Cocaine Seized In Traffic Stop

OPP in Kenora are sitting on a sizable seizure of cocaine.

Seven kilos of the contraband, worth an estimated $750 thousand, were discovered after officers stopped a speeding vehicle on the Trans Canada Highway in the community Monday.

A 26 year old man from Pickering is charged.

Ranier Wants Rail Crossing Monitored

The city of Ranier wants to arm itself with some video evidence it can use against CN Rail.

Mayor Dennis Wagner claims CN is willfully breaking a State statue by consistently blocking a crossing in his city for more than 10 minutes.

Wagner is asking Koochiching County to set up a camera to document the problem.

Wagner says CN Rail sent fourteen trains through two weeks ago, that blocked the crossing for the better part of an hour.

LCBO Workers Prepare For Strike May 17

Liqour stores in Ontario could be shutdown at the start of the May long weekend.

Unionized workers with the Liquor Control Board of Ontario say they're prepared to walk off the job May 17 if they can't get a new contract.

The employees' four-year contract ended March 31 and the union says "very little progress'' has been made at the bargaining table.

More Home Care Dollars Promised

The Ontario government intends to spend $185 million more this year to improve home care services for seniors.

Premier Kathleen Wynne says patients who require "complex'' treatment will wait an average of five days to get home care.

It was one of the NDP demands in order to support the Liberals' budget _ which will be tabled May 2nd.

Homlund Financial Completes Donation To Riverside

One of the many contributors to last year's Together We Can campaign for a Digital Mammography unit has made good on their pledge.

Susan Bodnarchuk of Homlund Financial has presented Riverside Foundation For Health Care with four thousand dollars.

Bodnarchuk says Manulife Financial matched donations received, allowing the Fort Frances firm to surpass its initial contribution by a thousand dollars.

Hunter Fined

An Atikokan man has been fined $1,500 for possessing and using a hunting licence that included fake information.

Evan Hughes was initially charged last fall after Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officers determined he had obtained a hunting license to shoot a deer by providing false information that he had lived in Ontario for at least six months the year prior.

Trails Closed

Here's a sign of hope for those tired of winter.

All snowmobile and ski trails in Voyageurs National Park are closed for the season because of warm weather.

Park officials say trails have deteriorated into poor condition.

Staff are in the process of removing snowmobile trail markers and thin ice signs.

New Results From Bayfield

New assay results from Bayfield Ventures.

The company says it continues to find areas of high grade gold and silver deposits within its Burns and "B" Block projects, adjacent to the Rainy River Resources gold project, north of Barwick.

The findings are the result of a dozen holes drilled earlier this year.

Fisheries Plans Up For Comment

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is gathering input on new fisheries management plans for eight lakes in in northern St. Louis and Koochiching counties.

The plans are for Crane, Johnson, Kabetogama, Moose, Namakan, Rainy, Sand Point and Little Vermilion and identify specific management activities planned for the next 10 to 20 years.

Public has until April 30 to comment.

Festival Results From Tuesday April 23

Several multi winners as the vocal performances kicked off the final week of the Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts.

Callahan Wiedenhoeft, Brianna Eldridge and Mackenna Begin all walked away with four first place finishes.

Joelle Bruyere and Emma Dykstra had three wins each.


Here are the results from Tuesday

Secular Solo, Examination Courses, Grade 2
FIRST: Joelle Bruyere
SECOND: Keisha DeBungie

Secular Solo, Examination Courses, Grade 3
FIRST:  Star Martin
SECOND:  Lily Matthews

Secular Solo, Examination Courses, Grade 4
FIRST:  Callahan Wiedenhoeft

Secular Solo, Examination Courses, Grade 5
FIRST:  Emma Dykstra 

Secular Solo, Examination Courses, Grade 6
FIRST:  McKenna Begin

Secular Solo, 11 and 12 years
FIRST:   (Tie) Brianna Eldridge, Callahan Wiedenhoeft

Secular Solo, 13 and 14 years
FIRST:  Kaitlynn Lougheed

Sacred Solo, Examination Courses, Grade 5
FIRST:  Emma Dykstra

Traditional Folk Song, Examination Courses, Grade 3
FIRST:  Brianna Eldridge
SECOND:  Carmen Hebert

Traditional Folk Song, Examination Courses, Grade 4
FIRST:  Callahan Wiedenhoeft

Traditional Folk Song, Examination Courses, Grade 5
FIRST:  Emma Dykstra

Traditional Folk Song, Examination Courses, Grade 6
FIRST:  McKenna Begin

Traditional Folk Song, 11 and 12 years
FIRST:  Caitlin Anderson

Traditional Folk Song, 13 and 14 years
FIRST:  McKenna Begin
SECOND:  (Tie) Jillian Armstrong, Emily Loney

Musical Theatre, Solo, 7 and 8 years
FIRST:  Christian Wiedenhoeft
SECOND:   Joelle Bruyere

Musical Theatre, Solo, 9 and 10 years
FIRST:  Carmen Hebert
SECOND:  Lily Matthews

Musical Theatre, Solo, 11 and 12 years
FIRST:  Brianna Eldridge
SECOND:  Callahan Wiedenhoeft

Vocal Duet, 9 to 12 years
FIRST:  Callahan Wiedenhoeft  and Christian Wiedenhoeft

Sacred Solo, 7 and 8 years
FIRST:  Joelle Bruyere

Sacred Solo, 11 and 12 years
FIRST:  Mira Donaldson
SECOND:  Hannah Cunningham

Contemporary Solo, 7 and 8 years
FIRST:  Joelle Bruyere

Contemporary Solo, 9 and 10 years
FIRST:  Carmen Hebert
SECOND:  Star Jewel Martin

Contemporary Solo, 11 and 12 years
FIRST:  Brianna Eldridge
SECOND:  Callahan Wiedenhoeft

Contemporary Solo, 13 and 14 years
FIRST:  McKenna Begin
SECOND:  (Tie) Kaitlynn Lougheed, Jillian Armstrong

Fort Upset With MPAC But Will Pay Its Bill

Fort Frances will be paying its bill, but is standing behind other municipalities in seeking changes to how the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation does its job.

Town council has approved a lengthy resolution calling on the province to hold MPAC accountable for its decisions.

Mayor Roy Avis says there's been a little movement by the province to hear from communities impacted.

He'll be joining others for a meeting in Toronto on Monday to outline their concerns to the Deputy Finance Minister.

Some communities, who are suffering huge drops in assessment to large industries, are withholding money owed to MPAC in their demands for change.

Budget Now Complete

The 2013 budget is now in the books for the town of Fort Frances.

Council gave formal approval to the documents at its meeting last night.

Treasurer Laurie Witherspoon says the town is projected to spend about $22.5 million dollars over the next year.

Most of the tax dollars collected will go to services the town has no control over.

The spending includes the tax rebate owing to Resolute Forest Products due to a lowering of its assessment.

Meeting On Huffman Subdivision Tonight

Fort Frances council will meet again tonight for a special meeting regarding the Huffman School subdivision.

It's to outline to prospective buyers the project and the lottery to sell off the 16 available lots.

The meeting is at 7 p.m. at the Civic Centre.

Input Gathered Into Aging With Dignity Initiative

File photo

The group working towards an assisted living facility for the Rainy River district continues to gather input.

The Assisted Living Action Group recently completed a series of community presentations.

Chair Erma Armit says they're happy with the feedback received to date.

The group will be at this weekend's Business Expo to gather more input for a final report in June.

Trillium Funding Announced

A couple of groups in the Rainy River district are the latest recipients of funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

The township of Atikokan is receiving $50-thousand to install new playground equipment at Centennial Park.

Halkirk township Fire Protection Team will use over $13-thousand to purchase equipment and upgrade the exterior of its fire and community hall.

School Reviews Continue

The public reviews of two schools continue tonight.

A committee reviewing Crossroads School in Devlin will hold a public meeting at the Naicatchewenin First Nation Community Centre at 6:30 p.m.

A committee reviewing Our Lady of the Way School holds a meeting at the Stratton school beginning at 6 p.m.

Riverside Dealing With Health Issues

Riverside Health Care Facilities is dealing with a couple of health issues at its facilities.

Visitor restrictions have been imposed at the long-term care unit of Rainy River Health Centre because of a number of cases of gastroenteritis.

Only family members can visit with those visits restricted to a patients room.

Meantime, Riverside has declared an outbreak at Rainycrest Long Term Care Home after several residents experienced mild respiratory symptoms.

Visits there are still permitted, but residents experiencing any symptoms of ill health are asked stay away until you're better.

Local Resident Recognized For Volunteerism

Tyson Grinsell (l)

A Fort Frances resident is being recognized by the province for his volunteerism.

Tyson Grinsell is among nine people receiving Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers Awards.

Grinsell is being honoured for starting a math tutoring program for grade 9 students at Fort Frances High, later expanding it to all math students preparing for their exams.

He received the award during a ceremony in Toronto on Monday.

Festival Results From Friday April 19

Mackenzie Wright was a double winner during the French Drama competitions of the Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts.

Those events taking place Friday.

Vocal competitions close out the festival beginning tomorrow.

Here are the results from Friday.

French Poetry (Solo), Grades 7 and 8
FIRST:  Aiden Tullio
SECOND:  Braeden Belluz

French Poetry (Duet), Grades 7 and 8
FIRST:  (Tie) Katelin Gurniak and Elizabeth Gosselin Klem, Maggie Gurski and Naomi McManaman
SECOND:  Avery Wilson-Hands and Hailey George

French Poetry (Solo), Grades 7 and 8
FIRST:  Mackenzie Wright

French Poetry (Duet), Grades 7 and 8
FIRST:  (Tie) Madison Botsford and Abigale Mcleod

French Poetry (Duet), Grades 7 and 8
FIRST:  Emma Noga and Abby Sanders
SECOND:  Wyatt Mcleod and Michael Drouin

French Reading, Grades 7 and 8
FIRST:  Mackenzie Wright

French Reading (Duet), Grades 9 and up
FIRST:  Eric Matthews and Douglas DeBernardeaux

French Reading, Grades 3 and 4
FIRST:  Matthew Watts

French Poetry, Grades 5 and 6
FIRST:  Cole Trimble

French Poetry, Grades 5 and 6
FIRST:  Madison Williams

French Poetry, Grades 5 and 6
FIRST:  Janissa Judson
SECOND:  (Tie) Skyler Friesen, Maria Harrison

French Poetry, Grades 7 and 8
FIRST:  Alexa Veldhuisen

Border Fee Examined

Crossing the border may cost you.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is requesting as part of its 2014 budget to study the feasibility of collecting a fee from pedestrians and passenger vehicles crossing between the United States and Canada by land.

Whether this fee would focus on those entering or exiting the United States, or both, and how much each crossing might cost has yet to be determined.

More Criticism Towards Ontario Tourism Ministry

More harsh criticism towards Ontario's Ministry of Tourism.

Ontario's Sunset Country Travel Association is among groups still upset that area tourist information centres remain closed.

Executive Director Gerry Cariou says government doesn't see the challenges facing the region.

Cariou adds there is a strong web presence for the area, responding to Tourism Minister Michael Chan's comments last week on the need to use the Internet more to promote the region.

Cariou says the websites can only do so much and don't offer the same level of service that can be provided at travel centres.

Non-Confidence Motion Planned

Ontario's Progressive Conservatives plan to move a motion of non-confidence in the minority Liberal government over the cancelled gas plants in Oakville and Mississauga.

Reports suggest the Tories have already started the legal proceedings for the non-confidence motion, which they hope to introduce before the Liberals present the provincial budget.

Budget Before Council Tonight

Fort Frances council intends to finalize its 2013 budget tonight.

The public will get one final chance to comment during tonight meeting before council gives final approval.

The budget includes a levy increase of 1.8 per cent for residential ratepayers which translates in an average tax increase of less than one per cent.

The public portion of tonight's meeting begins at about 5:50 p.m.

Visitor Restrictions Imposed In Rainy River

Riverside Health Care Facilities has imposed visitor restrictions at one of its facilities.

Officials says its due to a number of cases of gastroenteritis at the long-term care unit of Rainy River Health Centre.

Visiting is restricted to family members with visits confined to a patients room.

Food Security Discussion

Some help today for those struggling to eat healthy.

The Northwestern Health Unit and the Fort France Public Library are holding an information session on the programs available that can keep the food budget down while still being able to put healthy food on the table.

Health Promoter Krista Nielson says its a huge problem for many in northwestern Ontario.

Tonight's meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Library.

Fundraiser Total Counted

A recent fundraiser for the Borderland Humane Society has netted some much needed cash.

Over $14,000 has been raised through its "Cause for Paws” event held earlier this month.

The money goes towards offsetting the costs of caring for animals the Society has at its International Falls shelter, as well as other public programs such as spaying and neutering initiatives.

Temperature Record Set In International Falls

A new record low temperature in International Falls on the weekend.

The thermometer dipped to 16 below C or 4 F Saturday.

The old record was 8 below C or 18 F, set in 1966

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Storm Cancels Buses In Atikokan

A winter storm, impact mostly areas to the east of Fort Frances, has led to Iron Range Bus Lines cancelling all of its buses for students in Atikokan today.

It's been snowing since yesterday with the bulk of the snow coming overnight.

Highways east of Fort Frances are also snow covered with icy sections with the blowing snow hindering visibility.

High School Teachers Accept Revised Contract

Public high school teachers and support staff have endorsed a revised contract with the province.

The Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation says it's members voted 84 per cent in favour of the new pact.

Tory education critic Lisa MacLeod estimates the deal will cost taxpayers $114 million dollars, despite the Liberals and the union saying it was cost-neutral.

Proposed Debt Settlement Services Rules Welcomed

There's some praise being offered to the Ontario government for its plans to bring in new rules aimed at debt settlement services.

Frank Fabiano, a trustee in bankruptcy with Grant Thornton, says he's aware of individuals who used these services and paid out large sums of money intended to help cover their debts, only to be sued later by their creditors.

Fabiano says some the companies take the money and don't negotiate a deal with creditors for some time.



The proposed legislation includes companies having easy-to-understand contracts and doing away with upfront fees.

QR Walking Tour Planned

The Fort Frances Museum is in the midst of organizing a walking tour that will require a smart phone.

Curator Sherry George says they're hoping to display QR codes on various buildings that can be read with smart phone technology.

By reading the codes, people will be directed to websites that describe the location along with historical information.

George says they plan to begin with the downtown area in hopes of expanding elsewhere.

Dragon Boat Festival Preparations

Preparations are being made for this year Dragon Boat Festival in Fort Frances.

The event will be held during Canada Day along the Rainy River.

Organizer Jenny Greenhalgh says the success of last year inaugural event is attracting some interest this year.

NCDS is currently accepting groups or individuals wanting to participate.

Local History Promoted

The story of a woman from the Fort Frances area, who's a big part of Victoria, British Columbia's history, is being told.

Isabella Mainville lived here in the early 1800's before marrying Charles Ross, an employee with the Hudson Bay company and moving west.

Fern Perkins, a retired teacher, is in the area to talk about her great-great-great grandmother.

Perkins spoke at area schools and during a community event last night.

Festival Results From Thursday

Sturgeon Creek Alternative Program captured two first place finishes to bring the English drama competitions at the Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts to a conclusion.

Instrumental also took place with several multi winners.

Tianna Veldhuisen, among them, took two individual awards in the string category, then as a duet with Katelyn Bruyere and as part of violin group.


Today French Drama takes place this afternoon at the Townshend Theatre and later tonight at Knox United Church.


Here are all of the results from Thursday


FESTIVAL 2013 - Drama Results, Thursday, April 18
   
Choral Speaking, Grade 2
FIRST:  J. W. Walker School, Grades 1 and 2 (Director, Nicole Evans)

Choral Speaking, Grade 3
FIRST:  Sturgeon Creek Alternative Program, Grades 6 to 8 (Director, Yvonne Veldhuisen)

Elementary Skit, Grades 6 to 8
FIRST:  Sturgeon Creek Alternative Program, Grades 6 to 8 (Director, Yvonne Veldhuisen)



FESTIVAL 2013 - Instrumental Results, Thursday, April 18

Beginner Ensemble
FIRST:  Robert Moore School, Grade 4 Class (Director, Cynthia Donald)

Bands and Orchestras, Beginner Band
FIRST:  St. Thomas Grade 4 - 8 Beginner Band (Director, John Faith)
SECOND:  J. W. Walker School Grade 7 to 8 Band (Director, J. Bonner-Vickers)

Ensembles, Garage Band, Cover Material
FIRST:  Shawn Brady and Raymond Pols

Guitar Solo, Level 1
FIRST:  Calin Campbell
SECOND:  Reese Jolicoeur

Guitar Solo, Level 2
FIRST:  Scott Jolicoeur
SECOND:  Ryley Booth

String Solo, Popular Music, Junior
FIRST:  Scott Jolicoeur (Guitar)
SECOND:  Ryley Booth (Guitar)

Violin Solo, Examination Courses, Grade 1
FIRST:  Alexa Veldhuisen

Violin Solo, Examination Courses, Grade 4
FIRST:  Hannah Veldhuisen
SECOND:  Mika Kooistra

Violin Solo, Examination Courses, Grade 5
FIRST:  Tianna Veldhuisen
SECOND:  Katelyn Bruyere

Violin Solo, Method Courses, Level 4
FIRST:  Katelyn Bruyere


String Solo, Short Recital Piece, Junior
FIRST:  Mika Kooistra
SECOND:  Hannah Veldhuisen

String Solo, Short Recital Piece, Intermediate
FIRST:  Tianna Veldhuisen
SECOND:  Katelyn Bruyere

Junior Duets
FIRST:  Hanna Veldhuisen and Mika Kooistra


Intermediate Duets
FIRST: Tianna Veldhuisen and Katelyn Bruyere

Instrumental Solo, Popular Music, Adult Woodwind
FIRST:  John Jankiewicz

Instrumental Solo, Short Recital Piece, Adult Woodwind
FIRST:  John Jankiewicz

Violin Concert Group, Junior
FIRST:   Katelyn Bruyere, Mika Kooistra, Alexa Veldhuisen, Hannah Veldhuisen, Tianna Veldhuisen

Tourism Minister Defends Tourism Strategy

Ontario's Tourism Minister is disputing opposition claims that the tourism industry in northern Ontario isn't a big priority for him.

Michael Chan was challenged in Queen's Park this week by the NDP who cited the closure of tourism information centres as part of a failed strategy.

Chan says the province needs to look at technology to help market the region.

Chan adds that since 2010, the Liberals have also provided $18-million dollars towards a Regional Tourism Organization that helps market the entire north.

New Board In Place

A new International advisory board for the Rainy Lake and Lake of the Woods watersheds is now in place.

It consolidates two existing boards and was a key recommendation of an task force that identified ways of improving water quality in the basin.

The new board is comprised of 20 members, representing interests and governments in both Canada and the U.S., and will report to governments on water quality objectives in the boundary waters.

Communities Told To Be Ready For Possible Evacuees

Communities across northwestern Ontario are being asked to be "host" ready.

The Chief of Emergency Management Ontario, Allison Stuart, stresses they need to be prepared at all time to host evacuees when in need.

Stuart admits they were caught off-guard two years ago when se
veral First Nations had to be evacuated due to the threat of forest fires.

EMO has now drafted a set of guideline that help determine suitable sites.

Fort Frances served as a host for the first time last summer when about one hundred people from Sand Lake First Nation had to be evacuated because of forest fires.

State Of Emergency Declared

A state of emergency has been declared on a remote First Nation in northwestern Ontario, where two people have died in the past two weeks.

There are fears suicide is spreading on the Neskantaga First Nation, where drug addiction is said to be a major problem.

Festival Results From Wednesday April 17

Robert Moore School took four school honours while Mira Donaldson claimed five individual awards in the second day of English drama competitions at the Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts.

Callahan Wiedenhoeft was also a multiple winner, winning three events.

Competitions continue this morning at the Townshend Theatre.

Here are the results from Wednesday.

Elementary Skit, Grades 1 to 3FIRST:  Robert Moore School, Grade 1 (Director, Cathy Richards)

Elementary Skit, Grades 4 and 5
FIRST:  Robert Moore School, Grade 4 (Director, Cynthia Donald)

Choral Speaking, Kindergarten
FIRST:  Robert Moore Early Learning (Director, Barb Eldridge)

Choral Speaking, Grade 2
FIRST:  St. Michael's School, Grade 2 (Director, Paulette Romaniuk)

Choral Speaking, Grade3
FIRST:  St. Michael's School, Grade 2 (Director, Artina Gurski)

Choral Speaking, Grade 5
FIRST:  Robert  Moore School, Grade 5 (Director, Julie Ste. Croix)

Choral Speaking, Grade 6
FIRST:  Crossroads School, Grade 6 (Director, Meghan Spooner)

Serious Poetry, Grade 6
FIRST:  Cole Trimble

Serious Poetry, Grade 6
FIRST:  Callahan Wiedenhoeft
SECOND:  Mira Donaldson

Humorous Poetry, Grade 6
FIRST:  Callahan Wiedenhoeft
SECOND:  Alina Eldridge

Humorous Poetry, Grade 6
FIRST:  Mira Donaldson

Original Poetry, Grades 4 to 6
FIRST:  Mira Donaldson

Serious Reading, Grades 5 and 6
FIRST:  Mira Donaldson

Humorous Reading, Grades 5 and 6
FIRST:  Callahan Wiedenhoeft

Humorou Reading, Grades 5 and 6
FIRST:  Mira Donaldson

Sight Reading, Elementary
FIRST:  Mira Donaldson

Funding For Native Health Access Centres

Two Native Health Access Centres in northwestern Ontario are getting money to help retain and hire new physicians and nurse practitioners

Along with the $2.3 million, centres in Fort Frances and Kenora will also get funding for building renovations.

President of the Fort Frances centre, Clint Calder says that capital money is most needed.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Zimmer announced the funding during a visit to Kenora yesterday.
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Opposition Continues To Challege Government's Tourism Strategy

The opposition continues to challenge the governing Liberals on its tourism strategy for northern Ontario.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell says despite having a significant impact on the economy, area operators aren't getting the respect they deserve.

Campbell also feels the province erred in closing tourism information centres last year.

Business Expo Sold Out

A pleasant predicament for the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce.

Manager Annely Armstrong says they have no space available for next week's Business and Community Expo.

Armstrong says changes to the event, including a lower price for early registrants and doing away with the Strongman competition, may have helped attract vendors.

The event goes April 26 and 27.

More Snow Expected

Yet another winter storm is being forecast for the Borderland.

It's the result of a large low pressure system that's tracking from Texas.

Environment Canada says some parts of our region could receive between five and 10 centimeters of snow tonight and into tomorrow.

Clarification

A clarification to a story about Rainy River Resources CFOB-News ran last week.

It stated project costs for a new open pit mine north of Barwick to be about a billion dollars.

In fact, initial upfront costs are $713-million.

There would be another $322-million spent after the mine opens.

Costs for an underground mine are listed at $68-million with another $
95-million in sustaining capital costs.

We Day In Rainy River

WE Day Winnipeg 2012

We Day is coming to Rainy River High School.

The May 28th event will be a smaller version of an event held last fall in Winnipeg promoted by the organization Free the Children.

Jessica Haw, one of the organizers, says they will have a number special guests and talents to help inspire students.

Haw, who attended the Winnipeg event, says it's also an effort to bring that experience back to the entire school.

More Support For Justin Trudeau

More local support for Justin Trudeau as leader of the federal Liberal party.

President of the Kenora Rainy River provincial Liberal Riding Association Anthony Leek is excited for the federal party.

Leek says Trudeau may be relatively young to run the party but has great potential.

MNR Preparing For Forest Fire Increase

There's no threat right now, but the Ministry of Natural Resources says a number of factors could result in an increase in forest fires in the future.

Rick Payne, a Fire Response Specialist, says to deal with that potential, the MNR is updating its fire management strategies.

Payne says government cutbacks may also impact operations, but stresses they will just have to operate within their budgets.

Minnesota Conservation Officers Busy

A busy week for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Conservation officers.

More than 700 boats fishing along the Rainy River were checked recently.

Enforcement was taken on anglers who failed to have a fishing license, boaters who had insufficient number of life jackets on board, boats that had no registration and anglers with an over limit of walleye.

More Charges Laid

Minnesota wildlife officials say 21 more people face fish poaching charges in the biggest such case in the last 20 years.

The cases involve illegal purchase and sale of game fish, mostly walleye, taken from popular fishing lakes such as Cass, Leech, Red and Winnibigoshish lakes on the Red Lake or Leech Lake reservations.

Ten men were indicted last week on federal charges from the same investigation.

Free Bag Stays

Fort Frances residents get to put one bag of garbage at the curb without a bag tag after all.

Council has opted against requiring tags on all bags to raise revenue in favour of a four dollar monthly fee to be placed on future sewer and water bills.

Mayor Roy Avis says it will help offset costs of recycling and establishing a new landfill site.

The new charge will collect over $102-thousand dollars this year.

Festival Results April 16

The second week of the Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts has resumed with drama competitions.

They opened yesterday with Erika Tymkin taking five first-place honours.

Andrew Eldridge, Taylor Shouldice and Christian Wiedenhoeft were each triple winners

The competition continue this morning at Robert Moore School.

Here are results from Tuesday.

Serious Poetry, Grade 7
FIRST:  Gavyn DeBenetti

Serious Poetry, Grade 8
FIRST:  MacKenzie Wright

Humorous Poetry, Grades 9 and 10
FIRST:  Alyssa Chiasson
SECOND:  Andrew Eldridge

Serious Reading, Grades 7 and 8
FIRST:  Gavyn DeBenetti

Humorous Reading, Grades 9 and 10
FIRST:  Alyssa Chiasson

Serious Reading, Grades 9 and 10
FIRST:  Andrew Eldridge

Humorous Reading, Grades 11 and 12
FIRST:  Taylor Shouldice

Humorous Reading, Adult
FIRST:  Ericka Tymkin

Bible Reading, Grades 9 and 10
FIRST:  Andrew Eldridge

Bible Reading, Adult
FIRST:  Ericka Tymkin

Humorous Poetry, Grades 11 and 12
FIRST:  Taylor Shouldice

Serious Poetry, Adult
FIRST:  Edicka Tymkin

Monologues - Serious, Grades 9 and 10
FIRST:  Andrew Eldridge

Monologues - Serious, Adult
FIRST:  Ericka Tymkin

Impromptu Speech, Grades 11 and 12
FIRST:  Taylor Shouldice


Impromptu Speech, Adult
FIRST:  Ericka Tymkin

Serious Poetry, Kindergarten
FIRST:  Alexis Latter

Humorous Poetry, Kindergarten
FIRST:  Alexis Latter

Humorous Poetry, Grade 1
FIRST:  Isiah Peltomaki

Duet Reading, Grade 2
FIRST:  Amy Norris and Torri Spence

Serious Poetry, Grade 3
FIRST:  Olivia Eldridge

Humorous Poetry, Grade 3
FIRST:  Christian Wiedenhoeft

Humorous Poetry, Grade 3
FIRST:  Christian Wiedenhoeft
SECOND:  Emma Toriseva

Humorous Poetry, Grade 4
FIRST:  Jenaya DeBenetti

Serious Poetry, Grade 5
FIRST:  Tori Toriseva

Humorous Poetry, Grade 5
FIRST:  Isaac Dykstra
SECOND:  Sammy Stone

Serious Reading, Grades 3 and 4
FIRST:  Jenaya DeBenetti

Serious Reading, Grades 3 and 4
FIRST:  Christian Wiedenhoeft