New Travel App

Travellers in northwestern Ontario will soon have a new way to find out what's hot and happening.

Sunset Country Travel is developing a smart phone app to provide information on places to stay, where to eat, and things to do and see.

It's hoping to launch it in September.

More Donors Needed

The Canadian Blood Services is still looking for donors for next weeks clinic in Fort Frances.

About 140 spaces are still open for the clinics next Monday and Tuesday.

Spokesperson Harvey Heather says they're hoping most of them can be filled by first time donors.

The C.B.S. moved its spring clinic to the summer to ensure blood supplies were kept replenished.

Falls Airport Commission Supports Utah Air Carrier Bid

International Falls Airport Commission is throwing its support behind a Utah-based air carrier interested in providing air passenger service to the city.

SkyWest Airlines is one three bids being reviewed by the U-S Department of Transportation.

Commission Chair Bob Anderson says the company's proposal to provided jet service for the next two years as the most promising.

Sovereign Air and a resubmitted bid from Great Lake Airlines who indicated earlier in the year, it could not take on the route are also seeking approval.

A final decision could come by the end of the month with the selected carrier taking over Delta's route by the end of this year.

Sandy Lake Residents Return Home

Residents of Sandy Lake, evacuated because of smoke near their community last week, are back home.

The Ministry of Natural Resources says fires that were a concern to the remote community remained quiet on the weekend, allowing the 650 residents housed in hotels in Fort Frances and Thunder Bay to return.

Out of province crews from Saskatchewan and New Brunswick were also sent home with the forest fires threat diminishing due to rain and cooler temperatures.

Joint Management Board Goes Forward

Canada and the U.S. will be working together on a new management board for Lake of the Woods and Rainy Lake watersheds.

Foreign Affairs minister John Baird made the announcement on the weekend in Kenora.

The feds were supposed to make its intentions known a month ago, but Baird says he wanted to make the announcement personally.

The creation of the joint management board was a recommendation of an International Joint Commission task force.

Plane Crash In Sioux Lookout

There's been another plane crash in northwestern Ontario.

A Cessna float plane, with five people on board, crashed Sunday afternoon shortly after taking off from Pelican Lake at Sioux Lookout.

The group was planning to do a sight seeing tour of the community.

All five were sent to hospital for treatment of minor injuries and released.

More Liquor Stores Planned

More liquor stores are to open in Ontario.

The Liquor Control Board of Ontario says it's planning to add about 70 new stores in the next two years.

Their exact locations are still to be determined.

Distracted Driving Crackdown

Ontario motorists are being advised to cut out distractions in their cars while driving.

Provincial police are teaming up with the Canadian Automobile Association and the transportation ministry in a campaign to crack down on drivers not paying attention on the road.

OPP Superintendent Don Bell says every second is crucial.

Bell says distracted driving is a leading cause of death or serious injury.

Young Cyclists To Get Tickets

Young bicycle riders following the rules in Atikokan can expected to be ticketed.

OPP, along with Atikokan Teen Centre and Atikokan Safe and Healthy Community Committee are watching for those who wear their helmets.

Constable Anne McCoy says its part of an initiative entitled "Safe Rider."

Riders who get a "Positive Ticket" get a chance to enter a draw to win an iPod NANO being offered by the Teen Centre.

Crash Caused Still Under Investigation

The Transportation Safety Board says its still too early to say what might have caused a float plane to crash north of Kenora.

Two people from Cloquet, Minnesota were sent to hospital with serious injuries after the Cessena 180 crash while taking off from Trout Lake Wednesday morning.

The Board John Cottreau says investigators are still examining the site and the aircraft for clues into what caused the crash.

Construction Contract Signed

Another step in the conversion of the Atikokan coal-fired generating station to burn biomass has been taken.

Ontario Power Generation has signed a contract with Aecon for the design and construction work on plant modifications and new fuel storage and handling systems.

The contract is worth about half the $170-million dollar project.

The plant will make the switch to biomass in 2014.

Forest Fires Hazard Remains Low

MNR file photo

The forest fire hazard remains low for northwestern Ontario as we head into the long weekend.

Thunderstorms and rain continue to track across the region, bringing lightning.

But the Ministry of Natural Resources says that lightning is less of a concern now because of the heavy rainfall associated with it.

To date, there have been a total of 492 fires in the northwest, burning a combined area of 84-thousand hectares.

Forty-four have been in the Rainy River district - 5 are still active.

Busy Border This Weekend Expected

Border agencies on both sides of the border suggest travellers might want to plan ahead if they're planning to cross this holiday weekend.

The Civic Holiday weekend is traditionally one of the busiest of the year at area points of entry.

The Canada Border Services Agency anticipates traffic at the Fort Frances border alone to be at least 3.6 per cent higher than normal.

McGuinty May Recall Legislature

Premier Dalton McGuinty is raising the possibility of recalling the legislature this month to impose new wage contracts on teachers.

The province has given school boards until the end of the month to reach new agreements that includes a two year wage freeze.

McGuinty says there's some urgency in the situation.

McGuinty says the government will take whatever steps are necessary to ensure teachers have new contracts for the start of the school year.

Park Sites Reopened

Four camping sites closed since May in Voyageurs National Park are being reopened to the public.

The sites were closed because of the presence of bald eagles nests used during critical nesting periods.

Park biologists found 72 nests within the park this breeding season

Children's Workshop Returns

A workshop for children returns to the area later this month.

Weechi-it-te-win Family Services' " Abinoojii Okogendiwin" (Children coming together) takes place outside the Nanicost Building near Couchiching First Nations beginning August 14.

The event includes traditional teachings, games, arts and crafts and Turtle Concepts presentations that help raise self-esteem and self-identify.

Your asked to call Weechi-it-te-win to register.

Plane Crash Near Kenora

Two Minnesotans have been seriously injured following the crash of a small plane north of Kenora.

Provincial Police says the Cessna 180 was trying to take off from a camp on Trout Lake, about 40 kilometres northwest of the city, when it crashed into the bush yesterday morning.

The pilot - a 78-year-old man -was transferred to hospital in Thunder Bay.

A 62-year-old woman was taken to Duluth.

A third passenger was not seriously hurt.

All three are from Cloquet.

The Transport Safety Board is investigating.

Atikokan Addressing Housing Needs

Atikokan is readying itself for a possible population boom.

With new people anticipated for new potential mines, a pellet plant and the Atikokan Generating Station conversion, the town's reaching out to housing developers.

Garry McKinnon of the Atikokan Economic Development Corpoartion says a recent study shows its the need for at least 1,300 accommodation units in the next five years, 900 being single family dwellings.

The town recently held a session in Thunder Bay that attracted interest from about 30 firms.

New Human Caused Fire In District

One new forest fire in the Rainy River district to report.

The 0.1 hectare fire at Harvey Lake, southwest of Atikokan, is being identified by the Ministry of Natural Resources as being human caused, but under control.

Five other lightning-cause blazes within Quetico Provincial Park are still active.

Meantime, the MNR is anticipating unsettled weather with showers to help with fires in the far north and ease smoky conditions that forced the 650 residents from Sandy Lake First Nation to Fort Frances and Thunder Bay this week.

Spray Park Down

Emo township has been forced to shutdown its spray park.

The township says its been taken out of commission for repairs.

The township gives no exact date with it will be back in operation.

Bridge Turns 100

Anniversary celebrations for the International Bridge linking Fort Frances and International Falls.

Dignitaries and residents from both sides of the border gathered last night at the Fort Frances Museum to help celebrate the bridge's 100th year.

Fort Frances Mayor Roy Avis says its been an asset that has helped build prosperity in both communities.

Falls city councillor Cynthia Jacksa says it's been a symbol of unity between the two communities for the past 100 years.

Local Customs offices, also established back in 1912, were also recognized. 

Trillium Funding Announced

Three organizations in the Rainy River district are receiving grants from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

Atikokan's Beaten Path Nordic Trails is receiving almost $15-thousand to purchase a snowmobile and trailer to help maintain its cross country ski trails.

The Rainy Lake Nordic Ski Club will use about $26-thousand on new snowshoes and trail grooming equipment.

The Rainy River District Women's Institute Museum is getting $15-thousand for renovations to its Emo facility.

City Beach Project Gets Funding

The city of International Falls is receiving funding to remodel the bathhouse at its City Beach.

The over $34-thousand comes from Otto Bremer Foundation.

The work will include new lockers, an updated electrical system as well as making the bathhouse handicapped accessible.

The city says work will start immediately after the Labour Day weekend.

Kesselrun Begins Exploration

More gold searching in the Rainy River district.

Thunder Bay-based Kesselrun Resources says its starting an exploration program at its Bluffpoint Lake project, located 80 kilometres northeast of Fort Frances.

The work will identify areas where a fall drilling program will focus.

School Board Reacts to Minister's Directive

The chair of the Rainy River District School Board calls talk of a legislative settlement by the province for Ontario's teachers predictable.

Education Minister Laurel Broten is first giving boards until the end of August a shot to come up with deals that includes a two-year wage freeze.

Chair Mike Lewis says whether the board can meet the Ministry's deadline is still to be determined.

Lewis says the board had already planned talks in September with the union representing high school teachers before the Minister's directive.

Mining Matters Workshop Returns

Rainy River Resources is giving people a chance to learn more about the company, its gold project and mining in general.

A three-day Mining Matters workshop begins next Wednesday in Fort Frances.

Kyle Stanfield, a company vice-president says it includes a tour of their project north of Barwick.

The company sponsored the event last year with great success.

Seventy spaces are available this time round.


Free registration can be made through the company's website.

Portage Avenue Underpass Closed Today

Portage Avenue underpass will be closed to vehicle traffic again today (Wednesday) from 7 a,m, to 7 p.m.

Work crews are continuing to install electrical cable as part of upgrades to the sewage pumping station.

Pedestrians and bicycles can go through by using the road portion.

Sioux Lookout Area Highway Remained

MPP Sarah Campbell photo

A northwestern Ontario highway now bears the name of a late MPP known for his work in the region.

Highway 664 has been renamed Leo Bernier Memorial Highway.

The announcement was made yesterday by Natural Resources Minister Michael Gravelle.


The memorial highway stretches 17 kilometres from Hudson to Highway 72 near Bernier's birthplace of Sioux Lookout.

Bernier -- nicknamed ``King of the North'' -- was first elected for the Progressive Conservatives in a 1966 by-election and stayed at Queen's Park until he retired in 1987.

He later became the first ever Northern Affairs and Mines Minister in 1971.

Motorcycle Accident Sends One To Hospital

An Alberta man remains in a Winnipeg hospital with serious injuries following an accident involving a motorcycle in the Rainy River district Sunday night.

OPP say the 24-year-old lost control of his bike on Worthington Road Number 3 in Dawson Township, about half-a-kilometre from Highway 11, and ended up in the ditch.

Police say the man was not wearing a helmet.

Filing Period For Minnesota Civic Elections Now Open

The filing period for candidates seeking to run in civic elections in Minnesota this fall is now underway.

They'll have until August 14th to declare with local municipal offices.

Two seats on International Falls council will be contested, including the position of Mayor, taken over recently by Tim McBride from Shawn Mason who stepped down to take on a job with the city.

McBride's former councillor-at-large seat is also up for grabs.

Filings for the position of Mayor of Rainer, now held by Ed Oerichbauer, and two council seats are also being accepted by that city clerk's office.

Fort Frances To Host Evacuees

Fort Frances will be playing host to about one hundred residents from Sandy Lake First Nation.

They're being flown out of their remote community this afternoon because of smoke from nearby forest fires.

Fire Chief Frank Sheppard says they'll be staying the Adventure Inn when they arrive.

More than 550 other residents are in Thunder Bay.

School Boards Told To Negotiate Deals

Ontario's Liberal government wants school boards to use the province's deal with the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association as a basis to reach local contracts by the end of the August.

Education Minister Laurel Broten says boards will have to do what her government could not do and convince the teachers' unions to accept a pay freeze or she'll introduce legislation.

The Elementary Teachers' Federation says Broten is being unrealistic in expecting school boards to reach deals in 30 days that the province couldn't reach in six months.

Second Teen Arrested In Death

A second teen is facing a charge of First Degree Murder in the death of a man on Whitefish Bay First Nation earlier this month.

A 14-year-old boy, who can not be named because his age, will appear in a Kenora court today.

Both Treaty Three Police and OPP initially charged a 16-year-old boy, who also can't be named, two day's after police discovered the body of 61-year-old Charles Minshall when they responded to gun fire in the area of the man's store.

Fight To Reopen Tourism Centres Continues

It's not going to happen this year, but the fight to get the region's tourism centres re-opened isn't stopping.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell is again refuting the Tourism Ministry's reasons behind closing the centres, including those Fort Frances and Rainy River.

Campbell says the government's now pointing to the use of GPS units as a reason.

She disputes that claim saying her use of GPS in the area often fail to identify local landmarks that would help travellers.

Campbell admits its been frustrating, but isn't giving up hope the centres can be reopened next year.

Border Numbers Up

There's an increase in traffic being seen at the Fort Frances border.

Canada Border Services Agency says more than 108-thousand people in 50-thousand vehicles passed in June.

That's a 4.3 per cent increase from the number in June of last year.

By contrast, the number of travellers through the border at Pigeon River was down 3 per cent.

Portage Ave. Underpass Closed

There's a closure of the Portage Avenue underpass in Fort Frances today.

Operations and Facilities Manager Doug Brown says road will be closed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and tomorrow so crews can install electrical cable as part of upgrades to the sewage pumping station.

The sidewalk is also being closed, but pedestrians will be permitted to walk through the area along the closed road portion.

No More Evacuations Announced

MNR file photo

No word yet if there will more evacuations of remote First Nation communities today.


Emergency Management Ontario spoke with several communities, including Fort Frances, yesterday about the possibility of them hosting people from communities impacted by smoke from forest fires.

Thunder Bay is hosting 300 evacuees from Sandy Lake First Nation.

Walk for Good Life Continues

A walk through parts of northwestern Ontario is underway.

Between 20 to 25 participants are involved in fourth annual Walk for Good Life, promoted by the group Good Life for Young Peoples.

They left Eagle Lake First Nation Sunday and will pass through this area today with stops at Couchiching and Rainy River First Nations.

The walk aims to inspire walkers culturally while promoting healthy lifestyles.

Zebra Mussel Problems In Minnesota

Inspectors for Minnesota's aquatic invasive species program are struggling to keep up with the spread of zebra mussels in State lakes this summer.

The Department of Natural Resources identifies more than sixty lakes are as being effected.

Agency officials add about 20 percent of boaters they check are in violation of laws aimed at preventing invasive species, but they're are making progress in building awareness.

Death At Remote Community Probed

Nishnawbe-Aski Police and the Ontario Provincial Police are investigating the death of a North Spirit Lake First Nation resident.

The deceased has been identified as 38 year-old Paul Campbell.

Details of the circumstances that led to his death have yet been revealed.

A post-mortem examination is scheduled for today in Thunder Bay.

Weekend Death Not Suspicious

OPP says they've found nothing suspicious about a weekend death of a 66-year-old man from Minnesota.

The man was pronounced dead at LaVerendrye hospital Friday afternoon after being transported from an island on Rainy Lake near the Five Mile Dock with what's described as a medical emergency

A post mortem was to be conducted Monday in Kenora.

Emo Break-In Suspects Sought

OPP are looking for two people who may be connected with a break-in earlier this month in Emo.

Fishing roads, an ice auger and a chain saw were taken from an unlocked garage.

Police says security cameras in the area identified two men carrying an auger and chain saw in the early hours of July 22..

One was wearing blue jeans and an orange or red sweatshirt.

The other was wearing a dark sweatshirt and dark pants.

Minnesota Anglers Win FFCBC

A Minnesota angling team is this year's winners of the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship.

Mark Raveling and Mike Luhman led all three days of fishing combining for 55.06 lbs of bass.

The team had finished second in four previous tournaments.

They beat out Chad Johnson and John Janousek, who entered the final day of finishing 11th and held onto to the top spot with 51.83 lbs before Raveling and Luhman weighed in.


Fort Frances anglers Jim Sandelovich and Karl Howells were fourth with 50.06 lbs.


Ted and Leo Heyens finished fifth with 50.05 lbs. 

Hydro Out

Some residents in the Mine Centre area are without power this morning.

Hydro One says about 50 customers lost their electricity overnight.

There is also an outage in the Devlin area with about 20 customers impacted.

Crews have been dispatched and should have power restored later this morning.

Meantime, nearly two-thousand home in the Kenora area are still without power after a vicious storm passed overnight.


As many as three-thousand were effected.


Hydro One says it will be later today before power can be fulled restored to that area.

Forest Fire Hazard Drops

MNR file photo

Forest fire hazard across northwestern Ontario has dropped to low.

Sixty-six fires are still active, but were slowed by rain on the weekend.

Among the new blazes in the Rainy River district was one near Lizard Lake north of Sapawe.

It's listed as being under control.

Five fires are now within Quetico Provincial Park, but are being allowed to burn themselves out because of  their benefit to the ecosystem.

All of the fires in the district are being identified as being lightning-caused.

First Nation Residents Evacuated

MNR file photo

A forest fire has forced an evacuation of 70 people from Sandy Lake First Nation.

Chief Bart Meekis says he's asked city of Thunder Bay to serve as a host community.

Some Crews Head Home

An easing of the forest fire situation in parts of northwestern Ontario is allowing some out-of-province crews to return home.

Twenty firefighters from Minnesota as well as two CL-415 waterbombers from Quebec left the region yesterday.

Personnel from New Brunswick and Saskatchewan are still in the area helping Ontario forest firefighters.

More ORNGE Hearings

Health Minister Deb Matthews faces another grilling by a legislative committee this week about her oversight of Ontario's embattled air ambulance service Ornge.

Matthews earlier testified that her ministry was kept in the dark by Ornge while it set up a web of spin-off companies with taxpayers' money.

But much of what Matthews told the committee was contradicted by former CEO Chris Mazza.

BizKids Sell Products

There's some new entrepreneurs in the Fort Frances.

Nine youngsters, who participated in the Northwest Business Centre's BizKids camps, pitched products at at open air market Friday.

13-year-old Nicholas Derkson, who sold Candy-Kabobs, says he learned a lot.

The youngsters learned all aspects of operating a business and visited stores in the downtown area before marketing their own wares.

It's the first time the camp has been offered in Fort Frances.

The Centre is looking at bringing it back next summer.

Facebook Travels

Greg Mountenay photo

An Ontario man is trying to get a little face-to-face time with the hundreds of his Facebook friends.

Greg Mountenay is travel across the country and make Fort Frances a stop on the weekend.

He says he's being able to connect with friends he hasn't seen in several years.

Mountenay lists more than 1,200 Friends on this Facebook page.

He started his journey two weeks ago and will end it later next month