Rainy River Resources Seals Agreement with Area First Nations

Six area First Nations are giving their seal of approval to a major gold mining project in the Rainy River district.

President of Rainy River Resources Raymond Threlkeld says the signing of a participation agreement sets out a schedule of benefits and ensures an open dialogue with the First Nations.

Rainy River Resources is hoping to having mining operations at its site north of Barwick underway by 2015.

Locum Housing Plan Scaled Back

Housing plans for locum doctors providing emergency room coverage in Rainy River are being scaled down.

The Rainy River Health Care Committee says it will pursue development of a single home rather than a duplex as originally planned.

Part of the home was to be intended for medical students, but with the pending loss of the town's lone physician that part of the project has been lessened.

Former Health Minister Blames Ministry for Scandal

Former Ontario health minister George Smitherman is pointing the finger at health bureaucrats for failing to keep an eye on Ornge.

Smitherman told a legislative committee the Ministry of Health should have seen the red flags at the troubled air ambulance service before it became a full-blown scandal.

Smitherman signed the original agreement that created Ornge in 2005.

County Passes on Free Trade Zone Road Grant

Google Earth

Koochiching County won't pursue grant money for development of a road to the area's Foreign Trade Zone.

The zone, located just east of International Falls, is intended to give companies financial advantages in importing and exporting goods.

County Commissioners opted against submitting a grant application for the road after learning the county's share would be about $150-thousand.

Human Rights Review

A hearing being held in Thunder Bay is looking at Ontario's Human Rights programs.

Chair of the review board, Toronto Lawyer Andrew Pinto says northerners are telling him more needs to be done.

About 30 organizations are making submissions.

Youth Conference Planned for District

RR Dist. School Board Photo

Two youth conferences are being planned for the Rainy River district in May.

A Young Women's Conference, held previously at Luther Village in Sioux Narrows, will take at Sunny Cove Camp for the first time.

Jennifer Baker, vice-principal at J.W. Walker School, says it help build self-esteem among girls in Grades 7 to 12.

A conference for boys, in its third year, will go again at Quetico Provincial Park.


Challenge 2012 will bring together students in Grade 8.

Gord McCabe, principal of Crossroads School says it focuses on students considered at-risk.

Liberals Not Too Keen on NDP Budget Ideas

Premier Dalton McGuinty is pouring cold water on an NDP call to increase taxes for the wealthy, but isn't ruling the idea out completely.

The New Democrats want people making over $500-hundred thousand to pay a two percentage point tax premium.

McGuinty says he doesn't want to respond to one-off ideas from the NDP and wants to see all of their demands for supporting his minority government's budget.

Plasma Donation Centre to Close

Canadian Blood Services isn't backing down from it's plans to shut down its plasma donation centre in Thunder Bay.

Ian Mumford says the closure will go ahead as planned next week.

The CBS says new replacement products and a decline in hospital demand have led to a decrease in the need for plasma for transfusion

Committee Presents DYS Recommendations

It could be June before a final decision on Donald Young School in Emo is made.

The Rainy River District School Board received a report from a review committee last night.

Committee Chair Anne Marie Vanderaa says a new school is being requested, but not built until more information on local mining activity, future enrolments and the completion of accommodation reviews of other nearby schools is done.

Board Amalgamation Feared

There are renewed fears the Rainy River District School Board could be involved in another amalgamation.

Board Chair Mike Lewis says the province is again looking at merging boards, an exercise completed only a dozen years ago.

Lewis says the only board it could merge with is Keewatin-Patricia, which is responsible for schools in Kenora, Dryden, Red Lake and Sioux Lookout.

A similar proposal was rejected in 1997.

Tourism Centre Fight Reaches Queen's Park

A petition is now circulating the area in the fight to keep three tourist information centres open.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell intends to present the petition to government at a later day.

At Queen's Park yesterday, she appealed for the closure decision to be reversed.

Tourism Minsiter Michael Chan says the centres aren't simply seeing the visitors they once did.

Local Group Forms Over Pension Concerns

Concerns about the pensions of former mill workers has led to a new group being formed in the Fort Frances area.

Allan Bedard says the group intends to lobby for stronger protection of workers pensions.

The group is holding a public meeting tonight at the Sister Kennedy Centre to further outline its case.

Wrongful Dismal Case Goes to Appeal's Court

Ontario's Appeal's Court will hold a hearing today into a dispute between the Rainy River Cattlemen's Association and its former sales barn manager.

Russell Richards is appealing a lower court ruling that found in December the Association not guilty of any wrongdoing in his 2007 dismal.

The hearing is taking place in Thunder Bay.

Koochiching Asked to Continue Funding Engineering Firm

Koochiching County is being asked to continue funding an engineering firm working on sewer improvement projects around Voyageurs National Park.

Commissioner Wade Pavleck says the county has benefited from the joint initiative with St. Louis County.

The firm is seeking $25-thousand from each county.

Koochiching Prepares for Election

Koochiching County is getting ready for this fall's elections.

The county will set up seven polling stations in locations used in the last election.

Mail-in balloting will be used in five other precincts.

Train Rolls over Thunder Bay Man

A Thunder Bay man had a brush with death after a train ran over him while he was lying on the tracks.

The man was lying parallel to the rails when a 70-metre-long train passed over him.

Other than being intoxicated, the man suffered no visible injuries.

Conservatives Accused of Forcing Election

Premier Dalton McGuinty is accusing Ontario's Progressive Conservatives of trying to force an election he says no one wants.

McGuinty says he's disappointed the Opposition immediately vowed to vote against last week's budget without really looking at what it contains and offering no suggestions for improvement.

Meantime, Ontario's New Democrats want a new income tax bracket for people earning over half-a-million dollars in exchange for supporting the minority Liberal government.

Far North Act Stays

The Far North Act isn't going anywhere.

MPP's have voted in support of keeping the controversial Legislation.

PC Critic Norm Miller says the bill has turned northern Ontario into a virtual museum by banning forestry and mining opportunities.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell voted to keep the Act, acknowledging the Act is flawed, but scrapping it would delay development in the North.

Applications for Minnesota Bear Hunt Accepted

Applications for this fall's bear hunt in Minnesota are now being accepted.

A total of 6-thousand licenses are being made available  in 11 permit areas.

This year's hunt runs from September 1st to October 14.

Mining Company on CNSX

A mining company doing work in the Mine Centre area has been given conditional approval to list on the Canadian National Stock Exchange.

Cadman Resources says the move is important towards its acquisition of the former Golden Star mine property.

CNSX is seen as an alternative stock market to small emerging companies.

More FEDNOR Money For AEDC

More FEDNOR money for the Atikokan Economic Development Corporation.

$75-thousand will be used by the Corporation to help fund a variety of community-based initiatives

Tourism Officials Meet on Future of Information Centres

Area tourism officials hope to meet with the Ministry of Tourism this week to discuss the pending closure of the Tourist Information Centres in the Kenora and Rainy River districts.

Tom Pearson, president of the Ontario Sunset Country Travel Association says the April 30 closures are bad for business.

The province says it's closing centres in Fort Frances, Kenora and Rainy River because of low visits.

More Burning Allowed

More communities in the Rainy River district are lifting bans on open air burning.

The township of Emo joins Chapple and Alberton townships and the town of Fort Frances to again permit burning.

Spaces Available for Emo Walleye Classic

Still lots of room for angling teams in the first major fishing tournament of the 2012 season in the Rainy River district.

The Emo Walleye Classic has about half the entries it wants.

Chair Lincoln Dunn says they're not pushing the panic button yet.

Dunn is hoping changes in the prize structure giving anglers more of chance to win money will help boost the numbers.

March Weather Recap

There were plenty of weather records broken in the Rainy River district last month.

Meteorologist Bill Laidlaw says you have to back almost 70 years to find a March that was about as warm as it was.

The U.S. National Weather Service says the average monthly temperature in International Falls of just over 3 C or 38 F is the warmest on record there.

Show Cancellation

Another show cancellation for Tour de Fort.

Dala, which previously postponed its December performance, has again cancelled its make-up show on April 13.

However, the Fort Frances entertainment series group says the Digging Roots, an aboriginal blues, soul and R&B band, and recent winner of an Aboriginal Peoples Choice award will perform in their place.

People who purchased tickets for Dala can use them to attend this show.

Thunder Bay Couple Pick Up Winnings

Ont. Lottery and Gaming Corp photo

 A Thunder Bay man says he nearly fainted when he checked his Lotto Max ticket and found he and his wife had won 50 million dollars.

Louis and Jo-Anne Chikoski matched all seven numbers for the March 23rd draw and picked up their winnings yesterday in Toronto.

Louis and Jo-Anne say they used to have their favourite numbers but the windfall came when they chose to play a quick pick.

No Arrests in Suspicious Fire

OPP have some leads, but no arrests yet in their investigation of last month's fire at Leon's furniture store in Fort Frances.

The March 24 fire was contained to storage door area and caused minimal damage.

Anyone with information about the fire or who may have witnessed suspicious activity that morning is asked to call the OPP or Crimestoppers.

Another Scam

Wanted by the FBI?

It's likely a scam.

A badly written e-mail claiming the FBI has a warrant out for your arrest and asking for money is circulating its way around computers in the Rainy River district.

OPP recommend you not respond and delete the email.

If authorities really want to arrest you, they'll just show up at your door in person.

Hunters Charged

Two men from Devlin have been handed huge fines for not following party hunting rules while moose hunting.

The men were charged last October after the Ministry of Natural Resources received conflicting information over who actually shot the animal.

Court fined the men over $2,700.

Their kill was also forfeited to the crown.

Early Fishing Date Requested

There's a call to push up the start of the walleye fishing season in Minnesota.

Democrats want it to open May 5, avoiding the Mother's Day weekend when fishing is supposed to begin this year.

Senator Tom Saxhaugh doesn't see it impacting fish populations much.

The proposal is being put forward by two northeastern Minnesota democrats.

Report Recommends New School for Emo

A committee looking at the future of Donald Young School in Emo is recommending it be replaced with a new one in the community.

But it's recommending any construction not happen for at least three years.

It comes out of a nearly five month study that saw Emo residents rally support behind the school.

The committee also suggests the Rainy River District School Board proceed with reviews of other nearby schools to determine if those students will become part of the new school.

The report comes to the board tomorrow.

Fight to Keep Centre Open

Tourism and business leaders in the Rainy River district are hoping the province will reconsider its decision to close the tourist information centre in Fort Frances.

As CFOB-News first told you last week, it's to shut down April 30

Mark Caron, president of the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce says they'll fight to keep it open.

Caron says local officials have long complained of the need for better signage to attract people to the centre.

Plenty of Drug Busts in Rainy River District

A busy February for the OPP's Community Drug Action Team in the Rainy River district.

A total of 10 people were arrested on drug related charges during the month.

Qualities of marijuana, oxycontin and oxycocet seized in the investigations at Canada Customs, Fort Frances High School and a restaurant parking lot.

Health Unit Not Interested in Clinics for Prescription Pill Addicts

Health officials are still trying to come up with a plan to deal with the withdrawal of oxycontin from the market.

The province's health officials have been holding several meetings.

Dr. James Arthurs of the Northwestern Health Unit says setting up clinics to help people deal with prescription pill addictions is not in the cards.

Arthurs says there are similar supports already in place.

More Fire Bans Lifted

Another Rainy River district community has lifted its ban on burning.

Alberton Township announced Friday it would permit open air burning as wet and cooler weather eased the threat of wildfires.

Fort Frances lifted its ban on Friday as well.

Question of the Week

The Canadian penny will no longer be produced this fall.

Will you miss it?

Let us know on our website, 931TheBorder.ca.

In response to last week's question, 68 per cent feel the disclosure of public sector workers salaries is important to them.

St. Francis Students Help Sierra Leone

The African Country of Sierra Leone is getting the attention of students at St. Francis School in Fort Frances.

Grade 8 students Nick Piowtroski says they'll be raising money to help support a health care initiative in that country.

Last year, the school participated in a similar campaign that helped the people of Haiti.

Burning Ban Lifted in Fort Frances

The ban on burning in Fort Frances is being lifted.

Fire officials says Thursday night's snow helped eliminate the risk of wildfires.

A burning ban had been put in place two weeks ago because of warm temperatures.

Woods Ends Tenure With Riverside

It's the final work day for Wayne Woods

The Chief Executive Officer of Riverside Health Care Facility ends a 13-year tenure with the local health agency.

Woods says seeing several upgrades to facilities along the way are some of the greatest accomplishments.

He admits ongoing challenges in health care were among reasons for stepping down as this time.



 

Funding Impact Unknown

The Rainy River District School Board says it will crunch the numbers before determining the full impact of its funding allocation from the province.

The board is poised to received about $150-thousand less for the next school year.

Education Director Heather Campbell says some further information is needed before they can really says whether the cut will trickle down into the classroom.

The board is to complete its budget by June.

Federal Budget Panned by MP

NDP MP John Rafferty doesn't have much good to say about the federal budget.

He says he's disappointed for the people of northern Ontario

He says cuts to FEDNOR and the public sector will have negative effects to the region.

Rafferty is also disappointed that the government has increased the amount of goods you can bring back duty free from the United States saying it will promote cross border shopping.

Ontario Buying Dispute Mining Claims

The Ontario government has settled a dispute over mineral exploration near a northwestern First Nation by buying the land.

Toronto-based God's Lake Resources agreed to surrender its mining lease and claims near Big Trout Lake First Nation.

The lands are now subject to the Ontario government's recent withdrawal from staking and mineral exploration in the area.

Michael Power Steps Down

A major player in the northwestern Ontario's technology and health care community is moving on.

Michael Power has accepted a position with global cancer technology company Elekta.

He's resigned from his management positions with the Regional Research Institute and the Health Sciences Centre.

Limited Moose Hunt Planned

A limited bull- moose hunt will be offered to hunters in Minnesota this fall.

It's making a total of 87 licenses available through a lottery with applications accepted starting Monday.

Biologists with the Department of Natural Resources are only predicting about fifty bulls to be killed.

Last year, 92 hunters harvested 53 bull moose.

MNR Review

The Ministry of Natural Resources is looking to transform itself.

The provincial government included a 3 year plan in the budget that would look at cutting staff and offices.

Minister Michael Gravelle says with the MNR running a deficit, cuts were bounds to happen.

Gravelle says no decision have yet been made on which offices will close.

NCDS Youth Employment Centre Open

Young people in the Rainy River district can still get help finding work, even if the federal government isn't opening its youth employment centre.

NCDS has its youth centre open.

Executive Director Jenny Greenhaulgh says they've already had some visits.

Greenhaulgh says they're opening late at night for the benefit of employers wanting to post jobs.

7-year-old Still Missing

There still no word on the whereabouts of a 7-year-old boy at the centre of a child abduction case in Duluth.

Police issued a statewide crime alter after James Nordrum Jr. failed to hand over his Wyatt after a court judge award custody to the boy's mother who is now living in Fort Frances.

New Banners

There's a new look to the Fort Frances downtown area.

The Fort Frances Downtown Business Improvement Association has new banners up.

Artist Lindsay Hamilton says they'll last much longer than the old ones because they are made of steel.

The banner depict 18 different animal and nature scenes.

Officer to Run Half-Marathon

OPP are Cruisin' for a Cure.

Sixty officers and their families from the northwest region will be taking part in the Winnipeg Police's Cops for Cancer run in May.

Constable Anne McCoy says she's running to help bring more public awareness.

McCoy will also be running on behalf of a 10-year-old boy who has a rare and aggressive form of cancer.