Premier Ready

Premier Dalton McGuinty insists he's serious about slaying Ontario's huge deficit while spending  more than half a billion dollars a year on new policies.

The premier expressed confidence yesterday that his Liberals will be able to implement two key campaign promises, despite being one seat short of a majority.

One promises a grant to reduce tuition for most post-secondary students, and a home renovation credit for seniors.

You Grew Up in Fort Frances...

That Facebook site that spurred the idea of a community-wide reunion in Fort Frances is attracting a lot of attention from residents both past and present.

Al Beeber, a former newspaper reporter here, created the "You grew up in Fort Frances" site back in August.

It's grown to over 14-hundred people.

Beeber calls the site similar to an on-line coffee shop.

Benefit Supper Planned

A benefit supper will be held next week to help an area man with medical expenses.

Dean Bruyere says the family of Don Roach will hold the fundraiser Thursday at the Couchiching Multi-use facility.

Roach has been battling cancer for the past couple of years.

Ten dollar tickets are available by contact Bruyere, Dennis Roach at 275-9524, Tammy Collier 274-8540 and Sanda Roach  274-0412.

Cold Winter Predicted

The weather minds of the world are saying that we're in for a so called La Niña winter.

Meteorologist Bill Laidlaw says that means you'll have to bundle up.

A La Nina winter for northwestern Ontario tends to mean a colder and drier winter.

Laidlaw says less snow cover means frost will penetrate deeper into the ground this season.

More Drilling Near Atikokan

More drilling will begin this month at a gold-rich area north of Atikokan.

Osisko Mining will drill 3,300 metres on properties currently owned by Sparton Resources.

The work is to follow-up on earlier discoveries by Sparton.

The claims are located next to Osisko's Hammond Reef gold site.

OPP Investigates Red Lake Incident

An OPP officer with the Red Lake detachment has been suspended amid allegations a person was driven several kilometres out of town before being released from custody.

The incident in the remote northwestern Ontario community is alleged to have happened on October 29th.

The name of the officer now under investigation has not been released.

Public Help Requested

Ontario Provincial Police are turning to the public for help in solving two suspicious fires in the town of Rainy River.

A vacant house and a garage were torched in early September.

The cause of the fires has yet been identified.

Anyone with information about the two blazes is being asked to contact the OPP or Crimestoppers.

Halloween Mischief Investigated

OPP continue to look into several acts of mischief that occurred Halloween night in Fort Frances.

A number of vehicles and a garage were broken into and items taken in incidents that occurred in the 800 block of Fourth Street East, the 900 block of Fifth Street East, Banta Boulevard and Frenette Avenue.

Some of the stolen property was located that night by police, although a wallet from one of the vehicle is still missing.

Get Ready to Party

Plans are in the works for a reunion of Fort Frances residents past and present.

A small committee has been discussing a possible event for 2013.

Member Dave Ashworth says a new Facebook site led to them exploring the idea.

The group is holding a meeting tonight at 6:30 pm at the La Place Rendez-Vous to solicit both ideas and volunteers.

Wihnan Appreciative

Fort Frances citizen of the year is appreciative of being honoured by the town.

Nick Wihnan has been an active member of the Sister Kennedy Centre, but has given his support and assistance to a host of many other individuals.

Wihnan says he's received plenty of gratification for his work already.

Wihnan will be formally recognized at the town's appreciation dinner tomorrow.

Metis Heritage Celebrated

A celebration of Metis Heritage yesterday.

Members of the Sunset Country Metis Association gathered last night at the Metis Hall in Fort Frances in recognition of Louis Riel Day.

Member Darryl Allan says he's an important man to Metis across Canada.

Riel's father once worked in the Rainy River district for the Hudson's Bay company.

Meteor Passes Over Dryden

A school security camera in Dryden has caught a meteor streaking over the community.

A check of the video by a school maintenance worker found the meteor passing through the night sky last Wednesday.

The University of Alberta is now interested and is looking for other sightings so they can triangulate its impact.

No Badges for Taxi Drivers

Taxi drivers in Fort Frances won't have to wear badges anymore.

Drivers were required to display the metal badge for identification purposes as part of licensing.

But the town can't get more of the badges made.

So it's now looking issuing photo-identification cards

Land For Homes Available

The town of Fort Frances is freeing up some land for new housing development.

Town planner Faye Flatt says an area known as the Nelson Street Park and vacant land on Minnie Avenue at Front street will be rezoned to permit new homes.

Council also plans to turn unopened parts of Holmes and Elm Avenues, south of Riverview Drive, into housing lots.

User Fees to be Discussed

Fort Frances town councillors will begin discussing next month the fees paid to access of variety town services and programs.

CAO Mark McCaig says Ontario's Consumer Price Index will serve as a guide in setting any new rates.

The rate for sewer and water services will be determined at a later date.

Funding Denied

Fort Frances town council has turned down requests for funding from two separate organizations, including for the annual Christmas dinner.

While it recognizing the worthiness of the Fort Frances Volunteer Bureau organized event, council opted not to take any action on its request.

It also denied funding to the Uniquely Me program aimed at building the self-esteem among young girls.

Question of the Day - November 15

Respondents to a question on B93.ca appear to be split on whether there should be a time limit on Halloween in Fort Frances.

55 per cent support a limit.

Fort Frances town council is looking at the idea first proposed by local resident Jackie Lampi-Hughes.

Careful Driving

Motorists may want to consider easing up on the gas pedal and taking some extra time to get to work this morning.

About four centimetres of snow fell across the borderland last night.

With the cold and wind this morning, some roads have become extremely slippery.
The Ministry of Transportation reports most highways in the Rainy River district, including Highway 11, to be partially snow-covered or snow packed.

Drunk Drivers Stopped

Ontario Provincial Police will kick off their Festive Ride campaign at the end this month.

But some motorists in the Rainy River district have found out the hard way that the OPP's search for drunk drivers happens at anytime of the year.

Since August, OPP have charged nine drivers with impaired driving.

The latest happening on the weekend in which a 51-year-old man from Windsor was found impaired behind the wheel of his vehicle on Hele Road in Chapple Township.

Property Assessment Notices Issued

Property owners across the Rainy River district will begin receiving notices about their property assessment this week.

Municipal and school taxes are based on the figures identified by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation.

Account manager Darryl Bender says they'll tackle complaints if required.

Louis Riel Day

Today is Louis Riel Day.

It commemorates Riel, a key figure in the Red River Rebellion in the late 1880's.

President of the Sunset Country Metis Association Clint Calder says they'll celebrate with a feast and entertainment at their Fort Frances hall tonight.

Few tickets are still available at Fort Frances General Supply or the United Native Friendship Centre.

Town Gets Access

An important step towards a long-waited upgrade of a pumping station on Portage Avenue in Fort Frances.

The town has received the okay to access CN Rail and private property to complete the job.

It now hopes to do the work next year.

College Programs Promoted

Confederation College is out promoting its programs offered out of its Rainy River campus in Fort Frances.

Campus manager Anne Renaud says the four programs will begin classes in January and run right through the summer with the second semester starting in September with others.

Registration is now being accepted for business accounting, business human resources, protection, security and investigation and child and youth worker programs.

Halloween Time Limit Proposed

Fort Frances town council is going to give the idea of a time limit on Halloween some review.

Resident Jackie Lampi Hughes proposes having a two-hour window starting at 6 p.m.

Lampi-Hughes, who generally likes Halloween, says trick-or-treating in her neighbourhood is becoming too lengthy.

Lampi-Hughes says similar time limits are already in place in communities such as Dryden.

Question of the Day - November 15

Do you support limiting the time children can have trick-or-treating on Halloween?

Cast your ballot on B93.ca.

Yesterday's poll question found 84 per cent of respondents believing MP John Rafferty made the right decision to support an end to the long-gun registry.

Sidewalk Defended

A Fort Frances resident wants the town to rethink its reasons for ripping up a section of sidewalk on her street.

Armit Avenue resident Barb Kircher feels the walk is well utilized and should be maintained.

Council had stated that to fix up the walk it would have to destroy a number of trees.

Citizen of the Year Announcement

We could learn today who the citizen of the year is for the town of Fort Frances.

The selection was expected to be announced at last night's council meeting, but the yet-to-be identified individual had not been notified.

The nominee is to be honoured at a town appreciation dinner this Friday.

Official Plan Approved

Fort Frances has a new document that will govern land-use planning in the town.

Councillors put their final blessing on the new Official Plan last night.

It must still receive approval from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs.

Mine Project Proceeds

Construction of an open-pit gold mine near Atikokan is not that far off.

President of Osiski Mining Sean Rosen says the company's ready to enter the permitting phase of its Hammond Reef gold site.

If all goes well, construction could begin by 2014.

The company has projected the area to have more than 10.5 million ounces of available resource.

Groups Receive Funding

The Rainy Lake Sportfishing Club and the Koochiching Soil and Water Conservation District are among the latest recipients of funding from Minnesota's Conservation Legacy Partners Program.

The two groups are getting $215-thousand to deal with log jams, soil erosion and sedimentation along the Rat Root River.

The efforts are aimed at improving walleye spawning areas.

Registry Warning

The Harper government has been warned that scrapping the requirement to register rifles and shotguns could fuel illegal firearms trafficking across the Canada-US border.

A bill to scrap the registry could become law by the end of the year.

But an internal memo from a senior Public Safety department official says removing the registry would weaken import controls -- resulting in more restricted weapons finding their way into the country.

NDP Seek End to HST on Home Heating

Ontario's New Democrats will bring in a private member's bill in an effort to get the provincial portion of the HST removed from home heating bills.

New Democrat Michael Mantha will introduce the bill when the legislature resumes sitting next week.

He says the bill will save families $100 a year.

Four Charged

Four residents of Couchiching First Nations face drug charges in connection with an incident in the Kenora area.

OPP discovered one-thousand grams of marijuana after stopping a mini-van on the Trans Canada Highway Friday night.

Two men, aged 29 and 45 and two women, 41 and 32 years of age, were arrested on charges of trafficking and possession.

Gold Mine Projections

There will be no base camp for employees working at a proposed gold mine north of Barwick.

Rainy River Resources released a preliminary economic assessment of its project last week.

President Raymond Threlkeld expects the projected 618 full-time workers to live in nearby communities.

There will likely be a camp for the 675 workers involved in the construction phase of the project.

An open-pit mine could open as early as 2015.

Donald Young School Review

The Rainy River District School Board will begin gathering public input on the future Donald Young School next month.

It's the first of three schools to undergo a public accommodation review.

Superintendent of Education Casey Slack says recommendations regarding the Emo school could be finalized by next June.

Reviews of Crossroads School in Devlin and Sturgeon Creek in Barwick will start at a later date.

Rafferty Not Switching Parties

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty has no plans to join another party after being sanctioned by his own for voting in support of ending the long-gun registry.

He's being prohibited from speaking in the legislature and from sitting on legislative committees, but  isn't speaking-ill of interim leader Nicole Tymul.

Rafferty is not certain how long the sanctions will last.

Question of the Day

Do you think Thunder Bay MP John Rafferty made the right decision to support an end to the long-gun registry?

Cast your vote at B93.ca.

Hunters Beware

Ontario Power Generation has issued another reminder to hunters about not trespassing on its property.

It follows new reports of trespassers at the utility's two Terrace Bay stations.

OPG says it's worried staff at the stations could get shot.

National Aboriginal Addictions Awareness Week

This is National Aboriginal Addictions Awareness Week.

Nancy Kantor, a committee member for local festivities, says there will be a variety of events to celebrate the theme of the campaign.

It includes a walk through Couchiching First Nations starting at 5 p.m. tonight from the Treatment and Support Services Centre.

Local Swimming Sensation Joins Indiana

A first for the Fort Frances Aquanauts Swim team.

17-year-old Donovan Taylor has signed a letter of intent to join the famed University of Indiana swim team next fall.

He says its a good step towards his ultimate goal of reaching the Olympics.

Taylor is receiving both an athletic and academic scholarship.

Perfect Again

Safety remains number one again in the Rainy River district.

Safe Communities Rainy River has received a perfect score on a National Report Card issued by Safe Communities of Canada.

Administrative Coordinator Grace Silander says it shows the local organization is doing what it can to help keep people safe.

It's the fifth straight year that the group has received perfect marks for such things as its programs, promotion and volunteers.

Mine Potential Identified

Rainy River Resources says it could open a proposed open-pit gold mine north of Barwick by 2015.

Underground operations would begin three years later.

A preliminary economic assessment reveals the mine would operate for at least 13 years, producing more than four-million ounces of gold and nearly 6.5 million in silver.

Osisko Project Bigger

Osisko Mining has increased the size of its Hammond Reef Project near Atikokan.

It's pegging potential resources at more than 10.5 million ounces of gold.

That's more than 4-million from the figure identified in 2009.

Police Boards Want Changes

If police service boards get their way, people with unpaid fines would be denied their vehicle registration sticker.

The Ontario Association of Police Services Boards says chronic offenders should have their vehicles seized.

The boards say there are one-billion dollars worth of unpaid fines in Ontario, for everything from traffic offences to trespassing.

Fishing Fine

An expensive catch of walleye for a Chicago man.

Court has fined the man $24-hundred for having 12 walleye over the legal limit.

He was charged in June while fishing at Lac La Croix in Quetico Provincial Park.

Mauro Get P.A. Posting

Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro will serve as the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Northern Development and Mines under the new Liberal government.

It's the same position Mauro held in 2003.

Blue Dots on Sale

Pharmasave in Fort Frances is participating in a fundraiser for the Canadian Diabetes Association.

Spokesperson Richard Boon says the drug store is asking its customers to purchase a Blue Dot in support of the association.

The money goes towards funding area diabetes programs.

The fundraiser will continue until the end of November.

Rainy Lake Showcased Through Art

The Rainy Lake area will be showcased through an art exhibit at the Fort Frances Museum starting today.

Local artist Connie Cuthbertson says she and Wayne Yerxa talked a while ago about doing a show together and easily found a theme.

Over 50 works of art will go on display until mid-January.

The kick-off of "This Place Where We Live" going tonight from 7 pm to 9 pm.

Hospital CEO Retiring

Riverside Health Care Facilities is losing its Chief Executive Officer.

Wayne Woods is retiring next March.

He's been with Riverside for the past 13 years.

The Board has already hired an executive recruiting firm to assist in the search of a new CEO.

Record-Setting Forest Fire Season

It's a modern day record for forest fires in Ontario.

Debbie MacLean of the Ministry of Natural Resources says over 600 thousand hectares of forest where burned this past season - the most in about 50 years.

MacLean says it cost the government about $230 million to fight the 1330 blazes.

Tourism Season Not Great

Ont. Sunset Country Travel Assoc. photo

It wasn't a great summer for many tourist outfitters in northwestern Ontario.

Gerry Cariou, executive director of Ontario's Sunset Country says there wasn't much in the way of growth compared to last year, but there was some improvement at the border with fewer complaints received.

Cariou says a sluggish American economy continues to be a drag on this region's tourism industry.

New Hydro Rates In Place

New time-of-use electricity rates go in effect today.

Using electricity between 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. or between 5 p.m.and 7 p.m. at night will cost 10.8 cents a kilowatt hour.

The rate between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. is now 6.2 cents while the mid-peak rate from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. is 9.2 cents.

Cooks Needed

A call for help has been put out by organizers of the Community Christmas dinner in Fort Frances.

Karen Mitchell of the Fort Frances Volunteer Bureau says the biggest need right now is people to cook turkeys.

Mitchell says she's already received donations, but there's no panic for items just yet.

Health Care Task Force Formed

A new task force is being deployed in Minnesota to examine how to hold down costs while improving access to health coverage.

Governor Mark Dayton set up the group to come up with an action plan for policy changes.

Moustache Season Opens

Moustache Season is open!

Thousands of men across Canada are taking part in the Movember challenge to raise funds and awareness for men's health, specifically prostate cancer.

Rebecca Von-get, Executive vice president for prostate cancer Canada says early detection is key

According to Statistics, Prostate Cancer afflicts one in seven men in Canada.