Park Cuts Criticized

The Ministry of Natural Resources is being criticized for its decision to cut jobs and downgrade the designation of Caliper Lake Provincial Park in Nestor Falls.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell says the Liberals are failing to take into consideration the impact the decision will have on the local economy.

The changes at Caliper mean many parks services won't be available to users.

The Liberals says low visitation was a reason for the changes.

Campbell says had the area's travel centres been open, more people may have visited the park.

Fire Danger High In Northwestern Minnesota

The Department of Natural Resources says there's an extreme fire danger in northwestern Minnesota.

Warroad Area forest supervisor Adam Munstenteiger says it is so dry that even hot vehicle mufflers and lawn mowers are sparking fires.

More Forest Fires In Rainy River District

MNR file photo

Two new forest fires were reported in the Rainy River district on the weekend, both human-caused.

Both the fires near Scotch Lake, and in the Marmion Lake areas,  northeast of Atikokan, were small in size and are both out.

There have been a total of 70 forest fires in the district this year.

Park Mischief

OPP are turning to the pubic for assistance in solving an incident of mischief at a Fort Frances park .

Police says someone forcibly entered the washroom and storage building at Lion's Park August 22, damaging plumbing fixtures to cause water to leak all over the building.

A number of beer bottles were also broken inside.

Damages are estimated at $15-hundred dollars.

Park Cuts

A provincial park in Nestor Falls is among ten the Ministry of Natural Resources says will see staff cuts and have their designation downgraded.

The changes at Caliper Lake, and others, means campers will not be able to access any services.

The Ministry says low visitation is the reason for the change.

The MNR is also replacing its Ontario Ranger Program with a new Stewardship Youth Ranger Program .

Potential Dog Park Sites Identified

A town advisory committee is a step closer to identifying where an off-lease dog park may be located in Fort Frances.

Chair Duane Hicks says they've identified six potential sites so far.

The include sites near the water tower, St. Francis Sports Field, near Legion Park, on Lillie Avenue north between 5th and 6th Avenues west, town property near the Sixth Street Rink and property at the very end of Phair Avenue.

Hicks says more sites could be identified before they solicit public input and make a final recommendation to council later this fall

Like Gillons'

A Fort Frances business has come up with a unique way of raising money for Riverside Foundation for Health Care's "Together We Can Campaign."

Christine Denby of Gillons' Insurance says they're asking people to simply "Like" them on Facebook or Follow them on Twitter.

For every person who does so, the company will donate one-dollar to the campaign for a new mammography unit.

Gillons' campaign will continue up until October 13

Cancer Centre Becoming Paperless

The Regional Cancer Centre in Thunder Bay is becoming paperless.

All of its patient records will soon all be computerized.

It's costing the Centre more than two-million dollars to make the switch by March of next year.

Doctors in thirteen regional sites will have access to the new record system.

United Churches Meet

United Churches across northwestern Ontario gathering in Fort Frances for a weekend conference.

Knox United Church hosted the fall meeting of the Cambrian Presbytery.

Reverend Barb Miller says some of the discussions for the over sixty delegates were over how to maintain a full time youth minister.

A youth conference at Zion Lutheran Church is also taking place with the focus on social justice issues.

Deficit Reduction

Deficit reduction is the aim of the latest round of budget cuts in the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Minister Michael Gravelle says the cuts are intended to have as little impact as possible on the management of the provinces resources.

The cuts include a reduction of services and job cuts at ten provincial parks, including at Caliper Lake in Nestor Falls.

Tory Waver On Wage Freeze Bill

Ontario's Progressive Conservatives are highly critical of the Liberals' proposed public sector wage freeze bill, but won't say if they'll help the minority government against to get it passed.

The Tories voted to support the Liberals' bill imposing a contract for teachers.

Tory critic Monte McNaughton says the legislation affecting almost half-a-million public sector workers is weak and exempts too many people.

The New Democrats call the wage freeze legislation "wrong-headed.''

Locum House Fundraiser

Supplied photo

Fundraising for the home in Rainy River that will provide accommodations for doctors providing temporary medical care in the community continues.

A Harvest Supper and Pie Auction will be held October 21st at the Rainy River Evangelical Covenant Church.

Construction of the home is well underway with walls and the roof expected to start going up in the coming weeks.

Campfire Restrictions Lifted

The U.S. Forest Service is lifting campfire restrictions in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness because of cooler temperatures and shorter days.

Forest managers have also reopened an area along the Canadian border and around Knife Lake.

The area was closed earlier this month while a fire was burning within Quetico Provincial Park on the Canadian side.

Fire crews will continue to monitor the area.

Watch For Animals On Road

A safety reminder from the Canadian Automobile Association.

Wildlife become more active this time of year, often leading to more vehicle collisions with animals on the road.

The CAA's Korey Kennedy says drivers should take precautions, especially when driving at night.

Kennedy recommends breaking firmly if you see an animal on the road, instead of trying to swerve around it.

Attraction Visits Down

Less than expected attendance to some attractions in Fort Frances this summer.

About 550 people visited the Hallet and Fire Tower in July and August, about 150 less than last year.

Visits to the Museum were about the same, but curator Sherry George says it's only because of separate events in Augusts for the International Bridge's 100th anniversary and Ernest Oberholtzer's northern Manitoba canoe trip that attracted large crowds.

George says the closure of Ontario's Travel Information Centre may have played a factor in attendance.

Mine Assessment Decision Next Month

Rainy River Resources photo

Rainy River Resources will know next month if it will be required to conduct a federal environmental assessment of its proposed gold mine north of Barwick.

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is currently reviewing comments received to its requests for input.

The Agency says a final ruling could come as early as October 19th.

Fires Burn At National Park

Parks Canada photo

Five forest fires burning within northwestern Ontario's only National Park are being allowed to burn themselves out.

Four of the fires at Pukaskwa National Park near Marathon were caused by lightning.

Parks Canada says all are in remote areas of the park and posing no threat to visitors.

The other is a prescribed burn, park officials say is showing little activity.

Man Killed in Traffic Accident

A 31-year-old man is dead following an accident in International Falls.

International Falls City Police say the man was driving a van along Keenan Drive yesterday morning when his vehicle collided into the back of a dump truck.

The man, who has yet to be identified, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The dump truck operator was not injured.

No Charges Laid In Salvation Army Fire

No charges are being laid in connection with a fire Monday night in front of the Salvation Army in Fort Frances.

Members of the Fort Frances Fire Department were called to extinguish the blaze that charred a pile of books, clothing and paper.

OPP did question a suspect who was taken into police custody on an unrelated incident.

It was determined the fire was started by a lit cigarette.

Fire Destroyed Mobile Trailer In Emo

Fire has destroyed a mobile home in the township of Emo.

The fire occurred on Carpenter Road, northeast of the village at about 6:30 a.m. yesterday.

None one was inside.

Officials with the Emo township fire department believe the fire started in a bedroom area, but the exact cause is still being determined.

Area Officer Recognized

An OPP officer who works regularly with the media and several community organizations in the Rainy River District has been recognized for her work

Constable Anne McCoy has been presented with a Queen Elizabeth the second Diamond Jubilee medal.

McCoy was one of three OPP officers in the northwest to receive medals during a ceremony in Thunder Bay yesterday.

Citation For Bravery Awarded

OPP have also awarded the Commissioner's Citation for Bravery to a man who helped rescue a woman from the Fort Frances area who was mauled by a bear last fall.

Daniel Morrison and the woman were working with a Ministry of Natural Resources group conducting an animal count survey in a remote area near Armstrong at the time of the incident.

Morrison used a hunting knife to fight off the bear until police and Conservation officers arrived to kill the bear and get the woman medical attention.

More Wage Freezes Coming

The provincial Liberal government will unveil its plan today that forces wage freezes among public sector workers.

Premier Dalton McGuinty suggested two weeks ago that his government may introduce a single bill to impose an across-the-board wage freeze.

The Ontario Federation of Labour is holding an emergency meeting with other union leaders to talk about how they can mobilize province-wide to challenge the cuts.

Property Assessments To Rise

Municipal budgets are just starting to be worked on, but area homeowners could have to pay more in property taxes next year.

A report by Ontario's Municipal Property Assessment Corporation which determines the value of homes used to set taxes projects assessments to rise 4.5 per cent for the next four years starting in 2013.

MPAC says residential property values have risen by 20 to 30 per cent in northern Ontario since its last update in 2008.

New Canada Day Advisory Committee Formed

The planning of Canada Day festivities in Fort Frances will now fall to an advisory committee with the town.

Volunteer groups involved in the past, including Fun in the Sun, will be represented.

Community Services Manager Jason Kabel sees the new committee providing ongoing support.

Kabel says it will also help the group access resources and write grants.

Huffman School To Be Demolished

The former F.H. Huffman school will be coming down.

Fort Frances town council agreed at their meeting Monday night to demolish the vacant school it purchased two years ago.

CAO Mark McCaig says it will pave the way for new housing lots.

McCaig says an outside firm will be hired, but there might be an opportunity to use town resources to help lower costs.

Councillor Seeks Funds For Tug Of War

A Fort Frances councillor wants the town to consider dedicating funds to enhancing its portion of the annual Pulling for Peace tug of war with International Falls.

Rick Wiedenhoeft says it might help the town attract well-known athletes like the Falls has done.

The Falls has brought in several former members of the Minnesota Vikings in the past and has Pro Football Hall of Famer Carl Ellar attending next July.

Little Public Input Into Budget

Little response from the public to a call by the town of Fort Frances for input into the 2013 budget.

No one attended a public meeting held last night.

The town did receive a submission from the Fort Frances Meals on Wheels program asking for $18,500 to help offset expenses.

That's 500 dollars more than it received for this year.

Radio-thon Planned For Next Week

93.1 The Border intends to bring the Riverside Foundation for Health Care's Together We Can Campaign past its goal.

A four-hour radio-a-thon will be held next Tuesday to help raise money for a new digital mammography unit.

The campaign has so far has raised about 88 per cent of its anticipated 650-thousand dollar goal.

Next Tuesday's morning's event will go from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. live from LaVerendrye Hospital in Fort Frances.

Spend "An Evening In Paris"

Riverside Foundation for Health Care is planning for its next fundraising event.

It's being called "An Evening in Paris" and will be held October 13 at the Memorial Sports Centre's auditorium.

Fifty dollar tickets are now available at all Riverside Health Care Facilities and McTaggarts.

Officers Receiving Awards

Four officers who work out of the OPP's Fort Frances detachment are among those across northwestern Ontario being honoured today at a ceremony in Thunder Bay.

OPP Commissioner Chris Lewis will be on hand to present awards to OPP employees and community members for various acts and achievements.

Help Sent To Alberta

MNR photo

The Ministry of Natural Resources is sending forest firefighters to Alberta.

Twenty firerangers, twelve incident commanders and an agency representative left Ontario yesterday to aid with forest fire suppression efforts in that province.

Four MNR firefighters are also working in Minnesota.

Health Care Town Halls Planned

Health Care will be a focus of a series of town hall meetings, being hosting this Friday by Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell.

She'll be joined by NDP Health Critic Frances Gelinas.

Cambell is inviting members of the public to attend for an open discussion about the health care system and its ability to meet the needs of northwestern Ontario.

They're tour will start in Fort Frances, taking them to Rainy River, Kenora and Dryden.

S.I.U. Called To Investigate Kenora Fatal

Ontario's police watchdog has been called in after a 42-year-old woman was killed in a collision while being transported by provincial police in Kenora.

The Special Investigations Unit says officers were transporting a woman in custody to the Kenora detachment early Sunday morning when their cruiser collided with a tractor trailer unit.

The officers and the driver of the transport did not suffer serious injuries.

Court Rules Against Extradition

Ontario's top court has ruled a man from Rainy River First Nations facing drug charges in the United States should not be extradited because of his aboriginal status.

Zachary Leonard was arrested with four others in 2006 after trying to cross the border at International Falls in a van containing 46-hundred ecstasy tablets.

After escaping from a Falls halfway house to Canada, an Ontario Superior Court judge committed him for extradition.

But the Ontario Court of Appeal ruled the justice minister didn't properly take into account a legal principle that says different considerations must be made when sentencing aboriginal offenders.

The Appeal Court says Leonard could be prosecuted in Canada.

OPP Getting It Done In Fort Frances

OPP in Fort Frances are above the provincial and national averages when it comes to solving crimes.

OPP closed the books on 67 per cent all crimes investigated in the town in 2011, 89 per cent of all violent crime and 26 per cent of all property crime.

Detachment Commander Inspector Steve Shouldice says the figure for property crime clearance is low because of the difficulty in solving such incidents.

Beef Recall Hits Area Consumers

A nation-wide recall of beef has hit the region.

The Northwestern Health Unit is advising the public not eat any ground beef with a best before date on or before September 26, due to a possible e-coli contamination at an Edmonton plant.

Health officials says the recall impacts both beef sold at supermarkets and unlabelled ground beef products that may have been shipped to small retailers, local meat markets and butcher shops.

Public Input Welcome

The public will get its say into the 2013 budget for the town of Fort Frances tonight.

A public meeting will be held during tonight's council meeting to solicit input.

The final budget could be complete by the middle of May.

Tonight's meeting will happen 6:20 p.m.

Candidates Forum For Falls Area Candidates

The International Falls Area Chamber of Commerce is setting up a candidates' forum for those running in local elections in November.

It's to take place October 16 at Rainy River Community College.

Candidates running for positions on the International Falls City Council, Ranier City Council, Koochiching County Board and District 361 School Board have been invited to participate.

They'll face questions being developed by the College's Student Senate and students from Falls High School and Indus High School.

Schools Raise Funds For Terry Fox Foundation

Two elementary schools have added to the coffers of the Terry Fox Foundation.

Students at Donald Young School in Emo raised $2941.00 during its Terry Fox school run Friday.


Students at Sturgeon Creek School in Barwick collected more than $27-hundred in their run on Friday.

Other area schools will hold their runs and walks this Thursday.

Revco Introduces Hot Tubs To Local Market

A venture into a new product for a Fort Frances flooring business.

Revco Flooring has introduced a line of Beachcomber hot tubs to area residents.

General Manager Guy Donaldson believes there a strong market for the tubs

As the dealer for the entire northwestern Ontario, Donaldson says they're already getting interest from people in Red Lake and Sioux Lookout/

Donaldson says hot tubbing can also bring many health benefits.

Fort Frances BIA Chair Steps Down

The chair of the Fort Frances Downtown Business Improvement Association has stepped down.

Connie Cuthbertson has informed Fort Frances town council of her resignation from the board in a letter, citing health reasons.

A new chair has not been selected.

Boundary Changes Hearing Approaching

Area residents have a week left to register if they want to make comment to the agency proposal changes to the federal riding in our region.

The Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission in Ontario is proposing Lake of the Woods township be removed from the Thunder Bay-Rainy River Riding and added to the Kenora riding.

A public hearing takes place in Kenora October 9.

Anyone wishing to comment must contact the Commission by October 1st.

Absentee Voting Underway In Minnesota

Absentee voting is underway for Minnesota voters who can't make it to the polls on Election Day in November.

Absentee voting is available in person at county auditors' and some municipal clerks' offices up until November 5th, the day before the election.

Mail-in votes will also be accepted, but voters must submit an application and get the absentee ballot back to local election officials by Election Day.

Nuinsco Sells Royalty

Nuinsco Resources is selling off a royalty it has on a exploration project in the Nestor Falls area.

The 3 per cent royalty on Coventry Resources' Cameron Gold Project will be handed off to an unnamed third party for $5.1 million.

Nuinsico earned the royalty as part of a sale of the project to Conventy two years ago.

Medical School Fundraiser

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine is embarking on a new fundraising campaign.  

Officials are hoping to raise $120-thousand with the sale of so called virtual chairs.

Organizer Jackie Dojack says the money will help offset students expenses.

The cost of each chair is 60 dollars with 2-thousand being made available.

Falls Senior Facility Progressing

Work on a new home for the Good Samaritan Society in International Falls is well underway.

The $18-million, 54 bed project, will replace the Society's existing facility and is scheduled to open sometime next fall.

Community Relations director Barb Owen-Boerger says residents can expected to see walls go up early next month.

Owen-Boerger says fundraising for the project also continues with about half of their one-million dollar goal raised.

FireRangers Replaced

The Ministry of Natural Resources continues to provide forest fire fighting assistance to Minnesota.

Four forests firefighters from the MNR's Fort Frances fire district have been working in Ely and Roseau since the beginning of the month.

They're came home Friday, but replaced by four others.

Question of the Week

Most respondents to a 93.1theborder.ca poll don't think students were justified in walking out of class last week

Just 29 per cent feel the students were right in staging walk-outs, they said supported teachers opposition to a legislated contract.

Our question this week, should motorists being paying in advance before filling up at the pumps?

Fort Frances Participates in Health Recruitment Tour

Officials from Fort Frances will get a chance today to meet with some prospective physicians they hope to woe back to the community.

They're attending a health professional recruitment event in Thunder Bay.

It kicks off a tour that will also take them to southern Ontario in October.

New physician recruiter Todd Hamilton says it's the first step in building relationships.

He'll be joined in the visit to Thunder Bay with Dr. Jason Shack.

Hamilton says the benefits of living in Fort Frances will be a main selling point in their discussions with the students.

New Foundation Chair

Some new faces at the helm of the Riverside Foundation for Health Care board of directors.

Livia Lundon takes over as chair from Deane Cunningham who held the position for the past three years.

Lundon has been with the board since 2010 and was serving as its vice-chair since last year.

Kim-Jo Bliss becomes the new vice-chair.