Unemployment Rate Unchanged

The unemployment rate in Koochiching County held steady at 7.9 per cent last month.

The latest figures from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development show the County created about one hundred jobs in December over the month before.

Union Merger Explored

The Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union and the Canadian Auto Workers are getting the ball rolling to create one mega union.

Stephen Boon, CEP National Representative for this region, says both sides are pushing to establish a new union.

Other unnamed unions could also be included.

Law School Dean Selection Continues

Lakehead University is starting to whittle down it's list of potential Law School Deans.

Spokesperson Rodney Hanley says they should have a short list of candidates in February.

Applications for the new Thunder Bay law school have come from across Canada and around the world.

Lost Wheels

Both the 20-year-old driver of a transport and the company he was driving for face charges after OPP stopped a vehicle near Dryden missing a set of rear tires.

The incident happened Saturday.

No word where the missing tires went or how long the vehicle had been on the highway before police stopped it.

Seine River Looks for New Business

Seine River First Nation is receiving provincial funding to help attract new business and create jobs.

The money allows the band to complete an inventory of its community assets, update its web profile and host an investment readiness strategy workshop.

Mayor Meets with Resolute CEO

The Mayor of Fort Frances will be among those meeting behind closed doors today with the CEO of Resolute Forest Products.

Roy Avis says he was asked to attend the meeting that will take place in Thunder Bay.

The meeting comes as the company goes through as assessment appeal of its Fort Frances operations and a lengthy shutdown of mill.

More Sidewalk Removal

Another section of sidewalk along Third Street East in Fort Frances is planned to be ripped up this summer.

Councillor Rick Wiedenhoeft says the south side walkway between Portage and Victoria Avenues will be removed as part of scheduled road improvements.

Attempts to remove a section between Portage and Mowat Avenues last year were abandoned because of residents' complaints.

Question of the Day - January 24

Do you think the town of Fort Frances is justified in its reasons for removing sidewalks in disrepair?

Let us know on our website 931The Border.ca.

CFOB goes FM in Atikokan

93.1 The Border makes the move to the FM dial in Atikokan later today.

Listeners in that community will lose our AM signal at about 7 a.m.,  allowing our technicians to make the switch-over.

It will return to the airwaves at 95.9 FM by 5 p.m.

You can still listen to 93.1 The Border streaming through our website.

Dog Saves Owners From Fire

The owners can give thanks to their dog for helping escape a house fire in International Falls.

The home was completely destroyed in Sunday morning's blaze which took firefighters nearly three hours to battle.

Fire officials say the owners were altered to the fire by their dog that had woken them up out of their sleep.

A man was taken to Rainy Lake Medical Centre as a precaution and released.

Cause of the fire is still not known.

Airport Survey

The Falls Airport Commission is gathering input on both sides of the border on air travel and usage of the Falls Airport.

Commission Chair Bob Anderson says the results will help them develop future marketing strategies.

The Commission is still awaiting word from the U-S federal transportation on whether Great Lakes Aviation will allowed to take over services being abandoned by Delta.

Results of the survey are now expected for several weeks.

Birth Centre Pilot Project Sought

AOM photo

The Association of Ontario Midwives is leading a social media campaign urging the province to fund a birth centre pilot project.

The association says birthing centres could cut costs such as medical and surgical expenses.

Cost Cutting Plans Expected from Premier

Premier McGuinty is expected to lay out the bare bones of his government's cost-cutting plans today.

He'll make a speech in Toronto, an inside source says will be about how to slay Ontario's  $16-billion deficit.

Visitor Restrictions at Rainycrest

Visitor restrictions have been imposed at Rainycrest Long Term Care in Fort Frances.

Officials says it's due to an increase in the number of confirmed cases of gastroenteritis.

Family members are permitted, but visits are being restricted to the resident's room and no other visits are permitted.

All Group Programming by Activation has also been cancelled.

Budget Talks Begin

More than $9-million dollars of capital projects are on the books as Fort Frances town councillors sit down today to begin their budget discussions.

They include the continuing of road improvements to 3rd Street East between Portage and Victoria Avenues, the development of a bike and walking trail and a replacement of the roof at the OPP detachment and Fire hall.

Some projects may be dependant upon the availability of government grants.

Work Workshop

Some help for employers looking for new hires or employees seeking work.

The Northwest Training Adjustment Board is holding workshop in Fort Frances this week.

Executive Director Sonja Wainio says it was based out of comments received from employers who say they're having troubles finding new employees and people suggesting they can't find a job.

Participants for Wednesday's event must pre-register with the N-TAB's office.

Question of the Day - January 16

Do you support the Liberal's policy platform to legalize marijuana?

Let us know on Facebook or our website 931TheBorder. ca.

From our weekend on-line question, 88 per cent of respondents don't have any belief into the superstitions surrounding Friday the 13th.

Another Internet Bear Birth

The sister of Lilly, the black bear who gave birth while the world watched via webcam, is preparing to give birth herself.

 Lynn Rogers, senior biologist of the Wildlife Research Institute in Ely, says Jewel is showing signs of preparing to give birth any day.

Rogers says they plan to broadcast the birth on the Internet.

The website is www.Bear.org.

Rezoning Objections Reach OMB

Residents objections to the town of Fort Frances turning a neighbourhood park into housing lots are headed to the Ontario Municipal Board.

An appeal over the rezoning of Nelson Street Park has been filled with the board.

No hearing has been set as of yet.

The town must first complete a report on the issue for the OMB by January 24th.

Crash Victims Names Released

Provincial Police have released the names of those killed in Tuesday's plane crash at North Spirit Lake.

62-year-old Ben Van Hoek, 39-year-old Colette Eisinger, and 38-year-old Martha Campbell, and the pilot 41-year-old Fariborz Abasabady were all from Manitoba.

Reports says the passengers were with Aboriginal Strategies, a Winnipeg-based company which provides financial management services to First Nations.

Van Hoek was its president.

Ontario Wood First Promoter

The Provincial Government has signed up its first organization for its new Ontario Wood logo.

Natural Resources Minister Michael Gravelle says the Ontario Forest Industries Association is now licensed to carry the logo.


Association President Jamie Lim says it's the best way to raise consumer awareness.

Gravelle hopes the logo proves to be as popular as the Ontario Food logo.

Relay for Life Planning Underway

The call is now out for participants and volunteers for this year's Relay for Life in Fort Frances.

Organizers kicked off the planning with an event last night.

Co-chair Jennifer Anderson says many more meetings will be held in case people were unable to attend.

A Facebook page has also been set up to keep people informed.

The fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society will likely be held again at Fort Frances High School.

Here is some video from last year's event.

Question of the Day - January 13

Virtually no public support on our on-line poll to Atikokan town council's call for a one per cent hike in the HST for infrastructure improvements.

All of the respondents said they would not support such an hike.

Atikokan is taking its idea to area municipal leaders later this month.

In our weekend question,  today is Friday the 13th.

Do you put any belief into the superstitions surrounding the day?

Let us know on our Facebook page or website 931TheBorder.ca

Minnesota Investigates Infrastructure Payments

Governor Mark Dayton is creating a task force to come up with new ways to pay for Minnesota's roads, bridges and public transit.

Dayton says the panel will make its recommendations by December.

Christmas Kettle Program in Falls Totals

The last of the donations to the Salvation Army's Christmas Kettle campaign in International Falls has been counted.

More than $23-thousand dollars was raised in last month's campaign.

That's a 12 per cent increase over 2010.

Just over $15-thousand was raised by the Salvation Army's campaign in Fort Frances.

Town Looking to Help Charities

The town of Fort France is looking to help local charities with their lottery license reporting.

Any organization that obtains a license through the town must follow certain guidelines as set out by the province.

Town clerk Glenn Treflin says that isn't always happening.

Treflin says now he's looking to set up a future training session.

Hike in HST Proposed

Atikokan town council is advocating a one per cent hike in the HST.

The town says the revenue could be earmarked for municipalities for infrastructure improvements.

Mayor Dennis Brown says it may be the only really viable option to cover the high cost of that work.

Brown says under their proposal, his community would receive more than 850-thousand dollars annually.

Question of the Day - January 12

Would you support a hike in the HST if it was specifically earmarked for infrastructure improvements?

Let us know on our Facebooko page or website 931The Border.ca.

In response to yesterday's question, 57 per cent of respondents would like to see Fort France stage a winter carnival similar to International Falls Ice Box Days.

Trustee Questions Complaint

A Fort Frances trustee says he was named in a complaint to the courts by the Rainy River District School Board before his election over a year ago.

David Kircher made public details of the complaint at this week's school board meeting.

He says the 2009 complaint alleged he acted as public surrogate for a Justice of the Peace while seeking answers to issues surrounding the theft of funds from Fort Frances High School.

Kircher, who denies the allegations, claims the board abused its authority by submitting the complaint without trustee approval.

Betty's Window Display Gets Recognition

A recent window display has earned Betty's of Fort Frances some international recognition.

The display showed off German-based Schleich toy figurines and entered in a company sponsored contest.

Blair Anderson says their store was selected third best among hundreds of retailers worldwide.

Anderson says they get a voucher for free product they'll distributed to customers while photos of the display will be used by the company in future promotions.

Soft Ice Warnings

Ontario Provincial Police are again warning the public to be cautious about ice conditions on the area's waterways.

It comes after a recent incident near Haymarsh Bay on Rainy Lake, northwest of the Noden Causeway.

Occupants of a truck were left stranded on the ice when their vehicle stalled in three to four feet of water at the edge of an ice heave.

Highway Winter Maintenance Questioned

The provincial government is taking some heat over road conditions on northern Ontario highways.

Opposition parties say the governing Liberals are jeopardizing motorists' safety by lowering maintenance standards in their winter contracts.

P-C member Vic Fedeli is seeking a coroner's inquest into the recent deaths on northern highways.

New Democrat Gilles Bisson says the Liberals are trying to save money by reducing the number of plows on the road.

Changes at ORNGE

Ontario's troubled air ambulance system is getting a shakeup at the top.

The province says ORNGE president and CEO Chris Mazza is being replaced by a deputy minister for the time being.

The entire board of directors is also being replaced.

Health Care Program Ends

Hundreds of people in Minnesota who aren't U.S. citizens will no longer receive most health care services from a program of last resort.

The Emergency Medical Assistance program served about 23-hundred people who didn't qualify for Medicare or MinnesotaCare because of their immigration status.

They will still receive emergency care at a hospital, but as of January 1st are no longer be eligible for chemotherapy, dialysis or other services.

Plane Crash Kills 4

Investigators will try to determine what caused a small plane to crash as it approached Ontario's North Spirit Lake First Nation.

The plane slammed into a lake on the reserve yesterday while trying to land in a blinding snowstorm on a flight from Winnipeg.

 Four people died and only one survived.

A 36-year-old Winnipeg man is in stable condition with some broken bones.

Teachers Leave Pikangikum

Mould is now preventing kids from going to school in Pikangikum First Nation.

The mould is in their teachers' home.

Most have left the community, north of Red Lake, because of it.

Community leaders say the school may now have to close.

Highway Closed

Travel to Kenora has been prohibited this morning.


A fatal traffic accident involving two transports and a vehicle has closed the Trans Canada Highway at the junction of Highway 71.

OPP says it could be late this afternoon before the road reopens.

December Weather Stats

The month of December in the Rainy River district was the warmest it's been in fifteen years.

The average temperature of minus 7.4 C was a full six degrees warmer than normal.

Environment Canada's Geoff Coulson says we're simply not experiencing systems we usually see.

The area also saw 23 centimetres of snow fall in December, about 2/3rds of what is normally received.

One Last Weather Record

The last of the warm days in January has given Fort Frances another weather record.

Yesterday's high of 5.1 C, or 41 F, shattered the old mark of 3 C set back in 1990.

Dryden, Kenora and Sioux Lookout also set new record high yesterday.

MP Doesn't Support Floor-Crossing

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty is no fan of switching party's in mid-term.

Rafferty say he can't comment on the reasons behind Quebec MP Lise St. Denis leaving the NDP for the Liberals, but doesn't support how she did it.

Rafferty says MP's who want to switch parties should resign their seat and run for re-election in a by-election.

Rafferty doesn't think St. Denis's defection will have a big huge on the NDP which still holds down 101 seats in the House of Commons.

Cultural Plan Accepted

Atikokan council intends to move forward on a new cultural plan for the community.

Mayor Dennis Brown says the first step is determining which of the 33 recommendations will be pursued first.

Brown sees the plan helping boost tourism and ensuring a well rounded lifestyle for local residents.

Question of the Day - January 11

While a Canadian-wide survey suggests otherwise, 78 per cents of respondents to our on-line poll question don't think the federal government needs to take a stronger role in combating childhood obesity.

Today's question, Ice Box Days begins in International Falls next week. Do you see any merit to a similar winter festival in Fort Frances?

Tell us on our Facebook page or website www.931TheBorder.ca.

Hearing on Assessment Appeal Set

Fort Frances town officials say it could be substantial, but it's going to be several months before they know the true impact of AbitibiBowater's appeal of its assessment of its Fort Frances mill.

The Assessment Review Board has scheduled a hearing by tele-conference on the matter for August 12.

The company, know operating as Resolute Forest Products, is seeking a roll back for the last three years.

Town officals say a decision favouring the company could mean having to give back a tax rebate of up to $3-million and the loss of up to $800-thousand  in future tax revenue annual.

Fines Write Off Books

The town of Fort Frances is writing off more than $137-thousand in fines, considered non-collectible.

Treasurer Laurie Witherspoon says the move is an accounting process and doesn't mean those issued the fines don't have to ever pay them.

The fines date back to 2006

Appeal Assessment Influencing Budget Talks

AbitibiBowater's appeal of its assessment of the Fort Frances mill is weighing heavily on town councillors as they begin budget discussions next week.

Treasure Laurie Witherspoon says a decision on the appeal won't be known for some time, but a reduction of any kind will have a significant impact.

A decision on the company's appeal could come later this year.

Preliminary figures show a current shortfall in the proposed operating budget for 2012 of about $300-thousand, but doesn't take into account the outcome of that appeal which is still before the Assessment Review Board.

Infiltration Report Expected Soon

A study exploring why Fort Frances treats more water than it produces is expected out soon.

Councillor Paul Ryan says the amount of water treated last year was staggering.

Over 887-thousand cubic metres more went through the town's treatment plant than was produced.

Ryan says the town is committed to acting on correcting the problem.

Town to Help with Snow Sculptures

The Rainy River Arts Collective will receive help from Fort Frances in its plans to create a number of snow sculptures around town.

Town council last night gave their blessing to have five of the sculptures created on town owned properties.

The town will also help move snow from the airport.

Work on the sculptures is expected in early February.

More Weather Records

Another weather record in Fort Frances yesterday.

The high of 4.6 C or 40 F eclipsed the old mark of 3.5 C set back in 1986 and tied in 2002.

Question of the Day - January 10

68 per cent of respondents to our on-line poll question feel the lack of the snow this year has not been a good thing for the Rainy River district.


Today question - do you thing the federal government has a role in combating childhood obesity.

Let us know on our Facebook page or website www.931TheBorder.ca.

Health Unit Says Check 'Em

It's "MANuary"!

The Northwestern Health Unit is trying raise awareness of testicular cancer.

Public Health Nurse Patty Foster says they were surprised at the lack of awareness among men in our communities.

Foster says a Facebook campaign and visits to high schools are planned to heighten awareness.