Open Houses Planned

MPP Sarah Campbell photo

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell is getting into the Christmas spirit.

She's holding a series of open houses beginning this Friday across the riding as a way of hearing from  constituents or just wishing them holiday greetings.

In the Rainy River district, they'll be held next Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Super 8 Motel in Fort Frances and at the Royal Canadian Legion in Rainy River the next night.

Your encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item or toy for Campbell's Support Our Local Economy food drive.

High School Teachers Ramp Up Bill 115 Protest

High School teachers across the province intend to step up their protest against Bill 115 by withdrawing from extra curricular and sports activities starting next Monday.

President of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation Ken Coran says teachers have always been willing to accept a pay freeze, but want Bill 115 repealed because it infringes on their right to collective bargaining.

The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario is planning rotating one-day walk outs at public schools, giving 72 hours notice before its members take action.

Meantime, Education Minister Laurel Broten says she will use the powers under the legislation to stop any strike actions once the threats turn into reality.

Residential School Commission Holds Hearings In Thunder Bay

The survivors of the residential school system in northwestern Ontario get to tell their stories today.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission begins two days of hearing in Thunder Bay.

Chair Justice Murray Sinclair expects a number of the victims will be there to tell their moving stories.

As many as eight residential schools operated in northwestern Ontario, including the former St. Margaret's School in Fort Frances.

Fort Frances Trustee Returns As Chair

A Fort Frances trustee is back as chair of the Northwest Catholic District School Board.

Anne-Marie Fitzgerald was acclaimed for a fifth straight year at the Board's annual meeting held on the weekend.

She been with on the board for the past 19 years.

Cathy Bowen from Sioux Lookout was acclaimed as the vice chair for a four consecutive term.

Highway Open

A large section of the Trans-Canada Highway is back open this morning.

OPP were forced to close the highway between Vemilion Bay to the Manitoba border overnight due to poor weather and icy road conditions.

RIDE Stats

Just a little over a week into the OPP's Festive RIDE campaign and police have been busy taking impaired drivers off our roads.

Nine drivers in northwestern Ontario are now facing impaired driving charges while another three had their licenses immediately suspended for having a blood alcohol level of between 0.05 and 0.08.

Across the province, 151 drivers have been charged while another 152 were handed suspensions.

Travel Numbers Encouraging

A bit of good news for the region's tourism sector this year.

Ontario Sunset Country Travel Association says American visits to northwestern Ontario were up slightly over last year.

Executive Director Gerry Cariou says it's still far off some of the peak years.

Cariou says a rebound in the U.S. economy will aid in future travel numbers.

Rainy River Closes Public Offering

Rainy River Resources has closed a public offering aimed at bringing some capital dollars to its gold project north of Barwick.

The deal involving a syndicate of underwriters is expected to raise over $57-million for exploration and development work.

President Raymond Threlkeld says the financing ensures the company's well positioned to move its project forward.

Resolute To Protect Pensions

A commitment from the president of Resolute Forest Products to maintain workers pensions.

It came during Richard Garneau's meeting with MP John Rafferty and MPP Sarah Campbell in Toronto last week.

Rafferty says Garneau told him that unlike some of its competitors, Resolute has no plans to end its commitment to pensions.

Rafferty says Garneau told him a hike in interest rates by two per cent would go along to strengthening those pensions.

Rafferty Has Optimism About Mill Following Meeting

Some cautious optimism from Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty about the future of Resolute Forest Products in Fort Frances.

Rafferty and MPP Sarah Campbell met with company president Richard Garneau last week in Toronto for nearly 3 hours.

Rafferty says Garneau spoke about investments Resolute's making in northwestern Ontario and how its looking at new products for its mill in Fort Frances.

Rafferty says Garneau also denied rumours of an offer from Boise to purchase the mill.

Question of the Week

78 per cent of respondents to our question on 931theborder.ca don't believe operations at the Fort Frances mill will be restarted at a later date.

This week we ask if you plan to support a charitable organization this Christmas season.

PCs Select Candidate For Next Election

Progressive Conservatives have selected their candidate for the Kenora-Rainy River riding in the next provincial election.

Kenora businessman Randy Nickle says he wants to give a stronger voice to the area at Queen's Park.

Nickle was unopposed in the Tories' nomination meeting held Saturday in Dryden.

High School Teachers Union Plot Next Move

Ontario high school teachers are expected to reveal their next steps today in an escalating labour battle with the governing Liberals.

The union representing the teachers cut off talks last week after teachers rejected local agreements with two school boards.

Drug Charges Laid

A 22-year-old woman from Couchiching First Nation will head to court next month on drug charges.

The OPP's Fort Frances Community Drug Action team arrested the woman November 23 while she was in her vehicle at a Fort Frances parking lot, possessing of 10 Oxycontin pills and eight Fentanyl patches.

Police says the drugs sold on the street would fetch about $26-hundred.

OPP Crime Stats For October

Break-ins and assaults topping the OPP's crime report for the month of October.

OPP investigated 11 break-ins across the Rainy River district, eight of which occurred in Fort Frances.

Among them, a break-in of a home where medication was taken.

There were also 19 assaults in the district, 10 in Fort Frances.

Catholic Board Staff and Students Celebrate Movember

There are some clean shaven faces at St. Francis School and the Northwest Catholic District School Board in Fort Frances.

Staff ended their involvement in Movember by shaving their moustaches off before students at the school Friday.

Teacher Derek Jones says students got involved by wearing fake stashes.

The exact amount of money raised is still being counted.

Movember is aimed at raising awareness and fund for men's health, particularly prostate cancer.

Legion Auxiliary Members Honoured

MPP Sarah Campbell photo

Two long-time members of the Royal Canadian Legion Auxiliary in Fort Frances are recipients of Queen Elizabeth the second Diamond Jubilee medals.

Sylvia Gunderson and Alfreda Easton received their medals at the Legion Auxiliary monthly dinner Friday night from MPP Sarah Campbell.

Easton has spend more than 45 years as a volunteer with the Auxiliary that continues today.

Gunderson was cited for her involvement in organizing many Legion events.

Hunter Charged

More fines for hunters not following the rules.

A Kapuskasing man the latest to be fined for unlawfully hunting deer.

Ronald Ouellette plead guilty in Fort Frances court last week to several charges related to a November 2011 incident about deer being shot on private property and from a roadway.

Ouelettte was fined $3-thousand.

Police Costs Savings Possible

Some possible saving for the town of Fort Frances towards its policing costs for next year.

OPP are estimating costs to be about $2.660-million.

That's about $28-thousand less than what was estimated for this year.

Costs are determined on a per case basis.

OPP have also determined the exact cost of policing for the first six months of this year to be about $49-thousand less than estimated.

Student Assaults Reported

Three assaults involving students at Fort Frances High School have been identified in a month end report issued by the Ontario Provincial Police to the Fort Frances Police Services Board.

Two of the incidents in October occurred on school property with the other taking place away from the high school.

Detachment Commander Inspector Steve Shouldice says in one case a knife was shown.

In all three cases, charges were laid.

Foul Play Ruled Out In Death

Provincial Police have ruled out foul play in the death of a Fort Frances man earlier this week.

They've also identified him as 55-year Derek Pollard.

His body was found inside a residence at the Elizabeth Street Manor Tuesday morning.

Healthy Eating Costs Rise

The cost of healthy food continues to rise

The Northwestern Health Unit says it found the monthly cost for a family of four to be $941, a nearly three per cent hike over last year.

Nutritionist Julie Slack says incomes continue to fall off the pace forcing people to make even tougher decisions how they spend their money.

Slack says some families cannot even afford basic food stables to supports healthy eating.

Opposition Take Aim At Liberal Over Teachers Dispute

EFTO File photo

The Opposition is blaming the provincial Liberals for the threats of strike action by elementary teachers across Ontario.

PC critic Peter Shurman says Education Minister Laurel Broten needs to use the tools introduced in Bill 115 to keep school open.

The New Democrats want the Liberal government to scrap the Bill which teachers says hinders their ability to negotiate local contracts.

Elementary teachers are promising to give 72-hours notice of strike action, while high school teachers have called off any further bargaining with local school boards.

Former Atikokan Librarian Dies

The wife of Atikokan Mayor Dennis Brown has died.

Doris Brown died Wednesday in Atikokan at the age of  73.

Brown was Atikokan's librarian for many years where she named Ontario Librarian of the Year in 1997.

She also served as a community rep. for several organizations including the Atikokan Crisis Centre, Atikokan General Hospital and Lakehead University.

Funeral services will be held Monday in Atikokan.

Community Dinner Planned

Fort Frances Volunteer Bureau has started the planning for the annual Community Christmas Dinner.

It takes place at the Knox United Church on Christmas Day.

It's also the 25th annual event.

Donations of food items, especially turkeys, and volunteers are now been sought.

Call the Bureau's office if you can lend a hand.

Movember Ends

Supplied photo

Movember  is over.

The month encourages men to grow moustaches to raise awareness and funds for men's health, specifically prostate cancer.

Even some junior kindergarten students at St. Michael's school in Fort Frances got in the spirit by displaying mock stashes last week.

Second Sudden Death Investigated By OPP

Ontario Provincial Police are investigating a sudden death in Fort Frances.

The body of an unidentified man was discovered Tuesday morning at a residence at the Elizabeth Street Manor.

The OPP Forensic Identification Unit is assisting in identifying the man and cause of death.

The incident comes a little more than two weeks after the body of 45-year-old Leo Whitecrow was discovered inside a room at a Fort Frances motel.

The investigation into that death, ruled a homicide, continues.

Area Politicians To Meet With Resolute President

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty and Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell get a chance to learn more about Resolute Forest Products plans for its operations in Fort Frances.

They have a meeting tonight with president Richard Garneau in Toronto tonight.

Among issues Rafferty intends to bring forward is the talk of possible offers for the plant.

Rafferty also wants to learn about the company's long term future in northwestern Ontario.

FEDNOR Minister Critical of Rafferty Comments

A federal cabinet minister is critical of the MP for Thunder Bay-Rainy River for comments he's made about the idling of operations at the Fort Frances mill.

In an open letter, FEDNOR Minister Tony Clement accuses John Rafferty of manipulating the announcement for crass political opportunism by claiming Resolute's problems are the result of a “high dollar policy.”

Rafferty says that statement comes directly from the company itself.

High School Teacher Talks Suspended

Negotiations between the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation and all school boards have been suspended.

Their action comes after the Ministry of Education refused to give approval to a number of locally bargained agreements.

OSSTF's bargaining unit leaders have been summoned to a meeting next Monday to discuss their next steps.

Elementary Teachers Ramp Up Strike Action

The union representing elementary school teachers says there will be major disruptions in schools across the province next month.

The teachers plan to ramp up strike action to protest the governing Liberals' controversial Bill 115.

Parents will get 72-hour notices of planned strikes.

Here in the Rainy River district, elementary teachers have been going through a number of work-to-rules actions since last Thursday.

Chamber Elections Underway

Seven people are seeking four positions open on the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce board of  directors.

They are Rick Smith, owner/manager of Canadian Tire; Paul Noonan, owner of  La Place  RendezVous; Marie Allan, a partner with BDO; Mike Vanderwater, manager of Acklands-Grainger;  Stephanie Wrolstad, CIBC Branch Manager; Steve MacNeil, operations manager with Rainy Lake Tribal Contracting; and Jennifer Greenhalgh, executive director with NCDS.

Voting by Chamber members is now under way until December 7.

Another Death Investigation In Fort Frances

OPP are investigating another death in Fort Frances.

Police say the body of a man was discovered inside a residence at the Elizabeth Street Manor yesterday morning.

His identify and cause of death are still being determined.

A post mortem exam is being conducted today in Kenora.

Meantime, police are still investigation the death of 45-year-old Leo Whitecrow, found dead inside a Fort Frances motel two weeks ago.

Dollar Figure Attached To Idling Announcement

It's going to cost Resolute Forest Products a hefty dollar to idle the kraft mill and paper machine number 5 at its Fort Frances mill.

The company estimates $12-million in severance and other termination benefits for the 239 employees effected.

Another five million will go towards other closure costs.

Resolute is also identifying another 32-million in non-cash asset impairment charges.

Chamber Remains Positive With Mill Shutdown

The idling of operations at the Fort Frances mill top of mind for area business leaders.

Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce held its annual general meeting last night.

President Mark Caron says while the loss of jobs is disappointing and the impact of the idling of the kraft mill and a paper machine will be wide-spread, he's confident the community will over-come.

Caron says the year, still, has been a positive one for the chamber with the hiring of a new manager and a relocation to new offices.

First Nations Opposing Generic Form of Oxycontin

First Nations organizations are fighting the recent approval of a generic form of the drug oxycontin.

Harmony Redsky, a Health Policy Analyst with Grand Council Treaty 3, says they're ready to work with others to combat the effects of the drug in their communities.

Redsky says approval of the drug hurts the work they're now doing to combat drug addictions.

Festive RIDE Program Underway

There's an increased police presence on area roads and highways.

OPP launched their festive RIDE campaign on the weekend in their ongoing work to take drunk drivers off the road.

Acting Sergeant Anne McCoy says they campaigns are effective.

Over 680 drivers last year faced impaired driving charges with another 580 handed license suspensions.

Pay Increase Suggested

An outgoing commissioner with Koochiching County feels the Board may want to consider increasing the pay now given to elected officials in the future.

Commissioners gave approved to keeping salaries of just under $14-thousand with a $ 125-dollar to each meeting they attend - figures that haven't changed in some time..

Mike Hanson says while most don't do it for the money, he believes it has been a deterrent to some thinking about running in the past.

Record Voter Turnout Confirmed

Minnesota's 2012 election is officially the largest in state history.

The State's Canvassing Board has certified results showing just shy of 3-million people cast ballots earlier this month.

That's 30-thousand more than the previous high-water mark.

Seniors Invited To Meeting

Fort Frances council is inviting members of two local seniors groups  to a meeting next week.

The Seniors and Law Enforcement Together and Assisted Living Action Group had asked the town for help in identifying potential properties for an assisted living facility.

Councillor Rick Weidenhoeft says council has a lot of questions it needs answered.

The seniors groups have also asked to town council to delay rezoning the former Huffman School property for housing lots until its review of properties is completed.

Minor Changes To Remuneration Policy

Fort Frances town councillors have approved changes to a policy that includes how they're compensated for the work they provided on behalf of the community.

All were minor wording changes to clarify sections of the policy.

A committee had also recommended a slight increase in mileage paid to attend meetings out of town, but councillors instead voted to keep it at the current rate of 45 cents a kilometre.

There's also no change to councillors salaries.

Marina Fees Drop

A break for boaters mooring at the Sorting Gap Marina.

For a second straight year, fees to rent a boat slip at the Fort Frances waterfront are dropping.

The residential rate drops $27 to $375 while non-residents will pay just about $468 next summer - a $35 dollar decrease.

Rates were dropped 15 per cent last season.

The town's hoping a further reduction will encourage more boaters to tie up their boats at the marina.

Just a third of slips available have been rented out the past two summers.

Seniors Groups Want Rezoning Delayed

Seniors groups planning for an assisted living facility in Fort Frances are asking town council to delay a decision to rezone the former Huffman School property.

They want to study first what properties are available for their project.

Bob Armit of the Assisted Living Action Group says the recent idling announcement effecting Resolute Forest Products should be reason enough to hold off on planned housing lots.

Councillor Rick Weidenhoeft doesn't support delaying a decision.

He says the need for new lots is urgently needed to bolster the town's tax base.

Price Of Bag Tags Go Up

An increase in the cost of bag tags in Fort Frances.

The 25 cent increase from the current $2.00 charge goes into effect January 1.

Councillors Ken Perry says it amounts to a 12.5 per cent increase on something residents use while services many residents don't access are going up one per cent.

The increase in bag tags is among a host of user fees that will increase next year, mostly by one per cent.

The cost of bag tags has not increase since 2010.

Town Draft Budget Delayed

A draft budget for Fort Frances council to review will come later than expected.

CAO Mark McCaig says the idling announcement at Resolute Forest Products has to be taken into account in next years budget.

A draft budget is usually presented in early January.

It will now come to council at the end of February

Catholic Board Expands iPad Use

File photo

The Northwest Catholic District School Board is bringing iPads to more of its students.

The Board is expanding a pilot project started with grade 8 students at St. Francis School in Fort Frances.

It's purchasing 30 iPads for grade 7 and 8 students at Atikokan's St. Patrick's School and another 60 for intermediate students at Dryden's St. Joseph's School.

Dryden Man Charged In On-Line Incident

A 19-year-old Dryden man is facing charges after allegedly trying to lure a minor online.

Dryden Police say the investigation involves incidents from 2010 and 2011 involving a 14 year old.

Man Arrested In Fort Frances Incident

An act of vandalism in downtown Fort Frances on the weekend has earned a local man a trip to court.

The 19-year-old was arrested early Saturday morning shortly after OPP responded to an alarm and found a front window of a business smashed.

He's now facing a charge of possession and assaulting a police officer.

Nine Police Cruisers Stuffed in Atikokan

Courtesy Debra Bruyere

OPP's Stuff-a-Cruiser event in the Rainy River District is off to a great start.

Atikokan residents helped police stuff nine cruisers with food and gift items Saturday in the first leg of the district wide event.

That's two more than last year.

The goods are being dispersed between the Atikokan Native Friendship Centre, Atikokan Christmas Cheer and the Faith Lutheran Church's food bank.

Stuff a cruiser events in Fort Frances and Emo go December 8.

Summer Christmas Concert CDs Now Available.

CD launch at Fort Frances Library

A summer concert of local performers is now out on CD and DVD.

It's from a special Christmas concert held in August at Cornell Farms.

Kim Cornell says all of the proceeds will go to the Salvation Army in Fort Frances.

They hoping to sell 500 copies which would raise up to $10-thousand.

  The two-disk package is available at Clover Valley Farmers Market, Loweys, Tompkins Hardware and Canada Safeway.