Area Man Gets New Trial

The Ontario Court of Appeal is allowing a new trial for an area man convicted on drug-related charges four years ago.

Nicholas Bruyere was charged in June 2008 after police stopped a vehicle on the Trans Canada Highway near Thunder Bay, they said was headed for Fort Frances containing a quantity of cocaine.

Bruyere appealed the case claiming the judge erred by excluding evidence.

Experimental Lakes Closing

Not all hope is lost for the experimental lakes area between Kenora and Dryden.

The Federal Government announced last week it was closing the site as part of a cost-cutting measure.

Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford believes there still may be a future for the site with someone else taking the research site over.

A government spokesperson says they will try to transfer the Experimental Lakes over another group or provinces.


Meantime, the Manitoba government is worried about the pending closure of the Experimental Lakes.

Conservation Minister Gord Mackintosh says his staff are lobbying Ottawa to have the decision reversed.

MacKintosh says the research program being killed made important findings on hydro development, the banning of phosphorus in detergent, acid rain and mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants.

Minnesota Elections Filings Underway

Candidates planning to run in some of races open in this fall's elections in Minnesota can now file their intentions.

Elections for two seats will takes place for Koochiching County - District 3, now held by Chair Brian McBride and District 5, now held by Mike Hanson who plans not to seek reelection.

Those running to represent the area in the Minnesota and U.S. House and Senates can also file today.

Camp Gets Green Energy Funds

A Rainy River District lodge has received provincial funding for a green energy project.

Hyatt's Manion Lake Camp in Mine Centre will use the $5,000 from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund towards the installation of a geothermal heating and cooling system.

Campbell Wants Tourism Centres Left to Province

MPP Sarah Campbell photo  

There's little support from Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell to having shuttered tourist information centres handed over to area municipalities.

Campbell voiced her opposition to the idea during a gathering Saturday in front of the now closed Fort Frances centre.

Campbell sees it a form of downloading by the province.

Both the town and the local Chamber of Commerce are looking at taking over Fort Frances Centre.

Body of Atikokan Man Found

The remains of a missing Atikokan man have been located.

An OPP dive team recovered the body of 49-year-old Eric Natti last Thursday at Miller Lake.

Natti had been reported missing since last November.

OPP had conducted a search of the area then, but cold weather and ice conditions hampered their efforts.

Weekend Forest Fires

Rain likely to give forest firefighters across northwestern Ontario a hand dealing with several fires in the region.

The Ministry of Natural Resources reports seven active fires, including two small ones in the Rainy River district.

One north of Sleeman near Development Road has been identified as human caused, while the other, northeast of Fort Frances was a lightning strike.

One of the largest fires still burning is on Falcon Island on Lake of the Woods, 35 kilometres south of Kenora.

The lightning caused fire is almost 600 hectares in size.

Minnesota Wolf Hunting Season Details

Minnesota is releasing details about its plans for the state's first regulated wolf hunting and trapping season.

The season will start November 3 when the firearms deer season opens.

The Department of Natural Resources proposes to offer 6,000 licenses with a target harvest quota of 400 wolves.

Municipalities Get Health Unit Refund

Municipalities that contribute to the Northwestern Health Unit are receiving money back from the agency.

More than $165-thousand have been returned back to communities across the Kenora and Rainy River district.

Municipalities share is based on population which dropped by 4,000 in 2011 over 2010.

Several Fort Frances Residents Register As Organ Donor

Residents in the Fort Frances are showing strong interest in becoming organ donors.

Statistics show 39 per cent have signed a provincial registry.

Ronnie Gavsie president of Trillium Gift of Life Network says its a trend they're seeing across northern Ontario.

The provincial average is 21 per cent.

Gavsie says one donor can save up to eight lives.

Red Cross To Provide Help In Local Emergencies

The Canadian Red Cross has a renewed presence in the Rainy River District.

It's signing protocols with area municipalities that spells out the agencies role in emergency situations.

Disaster Management Coordinator Kari Raptor says the agency will be there to help victims for such things as shelter.

Raptor says they're now in the process of finding volunteers to assist in those efforts.

Lightning Caused Fires Possible

The Ministry of Natural Resources is on the watch for lightning fires.

There are currently 15 fires now burning, although none are in the Rainy River district.

The Ministry says the region may see new lightning-caused fires pop-up in the next couple of days resulting from a storm that passed by Monday night.

Meantime, MNR is sending ten FireRanger crews from northwestern Ontario to help deal with forest fires in northeastern Ontario.

Restrictions Lifted

Burning restrictions are being lifted in Koochiching County today.

The County is one of the last in Minnesota where restrictions has been kept in place.

Property Clean-up Dilemma

Difficulties in dealing with unsightly properties are becoming a sore spot for Koochiching County Commissioners.

The County has a committee set up to handle complaints, but Public Health Director Susan Cosgrove says many of the cases don't necessarily fall within the committee's jurisdiction.

Chair Brian McBride says there's a public perception the County isn't doing anything, but in some cases there's nothing they can do.

Water Meter Bills Issued

Commercial and institutional properties in Fort Frances that received new water meters last fall are now getting their bills.

Operations and Facilities manager Doug Brown says they're still working through a few glitches, but the new metres ensure the protection and quality of the town's drinking water.

The new metres replace ones that had been in place for up to forty years.

Premier Not Worried With Doctors Group Warning

Premier Dalton McGuinty says he's not worried doctors will leave the province because the government slashed fees they're paid.

McGuinty says doctors are doing better now than when his government came to power, and he's confident they'll stay in Ontario.

A doctors group is warning physicians they may want to look elsewhere given the Liberals recent decision to cut fees and freeze wages.

Lipinski Back as Metis Nation President

A Fort Frances area man has been given another mandate to head the Metis Nation of Ontario.

Gary Lipinski received over 87 per cent of the vote to be returned as president in what the Metis Nation says was a record voter turnout for recent elections.

Lipinski says its a strong mandate to continue to push forward on their Métis rights agenda.

Seniors Allowed To Address Council

There's little it can offer, but Fort Frances town council will give a seniors group the right to speak at an upcoming meeting on a number of issues.

Requests to address council are rarely turned down, or even debated.

Mayor Roy Avis says council really has no control over the issues the group wants to talk about.

Members of the Seniors-Retirees against Pension and Elder Abuse plan to talk their concerns over pensions, old age security and the pending assessment appeal by Resolute Forest Products and it's impact on seniors.

Theatre User Surtax To Increase

A surtax, paid by users of the Townshead Theatre, will go up this September.

Fort Frances town council agreed to hike the fee to a dollar-fifty per ticket, up from the dollar fee theatre users have paid since 1999.

The money is used to offset theatre improvements.


Meantime, there will be some work taking place in the Townshend Theatre this summer.

The theatre stage flooring is being replaced at a cost of $21-thousand.

There was a plan to doing some painting inside, but an estimated of $32-thousand cost  was felt too high by the Theatre Advisory Committee.

It's feels that job can, instead, be left up to the Rainy River District School Board to do as part of its summer painting projects.

Development of Dog Park To Proceed

The development of an off-lease dog park in Fort Frances has been given the green-light.

No site has been immediately identified.

A committee will now be formed to hash out the details.

Members of the Kiwanis Club have expressed interested in partnering with the town on the project.

New Detachment Commander Outlines Objectives to Media

The OPP's new detachment commander for the Rainy River district is committing to making sure the public is safe while watching the dollars paid by area municipalities for policing.

Inspector Steve Shouldice sat down with members of the media yesterday.

He says strengthening the local drug enforcement team is among his priorities.

Shouldice also wants to continue enhancing the partnerships OPP now enjoy in the region.

Foul Play Not Suspected in Death

OPP are ruling out foul play in the death of a 22 year old man in Keewatin.

The man was found on Sunday near a CP rail crossing.

Police are holding back his name until his family is notified.

Question of the Week

Little public support for doctors and their fight with the province over wage freezes and fee cuts.

70 per cent of respondents to a question on our website give support to the government.

This week, we ask if you think the province should continue to ask gun sellers to keep records of who buys guns from them?

Have your say at 931theborder.ca.

Tree Planting At Fort High

There's a new look to the grounds at Fort Frances High School.

Seventy sugar and silver cloud maples have been planted as part of a project between the school and the Rainy River District Stewardship Council.

Teacher Rob Donaldson says students involved are taking full interest in the tree's survival.

The $15,000 project was made possible through a variety of donations.

MPP Claims Increase Rates From Proposed Bill

A northwestern Ontario Liberal is warning about a loophole in an opposition proposal to reduce auto insurance rates.

Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro says the NDP sponsored bill, while lowering rates in southern Ontario, would actually increase rates for residents of northern Ontario.

The NDP deny Mauro's claims.

Back Door Gun Registry?

Despite denials by the premier, Opposition Leader Tim Hudak says the Liberal government is planning to create a provincial gun registry.

Premier Dalton McGuinty has said he wants stores to keep registers of who buys guns.

But the Tory leader says McGuinty's true motive is to bring in what he calls "a back door gun registry.''

Seniors Survey Now Out

An important step towards getting an assisted living facility in Fort Frances is now underway.

The local Assisted Living Action Group is seeking input from seniors and others on their needs across the Rainy River district.

Chair Irma Armit says the information will help create a 20-year plan.

The survey is on the Senior and Law Enforcement Together's new website and will end June 22.

Falls Home Show Considered

It's Home and Leisure Show just ended, but the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce is already looking to have it's next event very soon.

Manager Anthony Mason says consideration is being given to hold another show this fall.

All of the details are still to be worked out, but Mason is hoping it will attract different vendors and products with the Christmas holiday shopper in mind.

Mason was happy with the turn-out for the weekend event, with attendance nearly last year's numbers.

Theatre Surcharge Increase Proposed

Users of the Townshend Theatre in Fort Frances could be paying a little more in the near future.

The Theatre's advisory committee is recommending a user surtax, applied to ticket sales, be increased to a dollar-fifty this September.

The surcharge, now at a dollar a head, has not increased since it was implemented in 1999.

The money raised goes towards Theatre improvements.

The recommendation goes to Fort Frances town council for its approval tonight.

Changes to Super Valu

Some changes to a grocery store in International Falls.

The SuperValu store will become Country Market after being part of a sale to Miner's Incorporation of Hermantown.

Miner's owns the Super One grocery chain.

The company says employees at SuperValu have been offered jobs in the new store.

Police Week

Keeping it locked - a key focus for Provincial Police in the Rainy River district this week.

Constable Anne McCoy says their "Lock It or Lose It" campaign will be a main topic in Police Week which is being recognized all this week.

OPP will also be promoting bicycle safety with a rodeo planned in Atikokan later in the week.

Emergency Services Day

Some of the agencies who respond to emergencies in the Rainy River District area gathered Saturday to promote what they do to the public.

Chief of the Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Service Frank Sheppard says Emergency Services Day helped draw more awareness of the help available.

The Ministry of Natural Resources, Canadian Red Cross and the town's Emergency Control Group also participated.

Sheppard says they're hoping to include other emergency services and agencies in the future.

M & M Meats Bar-B-Que

The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada is the benefactor of a weekend charity bar-b-que in Fort Frances.

M and M Meats store owner Chris McKinnon says staff and volunteer came together for the annual event.

The amount of money raised was not immediately available, but stores across the country were aiming to raised one-point-five million dollars.

No Gun Registry InOntario, But...

Ontario says it won't create a provincial gun registry, but it will require stores to keep records of who buys guns.

Community Safety Minister Madeleine Meilleur says says the Ontario Provincial Police chief firearms officer
interprets section 58 of the Firearms Act as giving him the power to impose that requirement.

Her federal counterpart, Vic Toews says the collection of point-of-sale data is no longer authorized under the Firearms Act.

Expanded Role For Nurses Sought

An Ontario nurses union believes it has a solution to saving the health care system money and improving care for patients.

The Registered Nurses Association of Ontario wants nurses to be more involved in primary care.

CEO Doris Grinspun says nurses talents aren't being fully utilized now.

The recommendation for a stronger role for nurses in primary care comes out of an Association task force's draft report that will be forwarded later to government.

Local Public Information Officers Trained

Some emergency planning for municipalities in the Rainy River district yesterday.

It focused on the communications.

Dale Smyk, a retired field officer with Emergency Management Ontario, says public information officers have important roles to play  in emergency situations

Participants also learned how to write news releases, about the need for updated to emergency plans and performed mock interviews with the help of CFOB-News.

Home And Leisure Show Begins Today

Area business will be showcasing their services this weekend in Fort Frances.

The Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce Home and Leisure Show opens at 4 p.m. today at the Memorial Sports Centre.

Chamber Manager Anthony Mason says there's over 50 booths to visit.

Saturday's strongman competition and a local take on the popular TV game show "Minute to Win It" highlight some of the events taking place today and tomorrow.

Arpin Back Home

A visit home by NASCAR driver Steve Arpin.

The Fort Frances native was at Boston Pizza last night to meet with familiar faces and sign autographs for local race fans.

Arpin races next week in the Nationwide series and has also confirmed a spot in a few races in the ARCA series.

More Questions Over Centres Closings

The provincial government is again being pressed for answers to why tourist information centres in Fort Frances, Kenora and Rainy River are being closed.

During debate at Queen's Park, Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell says the centres are an important role in the region's tourism industry.

She says Tourism Minister Michael Chan needs to come clean explain why centres in her riding are closing while Pigeon River stays opens.

The Minister's Parliamentary Assistance Kim Craitor says Pigeon River is being left open because of it serves an important American market.

No Change to Bear Response By Police

Provincial Police aren't making any immediate changes to how they deal with nuisance bears.

The Ministry of Natural Resources did announce changes to its protocol, leaving police with the job of trapping and relocating bears in the near future.

Constable Anne McCoy says bear problems are still the responsibility of the MNR for now, but police will still response if the animals pose a risk to public safety.

McCoy says the province's hotline is also still active for people to report nuisance bears.

Question of the Week

Doctors don't seem to be getting much public support in their fight with the province over fee cuts and a freeze on wages.

80 per cent of respondents to a question on our website give support to the government.

What do you think?

Have your say at 931theborder.ca.

Hospital's Interim CEO To Leave

Rainy Lake Medical Centre in International Falls is having to fill its top administrative position once again.

Stephen Erixon, who had been serving as the hospital's CEO in an interim capacity, will leave next month to take on the job full-time at a hospital in Lander, Wyoming.

Erixon has been Rainy Lake Medical Centre interim CEO since January 2011.

Diabetes Association Still Likes The Penny

The government is giving up on the penny, but the Canadian Diabetes Association still has interest.

Community Initiatives Coordinator Alexandra Erickson says they're asking people to donate as many of the one cents coins they want to the Association.

Erickson says they're foregoing setting up coin boxes to instead ask people directly to send their unwanted pennies, or any other coins, they're not certain what they want to do.

You can contact the Association's Thunder Bay office if you interested in donating.

Former Bank Note

A piece of local history has been picked up off the auction block.

A 10-dollar bill issued by the former First National Bank of International Falls was sold for an undisclosed amount of money.

Brendan Meehan of Connecticut acquired the bill, dated 1902, from another collector before selling it off himself.

It's one of only ten known to be still in existence.

The Bank was formerly located near the existing Well-Fargo and operated until the 1930's.

College Hires

Rainy River Community College has added to its recruitment staff.

Lucy Nevanen joins as a limited-term recruiter for the Science and Math Education programs.

Molly Franz will join the College's team in June and represent it at College and job fairs.

Atikokan Renewable Fuels Close To Contracts

The start of production at Atikokan Renewable Fuels could right around the corner.

The company says its close to nailing down some contracts with businesses interested in buying their wood pellets.

President Ed Fukushima says deal from Europe could be finalized within the next 30 days.

Fukushima says they also still working on a deal with Ontario Power Generation.

Lakers Need More Fans

A call for more fan support for the Fort Frances Lakers junior A hockey club.

Team president Milt Strachan says while the club has improved its on-ice performance in its three past season, lower than expected attendance is body-checking its financial picture in the red.

Strachan says the team is averaging close to 350 people a game, but far less than what they'd like to see.

The club is also looking at new fundraising opportunities and cutting costs to help improve the bottom-line.

More Charges Against former NWO man

A former Anglican Church minister and boy scout leader in northwestern Ontario is facing more sexual assault charges.

72-year-old Ralph Rowe will appear in Kenora Court at the end of this month.

The charges stem from incidents that allegedly took place between 1973 and 1986 in several remote First Nations.

Rowe was found guilty on more than 50 similar charges in two previous court cases.

He's currently living in the Vancouver area.

Communication Towers Proposed

Koochiching County is being asked to help the Minnesota Department of Transportation with plans to set up a tower along the Rainy River.

Environmental Services Manager Dale Olson says MIN-DOT would like to use an existing tower owed by Boise, and has asked the County to assist in kicking starting failed talks.

Meantime, AT & T is pursuing plans to set up a tower to improve cell-phone service near Rainy Lake Houseboats.

Exercise - The Simple Prescription

An Ontario doctor is promoting exercise as the most important thing we  can do to improve our health.

Dr. Michael Evans spoke to a Fort Frances audience last night as part of Mental Health Week.

He says seeing patients with a variety of illnesses led him to realize their prescription was so simple.

Evans outlines his reasons in a video posted on You Tube that's received more than a million and a half hits.

Union Concerned With Changes To Bear Wise Program

A union leader says Ontario residents face greater danger from bears this year because of provincial government cutbacks.

Ontario Public Service Employees Union president Smokey Thomas says changes to the Bear Wise education and response program are among what he terms ill-advised cuts at the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Minister Michael Gravelle says Ministry staff will no longer be involved in the trapping and relocating of bears.

Doctors Upset with Fee Cuts

The Ontario Medical Association says it was deceived by the Liberal government which has slashed a number of fees paid to doctors.

President Dr. Doug Weir says Premier Dalton McGuinty and Health Minister Deb Matthews were never interested in simply freezing doctors' salaries.

The Liberal government says the fee reductions will save 338 million dollars this year.