Food Shelves Getting Money

Nearly 300 food shelves around Minnesota will be getting a nice boost this week.

Minnesota FoodShare is sharing a record $900-thousand build up within its food fund.

Director Sara Nelson-Pallmeyer says it helps agencies at a time when donations are general slow, but demand continues.

There were more than 3 million visits to food shelves statewide in 2010, up 62 percent from just two years before.

Labour Market Needs In Mining Explored

Challenges in the mining industry are hoping to get a break.

The Northwest Training and Adjustment Board is teaming up with the Mining Industry Human Resources Council to forecast labour market needs.

The Board's executive director Sonya Wainio sees it of interest to companies working in this area.

Wainio hopes the forecast will be complete by September.

Fort Frances Supports OPG Conversion Of Thunder Bay Plant

Fort Frances is giving its support to calls Ontario Power Generation move ahead with the conversion of the coal-fired plant in Thunder Bay to natural gas.

OPG has put the project on hold until it gets a power purchase agreement with Ontario Power Authority

Fort Frances council is backing a Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association resolution that asks the Province to step in to get that agreement approved.

Building Upgrades Approved

Repairs to a maintenance building at Riverview Cemetery in Fort Frances are expected to begin this week.

A $94-thousand contract has been awarded to Ed Kaun and Sons of Fort Frances.

The work includes the installation of a new metal roof, new siding and windows.

Museum Seeks Grant

Fort Frances Museum is seeking a unit to digitally store historical documents.

The town is authorizing the museum to seek a $50-thousand dollar provincial grant.

CAO Mark McCaig says it will help preserve the Museum's documents.

If the grant is approved, the town's share would be about 10-thousand dollars.

Primary Day in Minnesota

Today is primary day in Minnesota, when fields of candidates will be narrowed for the November 6 general election.

The races on the ballot range from the congressional to the local level.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 tonight.

Meantime, the deadline to register for elections in International Falls is today.

Municipal elections are not involved in the primary.

Candidates must fill by 5 p.m.

Entertainment Groups Get Funding

Federal funding is being handed out help three entertainment groups in the Rainy River district.

Atikokan Entertainment Series is getting just less than $20-thousand over the next two years to offset the cost of staging live entertainment.

The Tour de Fort Concert Series in Fort Frances will use $20-thousand over the next two years.

The Kids and Company Family Performing Artists Series in the Fort will get a grant of $6-thousand.

I. Falls Safe To Live Because of Weather

International Falls is being identified as one of the safest cities in the United States to live if you're trying avoid dangerous weather.

The Weather Channel suggests the so-called "Icebox of the Nation" might be better described as the "Safety Deposit box."

Although cold in the winter, the Weather Channel says extreme cold is not seen as big weather killer.

It also notes the Falls has not seen a tornado in almost 20 years.

Fires Out

Forest fires that have been burning in Quetico Provincial Park for some time are now out.

Some of the five lighting-caused fires had been burning since the middle of July.

They were allowed to burn themselves out because of the benefits to the park's ecosystem.

There are now no active fires in the Rainy River district.

Chamber Office Moves

Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce is in the midst of a move.

It's relocating its Scott Street office to the second floor of the Northern Lights Credit Union building.

It will open the doors of its new location September 1st.

Minnesota Wetlands Examined

Scientists are checking on the health of wetlands across the state, as part of a project to determine how well conservation programs are working.

There are about 10 million acres of wetlands across Minnesota, nearly 15 per cent of which are located in Koochiching County.

Officials are monitoring wetland quality and quantity, exploring the areas by foot and using aerial photographs towards possible changes in state regulations.

Osisko Ending Drilling

Osisko Mining will be ending drilling operations at its Hammond Reef project near Atikokan in the near future.

President Sean Roosen says much of the focus now will be completing feasibility and environmental impact assessment studies.

The company is also expected to update the anticipated size of its gold deposit by the end of the year.

Billionth Tree Planted

Photo courtesy MPP Sarah Campbell

Resolute Forest Products is celebrating the planting of one billion trees in northern Ontario.

Two-meter tall white spruce trees were planted in Fort Frances, Iroquois Falls and Thunder Bay Friday to mark the achievement.

More Donors Still Wanted

The Canadian Blood Services begins the first of two blood donor clinics today in Fort Frances.

Eighty-five appointment spaces are still to be filled.

As incentives, Boston Pizza is coming on board to to give out discount coupons towards a meal to anyone who gives blood.

Fort Floral will give a rose to each donor.

You can still call register by calling 1-888-2-DONATE.

Former City Mayor Enters Race

Bob Anderson

A former Mayor of International Falls is entering this fall's mayoral race.

Bob Anderson was the city's mayor from 1982 to 1986.

Willi Kotsiuk has announced he'll be seeking the city's councillor at large position this November.

Kostiuk recently retired from the city's police department.

Firefighters Riding For Muscular Dystrophy

Reagan Breeze (l) and Graham Warburton

An Atikokan firefighter will be hitting the road next month to raise money for Muscular Dystrophy.

Graham Warburton will join Reagan Breeze of Dryden on a bicycle ride from Kenora to Thunder Bay, beginning September 10.

Warburton says they're attendance to a recent M.D. conference convinced them of the need to do the ride.

They're now accepting donations which can be made through Muscular Dystrophy Canada website or at the Atikokan Fire Hall.

New Food Program Introduced

A new food program aimed at children at risk is being introduced to Koochiching County this fall.

The United Way's Buddy Backpack program gives youngsters each Friday a backpack full of nutritious, child-friendly, non-perishable food items.

Spokesperson Elizabeth Johnson says it enhances existing in-school breakfast and lunch programs.

The United Way will raise money for the initiative through its annual "Kooch County Cruise."

Classic cars and motorcycle riders will travel throughout the County on September 8.

Register at Northern Auto Parts or the International Falls Chamber office in the Falls, or the United Way's website.

Road Closure

Motorists who travel Highway 602 will find themselves having to take an alternative route for the next few weeks.

A section of the highway west of Fort Frances is being closed between Oakwood Drive and Bone Road

It's to permit to install a new bridge over a Rainy River tributary.

The road will be closed to traffic until August 27.

Governments' Acceptance Of Task Force Recommendations Applauded

Area agencies are applauding federal governments on both sides of the border for agreeing to recommendations of an International Joint Commission task force.

It included a new management board for the Lake of the Woods and Rainy River watersheds.

Kelli Saunders, who was on that task force, is please to see their work becoming a reality.

Saunders is hoping that a water quality summit announced will happen soon that later.

Group Donors Program Established

Canadian Blood Services is asking you to become a "partner for life".

It's the name of a program being launched in northwestern Ontario to increase the number of donors.

Spokesperson Harvey Heather says the campaign encourages groups of people to become regular donors.

OPP Busy During August Long Weekend

A busy one for Ontario Provincial Police in the Rainy River district during the August long weekend.

Police laid 49 speeding charges, 12 for distracted driving, six liquor licence offences and one driver with impaired driving.

On the water, OPP Marine Unit spent 10 hours on patrol, charging one boater for not having any lifejackets on board.

Anglers Found Not Following Rules

An enforcement blitz at a lake along the Canada-U.S border has found several anglers not following the rules.

Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officers laid 20 charges and issued 78 warnings during the four-day blitz in the middle of July at Basswood Lake located within Quetico Provincial Park

Infraction included anglers fishing without a licence, having an over-limit of fish or using barb hooks or live bait, both of which are prohibited in the park.

Businesses Receive Heritage Fund Money

Two Atikokan businesses are getting money from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund.

Exclusive Wilderness Excursions will use almost $124 thousand dollars to expand its business.

It's building an 8 unit motel at Sapawe and hiring six new employees.

Calm Lake Bread, a new bakery to create whole grain bread products in a wood-fired brick oven, is using almost $5-thousand to build a new outdoor oven.

Premier Believes Teachers Understands Reasons For Wage Freeze

File photo

Premier Dalton McGuinty says he thinks teachers understand the province can't afford to pay them more.

He says he's confident they'll come back in September, even though some have already scheduled strike votes.

Still, the premier warns that if teachers don't accept new contracts before the school year starts, he'll do it for them.

First Rider Program

Good new for parents, not so good for their children.

The start of school is school is less than a month away.

Rainy River District School Board is again offering its First Rider program to students who will ride a school bus for the first time this fall.

Sessions will go next month in Atikokan, Fort Frances and Stratton.

Call the School Board office to register.

Boise Sells Land to International Falls

Boise has agreed to sell some of its property to the city of International Falls.

The city's director of economic and community development Shawn Mason says the 77-acres will aid in the development of a multi-modal facility.

The property is located in the city's east end in the area of Highway 11 and Country State Aid Highway 155.

The purchase is worth $165-thousand.

A ground breaking ceremony will take place August 30.

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.