Stuff-a-Cruiser Back

OPP are back with its Stuff a Cruiser campaign.

It's aimed at helping collect non-perishable food items for food banks across the Rainy River district.

Constable Anne McCoy says this year it will include Atikokan with events this Saturday.

The campaign will be held in Fort Frances and Emo  December 10th

Farmers Head to Regina

The Rainy River district will be well represented in Regina this week.

The Rainy River Future Development Corporation is taking a group of fifteen farmers to Agribition, an  agricultural exhibition and trade show.

Business Investment officer Angela Halverson says it will both promotional and fact-finding visit.

It's been five years since a group from the district has attended the annual event.

Throne Speech Panned

The Opposition are vowing to vote against the minority Liberal government's throne speech

Conservative Leader Tim Hudak says he's disappointed and his party won't support the speech.

But N-D-P Leader Andrea Horwath says Ontarians are tired of partisan games and plans to take the Liberals up on their promise to work with the opposition parties.

Falls Parade Goes Friday

The 'Twas the Lights before Christmas parade in International Falls takes place Friday night.

Chamber manager Faye Whitbeck says the parade will travel more through the downtown area this year going down 4th and 3rd Streets

An new outdoor festival will follow the parade in front of the Elks Hall.

Campbell Looks Forward to QP Opening

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell is hoping for a productive first session at Queen's Park.

The Throne speech comes today before the start of Question Period tomorrow.

Campbell says it's going to take compromise and cooperation from all three parties to deal with issues such as job creation and making life more affordable.

Campbell is scheduled to make her first statement at Queen's Park Thursday.

Throne Speech Today

The Liberals say they'll address only their own agenda in today's throne speech.

It's expected to outline the Liberal minority government's plans for a home renovation tax credit for seniors and a 30 per cent cut in college and university tuition.

The tone of the speech will be one of fiscal restraint in light on the province's $16-billion deficit.

Speaker Selected

Liberal Dave Levac is the new Speaker of the Ontario legislature.

He was elected yesterday, beating out fellow Liberals Donna Cansfield, Kevin Flynn and David Zimmer.

Board Pays for Poor Record Keeping

The Northwest Catholic District School Board has been fined $18-thousand for violations under the provincial Safe Drinking Water Act.

The Ministry of Environment charged the board with failing to keep flushing records for lead and failing to provide them to the Ministry in a timely manner following an inspection of Our Lady of the Way School in Stratton in February 2010.

A board official says water quality was not impacted at the school and they've since resolved its records keeping.

Christmas Parade in Fort Frances Taking Shape

The Fort Frances Parade of Lights is set to go this Saturday.

Brenda Kellar of Causeway Insurance says its shaping up to be a good one.

The parade will start go down Scott Street, from Frenette Avenue to Mowatt, starting at 4:30 p.m.

Atikokan Christmas Parade

The Kiwanis Club hosts the annual parade in Atikokan on Saturday.

Vice-president Marlene Davidson says financial support from Ontario Power Generation is helping with a gathering afterwards at Errington Hall with Santa.

Davidson is expecting a good turnout of parade participants .

Border Stats

A total of 26 American were turned back at the Fort Frances border last month.

Statistics released by the Canada Border Services Agency reveal they were among 48 U.S. visitors found to have some form of admissibility issue.

The CBSA says four individuals had criminal records for such things as assault and break and enter.

More than 53-thousand people entered Canada through the Fort border in October.

Council Supports Great Lakes Airlines

A significant step toward securing air passenger service in International Falls has been taken.

Falls city council  approved a package of materials to be sent to the U.S. Department of Transportation as it considers options to replace service now provided by Delta.

Airport Commission chair Bob Anderson says Wyoming-based Great Lake Airlines could be taking over sometime next year.

Anderson says a decision could come within the next ten days.

A Costly ATV

A Canadian resident had his ATV seized at the border last month for trying to under-value the cost of the machine purchased in the U.S.

Canada Border Services Agency says the man declared the new machine at $35-hundred under cost in hopes to saving money on import taxes.

The ATV was seized and returned once a $2,200 penalty was paid.

Had the full value been properly declared, the taxes would have been $171.00.

Government Cuts Staff

The provincial government's work force has shrunk.

The union representing public service workers says the province has handed layoff notices to another 231 workers.

The ministries of transportation and health and long term care will feel the brunt of the latest layoffs.

It's not know if any of the layoffs impact staff in northwestern Ontario.

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.