House Fire In Fort Frances

No injuries reported from a house fire in Fort Frances on the weekend.

Members of the Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Service were called out around the supper hour Saturday to a home on 3rd Street West near Central Avenue.

Fire officials says no one was home at the time.

The house sustained heavy damage, but its cause is still under investigation.

Memorandum Of Understanding Signed

A junior mining company looking for gold in the Atikokan area has signed a memorandum of understanding with an area First Nation.

Bold Venture's agreement with Lac Des Milles Lac First Nation pertains to its Wilcorp Gold project, located about 14 kilometres northeast of Atikokan.

Executive vice-president president David Graham says it sets out certain guidelines

Graham says the project is still in its infancy and when any actual drilling takes place is still to be determined.

U.S. Colleges Hold Information Session

Students thinking of going to nearby U.S. colleges can learn more about the opportunities available.

Officials with Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College will hold an information session in International Falls today.

They will be at the AmericInn from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. this afternoon.

Shoe Boxes Due Back This Week

If you obtained a shoe box as part of Operation Christmas Child, it's time to return it.

Quetico North in Atikokan, The Bargain Shop, Lowery's and Bethel Baptist Church in Fort Frances, Tompkins Hardware, Cloverleaf Family Foods and Calvary Baptist Church in Emo and Kreger Sales and Service in Rainy River have been designated drop off spots.

The boxes, to be filled with a variety of toys, school supplies and hygiene items, will eventually go to children in Central and South America.

Safe Schools Program At Catholic Schools

New security measures at catholic schools across the region go in place next month.

Beginning December 2nd, the front doors of all Northwest Catholic District School Board schools will be locked with cameras and buzzers installed to monitor who's accessing the school.

Education director with the Northwest Catholic District School Board Rick Boisvert says it enhances what they already do.

The measures follow those put in place last month at public elementary schools in the Rainy River District.

Horwath Visits Fort Frances

A visit to Fort Frances by Ontario's NDP Leader.

Andrea Horwath met for about 30 minutes with members of the Assisted Living Action Group who outlined to her their proposal to develop an assisted living facility in the Fort Frances area.

She later attended a party fundraiser.

Earlier in the day she was in Thunder Bay where she called on the Premier Kathleen Wynne to help communities struggling with property tax reassessments.

Horwath says it's unaceptable for communities to bleed taxpayers dry for decisions made by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation.

NDP Pans Bear Hunting Plan

The Ontario Government is once again allowing the hunting of bears this spring, but not in the Rainy River district.

A limited hunt will be offered over the next two springs in certain parts of the north, including areas around Thunder Bay.

NDP critic John Vanthof says it's really a step backwards given that all communities in the north aren't eligible to participate.

The hunt will also be open only to Ontario residents.

Wear Purple

Area residents are being encouraged to wear purple today.

It's part of the Shine the Light Campaign being promoted by Riverside Community Counseling as part of Women Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month.

The campaign aims to raise awareness of woman abuse

Area businesses have also been asked to dress up their window displays in purple in support of the cause.

Area Woman Appears In Farming Calender

A familiar face to the Rainy River district's agricultural community is among those in a calender promoting the faces of farming in Ontario.

Kim Jo-Bliss, who manages the Emo Agricultural Research Station and her great uncle's farm, was selected during the summer to participate in the 2014 edition put out by Farm and Food Care Ontario.

Bliss and her story can be found on September of the calender available through her.

Bliss is the first from northwestern Ontario to be included in annual calender.

Limited Spring Bear Hunt Planned

Supplied photo

It will be legal to hunt bear in the spring again in some parts of Ontario.

The province will conduct a two-year hunt in eight different wildlife management units in and around the communities of Timmins, Thunder Bay, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie and North Bay.

Natural Resources Minister David Orazetti says the initiative is a response to nuisance bear complaints by some municipalities this past year.

The hunt would be open only to Ontario residents with bear cubs and females off limits.

Fewer Deer Taken By Hunters

Fewer deer are being shot by Minnesota hunters this season.

The Department of Natural Resources says hunters harvested 77-thousand deer in the first three days of the State's firearms season.

That's down 8 per cent from last year's numbers.

The DNR still expects the final 2013 harvest to be similar to last year when about 185-thousand deer were taken.

Province Seeks Pipeline Hearings

The Ontario government is asking the Ontario Energy Board to hold public consultations on the proposed Energy East Pipeline.

A release from the province says it acknowledges the potential economic benefits of the proposed pipeline, but adds the consultation process will provide an opportunity for all Ontarians to share views on the proposal.

The findings will form the basis of a submission to the National Energy Board which has jurisdiction over the project.

Students Want Minimum Wage Increased

Students are the latest to call for a jump in Ontario's minimum wage to 14-dollars an hour.

Chair of the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario Alastair Woods says coupled with high tuition fees, low wages make it increasingly difficult for students and their families to pay for post-secondary education.

Woods says by raising the minimum wage, the government would immediately improve the lives of students and youth.

Mine Centre Place 3rd In CardBoard Boat Competition

Students at an area school are some of the best builders of cardboard boats.

A group from Mine Centre School placed third at a regional Elementary Cardboard Boat race in Dryden.

The team included students Prudence Kabatay, Ziggy Skead, Reed Dennis and Ryan Stewart with guidance from teacher Barb Dennis.

Hospital Employee Charged

An Atikokan hospital employee is facing charges in connection with the theft of prescription medication from the hospital's pharmacy.

39-year-old Cynthia Carolyn King will appear in Atikokan Court December 12 on charges of theft and breach of trust.

The charges stem from an OPP investigation that began in April 2012 when hospital administration notified police of missing medication from the pharmacy.

Missing Youth Sought

OPP are seeking the public's help in locating a missing 15 year old girl.

Adrianna Copenance was last seen leaving LaVerendrye hospital in Fort Frances Monday evening.

She is described as being 5'2", 110 pounds with shoulder length dyed auburn hair and brown eyes.

She was last seen wearing eye glasses with thick black frames, dark blue jeans, white DC shoes with neon yellow laces, a grey coat and dark grey hoodie.

Crash Victims Identified

A funeral home in Red Lake has identified the victims of Sunday's plane crash in that community.

The Herold Funeral Home says separate memorial services for 64-year-old Sharon Taylor, 53-year-old Peter Struk and 53-year-old Anna Johannesson will be held this weekend.

Two pilots, who are believed to be residents of Winnipeg, also died in the crash.

More Smoking Bans Proposed

There could be fewer places to smoke in the near future.

Ontario's Health Minister Deb Mathews says she intends to introduce legislation that will prohibit smoking on playgrounds, sports fields, and restaurant and bar patios.

Smoking is already banned inside eating establishments.

The proposed legislation will also ban the sale of flavoured tobacco products and increase fines for those caught selling tobacco to youth.

Mill Celebrations Planned

There are plans to celebrate the 100th anniversary of opening of the Fort Frances mill.

The Fort Frances Museum is in the process of putting together a committee to help celebrate next year.

Curator Sherry George says it's a part of the community that deserves to be recognized.

George says part of the celebration will include a display at the museum.

She's also hoping to include other groups, such as schools.

Former Mining Ex Moves On

A former Rainy River Resources executive has found new employment.

Michael Mutchler has been hired on by Largo Resources as its Chief Operating Officer.

Mutchler held the same post with Rainy River Resources which has since been acquired by New Gold.

Falls Parade Seeking Participants

Falls Chamber photo

Preparations are underway for the 'Twas the Lights Before Christmas Parade in International Falls.

It takes place the evening of November 29.

Falls Chamber president Faye Whitbeck says they're now accepting entries.

Call the Falls Chamber to register.

Canadian participants are welcome.

Drug Charges Laid

A busy couple of months for the OPP and the Fort Frances Community Drug Action team.

They arrested and charged four men, a woman and a youth and seized quantities of prescription medications and marijuana in five separate drug investigations in September and October.

In one case a 67-year-old Fort Frances man was arrested after police stopped a vehicle traveling from Thunder Bay to find 95 oxycodone pills and more than 760-dollars in cash.

In Atikokan on Halloween eve, a 20-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman were charged after OPP searched a home on Poplar Avenue to find 2-and-a-half pounds of marihuana and 54-hundred dollars in cash.

Ontario Opens Trade Office

Ontario is looking to increase trade in western Canada.

It's set up a new trade office in Calgary aimed giving the province's businesses an in to a lucrative gas and oil industry.

Economic Development Minister Eric Hoskins says Alberta is poised to buy billions of dollars in Ontario-made goods in the coming years, and the province is committed to seizing on that opportunity.

Alberta is currently Ontario's second-largest domestic trading partner with Goods and services trade between the two provinces topping out at 44 billion five years ago.

Community Foundation Moves Forward

Fort Frances council is endorsing in principle the idea of a community foundation.

The Foundation would help raise money for various projects and organizations.

Consultant Tannis Drysdale sees its being a benefit to the community.

The town's economic development advisory committee will now be asked to determine community's interest.

User Fees Going Up

The cost to access most services in Fort Frances next year is going up.

Town councillors approved Monday night a one per hike in most user fees.

Mayor Roy Avis says he would have like to see the increase a little higher

The increase does not apply to water and sewer rates.

Fee Change To Building Permits

It may cost more to build in Fort Frances next year.

The town is considering changing the way it charges for building permits by charging a fee bases on a cost per square footage instead of on the value of the project.

Chief Building Inspector Travis Rob says it treats everyone equal.

But councillor Ken Perry, a local contractor, says the fees for home builders could increase substantially and wants the numbers to be reconsidered.

Citizens Of The Year Named

Two sisters have been named citizens of the year in Fort Frances.

Jane McLeod and Florence Hill were cited for their involvement in several organizations such as the Laverendrye and Rainycrest Auxiliary, Royal Canadian Legion Ladies auxiliary and with their churches.

A formal presentation of their award will be made at a later date.

CN Rail Line Open

File photo

All appears back to normal in Fort Frances following a weekend train derailment near the community.

CN Rail spokesperson Louis-Antoine Paquin says the track was reopened yesterday afternoon, but the cause of the accident is still a mystery.

About 40 carloads of grain parted with the track late Sunday afternoon.

No one was injured.

Internet Access Back In Fort Frances

Shaw and Vianet customers in Fort Frances can again access Internet and email accounts today.

Officials are blaming the derailment of a CN train on the weekend for an outage that last nearly 24 hours.

They say a fibre line was cut as a result, but repaired late last night.

Plane Crash Investigation Continues

Early indications suggest some kind of a problem on board the Bearskin Airlines plane involved in Sunday's fatal crash in Red Lake.

Peter Hildebrand of the Transportation Safety Board says that's the word from speaking with survivors and from the pilot just prior to the crash who indicated some type of emergency.

Hildebrand says they're still investigating what that was.

The plane crashed about 2 miles short of the runway, killing five of seven people one board.

Woman Charged In Kenora Accident

OPP are charging a 59 year old woman with failing to yield to a pedestrian after a fatal collision in Kenora on Monday.

Two women crossing First Street South were struck by a vehicle turning onto the street.

79 year old Marlyn Lowes died from injuries sustained in the accident.

The other woman, an 83 year old Kenora resident, was treated and released from hospital.

Crimestoppers Seek Assistance in Bank Threat

Crimestoppers in Fort Frances are still trying solve a bank threat in the community.

The incident occurred on September 12th after someone left a duffle bag outside the back door of the Northern Lights Credit Union.

A note was left that threatened retaliation to area banks, schools, and businesses until the bag was filled.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Crimestoppers at 800-222-8477.

Deer Hunting Season Opens Tomorrow in Minnesota

The Minnesota firearms deer hunting season begins this Saturday morning.

And it should be another good year for hunters according to Department of Natural Resources Big game program leader Leslie McKinley.

McKinley says she expects Minnesota hunters to harvest about 185 thousand deer this year.

Special Recognition for Kiss and Ride

The Rainy River District School Board is paying tribute to the local “Kiss ’n Ride” program by presenting a “Recognition of Excellence” award.

The program was put into place at the beginning of this school year here in Fort Frances.

Kiss ’n Ride is meant to keep school buses separate from the traffic of other vehicles.

It also makes drop off and pick up safer and more efficient for students and their families.

The Fort Frances Traffic Safety Committee has worked with volunteers and partners here in the community to implemented the program.

Beyak Supports Senator Suspensions

The only senator from northwestern Ontario says she approves of the suspension of three senators
this week.

Lynn Beyak believes Mike Duffy, Pamela Wallin and Patrick Brazeau got exactly what they deserved.

Beyak voted in favour of suspending the three because she says it was the right thing to do.

Beyak added the gross negligence with taxpayers' dollars is a serious issue and stressed if you claim an expense you have not incurred then you are robbing the taxpayer.

Grassy Narrows Concerns Heard At Queen's Park

The Grassy Narrows First Nation claims the Minister of Natural Resources is making false
statements about plans for clear cut logging in the Whiskey Jack Forest.

This morning in the Ontario Legislature, David Orazietti says there are no wood harvesting blocks in Grassy's Traditional Land Use Territory.

However, Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. urged the government continues to interfere.

Grassy maintains that the government has plans to carry out clear cut logging activity within the next decade.

NAN Chiefs Adopt Education Treaty

The Nishnawbe Aski Nation is making a call to the Federal Government, demanding that they control education on their own NAN territory.

Over two hundred delegates met to create the Right to Education treaty.

Grand Chief Harvey Yesno says it's too bad that communities must deal with legislation put in place by the feds.

Yesno added that his role is to engage other Grand Chiefs across the country.

Horwath Disappointed With Fall Economic Statement

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is less than impressed with the Provincial Government's Fall Economic Statement.

The speech was made Thursday by Finance Minister Charles Sousa.

Horwath says what's really disappointing is how Northern Ontario is neglected.

Horwath adds the bad policies in the economic statement will be felt first in the North.

NorWOSSA Finals in Dryden Today

The Fort Frances Muskies girls basketball teams have guaranteed themselves at least a silver medal today at the NorWOSSA finals.

The Musky girls have byes into the gold medal games this afternoon in Dryden.

They will play the winner of today's semis between Beaver Brae from Kenora and Dryden.

Both the Fort Frances boys volleyball teams will have to take the long way to the
finals, as they play Beaver Brae in the semis this morning.

The Junior games get underway at 10:00, while the seniors hit the court at 11:30.

OPP Warn of More Delays on Highway 17

The OPP say it could take days for the wreckage to be cleared away from a
multi-vehicle accident between Kenora and Dryden.

Last night, police closed both lanes again for about an hour in order to clean
up some debris.

Today however, traffic is moving normally again.

The Trans-Canada was closed for almost nine hours yesterday following an
early morning accident near Nelson Granite.

A total of 14 transports were involved in the collision.

NorWOSSA "A" Championships Taking Place in Rainy River

Rainy River High School is playing host to the NorWOSSA championships today and tomorrow.

The host Owls have a bye into tomorrow's gold medal game for the Senior Girls Basketball and Junior Girls Basketball.

Today, the semi-finals are taking place, with the junior and senior boys volleyball semi-finals taking place first, following by the girls basketball semis.

First up is Sioux Lookout versus Atikokan in junior boys volleyball, while the final game of the
day will feature Atikokan against Sioux Lookout for the right to face Rainy River in the senior
girls final.

OPP Warn About Passing School Buses

A reminder to motorists to stop for school buses when they have their lights flashing.

The OPP in Red Lake says they have received a number of complaints in recent days
about vehicles passing buses with their lights activated.

Officers have also managed to charged several violators in the past couple of weeks.

You can be fined almost 500 dollars and lose 6 demerit points for passing a school bus
which is loading and unloading students.

Rafferty Comments on Senate Suspensions

The Senate is suspending Pamela Wallin, Mike Duffy and Patrick Brazeau

They're cutting their salaries as well.

Thunder Bay MP John Rafferty says the fact that they get to keep their health, dental and life insurance shows that we need Senate reform.

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The senators will also be barred from the upper chamber for the duration of the parliamentary session.

Tories Refuse To Endorse Nuisance Bear Committee

Kenora-Rainy River Conservative candidate Randy Nickle is standing behind several members of his party who voted against an NDP motion to establish a nuisance bear committee.

The motion passed in the Ontario Legislature 31-24 last week, and the Conservatives note that all three former Ministers of Natural Resources stood and voted against it.

Randy Nickle says we've already had a committee to study the issue and they made their recommendations to the government.

He says the conservatives have already been looking at consulting northerners on the wildlife issues facing the region and that their northern policy has given northerners a voice and let them determine what's best for them.

Nickle says it's another form of duplication and a waste of taxpayer money.

Forest Fire Season Wraps Up in NWO

An unusually quiet fire season in northwestern Ontario.

The official fire season wrapped up last week.

Fire information officer Heather Pridham says not only were the number of fires down, the number of forest land burned was also much less than normal.

Pridham says there were 357 fires this summer, almost half as much as last year.

Health Unit Encourages Testing For Radon

A simple test in your home could prevent lung cancer.

The Northwestern Health Unit is encouraging home owners to test for Radon, which is a naturally occurring radio active gas that comes from the breakdown of uranium that is found in rocks and soil.

Public Health Inspector Rick Pascoe says you can't see it, smell it or taste it.

Test kits range from 15 to 30-dollars and are available at local home household stores.

Another Challenge For Snowmobile Industry

A Conservative MPP is accusing the Liberal government is trying to kill the snowmobile industry in Ontario.

Jim Wilson says a new regulation would require snowmobile clubs to pay for the use of hydro right-of-ways.

He says that's just not financially feasible for most clubs.

Wilson says the new regulations would require the snowmobile clubs to not only pay for use of the hydro right-of ways, but also to pay for fencing along the trails.

Fort Resident Charged With Auto Theft

A 26 year old Fort Frances resident faces a long list of charges after police
in Rainy River District stopped a stolen vehicle.

The vehicle was reported stolen early Monday morning from a home in Fort Frances, and a half hour later the OPP had located it.

The vehicle was pulled over and the driver, Bobby Morrison was arrested.

He faces two counts of breach of probation, impaired driving, theft of a
vehicle, driving while under suspension and possession of marijuana.

Gravelle to Update Northern Growth Plan

An update on the Northern Growth Plan.

A forum is slated for next month in Timmins featuring mayors, aboriginal and community leaders.

Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle says he promised such a meeting to the northern mayors back in August.

The meeting is scheduled to take place December 6th.

Heart of the Continent Progressing

A new tourist idea is being discussed for our region, and both sides of the border would be part of the plan

A group called the Heart of the Continent Partnership, wants to create a new travel destination by connecting the dots between International Falls and Duluth in Minnesota and Fort Frances and Thunder Bay in Ontario.

The idea comes in the form of an interactive map that would highlight the area’s natural features and it's historic sites.

 Restaurants, Hotels and bars would also be featured.

The hope is to create new jobs and tourism.

The group is on the verge of raising $200,000 that would fund the project.