MNR Forest Firefighters Work In Minnesota

Some forest firefighters with the Ministry of Natural Resources are crossing the border today to lend a hand in Minnesota.

Two from the Fort Frances fire district will be a part of helicopter attack crew in Orr.

Two others will be involved in similar duties in Roseau.

The State is bracing for new lighting-caused fires resulting from recent storms that passed.

New Library CEO

Local use of the internet is being credited for attracting the new head of the Fort Frances Public Library and Technology Centre to the community.

Alicia Subniak-Kilgour began her new duties as CEO this week.

She says being able to view the facility on-line sold her on the job.

Subniak-Kilgour hails from Collingwood with over 16 years of library experience.

New Chamber Manager

The Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce has its newest manager on the job.

Annely Armstrong says she's looking to introduce some new initiatives in the new future.

Armstrong takes over from Anthony Mason who resigned to go back to school.

New Student Trustee

RRDSB photo

A Fort Frances high school student is the newest face around the Rainy River District School Board table.

Grade 12 student Dexter Fichuk says serving as the student trustee wasn't something he initially though about doing.

Fichuk has been involved a number of organizations that raise awareness of various social causes, most recently organizing a highly successful anti-bullying concert last week.

Impaired Drivers Nabbed

Four motorists are facing impaired charges in separate incidents in the past seven days in the Rainy River district.

A 58-year-old man from Fort Frances and a 29-year-old man from Edmonton were charged after OPP noticed vehicles being operated in an erratic manner on the weekend.

A 22-year-old man from Kenora was charged after police received public complaints about another vehicle.

A fourth man was charged with impaired while operating an ATV.

Wandering Youngster Found Safe

A bit of a scare for a Fort Frances family.

OPP and a canine unit  were called out Wednesday afternoon after a 3-year old was reported missing from his home in the 1000 block of Scott Street.

The youngster had managed to wiggle his way through a locked fence.

Within three minutes of police being called out, the child was found playing safely in a sand box at Lion's Park.

Plenty Of Speeders On Road Caught

Hundreds of motorists across northwestern Ontario might be feeling a little light in the pocketbook this week.

OPP Constable Anne McCoy says more than 680 motorists were nabbed for speeding over the weekend as part of police's ongoing effort to keep area highways safe.

More than one hundred of those charges were laid by officers in the Rainy River district.

Bike Riders In Place

Riverside Foundation for Health Care has the riders it needs to help launch its fundraising campaign for a new digital mammography unit.

Director Nicke Baird says the 36 riders will share segments of the 90 kilometre bicycle ride from Rainy River to Fort Frances next Tuesday.

The ride isn't intended to raise money, but Baird says they're hoping residents will come out to cheer on the riders as they pass by their communities.

The ride includes a breakfast in Rainy River, lunch at Emo and a BBQ at LaVerendrye Hospital.

Trustees Support Naming Of School Gym

Rainy River District School Board trustees have given their blessing to the naming of the gymnasium at the new Robert Moore School in Fort Frances in honour of former teacher Jim Oster.

An official dedication ceremony will be held at a later date.

Oster, who died earlier this year, was instrumental in developing the physical education program at the old school.

Liberals Accuse NDP Of Being Out Of Touch With The North

The governing Liberals says its the NDP who are out of touch when it comes to the Northern Policy Institute.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell says the province should set up an all-northern Ontario committee at Queen's Park to solicit northern input.

Northern Development Minister Rick Bartolucci says the Institute is what northerners want.

Campbell says it's also wrong to take $5-million out for the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund to set up the Institute.

I. Falls Seeks To Annex County Land

The city of International Falls is making a pitch to annex the land for its multi-modal facility.

City officials outlined details of the project to Koochiching County's board Tuesday.

City counsel Steve Shermoen says a more formal request will come once they've finalize a land purchase deal with Boise.

Shermoen says some of the outstanding issues focus around environment.

The County has not problems with the request, but says it will seek assurances that any work on the site follows its regulations.

Warm Summer In International Falls

It was a warmer summer than usual in International Falls.

The National Weather Service says the average temperature of 64.6 F from June through August was 1.5 F above the norm.

Still, the 11 inches of rain this summer was about on par from past years.

Federal Environmental Assessment Considered

Public comment is being sought on whether Rainy River Resources will require a federal environmental assessment of its proposed gold mine north of Barwick.

The Canadian Environment Assessment Agency will accept comments up to September 24th.

The announcement comes just days after the company released a preliminary economic assessment of the project, proposing an open pit mine by 2016 and underground operations in 2018.

More Calls For Help At Pumps

More calls for government action to control rising prices at the pump.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell says the impact of the high gas prices hit the North really hard, due to the constant need for travel.

In July 2010, prices across Ontario jumped eight cents per litre due to the merging of the GST and HST.

New Record High On Labour Day

A Labour day temperature record in Fort Frances.

Monday's high of 29.9 C surpassed the old mark of 29 C set 8 years ago.

New highs were also reached in Thunder Bay and Dryden.

Rainy River Resources Promoting Gold Project

Rainy River Resources photo

Rainy River Resources is promoting itself to potential investors.

It's released a preliminary economic assessment report on its gold project north of Barwick that looks to mine the highest grades at the lowest cost possible.

President Ray Threlkeld says their project has a lot of potential.

The company is targeting the start open pit mining in 2016 with underground operations three years later.

College Returns

It's back to school for students at Confederation College's campus in Fort Frances.

Over one hundred first year students are expected.

Manager Anne Renaud says they also have over fifty students involved in a new "School within a College program."

The program, incooperation with the Rainy River District School Board, allows recent high school drop outs to gain the credits they need to graduate and earn their first college credits simultaneously.

Classes don't actually start until Thursday with orientation happening today and tomorrow.

Trustees To Consider Renaming School Gym

The gymnasium at Robert Moore School in Fort Frances is expected to get a new name tonight.

A committee recommendation to name the gym after former teacher Jim Oster comes before school board trustees at their meeting tonight.

Oster spent most of his teaching career at the old Robert Moore school and was key to fostering the school's physicial education program and the building of that school's gym.

He passed away earlier this year.

Co-Op Education Starts

There will be some new faces in workplaces across the Rainy River district later this week.

Co-operative education at Fort Frances High School is back underway.

Coordinator Nancy Gillon says it's a key step for students determining what career path they may want to take.

Forty students are participating this semester.

Gillon says they're always looking for participating business, especially those in the trades and social services.

Overpass Closed

There's a detour at the overpass east of Fort Frances, beginning later this morning.

The town's Operations and Facilities Manager Doug Brown says its because of repairs being done to the bridge's expansion joints.

Beginning at 9 a.m., east bound traffic is being routed through Pither's Point Park.

West bound traffic will use Eighth Avenue, Williams Street and Fifth Avenue for next couple of days.

Campbell Sees Better Approach To Northern Policy Institute

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell feels there's a better approach to giving northerners input into  government policy.

The Liberals are forming a Northern Policy Institute.

Campbell says creating an all-northern Ontario legislative committee at Queen's Park would be a better and cheaper approach.

Campbell says the $5-million dollars to set up the institute could be better spent.

New Fire in Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area

Ground crews are battling another wildfire in the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area northwest of Ely.

The Cummings Lake fire covers an estimated 20 acres.

There are currently no official closures in the Boundary Waters, although officials don't recommend
camping on Otter Lake.

Quetico Fire Still Burning

MNR file photo

A forest fire burning near the Ontario-Minnesota border in Quetico Provincial Park has increased in size.

The fire at Basswood Lake is over 20 hectares.

The Ministry of Natural Resources has been allowing the first to burn since last Sunday as it's posing no threats to people or property.

"Go Local" Soon

RR Future Dev. Corp. photo

Be prepared to Go Local.

The Rainy River Future Development Corporation has been working on the initiative for several months and gaging regional support.

Regional economic developer Geoff Gillon says they appear ready to roll it out in September with an official launch happening sometime in October.

As well part of promoting local businesses, the campaign is expected to include a rewards program.

Multi-Modal Facility Project Kicked Off

Work on a new multi-modal facility in International Falls will begin later fall.

The city kicked off the project yesterday with a groundbreaking ceremony, with Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton in attendance.


Dayton says it's still an important project for the city and surrounding area.


Mayor Tim McBride says it's an red-letter day because of the partners involved who helped make it possible.

The State provided the city with $650-thousand to acquire the 77 acres from Boise for the project.

Marijuana Grow-Op Discovered

Two Atikokan men have been arrested following the discovery of a marijuana grow-op in the Rainy River distirct.

Provincial police found the two Saturday tending to marijuanan plants in the Turtle River Road area, west of Atikokan.

Further investigation led police seizing 176 plants, a quanity of other drugs, weapons and ammunition.

The two men, both 54 years of age, will make a court appearance September 17.

Forest Fire Hazard Up In Park

MNR file photo

Quetico Provincial Park will be one area that Ministry of Natural Resources forest firefighters will be watching closely this weekend.

The MNR says recent weather has resulted in the forest fire hazard reaching extreme levels in some areas of the park.

One fire, near Basswood lake, continues to be observed.

The hazard elsewhere in the region is listed as moderate to high.

Border Numbers Down

Some indication this summer's tourist season might not have been as busy as expected.

The Canada Border Services Agency says it processed about 108-thousand travellers at the Fort Frances border in July, about the same as the numbers in June.

But that's down almost four per cent over the same period last year.

Campbell Hosts Pancake Breakfast

A tradition started by former MPP Howard Hampton is being carried on by his successor.

Sarah Campbell will be in Fort Frances tomorrow to host her first ever Pancake breakfast at the Sister Kennedy Centre.

Hampton hosted his last Labour Day breakfast last year.

Preliminary Economic Assessment On Rainy River Gold Project

Rainy River Resources is projecting higher grades and lower costs for its gold mine project north of Barwick.

The company has released a revised preliminary economic assessment for its project.

It's projecting annual production of 308-thousand ounces of gold and 478-thousand ounces of silver in the first ten years of a combined open and underground mine.

It's targeting to begin open pit mining in 2016 and an underground operation two years later.

Hydro Concerns Presented To Minister

Fort Frances town council has taken its concerns about the province's review of the electricity distribution system directly to Energy Minister.

A delegation met with Chris Bentley last week.

Mayor Roy Avis says local power users could be impacted if the Fort Frances Power Corporation is forced to merge with another.

Avis says they were also encouraged about a meeting with Natural Resources Minister Michael Gravelle regarding changes to the bear-wise program.

DSSAB To Develop Strategic Plan

The agency responsible for delivery of social services programs in the Rainy River district is embarking on a strategic planning session.

CAO Dan McCormick says it's the first time the Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board has undertaken such an exercise.

The DSSAB has hired an outside consultant to assist with the work beginning next week.

McGuinty Would Like An End to Bankable Sick Days

Premier Dalton McGuinty is urging Ontario municipalities to consider ending bankable sick days for police and firefighters to control costs.

He says municipalities need to ask themselves whether they should continue to allow police and firefighter to bank unused sick days.

The Ontario Association of Police Service Boards says it agrees with McGuinty, but want the governing Liberals to take responsibility for the costs of the Ontario Provincial Police.

Health Unit Issues Report Card

The Northwestern Health Unit is out with a report on how well it's meeting provincial standards.

It's the second year for the report card.

Alex Berry, Continuous Quality Improvement Coordinator, says it provides a snapshot of how well it's doing in meeting Ministry of Health standards.

The report focuses on fourteen key area including food safety, tobacco use prevention and injury prevention.

The report card can be found on the Health Unit's website.

New Temperature Record Set

Fort Frances was the hot spot in northwestern Ontario yesterday.

The high of 32.5 C, or 90.5 F, shattered the 1991 mark by a full degree.

Yesterday was also the warmest day this month.

Forest Fire Hazard Increasing

State authorities say the wildfire threat is growing in Minnesota.

The fire danger is rated high to extreme in most parts of northern Minnesota.

The Department of Natural Resources is expanding its available support resources as a precaution and restricting burning permits in some areas.

In northwestern Ontario, the forest fire hazard is forecast to be in the high and even extreme range across the central and southern regions.

I. Falls Reaching Out To Celebrities

The annual Pulling for Peace Tug of War is still nine months away, but the city of International Falls is actively recruiting for its celebrity team.

Pro Football Hall of Famer Carl Eller and Mike Ehredt, who's currently running across the U.S. in honour of soldiers killed in Afghanistan are expected to be on the city's team next June.


This year event was cancelled due to weather.

College Faculty Deal Reached

It appears there will be no disruption to the school year at Confederation College.

A tentative two-year deal has been struck between the Colleges and the union representing nearly 10-thousand faculty, including those at Confederation College.

It includes a two-year wage freeze with improved job security for partial-load faculty.

Members of the Ontario Public Service Employees' Union were set to take a strike vote September 10.

Classes for thousands of college students begin Tuesday.

Most Students Meeting School Test Standards

The provincial government is glowing over the latest results of standardized tests written by students last spring.

The number meeting standards in the Grade 3 and 6 tests for reading and writing and Grade 9 math was up five to 10 per cent in most areas.

However that success was not matched in mathematics in the elementary grades and in the Grade 9 applied course.

The Liberals say, overall, it's still proof that its education plan is working.

The results for individual boards and school will be released later in September.

Drug Charges

Two Fort Frances area men face charges after a quantity of illegal drugs were seized from a vehicle stopped near Kenora earlier this week.

OPP says half a pound of marihuana, 55 hydromorphine capsules and small amounts of Oxycondone and Fentanyl were discovered.

They value the drugs seized at about $10-thousand.

A 25-year-old from Devlin and a 23-year-old from Fort Frances were arrested.

Reasons For Riding Change Confusing

A possible redraw of federal ridings in northwestern Ontario has the MP for Thunder Bay-Rainy River scratching his head.

The Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario proposes Lake of the Woods township be a part of the Kenora riding.

John Rafferty sees no reason for it to moved out of his riding.

Rafferty intends to voice his opposition at upcoming meetings this fall.

Tourist Info Delivery Efforts Successful.

An effort to make tourism information available in Fort Frances despite the closure of the province's tourist centre has been met with success.

Students spent the summer handed out pamphlets at the border with info also available at the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce and Sorting Gap Marina.

Geoff Gillon of the Rainy River Future Development Corporation says it worked out well.

It has yet to be decided if they'll continue the efforts next year.

Closure Of Portage Avenue Underpass Planned

There's going to be another temporary closure of the Portage Avenue underpass in Fort Frances.

The town says it will be shut down to traffic for approximately three days beginning September 10.

Operations and Facilities Manager Doug Brown says its so work crews can safely tear down the old pump house which is being replaced, seal the concrete retaining walls and do some landscaping.

Renovations to Old Library Coming

There will be no change to the exterior of the former Fort Frances Library as part of renovations to make it the new home of the Fort Frances Family Health Team.

That work is expected later this fall.

Executive Director Maryliss Bruyere says only the top floor will be used for now with an expansion to the bottom level .

Bruyere is hoping the extra space will lead to new health programs patients now access out of town.

Zebra Mussels In Northern Minnesota

Zebra mussels are slowing making their way closer to our area.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says the invasive species were found at an old mine pit in Gilbert, near Eveleth.

It's the first time they've been found in a mine pit lake, and the furthest north they been seen in the State.

New Lightning Caused Fire in Rainy River District

MNR file photo

There are now two forest fires burning in the Rainy River district.

A new lightning-caused, but small, fire, is burning in an area southeast of Morson.

The other still smolders near Basswood Lake within Quetico Provincial Park.

Alzheimer's Society Event Reaches Goal

CKDR photo

The Alzheimer's Society for Kenora-Rainy River has met its objectives in last weekend's Ride for Memories.

Executive Director Lynn Moffitt says participants helped raised $40,026.

The Society was hoping to raise $40-thousand.

the money will go to support programs and services for people with Alzheimer's and dementia and their families.

Over 165 bikers from across northwestern Ontario took part in a ride throughout the Kenora and Rainy River districts.

Teachers Protest

EFTO photo

Ontario teachers gather at the Ontario legislature and in Thunder Bay today to protest controversial legislation that would their freeze wages and cut benefits.

The bill was introduced at Queen's Park yesterday.

The Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation has postponing its strike votes, but president Ken Coran says teachers are questioning whether to do volunteer duties.

School Starts Today In Rainy River District

For students in the Rainy River district, it's back to school today.

Education Director for the Rainy River District board Heather Campbell says their schools are ready to open their doors to this year's class.

Campbell say they've expanding the use of iPads in their schools, hiring new staff to assist in their use.

The board is also participating in a pilot program on a new anti-bullying campaign.