Pace Car Program Promoted

Drivers in the Rainy River district are wanted to set the pace this fall.

Safe Communities Rainy River District is asking motorists be part of its Pace Car Program.

Administrative Coordinator Grace Silander says it simply asks them to sign an oath to drive slow in school zones.

It's an effort that initially started in December.

College Bargaining Talks

Talks continue to try to head off a September 1st strike by support workers at Ontario's community colleges, including Confederation College.

Three days of bargaining will begin today.

Tourism Report Reviewed

A consultant's report on the new northern Ontario tourism plan is out.

Members of various tourism organizations are taking time to review the document and will be meeting for two days starting today in Sudbury.

Forest Fires Activity Continues

Eleven new forest fires in northwestern Ontario were reported yesterday, but the Ministry of Natural Resources says it's making good process on the fifty-plus still burning.

Fire Information Officer Debbie MacLean says it's allowed them to release some of the out-of-province fire crews from active duty.

Maclean says this has been the most destructive fire season in 50 years, with more than 622-thousand hectares of forest burned.

Four of the fires still active are at the southern part of Quetico Provincial Park but are posing no real threat.

NDP Back to Work

After a week of grieving the loss of their leader and saying goodbye at Saturday's state funeral in Toronto, New Democrats are turning to the job at hand.

NDP director Brad Lavigne says party members will honour Jack Layton's legacy by rolling up their sleeves and getting down to work first thing this morning.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty and his partner Pam Cain were among those attending Saturday's funeral.

Toronto Liberal Announcement

A major provincial announcement for the Liberal party was made today.
PRESTO is now available at all GO stations and on all GO buses in the southern Ontario region.
"The McGuinty government is making it more convenient for commuters to choose transit. With PRESTO, riders can travel across multiple transit systems in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area with just one card." says Kathleen Wynne, the Minister of Transportation for the McGuinty government.

US Earthquake

A 5.8 magnitude earthquake centred in the state of
Virgina, shook much of Washington, D.C., and was felt as far north
as Rhode Island and New York City.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake was 3.7 miles (6
kilometres) deep. Shaking was felt as far north as Sudbury, and east into New Brunswick yesterday.

Layton's Body Arrives On Parliament Hill

Jack Layton's body arrived on parliament hill to lay in state this morning.

A grieving Olivia Chow accompanied her husband's coffin as it was
greeted by a piper playing a lament.
New Democrat MPs and staff shared tearful hugs as the coffin
arrived at the Peace Tower, where the flag fluttered at half-staff.

Several hundred people watched quietly as the casket was wheeled
into the the Parliament Buildings, where Layton is to lie in state for two days.
The first hours of the ceremony were reserved for family,
colleagues and dignitaries.

Major OPP Drug Bust

A routine traffic stop by Fort Frances OPP resulted in more than just a ticket. The 26 year old male driver from Manitoba was driving while suspended. Officers searched the vehicle and came away with 24 pounds of pot with a street value of over 60 thousand dollars.

The 26 year old driver was remanded into custody and faces charges of possession for the purpose of trafficking, driving while suspended and two counts of failing to comply with a court order. He will appear in court tomorrow for a bail hearing. His 27 year old female passenger was also taken into custody and charged with possesssion for the purpose of trafficking. She has been released and will be back in court Sept 26th.

Fort Frances Town Council Meeting

At Fort Frances town council yesterday, a local artist was given permission to work to put up a mural in the arena.
The mural, called Timmy's World, was painted by children with Lindsay Hamilton's help.
Town councilor Hallikas is quoted as calling the work a: "fantastic, fasmagorical world!"

Jack Layton State Funeral

The deceased leader of the federal NDP will be given a state funeral.
Jack Layton will be honoured with a sendoff usually reserved for
prime ministers, governors general and cabinet ministers.
A spokesman for Prime Minister Harper says the P-M exercised his
discretion and offered Layton's wife, Olivia Chow, a state funeral, which she accepted.

Potential Provincial College Strike Brewing

Ontario's college support staff union warned Saturday that the beginning of the Ontario college school year is at risk.
More than 8,000 workers who are part of the Ontario Public Services Union have been in new contract talks since June, and the union warns that "there has been no meaningful dialogue from negotiators representing management."
Their last contract is set to expire the day before the start of the school year on August 31st, and OPSEU says that management is "avoiding serious negotiations until the deadline is reached. Both sides are set to return to the negotiating table for a week of talks starting tomorrow.

Conservative Candidate Picked for Fall Election

All the major parties now have their candidates in place for the October
6th provincial election.
The Conservatives are the latest party to select their candidate.
Kenora City Councillor Rod McKay beat out Louis Roussin for the Tory
nomination.
McKay says his biggest job now is getting his name out in the Kenora-Rainy
River Riding.

Jack Layton Dead at 61

The NDP federal leader has died this morning.
Just months after leading his party to unprecedented success in
the federal election campaign, Jack Layton died while fighting cancer.
He died early this morning, surrounded by friends and family.
He was 61.

Beaches Now Posted

The Northwestern Health Unit has now posted all the beaches in the Kenora and Rainy River Districts with warning signs.

They warn of higher levels of bacteria after heavy rainfalls or high winds.

Enforcement manager Jennifer McKibbon says they are only a precaution.

McKibbon says reds signs will be posted when a beach has been closed.

Another Lightning Strike in Park

There are now four forest fires burning within Quetico Provincial Park.

The latest was spotted yesterday southeast of Bass Lake in the southern part of the park.

The lightning-caused fire has so far scorched about a hectare.

Three others located near the same vicinity have been burning since the end of July.

Plane Crash

A pilot is lucky to be walking away with only minor injuries after a plane crash in Marathon.

OPP say the plane was attempting to take off when it ran out of runway and clipped a poll yesterday afternoon, ending up in a ditch along side Highway 17.

The crash forced the closure of the highway for a couple of hours.

Schools Recognized as Residential

Two First Nation schools in the Nishnawbe Aski Nation are now on a formal list of residential schools.

It allows former students of the Stirland Lake and Cristal Lake Residential High Schools to be eligible for government compensation.

The schools, located 170 kilometres north of Sioux Lookout, opened in the 1970's, later merging and operating until 1991.

First Riders Program

The start of school is still over a week away, but some first time students from the Rainy River district got their first ride on a school bus yesterday.

More than 50 students took part in the First Riders program held in Fort Frances and Stratton.

Transportation coordinator for the Rainy River Transportation Services Donna Lee says it helps young students get adjusted for that first ride to school.

A similar session will be held at St. Patrick's School in Atikokan next Thursday.

I Inhaled Too!

Bill Clinton did it.

So did Barack Obama and Dalton McGuinty.

Now, Tim Hudak admits that he too has smoked pot.

Hudak, who was asked the question while touting a campaign promise to create a registry for homes that have been used as grow-ops or meth labs, added he hasn't lit up "in some time."

The 43-year-old says he doesn't support the decriminalization of small amounts of marijuana because ``drug use is wrong'' and grow-ops create health hazards.

Body Found

OPP have recovered the body of a missing 28-year-old Winnipeg man from Shoal Lake.

Lucas Janz was last seen going for a swim Sunday, but failed to return to the camp where he was staying.

Janz's body was found near Galt Island.

Another Forest Fire in RR District

Another lighting caused forest fire in the Rainy River district.

Yesterday's blaze was spotted at the north end of Rainy Lake and burned less than 0.1 hectares.

It's just the 27th forest fire in this district this year.

Tornado Damage Reviewed

(MNR photo)


Damage caused by Tuesday's tornado in the Dryden and Sioux Lookout areas appears to be minimal.

An inspection by Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Canada personnel identified spots where the tornado touched down, but found no real impact.

In a scale used to rate tornadoes, Environment Canada says this was a zero - the lowest rating possible.

Here is some video supplied by the Ministry of Natural Resources of its surveillance

Education on Election Radar

Ontario's education system is getting a lot of attention from all three parties in the upcoming provincial election.

Premier Dalton McGuinty warned elementary teachers gathered in Toronto that if the Progressive Conservatives win, the system will return to the cutbacks of the Mike Harris era.

Tory Leader Tim Hudak wasn't invited to speak at yesterday's meeting, but the Conservatives were quick to deny McGuinty's claims, saying they will put two billion dollars into the education system.

Gravelle Talks to OFL Head

Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle feels talks went well with the Ontario Federation of Labour.

Gravelle made a phone call to president Sid Ryan after injured workers occupied his Thunder Bay office.

Gravelle says he's committing his support to moving forward on their concerns over workers compensation.

Labour groups are looking for improvement that help injured workers.

Fair Opens Today

(Rainy River Valley Agricultural Society photo)

It's fair time in Emo

The Rainy River Valley Agricultural Society's annual event begins today with the midway opening at 2 p.m.

The crowning of the fair queen, as well as the Mini King and Queen, takes place at the Emo-LaVallee Arena at 6 p.m.

Gate admission is 3 dollar per person with advance ride tickets available around the district.

Boy Killed in ATV Accident

A 10-year-old boy from the Rainy River district is dead following an accident involving an ATV.

OPP say the boy was operating the off-road vehicle on private property in Dawson Township early Tuesday night when he lost control and struck a barbed wire fence.

He was transported to hospital in Rainy River where he was pronounced dead.

No name has been released.

Customs Officers Sentenced

A former U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer who worked in International Falls has been sentenced to seven years in prison

A Koochiching County judge Monday sentenced 46-year-old Patrick Hamburg on a charge of second-degree sexual assault involving a young girl.

Hamburg was arrested last November and later admitted to accusations of assaulting the girl multiple times over several years.

Tornadoes Spotted

(Supplied photo)

There are no reports of damage after funnel clouds were reported in several northwestern Ontario communities yesterday.

Meteorologist Bill Laidlaw says they came as severe weather passed through. "There was strong indications of funnel activity as far west as Kenora and Grassy Narrows," says Laidlaw. "There was reports of at least two tornado touchdowns - one to the north of the Dryden airport. The other in the vicinity of Sioux Lookout."

Environment Canada issued tornado warnings for that area late yesterday afternoon.

Matt Queau shot this short video of a funnel cloud passing north of Dryden.

Water Levels Holding Steady

Water levels in the Rainy Lake basin are holding their own, despite this summer's hot and dry weather conditions.

Rick Cousins, an engineering advisor to the International Rainy Lake Board of Control, says even with heavy rainfalls in early July, water levels have stayed within acceptable levels.

"Outflows were increased somewhat due to that," says Cousins, "but the levels on both Namakan and Rainy Lakes were maintained pretty closes to the middle of the International Joint Commission rule curve bands."

Cousins doesn't expect much change heading into the fall.

West Nile Virus Identified

Signs of the West Nile Virus have been identified in the Fort Frances area.

The Northwestern Health Unit says a number of mosquitoes were identified in a trap tested positive for the disease.

West Nile can be spread to humans through the bite of mosquito, but there are no reports of any people having contracted the disease.

Moose Management Plan

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has released a draft management plan that seeks to bolster research into what is killing Minnesota's moose faster than they can reproduce.

The DNR estimates about 4,900 moose in northeastern Minnesota, down 11 percent from last year's numbers.

The proposal includes measures to restrict deer populations and tighter restrictions on hunting.

The draft is open for public comment until the end of September.

Conservative Vote Saturday

The Conservatives in Kenora-Rainy River will vote this Saturday for their candidate for the upcoming provincial election.

Balloting will be done in Fort Frances, Dryden and Kenora.

In Fort Frances, that vote will be conducted at the La Place Rendez-Vous with registration going from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Two Kenora city councillors, Rod McKay and Louis Roussin, are seeking the nomination.

Court Ruling Today

The Ontario Superior Court is expected to render its decision today in a case over logging and treaty rights.

The case was brought over a decade ago by trappers from Grassy Narrows First Nations against the Ministry of Natural Resources.

The band has asserted the province does not have the authority to infringe on its territory by allowing logging operations on traditional lands.

Jail Abuse Probe

The provincial ombudsman will probe allegations of excessive use of force by guards against inmates in the province's jails.

Andre Marin says he received more than 100 complaints last year from inmates who say they were assaulted by correctional officers.

Marin says what's even more disturbing are the allegations that the violence has been covered up or ignored.

Historic Designation Given

A Minnesota landmarks near International Falls has earned a coveted designation.

Grand Mound, located west of the city, has been designated a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior.

Grand Mound is at the center of an interconnected landscape of burial mounds, seasonal villages and sturgeon fishing sites going back to 200 B.C.

A Good Man's Life

A former Rainy River district man who fought in World War Two is the subject of a book.

A Good Man's Life chronicles the life of Jack MacDonald who left the family farm near Fort Frances to join Canada's war effort.

His son, Wayne Kehl, says the stories of war vets are important to tell.

"My kids, who are now in their 30's, know nothing of this," says Kehl. "I think most of the children of boomers have no real idea of what went on in the war. If you think about it, most boomers don't know much about it either."

MacDonald now lives in British Columbia.

Heritage Party Candidate to Enter Race

(Northern Ontario Heritage Party Leader Ed Deibel)

It appears the fledgling Northern Ontario Heritage Party plans to run a candidate in the Kenora-Rainy river riding.

Published reports say an announcement will come this week.

The party, formed by now leader Ed Deibel of North Bay, has planned to field candidates in all eleven northern ridings.

City Recognizes Local Flyers

The city of International Falls is planning to recognize a local family well-known to the flying community in Minnesota.

The airport terminal will be renamed after Francis Einarson with the field to be called Einarson field.

Francis Einarson, along with his brother Jim, purchased the airport after World War II, later lobbying State and federal governments for improvements.

NDP Select Candidate

NDP in Kenora-Rainy River have selected MPP Howard Hampton's constituency assistant in Dryden as their candidate for the October 6 provincial election.

Sarah Campbell of Oxdrift beat out Kenora lawyer Robert Sinding following a series of nomination meetings that concluded Monday night in Fort Frances.

Campbell says the campaign for her is now underway.

"I've been meeting with people and advocating on their behalf and doing some of that work already," says Campbell. "I can tell you Howard has set the pace and I just have to keep going and work just as hard as I possibly can."

No results were given, but a total of 137 people cast ballots in meeting held in Sioux Lookout, Red Lake, Dryden, Kenora and Fort Frances.

Howarth Happy with NDP Team

NDP leader Andrea Horwath is expressing confidence in her party's fortunes in the upcoming provincial election.

Horwath says they have strong candidates and supporters across the province that are anxious to get to work.

"We have a great slate of candidates, but our volunteers are coming out in droves," says Horwath. "Already in many of the ridings they're knocking on doors. Our candidates are knocking on doors. We're getting ready for once the writ drops our campaigns are off and running right off the mark."

Horwath was in Fort Frances for Monday's nomination meeting of the riding's NDP candidate.

Hampton Says Thanks

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton is giving thanks to the people who supported him in past elections.

Hampton, who decided earlier this month not to seek reelection, says the hard work of so many volunteers helped keep him at Queen's Park for nearly a quarter of a century.

"There are many people who worked on every campaign. They've contributed financially. They put up signs. They knocked on doors," says Hampton. "I can't thank them enough. These aren't people who were paid for this. They gave of their free time. They volunteered."

Hampton will participate in one more election by helping campaign for the riding's new NDP candidate Sarah Campbell.

Conservative to Pick Candidate Soon

The Conservatives should have their candidate in the Kenora-Rainy River Riding in place by this weekend.

Plans are being finalized for a travelling ballot box to visit, Fort Frances, Dryden and Kenora.

So far the times and locations of where the ballot box will be have not been finalized.

Two Kenora city councillors, Rod McKay and Louis Roussin, are duking it out for the nomination.

Search for Time Capsule

The demolition of the former Robert Moore School in Fort Frances is expected to continue for at least another week.

Crews began knocking down the old school Friday.

They're also searching for a time capsule believed to have been placed in the school at the time of construction.

So far no such capsule has been found.

Town Report Being Reviewed

The company interested in acquiring the former Atikokan Forest Products mill is mulling over a report identified possible wood supplies to open the shuttered mill.

The report was commissioned by the town of Atikokan.

Mayor Dennis Brown says it's identifies wood coming from a number of private woodlot owners.

The mill is currently slated to be sold off for scrap.

CEP Adds AbitibiBowater Sawmill Workers

Maintenance and production workers at AbitibiBowater's sawmill in Thunder Bay have agreed to join the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union.

The union conducted a six-month organizing drive that led up to Friday's vote.

NDP Final Vote

NDP bring their travelling ballot box to Fort Frances in their selection of a provincial candidate for Kenora-Rainy River.

Tonight's meeting at the Adventure Inn is the last of four nominations meetings for Sarah Campbell of Oxdrift and Robert Sinding of Kenora.

It begins at 6 p.m.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is expected to be in attendance.

Renewable Energy Program Debated

The McGuinty government's renewable energy program is shaping up to be an election issue this fall.

Progressive Conservative Energy Critic John Yakabuski says they'll scrap the program if elected.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says she'd look to making changes to the program before allowing any new contracts to proceed.

More Forest Fires

(MNR photo)


The forest fire situation in northwestern Ontario doesn't seem to be letting up.

The Ministry of Natural Resources says there were 28 new starts on the weekend, bring the number of active fires back to over 110.

None of the new fires are in the Rainy River district, but the Ministry is watching to see if a storm the passed through Friday will result in any lightning fires.

Task Force Report Gets Public Review

The International Joint Commission kicks off a series of meetings tonight in Fort Frances to discuss the future management of the Lake of the Woods and Rainy Lake basins.

Nick Heisler, a senior advisor, says they want the public to provide input on recommendations made by a task force.

"These include a summit to be convened by the International Joint Commission to encourage the development of a water shed vision to look at common goals and objectives," says Heisler. "The second recommendation is to combine the two existing IJC boards, the Water Control Board and Pollution Control Board, into a single international water shed board."

The meeting takes place at the La Place Rendez-Vous beginning at 7 p.m.

Pawlenty Drops Out

Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty is dropping out of the race for the G-O-P presidential nomination.

His decision came after a disappointing 3rd place finish in the Iowa straw poll Saturday.

Nomination Meetings Begin

NDP in Kenora-Rainy River kick off a series of nomination meetings in Sioux Lookout tonight in the selection of their candidate for the October provincial election.

There are two nominees.

Sarah Campbell, a constituency assistant in Dryden and Kenora lawyer Robert Sinding.

Nomination meetings will also be held in Kenora and Dryden this weekend with the final balloting coming in Fort Frances where the winner will be announced Monday night.

Service Guarantee Proposed

The Liberals want to make it easier and faster to renew your driver's licence or health card if the party wins the October election.

They're proposing a service guarantee to refund any provincial fees if people have to wait more than 20 minutes at a Service Ontario outlet.

Solar Panels Now Up

(Solar panel atop the Memorial Sports Centre - town of Fort Frances photo)

Solar panels on four municipal buildings in Fort Frances have now been installed.

They're located on the roofs of the Memorial Sports Centre, water treatment plant, Public Works garage, and day care centre.

It's expected they'll be connected to the grid as early as next week.

A 20-year deal to sell the power back will see the town earn about $12-thousand annually over the next decade and $49-thousand in each of the final ten years.

Warp 9 to Open?

It appears the former Warp 9 bar in Fort Frances has been sold.

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario is considering an application for a liquor license for the facility to be known as Club 88.

The facility, which is in a former theatre, has been closed for the past five years and put up for sale.

No official word yet on who the new operators will be.

Jury Review

A former Supreme Court of Canada justice is going to look at why aboriginals are being shut out from juries in Ontario.

First Nations who live on reserves in the province say they have been excluded from juries for years.

The province has asked former Supreme Court justice Frank Iacobucci to look at the issue and come up with ways to fix the problem.

Atikokan Bass Classic Underway

(Atikokan Bass Classic photo)


Fishing at the Atikokan Bass Classic gets underway today.

One hundred and seven angling teams are competing for a share of the nearly 48-thousand dollars in cash being offered with a top prize of 10-thousand.

Darwin King of Atikokan and Guy Lagarrie of Thunder Bay are the defending champions.

Weigh-ins are at 3 p.m. today under the big tent at the Atikokan arena.

Go-Karting Club on the Rise

(Kim Williamson photo)


Go-karting in the Rainy River district is growing in popularity.

The Borderland Racing Go-Kart Club races each Friday night at Emo Speedway.

One of the organizers, Kim Williamson says they're getting close to 20 drivers a night.

"Our novice groups starts out at about age 6," says Williamson. "The advance is for the most skilled seniors drivers up the 16, but we also have one adult now. But interest is growing so we might be able to introduce more classes as people get their karts ready."

Williamson says a new club in International Falls is also attracting some Americans to Emo.

Cost Reduction Priority One

AbitibiBowater is looking at making more cost reductions to a company that has already seen deep cuts.

The company enjoyed a net profit of $61-million in the last quarter of this year.

But in a conference call to investors yesterday, CEO Richard Garneau says reducing costs remains at the top of the list.

Garneau says the company is still looking at $120-million on capital improvements at some of its mills.

Production Increases at Barwick

Ainsworth says production at its OSB mill in Barwick was at its best in the last three months of this year since acquiring it in 2004.

The mill saw a 10 per cent increase in production relative to the second quarter of 2010

CEO Rick Huff says the mill benefited from an extensive list maintenance and improvements done near the end of last year.

Energy Audit Planned

A number of municipal buildings in Fort Frances will get a thorough look over to see how the town can reduce its energy costs.

Honeywell will soon be starting energy audits on buildings considered high energy users or older facilities.

Travis Rob, the town's Sustainability Coordinator, says its findings will help identify improvements.

"Part of the project is to develop a five year plan," says Travis, "how to move forward on it, what should we tackle first, what's going to give us the best return first so we start generating as much cost savings as possible right off the start."

Rob says council could have a final report to consider by the time it begins next year's budget deliberations.

Comprehensive Study on Mine Started

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is giving the public an opportunity to comment on Osisko Mining's proposed Hammond Reef Gold Mine north of Atikokan.

It's to include two open pit mines, a mineral processing facility and a tailings management facility.

The agency has begun a so-called comprehensive study to examine the potential environmental issues and other concerns.

It will begin accepting comments beginning Monday for a one month period.

It's also providing $50,000 for individuals and groups to participate.

Post-Secondary Education Protest

Post-secondary student groups plan to scribble their priority issues for the October election outside Queen's Park today.

The University of Toronto Students' Union and the Canadian Federation of Students want parties to tackle what they call an underfunding crisis in provincial colleges and universities.

Docs Back Bicycling

The Ontario Medical Association wants to see the provincial government give bicycle safety a higher priority.

An O.M.A. report says with 26-thousand cycling-related emergency room visits in 2009, it's time to focus more on bike safety.

The doctors' group would like to see bicycle-safety lessons added to the curriculum in primary schools, and new drivers tested on how to share the road with cyclists.

Vehicle Disposal Program Wanted

A group representing auto recyclers wants Ontario's political parties to endorse a program that would regulate the disposal of old vehicles.

The Ontario Automotive Recyclers Association says two out of three so-called "end of life" vehicles in the province aren't managed to any environmental standard.

The association says an industry-led removal program wouldn't need consumer fees because recyclers make enough money from each vehicle to recover the disposal costs.

Catalina Adds Property

Catalina Metals is expanding its land base in northwestern Ontario.

The mining company says it's signed an agreement with Rubicon Minerals to obtain over 930 hectares near Cameron Lake.

Catalina intends to begin an exploration program of the area this year.