Drilling Scaled Back

Rainy River Resources is scaling back some of its drilling work in the district.

Eight of twelve diamond drill rigs working at its gold project north of Barwick have already been demobilized.

Another will be halted in September.

Meantime, more gold findings are being reported in the latest results of the drill program done to determine the exact size of deposit.

Railroad Daze

Supplied photo

Railroad Daze kicks off in Rainy River today.

Rec Director Kam Kuzyk says there's plenty of events to help celebrate the communities railroad heritage.

Among event is the Great Beaver Cardboard and Duct Tape Boat Races - vessels made up of only cardboard and duct tape.


The race is now in its 10th season.


Registration is Sunday at 12:30 p.m. down at Hannam Park with the race at 3 p.m.


Here's a complete list of all events.



Friday July 20, 2012


10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. - The Library's Best Book Sale Ever! ~ Rainy River Public Library
11:00  a.m. - 11:45  a.m.  -  Kids' TD Summer Reading Club ~ Rainy River Public Library
5:30 p.m.  -  Beer Gardens & Canteen Open ~ Rec. Centre Ball Diamonds
5:30  p.m.  - So You Think You Can Dance Rainy River ~ Upstairs of Rec. Centre
5:30   p.m. - 7:00 p.m. - Locum House Supper ~ Senior’s Centre ~ 201 Atwood Ave - Pulled Pork sandwiches, Salads, Dessert – Freewill Offering
6:00  p.m. -  Opening games of the Mixed Slo-pitch Tournament Rec. Centre Ball Diamonds
8:00  p.m. -  Family Movie Night – Journey 2: The Mysterious Island Upstairs of Rec. Centre – Free Admission

Saturday July 21, 2012

9:00  a.m. - Mixed Slo-pitch Tournament starts ~ Rec. Centre Ball Diamonds
10:00  a.m. -  6:00 P.M. The Library's Best Book Sale Ever! ~ Rainy River Public Library
10:00   a.m. - Canteen open’s ~ Rec. Centre Ball Diamonds
10:00   a.m. -  4:00 P.M. 1st Annual Craft Show ~ Seniors Centre ~ 201 Atwood Ave.
10:00   a.m. - 5:00 P.M. Fun Fly (radio controlled planes) on Burns Rd. (In between Hwy 600 and Government Rd.)
10:00   a.m. - Bike Rodeo ~ School Parking Lot
11:00   a.m. - Beer Gardens Open ~ Rec. Centre Ball Diamonds
11:00  a.m. - Railroad Daze Parade ~ Route: Hannam Park up through Main St. (Please call the Rec. Centre to register a float)
11:00  a.m. -  1:30  p.m. -  Farmer’s Market ~ Atwood Ave.
1:00  p.m. -  2:30  p.m. -  Fastball Grudge Match between R.R. Royals and Pinewood Bears
Rec. Centre Ball Diamonds
1:00  p.m. -  3:00  p.m. -  “Ooey Gooey Fun” Kids Games ~ Best Start Hub Parking Lot
4:30  p.m. -  7:00  p.m. -  Steak Fry $12 a plate ~ Legion
8:00  p.m. -  Home Run Derby ~ Rec. Centre Ball Diamonds
9:00  p.m. -  2:00 a.m. - Age of majority Dance – DJ Amy Anderson Rec. Centre - $5 Admission



Sunday July 22, 2012


9:00  a.m. - Mixed Slo-pitch Tournament starts ~ Rec. Centre Ball Diamonds
10:00   a.m. - Canteen opens ~ Rec. Centre Ball Diamonds
10:00   a.m. -  2:00 p.m. - 1st Annual Craft Show ~ Seniors Centre ~ 201 Atwood Ave.
10:30  a.m. - Rainy River Community Worship Service (inter-denominational)  Hannam Park ~    Rain Location - Evangelical Covenant Church
11:00   a.m. - Beer Gardens open ~ Rec. Centre Ball Diamonds
12:30  p.m. -  The Great Beaver Cardboard Boat Registration and supply pick up: $10.00 per team at Hannam Park
2:00  p.m. -  Championship Slo-pitch ball game ~ Rec. Centre Ball Diamonds
3:30  p.m. -  The Cardboard & Duct Tape Boat Races Begin! Hannam Park Waterfront

Research Project Turning In To Book

A report released last year on race-relations in the Rainy River district is being turned into book form.

Author Jeff Denis says he's secured a contract with an academic publisher.

He's back in the area to discuss his findings and gather more data.

Denis' research was conducted over an 18-month period that included interviews and surveys

Kelly Loses National Chief Bid

Former Treaty Three Grand Chief Diane Kelly has failed in her bid to become National Chief of the  Assembly of First Nations.

Kelly dropped out of the race after finishing third with 39 votes in the second round of balloting.

Shawn Atleo, who was returned for a second term, says First Nations are increasingly demanding to be treated as equal partners in governance and in control over natural resources.

He says his mandate will reflect the will of the regional chiefs who advise him.

Help From Minnesota Arrives

Map of Active Fires

Ontario is now receiving assistance from Minnesota is dealing with a rash of forest fires in northwestern Ontario.

Twenty firefighters from the State are being deployed near the remote communities of Deer Lake and Keewaywin to aid in suppression efforts of several fires there.

The lack of fire activity in the Rainy River district is also allowing the MNR to relocate some personnel from this district to the remote north.

Five new fires were reported yesterday, bringing to 70 the number of those active.

Former ORNGE CEO Says Government Was Informed

The man at the centre of the Ornge scandal says the government never told him he was veering off course in running the province's air ambulance service.

Chris Mazza told a legislative committee yesterday the Ministry of Health was fully informed about what he was doing at the taxpayer-funded organization.

Health Minister Deb Matthews disputes Mazza's testimony, saying even the auditor general had trouble finding out what was going

Candidate Proposes Federal Mining Institute

A Democratic congressional candidate in northern Minnesota is proposing developing a new federal institute on mining and the environment.

Rick Nolan says the institute would be located in the Iron Range area and could help the industry overcome production and environmental issues to create more jobs.

Rival candidate Jeff Anderson calls the plans wasteful federal spending.

Worldwide Support For Experimental Lakes Area

The international community isn't giving up its fight to keep the Experimental Lakes Area near Kenora open.

More than 29-hundred people from 58 countries have signed an on-line petition calling on the federal government to reverse its decision to end funding to the research site.

Some signatories says the federal government has a mandate to conduct whole-ecosystem freshwater research.

Voter Information Missing

No one in northwestern Ontario appears to be impacted, but Elections Ontario says up to 2.4 million voters elsewhere in the province may have had their personal information compromised.

Chief Electoral Officer Greg Essensa says the privacy breach happened when two memory sticks went missing.

The data includes names and birth dates, but no SIN numbers or drivers' licence information.

Forest Fire Being Watched

The Ministry of Natural Resources continues to monitor a lone forest fire burning in the Rainy River district.

It's located within the southeastern part of Quetico Provincial Park near Dack Lake.

The lightning-caused fire is only 0.4 hectares in size and causing little concern.

Eight new fires were reported yesterday elsewhere in northwestern Ontario.

Respite Program Continues

A respite support program introduced to the Rainy River district two years is being continued.

Carol Ness of Thunder Bay-based Wesway says a pilot project that helps families who care full-time for seniors recently received additional funding through the North West Local Health Integration Network.

Ness says there's been so much demand that they have a waiting list.

Revamp Of Driver's Licenses Sought

The war on tobacco is taking a new twist.

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit is advocating a redesign of the provincial driver's license.

Spokesperson Klaus Larsen says making it easier to show when a person under 19 will reach age of majority would help in discourage the sale of tobacco to underage teens.

MADD Looks To Reform

MADD Canada is looking to restart it's organization in northwestern Ontario.

A chapter in Thunder Bay closed down because of a lack of volunteers and its main head resigning because of poor health.

Former CEO Testifies

Ousted Ornge CEO Chris Mazza is slated to appear before a legislative committee today that's looking into the troubled air ambulance service.

Many of the witnesses so far have pointed the finger at Mazza for the controversy that's created a major embarrassment for the governing Liberals.

Assembly Vote Today

The Assembly of First Nations will decide today whether to re-elect national chief Shawn Atleo or choose a new leader.

Former Grand Chief of Treaty 3 Diane Kelly is among the candidates are vying for the three-year position, which will be settled by the votes of chiefs assembled in Toronto for the organization's annual meeting.

NAN Names Candidates

Seven people are on the list for the top post with the Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief.

They include current Deputy Grand Chief Terry Waboose and former Sioux Lookout Mayor and Juno Award winner Lawrence Martin.

The election takes place next month.

The position opened up with Stan Beardy being elected Chiefs of Ontario Regional Chief last month.

"American Girl" Movie Plays In Falls

An area author who played a role in the latest "American Girl" movie will be hosting special viewing in International Falls tomorrow.

"McKenna Shoots for the Stars" is based on a character featured in two books written Ranier's Mary Casanova.

The movie was shot in Winnipeg and stars Jade Pettyjohn as McKenna with appearances by Canadian-born Nia Vardalos and former U.S. Olympic gymnast Cathy Rigby.

Tomorrow's event at the Backus Community Centre starts at 6 p.m.

Falls Mayor Steps Down

The Mayor of International Falls is stepping down.

It's so Shawn Mason can accept a position with the city as its new director of economic and community development.

Mason feels its a good move.

She's expected to start her new job next week.

She's been the mayor for the past 7 1/2 years and was not planning to seek another term this fall.

Councillor Tim McBride takes over as Mayor until this November's elections.

Assisted Living Facility Survey Results Released

CFOB file photo

A survey has found an overwhelming number of residents would stay longer in the Rainy River district if they had access to an assisted living facility.

It was conducted by the Assisted Living Action Group.

Chair Erma Armit says they'll use the findings towards trying to get a facility constructed.

Armit says many people expressed concern in the survey about the need for appropriate housing for the district's seniors.

Privacy Breach Reported

More information is expected today about a major breach of voter privacy in Ontario.

Sources say personal information on voters in more than two dozen ridings went missing from the office of the province's chief electoral officer.

Political party leaders have been notified and the provincial police are investigating.

New Police Contract

Members of the International Falls Police Department have a new contract.

It includes a wage increase of 5 per cent over the next three years and is retroactive to January of this year.

New Rental Inspections In Falls

Some landlords in International Falls are not happy with city plans to begin inspections of rental properties.

The city says it's being done to ensure the health and safety of tenants.

Lawyer Dan Griffith presented a petition to council last night says the new law isn't necessary.

The inspections will begin in 2014 with property owners charged 20-dollars for each unit they own.


Councillor Cynthia Jacksa says a task force will be set up with landlords to help them transition into the new rules.

Locum House Fundraising At Halfway Mark

The fundraising campaign to build a new home for locum physicians who travel to Rainy River is at the halfway mark.

Committee member Jack Elliott says they hope to add to the $155-thousand raised so far with a couple of fundraising events taking place, including a Pennies From Heaven initiative.

There is also a fundraising supper planned during this weekend's Railroad Daze.

Chiefs Gather Today

The chiefs of Canada's First Nations, including several from northwestern Ontario, are gathering in Toronto today for a national strategy session which will see them elect a national chief later in the week.

Former Grand Chief of Treaty Three Diane Kelly among the candidates.

The Assembly of First Nations' annual general meeting will also see the chiefs hammer out a policy agenda for the coming months.

Theft From Wedding

A newly-wed couple in Fort Frances is hoping to get some special memories from their wedding back.

Maryan Fracziewicz says wedding gift cards, along with a safe containing cash from bar sales, were taken sometime after their reception Saturday at the Memorial Sports Centre.

Fracziewicz isn't expecting any money contained within cards to be recovered, but because of their sentimental value to the cards, given by friends and family, he's they can be found at least.

Anyone who finds the cards can return them to our station or OPP.

Sturgeon Being Followed On Rainy Lake

Sturgeon in Rainy Lake and the Namakan River are continuing to get a lot of attention from researchers.

They're tracking the movements of fish implanted with transmitters.

Lakehead University associate professor Brian McLaren says they've already gained some interesting data about spawning habits.

The study has been funded for another two years.

Active Fire Weekend

MNR photo

Rain likely to give a hand to easing the forest fire situation in northwestern Ontario.

Over sixty fires are now considered active by the Ministry of Natural Resources, including three in the Rainy River district.

Two are located within Quetico Provincial Park and another near Fredrickson Lake, south of Mine Centre.

Most of the current fires have been lightning caused.

Overdue Boaters Make Way To Safety

Some damage to their boat, but a happy ending to a journey for three Fort Frances men forced to spend a night on an island on Rainy Lake last week.

OPP were called Thursday morning after family members reported the men overdue from an excursion the night before to a restaurant on the U.S. side of the border.

Police say when the men were returning, their boat struck a reef, forcing them to an island.

The men flagged down a vessel the next morning who returned them to the mainland where they called home to report they were safe.

Cars Destroyed in Transport Fire

Six cars being trailered by a transport have been destroyed by fire.

OPP says the incident happened Friday night on the Trans Canada Highway west of Dryden.

The highway was closed for about two hours.

The cause of the fire was not identified.

Rainy River College Woes Canadians

A relationship between Universities of Minnesota and Manitoba is helping to draw some Canadians to Rainy River Community College.

Recruiter Barb Fisher says being able to use the International Falls college as a stepping stone has been a strong selling point to Canadian students.

Fisher says keeping tuition rates for Ontario students the same as those paid by Minnesotans has also helped attract prospective students.

About 10 per cent of the College's enrolment each year currently comes from Canada

More Help To Combat Bullying Needed

Education advocates say new anti-bullying legislation coming to Ontario schools in September is a step in the right direction.

But Annie Kidder, with the group People for Education, says the only way to help stop bullying is by helping both the bullies and their victims.

Kidder says bullying is usually caused by mental and psychological issues.

Bass Tournament Needs Volunteers

CFOB file photo

Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship will be looking tonight for volunteers for next week's tournament.

It's holding a sign-up event at Boston Pizza between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Over 100 volunteers are needed.

More Fires Reported

The forest fire activity in northwestern Ontario continues to heat up.

Fifteen new fire were reported yesterday, bringing to 35 the number of active blazes in the region.

None are in the Rainy River district.

The Ministry of Natural Resources says many of the new blazes are the direct result of lightning-strikes.

Area Guide Charged

A fishing guide from the Rainy River district has been fined four-thousand dollars for a variety of offences.

Ron Lemmon of Bergland was charged following a two-year investigation by the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Court was told that during one fishing trip, he encouraged anglers to take more than their legal limit and then sold them off.

In another incident, he sold both walleye caught by someone else and venison to another person.

NOMA Worries Over Doctor Fees Dispute

The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association is wading into the contract dispute between the province and its doctors.

In a letter to Health Minister Deb Matthews, NOMA president Ron Nelson worries some of the changes in fees will impact northern Ontario communities' ability to recruit and retain doctors.

He's asking Mathews to ensure the cuts to fees don't impact disproportionately northern doctors with specialized services working in both hospitals and clinics.

First Nations Leadership Debate

Candidates seeking become the top Native Chief in Canada debated the issues last night.

Diane Kelly, a former Grand Chief of Treaty Three, believes her experience can help be of great assistance to the Assembly of First Nations in dealing with senior levels of governments.

She one of seven candidates up for the position.

More than 600 First Nations chiefs will select a Grand Chief  at the Assembly's conference next week.

Walk For Justice

A walk across the country is hoping to see important change.

Leo Baskatawang and others are walking across Canada to see the government make changes to the Indian Act.

Baskatawang says they've been put on the back burner for far too long.

The group hopes to be in Ottawa by September 3.

Heat Killing Off Fish

Heat is taking its toll on fish in Minnesota.

High water temperatures and low oxygen levels have combined for thousands of northern pike in several shallow lakes to die.

Northerns are vulnerable because they're better suited to cooler temperatures and can't seek refuge in the depths when lakes and streams are less than 6 feet deep.

Similar fish deaths have been noted in the Dakotas and Wisconsin.

New Library Head Named

Fort Frances Public Library Board has gone outside the community in its selection of a new Chief Executive Officer and Chief Librarian.

Alicia Subniak-Kilgour of Collingwood will take over duties September 4 from the retiring Margaret Sedgwick.

Subniak-Kilgour is currently completing a Masters degree at Western University, but has 16 years of library experience.

With Sedgwick now enjoying extended holidays until her official retirement date, Andrea Avis will be serve as interim CEO until September.

 

Lightning Fires A Concern

The threat of more lightning-caused fires still a concern for the Ministry of Natural Resources.

MNR spokesperson Heather Pridham says with recent warm temperatures, new fires are popping up almost daily.


There's no restriction on camp fires, but Priham says the public should take precaution to minimize the threat of human caused fires adding to the MNR's workload.

The three fires reported in the Rainy River district at Entwine Lake, White Otter Lake and Kishkutena Lake have all been declared out.

New Temperature Record

A new temperature record was set in Fort Frances Wednesday.

The high of 32.7 C surpassed the old mark of 32 C set in 1998.

Atikokan hit a high of 32 C, but two degrees shy of a 1966 record.

Ban Impacting County

A plan to phase out the production and import of ozone-depleting refrigerants in the U.S. could be costly to Koochiching County.

The County's Terry Glowack says many of the air conditioning units used in County buildings are using fluids that won't be readily available in 2020.

Glowack says all of them will have to replaced, some costing in excess of $20-thousand.

The County has already been forced to shell out $8-thousand to replace a unit at its jail that was damaged by a recent storm.

Atikokan Youth Group Gets Dollars

An Atikokan Youth group is receiving a financial boost from the provincial government.

Aikokan Youth Initiatives will use $30-thousand to establish a "Teen Vitality" Project.

It's will provide extra-curricular activities to address issues such areas physical activity, reducing tobacco use and mental health promotion.

Conservancy Seeks Members

Rainy Lake Conservancy photo

The Rainy Lake Conservancy is looking to expand its membership.

It's involved in an number of initiatives with the aim of preserving and protecting the Rainy Lake watershed.

Past-president Phylis Callahan says they're also looking for people to help out.

Membership forms can be found on its website www.rainylakeconservancy.org.

Camp Concerns

Officials in Koochiching County say there's little they offer to ease residents complaints about an area youth camp.

The location of docks, a parking lot and noise some of the complaints received.

Environmental Services Manager Dale Olson says a failure to rezone some of the land the only thing the County can really address.

Olson says while some measures can be taken to minimize noise, the camp operations are following all normal and legal regulations.


The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says it will also see if the camp could avoid moving of campers at unusual times of the night.

Koochiching Seeking Sewer Project Money

Koochiching County is hoping to secure a share of funding being offered up by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

It's seeking $7.5- million dollars for a new sanitary sewer collection system in the Island View area connecting about 200 people.

It's one of ninety projects across the State seeking a share of the $47.5-million in a State business  development fund.

Successful candidates will be announced in August.

Gold Drop Not Warranted

A market analyst says there's no reason for the price of gold to be selling at current prices.

Speaking on Smartstox.com, Bill Murphy of the Gold Anti-Trustee Action Committee blames the recent free-fall on a gold cartel consisting of government and world banks.

He says despite claims of economic issues impacting Europe, he sees no reason for gold to be sitting at its lowest level in more than a year.

Some analysts says the price drop will impact on junior and developing gold projects trying to attract investors.

Want To Use The Dragon Boat?

There's an attempt to get the Dragon Boat back on the Rainy River.

NCDS in Fort Frances will be hosting a meeting Thursday night (July 12) at 5 p.m. for anyone interested in using the boat this summer.

It follows the recent Dragon Boat festival that attracted nine teams and plenty of spectators.

Water Meter Problems

Still some issues with new water meters installed earlier this year by the town of Fort Frances.

About 170 meters were installed to replace old ones within the town's commercial, industrial and institutional sectors.

Operations and Facilities Manager Doug Brown says 67 meters are still experiencing some minor problems.

Brown says the firm that worked on the project is returning to fix them, but is still waiting for the necessary parts.

More Land Purchases

Another property acquisition in the Rainy River district for the purpose of mineral exploration.

Bold Ventures says it's acquiring two properties in McCaul township, about 14 kilometers east of Atikokan.

The company says the site has seen some exploration in the past, primarily for gold.