Former Mill Management Employee Finds New Work

A former regional mill manager with Abitibi-Consolidated, now Resolute Forest Products, is now Thunder Bay's Economic Development Corporation manager.

Doug Murray takes on the new post Monday.

Murray hopes to use his skills to bring new industry and jobs to the city.

Leadership Review Sought

Some members of the Progressive Conservative caucus are calling on party leader Tim Hudak to face calls for a leadership review next month.

They're upset the party lost four of five byelections last week and have filed motions to seek a review.

Principal Loses Teaching License

A former northwestern Ontario school principal has had his teaching license revoked by the Ontario College of Teachers.

The College, in January, found Jacques Perron had failed to carry out his professional responsibilities after admitting to deliberately ignoring reports of abuse against a colleague at his French-language Catholic school near Thunder Bay.

His lawyer says they will be appealing both the decision and yesterday's ruling.

Speeders Nabbed in Minnesota

MSP photo

The Minnesota State Patrol says a recent speed enforcement campaign netted at least a dozen drivers doing over 100 mph.

Troopers wrote more than 17-thousand speeding tickets during the two-week statewide enforcement effort last month.

An average speeding citation for 10 mph over the limit can cost you 120-dollars.

Those ticketed for doing more than 100 mph can lose their license for six months.

Driver Faces Several Charges in Auto Accident

A LaVallee township man is facing several charges following a motor vehicle accident Tuesday near Couchiching First Nation.

Treaty Three Police came upon the accident shortly after 6 p.m., calling in the OPP to investigate.

The 29-year-old will now appear in court in October on charges that include impaired driving, dangerous driving, failing to remain at the scene of an accident, using plates not authorized, driving without a license and driving without insurance.

Public Helps Nab Drunk Driver

Calls from the public helped police pull over a suspected drunk driver last Friday.

OPP tracked down a vehicle in Fort Frances and issued impaired driving charges against the 72-year-old driver from LaVallee township.

He's in court next month.

New Trees To Be Planted

Some new trees will be planted this weekend in Koochiching County.

The Rainy Lake Sportfishing Club has received an $18-thousand grant from granola bar maker Nature Valley and the National Parks Conservation Association for trees to be planted along the Rat Root River.

The group will plant the trees during an event planned for this Saturday.

Police Chief Resigns

The Chief of the Treaty 3 Police Service is resigning.

Conrad DeLaronde will leave his post in three months.

Board chair Eli Mandamin says they'll meet next week to discuss his departure.

Mandamin doesn't expect the move to impact on talks with the union representing officers on the services financial issues.

Atikokan Resigned To Osisko Delaying Gold Mine Project

Atikokan mayor's is okay with Osisko Mining delaying plans for a gold mine near the community.

Low gold prices and high construction costs are cited as contributing factors to waiting on moving forward with the Hammond Reef gold project.

Mayor Dennis Brown says the Hammond Reef would have meant new jobs, but there's still projects from Renteck and Resolute Forest Products to look forward to.

Brown says Osisko still has a presence in the community and hopes their project can proceed when gold prices get better.

Transportation Minister Visits

Ontario's transportation minister visits northwestern Ontario.

Glen Murray will be in Murillo today and Kenora tomorrow.

He's talking with the region's municipal leaders about a new $100 million infrastructure program.

Legislature Could Return In September

Minnesota lawmakers could be back in session shortly after Labour Day.

Talks are currently underway with legislative leaders for a special session to approve a State match for federal disaster aid stemming from June storms that impacted 18 counties.

Governor Wants Drop Out Rates Lowered

Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton is challenging school leaders to find ways to lower Minnesota's dropout rates.

Dayton says he wants to focus on ways to keep students engaged through graduation.

Minnesota recently set a goal of a 90 percent graduation rate by 2020.

Curling Club Still Looking for Help

Fort Frances Curling Club is still looking for volunteers for the upcoming Kraft Celebration tour.

People are needed for a variety of jobs including helping with set-up and take down, manning booths and activities

If you can help, contact the club.

Tournament Needs Set Up Help

Atikokan Bass Classic goes next week, but the set up takes place Friday.

Chair Jim Johnson says they can use all the help they can get.


Volunteers are needed to gather at the tent site on Main Street at 3 p.m. Friday to help.

The tournament is full with 110 teams on board and several on a waiting list.

New Mine Program Coming To Confederation College

Some new educational opportunities in mining are opening up at Confederation College.

The College will deliver Timmin's based Northern College's highly successful Haileybury School of Mines program through its Thunder Bay campus.

It allows graduates of Confederation's Mining Techniques certificate program to advance to the third semester of  Northern's diploma program.

The Colleges say it will help meet an expected demand for workers.

Boaters Charged

Some boaters failed to heed police warnings.

OPP's Marine Unit made good on threats to crackdown of boaters who failed to follow the rules of the water during the long weekend, laying several charges while on patrol on Rainy Lake.

Five boaters where charged with various offenses in a span of five hours Sunday, including one who failed to have a proper operators card.

Two others in a boat near Rocky Narrows were charged with consuming liquor on board.

Three Charged In Traffic Stop

Two men from Kitchener are in OPP custody following a weekend adventure near Marathon, Ontario.

Police say the two ran from police after a car they were passengers in was stopped on the Trans Canada Highway near the William's Mine Monday.

One of the men was caught Monday night, the other Tuesday morning and both have been charged.

The car's driver, who is also from Kitchener, is also charged.  

Fire Hazard Remains Low

Cool weather across northwestern Ontario continues to keep the forest fire hazard down to low levels.

Only a handful of new fires were reported over the weekend, mostly in the Kenora and Thunder Bay regions.

There continues to be no fires burning in the Rainy River district.

Health Insurance Rebates Issued

More than 9,000 Minnesotans are line for health insurance rebate checks being sent out as part of the nation's new health care law.

The checks average $300.

Those receiving rebates this year have policies with Preferred One and Connecticut General.

Food Drive Helps Food Banks

The largest annual food drive in Minnesota continues to pay dividends for food banks and the families they service.

Most of the food and monetary donations, totaling 12 million dollars, were made directly to local food shelves with another $775-thousand directly to Minnesota FoodShare.

Coordinator Sarah O'Brien says those funds are now being distributed.

Last year in Minnesota, there were more than three-million visits to food shelves in the state.

Osisko Mine On Hold

Lower than expected gold prices is having an impact on a planned mine for the Atikokan area.

Osisko Mining has been working on its Hammond Reef project since taking it over from Brett Resources in 2010

President Sean Roosen says its still a valuable asset, but better prices are needed to go forward.

Roosen says the company still plans to complete the permitting process which is underway.

Awareness Walk Planned For This Saturday

An effort to raise awareness about depression and suicide in our area.

Jaymee Fiset is hoping a walk this Saturday will lead to more people talking about this issue.

Fiset says its very real issue, especially amongst the youth

The walk, called Out of the Darkness goes Saturday through downtown Fort Frances., leaving Pharmasave at 2 p.m.

Health Unit Report Out

The Northwestern Health Unit is showcasing some of the work it's done in the past year.

It's released its annual public health report card, outlining information about programs and services in the region.

Medical Officer of Health Dr. Jim Arthurs says the report also helps them with their current strategic plan.

Tackling obesity and promoting chronic disease prevention are some of the priority areas.

Bear Caught

File photo

A bear believed responsible for attacking a man at a northwestern Ontario provincial park on the weekend has been captured.

A 42-year-old Thunder Bay man is recovering after being repeatedly attacked by a black bear at Sandbar Provincial Park near Ignace on Saturday.

Provincial police says park officials were able to live trap the bear yesterday morning.

Trails around the park are remain closed until an investigation is complete.

Young Cyclists Learning The Rules

It appears young people are getting it.

OPP summer students have holding rodeos across the Rainy River district to teach young  bicycle riders the rules of the road.

Student Sierra Cousineau says they're happy with what they are finding.

Another bicycle rodeo goes in Emo today.

The students are also rewarding young riders with  "positive tickets" if they are found obeying the rules and wearing their helmets this summer.

The tickets get them a cone at the Sorting Gap Marina or at McDonald's in Fort Frances.

New Membership Fees For Out Of Town Library Users

The Fort Frances Public Library and Technology Centre is offering some new fees for its out of town users.

It's introduced a one month household membership for ten dollars and a six month one for $43.50.

Chief Librarian Alicia Subniak-Kilgour says they're hoping it will lead to more visits.

Subniak-Kilgour also hopes the shorter membership will appeal to visitors in Fort Frances, allowing them to access the library's on-line services.

Liberal Hold Just Two of Five Former Seats

The minority Liberals managed to retain just two of the five seats up for grabs in byelections in southern Ontario.

The Grits kept former premier Dalton McGuinty's seat in Ottawa South and a Toronto area riding.

The New Democrats scored victories in Windsor and London, while the Progressive Conservatives' lone win was in Toronto's Etobicoke Lakeshore riding.

All five were held by Liberals who stepped down earlier this year.

Special Session Considered

Governor Mark Dayton's office is in talks with Minnesota legislative leaders about a special session to provide disaster aid to communities hit by severe storms in June.

President Barack Obama recently signed a federal declaration for 18 Minnesota counties, but that aid must be partly matched by the State.

OPP Want Motorists To "Move Over"

OPP will be cracking down on motorists who fail to give room to emergency vehicles and personnel stopped on the side of the road dealing with an incident.

Constable Anne McCoy says Ontario has had a "Move Over law"  since last August.

It requires motorists approaching emergency vehicles parked on the side of the road to slow down and move over safely.

McCoy says five OPP officers have been killed since 1998 by motorists who failed to slow down.

A similar law also exists in Minnesota.

Resolute On Target With Mills

Resolute Forest Products says it's on target to open its new sawmill in Atikokan and a retooled plant in Ignace next year.

President Richard Garneau says construction on the Atikokan plant will start soon, but must still do some site work at Sapawe.

The company is spending $50 million to construct the Atikokan plant and $32 million to upgrade its Ignace operation.

Resolute Reports Loss

Resolute Forest Products is reporting a net loss of $43-million for its second quarter of this year.

Softer prices and ongoing restructuring costs are blamed.

Resolute reported a $17-million loss in the same period last year.

Boise Reports Loss

Boise Inc. is reporting a loss in its second quarter of $2.2 million.

That compares with a net income of $13.7 million last year.

Part of the loss is attributed to the planned shutdown of two paper machines at its mill in International Falls.

Detour In Koochiching County

A traffic note for motorists who use Highway 65 in Koochiching County.

Bridge work along the highway continues south of Littlefork.

A detour using County Road 8 is still in effect until August 9.

Starting today, a second detour is in place around Silverdale requiring motorists to use St. Louis County Roads 74, 356 and 23 and Bureau of Indian Affairs 11 until the end of the month.

Quetico Park Celebrates

Quetico Park is celebrating a milestone this weekend.

It was one hundred years ago that Quetico was designated a provincial park, one of the first in the Ontario Provincial Parks Act.

Several events are planned including an open barbecue at French Lake hosted by the Quetico Foundation tomorrow night.

Other events include a guided hikes and native drumming

Hartnell Enters Plea In Gun Smuggling Charge

A Fort Frances man has apparently entered a plea in connection with a gun smuggling case in North Dakota.

Reports out of Fargo say 29-year-old Shawn Hartnell plead guilty to conspiracy to illegally exporting firearms in federal court this week.

He and another North Dakota man were scheduled for a jury trial Tuesday.

Hartnell was arrested in February following an lengthy investigation involving authorities on both sides of the border.

Forest Fire Activity Remains Low

Not much work lately for Ministry of Natural Resources fire crews in northwestern Ontario.

The cool and damp weather has knocked down the fire hazard to low across the region.

There are 33 active fires, 30 of which are being monitored.

Three others are listed as being under control.

Jury Makes Recommendations

A jury is out with its recommendations following an inquest into the death of a Thunder Bay construction work.

24 year old Gustavo Argueta was killed two years ago while inspecting a bridge over the Mackenzie River, east of Thunder Bay.

Among its suggestions, the jury recommends the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities develop and implement a standardized, mandatory training program for elevated platforms.

Medical Student Gets Research Award

A Fort Frances student is among sixteen at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine receiving research awards.

Graham Gaylord will use his $6-thousand toward a project that analyses doctor referral patterns in northwestern Ontario.

New State Law In Place For Coin Dealers

A new state law now in effect offers greater protection for those who buy precious metals in Minnesota.

The law requires criminal background checks for those who deal in gold coins and other metals.

Anyone convicted of a financial crime in the past 10 years will be also barred from dealing.

New Transformer Station Planned

A major investment from Hydro One into the Rainy River district.

It's planning to spend $25-million building a new transformer station in Barwick.

Spokesperson Tiziana Baccega Rosa says it will replace an existing and aging station in Fort Frances and improve the electricity capacity of the area between Rainy River and
.

Construction will likely start later this month with the station on-line a year from now.

Legal Clinic Welcomes Funding Announcement

The Northwest Legal Clinic is welcoming an announcement of new funding from the province.

Executive director Trudy McCormick says this week's announcement from the Ministry of the Attorney General essentially returns money taken away from legal clinics in this spring's budget.

McCormick says they had been looking at potential service cuts had the government not come through with the additional dollars.

Province Committed To Experimental Lakes Area

Published reports say the Ontario government will pay to keep the Experimental Lakes Area operating in the long term.

The province and the federal government continue to negotiate the transfer of the research station near Kenora to Winnipeg-based International Institute for Sustainable Development.

Natural Resources Mininster David Orazietti says Ontario's commitment will be below $2-million but isn't commenting on a specific number.

A tentative transfer agreement expires at the end of this month.

Bass Studied At Bass Tournament

Anglers weren't the only ones interested in the bass in Rainy Lake during the recent Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship.

Ministry of Natural Resources, aided by its stewardship rangers, collected data on the fish caught.

Biologist Chris Martin says it helps identify the health of the fish population.

The MNR has been studied bass caught during the tournament for several years.

Beware Of West Nile Virus

The Northwestern Health Unit wants you to protect yourself against West Nile Virus.

Public Health Inspector Kurt Casey says symptoms of the virus are flu-like.

Casey says the number of infected mosquitoes in our area is low, but the threat of West Nile still exists.

Ontario Byelections Today

Today is a judgment day of sorts for Kathleen Wynne's record as Ontario premier as voters in five provincial byelections head to the polls.

The byelections -- in Windsor, London, Ottawa and two Toronto ridings -- are all former Liberal seats.

Regardless of the outcomes, however, Wynne will still be leading a minority government at Queen's Park.

Premier OK Talking To Speaker

The NDP calls it highly inappropriate, but Premier Kathleen Wynne says she won't prevent her staff from talking to the Speaker of the legislature.

But Wynne says she won't tolerate her staff putting "any undue pressure'' on the impartial Speaker.

Her comments come after recovered emails suggested senior Liberals in former premier Dalton McGuinty's office tried to get Speaker Dave Levac to change a key ruling against the government.

Gay Marriage Now Legal In Minnesota

Carlos Melia photo

Dozens of gay couples are getting married at Minneapolis City Hall as Minnesota becomes the latest state to legalize same-sex marriage.

The law allowed weddings to begin at 12:01 a.m. today.

Several midnight weddings were planned at several county courthouses around Minnesota, as well as at the Mall of America's Chapel of Love.

Restaurants Say Liqour Discounts Unfair

Ontario restaurants are unhappy with the province's liquor agency for what they see as unfair discounts for the federal government and foreign embassies.

The Liquor Control Board of Ontario started giving foreign embassies and consulates a 49 per cent discount on beer, wine and liquor sales last month.

A group representing Ontario's restaurants says the new discounts are unfair when they have to pay full retail price
s for alcohol.

Mine Union Upset With Premier

A mining union is accusing Ontario's premier of ignoring pleas for an inquiry into mine safety.

The United Steelworkers says it wrote to Kathleen Wynne in May seeking a meeting, only to have the Premier recently respond, rejecting the request and referring the issue to Labour Minister Yasir Naqvi.

Ontario Director Marty Warren is disappointed, saying he hoped the Premier would have taken the issue more seriously than her predecessor.

NWO Man Appointed To Species At Risk Advisory Committee

A northwestern Ontario man has been appointed to committee that provides advice to government on the handling of the Species at Risk act.

Brad Maggrah of Wabigoon will serve on the National Aboriginal Committee on Species at Risk for three years.

Maggrah is also President of the Ontario Coalition of Aboriginal People.