Stop! The Fox

At Fort Frances High School, students are trying to shut the fox up.

The song, called "the Fox," performed by Ylvis is continually being played between classes this week in an effort to raise money for Typhoon Haiyan relief in the Philippines.

Students are being asked to donate with the hopes of reaching $500.00 before the music is stopped.

The fundraiser began yesterday with about one hundred dollars being raised.

Question of the Week

How would you rate the Festival of Frost?

Let us know on our website 931theborder.ca.

Festival Of Frost Awards

Award winners of the Festival of Frost have been announced.

Dancemakers picked up two awards for the best business display and the people's choice award.

The Christian Fellowship Chapel was named the Best Church Group.

Running Horse Ranch earn the Best Non Profit Organization award.

The Nordic Ski Club earned the award for the Best Recreational display.

Falls Parade Winners

Awards have been handed out as part of the "Twas the Lights Before Christmas" parade in International Falls.

The entry from the local Girls Scouts, Brownies and Daisies, entitled "Gingerbread House and Gifts" earned first place money of  $300.00.

Koochiching Economic Development Authority entry was second while the International Falls Chamber of Commerce's "Gizzard Girls" and Moose Lodge tied for third.

Sassy, a Yorkshire Terrier, owned by Dixie Kalstad was winner of the cutest pet contest.

Festival Of Trees Sell Out

There was good success in the first ever Festival of Trees.

A total of fourteen trees went on the auction block last week as part of a fundraiser for the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce and the Fort Frances Kiwanis Club.

Spokesperson Samatha Manthy says all of the trees sold, raising $752.00.

Christmas Kettles Need To Be Filled

The Salvation Army is appealing for help.

It's launched its Christmas Kettle campaign in Fort Frances with the aim of raising at least $15-thousand.

Lieutenant Dennis Maybury says the money helps with its Christmas hamper program.

Maybury says they are also still looking for volunteers to ring the Kettles that are located at Walmart, Canada Safeway, the LCBO and Canadian Tire.

Smaller kettles have been set up at Boston Pizza and the Place.

Change In Delivery OF Child Welfare Services

First Nations people living off reserve in the Rainy River District will now access child welfare services through  Weechi-it-te-win Family Services.

Weechi-it-te-win will formally signed an agreement with the Kenora and Rainy River District Child and Family Services Friday.

The District agency's executive director Bill Leonard says it's a very important move.

Leonard says the agreement was the original goal of the Weechi-it-te-win since it's creation 30 years ago.

Organizers Happy With Festival of Frost

It was a little smaller than expected, but organizers of the Festival of Frost in Fort Frances are happy with the outcome.

About ten different groups set up displays along Scott Street Saturday.

One of the organizers Robin Payeur was pleased with the creativity.

Payeur says they will now access the event, but expects it to return next year.

I Am Awesome Seeks Public Support

Organizers of a girls' retreat are hoping to sustain local support as it vies for funding in the Aviva Community fund.

The I Am Awesome (And I Know It) retreat is into the semi-final round of voting whic begins at 11 A.M.

Organizer Rene Martin-Brown says while they finished strong in preliminary voting, they still need the public's help in getting to the finals.

The group is one of 30 entries competing for funding in the small project category.

Top ten move on to the finals.

You can cast a vote by clicking this link.

Stand Off Ends Peacefully

A 28-year-old man has been arrested following a 14-hour standoff at a home in Frenchman's Head, near Sioux Lookout.

OPP says it began midnight Sunday, ending late yesterday afternoon, forcing other homes around the area to be evacuated.

The man was eventually arrested by police without incident.

Policing Costs Expected To Rise

Fort Frances could be paying a lot more for policing in 2014.

Estimates from the OPP peg the cost at more than $2.8 million.

That's over $200-thousand more than what was estimated for this year and $300-thousand more than what the town actually paid in 2012.

An 8.5 per cent raise for officers that kicks in next year is identified as the chief reason for the increase.

Fewer Charges Laid In Fort Frances

OPP continue to lay fewer charges in Fort Frances than they did last year.

Statistics released show just over 900 charges being laid between January and October.

That's about 150 less than during the same period in 2012.

Traffic offences and charges related to the criminal code account for over two-thirds of those charges.

PSAC Wins Key Ruling

A land mark decision by the Canadian Industrial Labour Relations Board could have an impact on the Treaty Three Police Service.

Earlier this week, the Board ruled that the Public Service Alliance of Canada can represent the officers with the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service.

Union spokesperson Sharon DeSousa a similar hearing is scheduled with Treaty Three in January.

PSAC says if Treaty Three Police accept the Labour Board's ruling, they can begin working on outstanding grievances and bargaining on a new contract for the officers. 

Thefts On the Rise

Fort Frances is seeing an increase in thefts.

OPP responded to 18 calls in October, up from 12 the month before.

Some of the items targeted by thieves included fishing rods, bicycles and a snowmobile which was recovered.

Driver Charged

A 30-year-old resident of Sabaskong First Nation heads to court on a charge of impaired driving.

OPP charged the driver Thursday after noticing a vehicle stopped on Highway 71 south of Nestor Falls blocking traffic.

Snomobile Club Needs More Support

The Borderland Snowmobile Club says it needs more snowmobilers to purchase trail permits to survive.

President Dave Goodman says last year the club sold about 80 permits, but needs at least 170 sales this season to operate and maintain its nearly 500 kilometer trail network.

Last year the club spent almost $20,000 grooming trails, but collected just $15,000 in revenues.

Goodman says they did get a good start to this season with pre-sales that helped attract some new people and former users back to the trail system.

Man aCharged In Year-old Fort Frances Murder

A 26-year-old Seine River First Nation man has been arrested on a charge of second degree murder in the connection with last year's death of 45-year-old Leo Whitecrow.

The charge against Peter Deafy comes more than a year after Whitecrow's body was discovered inside a room at the Mid-Town Motel in Fort Frances

OPP Sergeant Shelly Garr won't say why it took so long, but it's not unusual.

The cause of Whitecrow's death has not yet revealed.

Impaired Drivers Nabbed

Some motorists will be visiting court rooms in the near future on impaired driving related charges.

A 24-year-old Thunder Bay man has been charged Tuesday following a single vehicle accident on Highway 622, just north of Atikokan.

OPP handed out a 3-day driver license suspension to one driver during a RIDE program check last Thursday in Atikokan.

Police also found a small amount of marijuana in another vehicle.

A 20-year-old Fort Frances man has been charged with failing to provide a breath sample after OPP checked a vehicle parked in a parking lot of a Fort Frances business on Kings Highway, also last Thursday.

Caliper Lake To Re-open

Caliper Lake Provincial Park is going to get a second chance at life.

Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls town council has agreed to take over the operations of the park from the province.

It was closed by the province last year.


Mayor Bill Thompson says the township, which already operates Sioux Narrows Park, is hoping to offset costs by using fewer staff and allowing seasonal rates for campsites.

Fire Department Receives Funding

Union Gas is lending a hand to the Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Service.

The gas utility has awarded the department a grant of 25-hundred dollars toward its emergency training program.

The Fire and Rescue Service is in the process of improving its training site at the Fort Frances airport so it can enhance training for firefighters from across the region.

Emo Arena Upgrades

Some funding to upgrade the arena in Emo.

Over 43-thousand dollars from the Ontario Trillium Foundation will be used to renovate and purchase equipment to help make the Emo-LaVallee Community Centre more accessible.

Town Coffers Major Focus For Fort Frances

Finances continue to be a huge focus for the town of Fort Frances.

That from the town's Chief Administrative Officer Mark McCaig as he addressed the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce Tuesday.

McCaig says with tax revenues slowly eroding, the need to diversify the economic is more important the ever.

McCaig says Fort Frances is working on ways to benefit from mining and grow its residential tax base as a way of offset the current revenue losses.

McCaig says its also important to work closer with groups like the Chamber.

Busy Summer For Chamber

A busy summer for the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce.

President Mark Caron says the Chamber was engaged in a number activities, including continuing the cross-border talks with their counterparts in International Falls.

Caron says the Chamber has also attracted 28 new members since April.


It also handled about 340 inquiries a month for tourist information between May and October.

Arrest Made in Year Old Murder Case

An arrest has been made in a year old murder investigation in Fort Frances.

OPP have charged 26-year-old Peter Deafy of Seine River First Nation with second degree murder in connection with the death of 45-year-old Leo Whitecrow, also of Fort Frances.

Whitecrow's body was discovered in a motel room of the Mid-Town Motel by a motel employee on November 2, 2012.

The causes of death isn't being immediately released.

Deafy will made a court appearance in Fort Frances tomorrow.

Mason Invited To State Conference

International Falls' director of economic and community development has been invited to a State conference on economic development.

Shawn Mason will serve as a panelist at the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development event in Saint Paul, January 22nd.

The conference will explore Minnesota's economic future and is expected to draw more than 400 delegates.

Province Asked To Help Ease Hospital Overcrowding

The provincial government is under pressure to ease the gridlock situation at the Health Science's Centre in Thunder Bay.

Health Minister Deb Matthews says the government is trying to make sure the health authority is finding ways to resolve the overcrowding problem.

Matthews says resolving the problem at our hospital is a top priority.

Plan Your Trip Stateside

If your heading stateside this week, the Canada Border Services Agency recommends going early.

The CBSA is anticipating higher than normal traffic volumes at the border during the Black Friday and U.S. Thanksgiving weekend.

It recommends crossing outside peak traffic periods and check border wait times to avoid long wait times.

Opposition Questions Mazza's Appearance In Thunder Bay

Questions are being raised at Queen's Park about the present of former air ambulance president Dr. Chris Mazza at Thunder Bay Regional Health Science Centre's emergency room over the weekend.

Tory MP Frank Klees says it surprised him given that Mazza is under two separate investigations.

Health Minister Deb Matthews says it's not her responsibility for who the hospital hires, but notes any doctor there still has to be certified by the Ontario College of Family Physicians and Surgeons.

Federal Auditor Questions Border Practices

The federal Auditor-General says some of the controls put in place at the border to keep people from entering Canada illegally aren't always working.

Michael Ferguson, in his fall report, says the while the Canadian Border Services Agency has made significant progress in some of its efforts to detect high-risk travelers, it often does not get the information it needs to identify those travelers before they arrive in Canada.”

Ferguson says even when the agency has had the information, the controls don’t always work.

Campbell Seeks Input On Road Conditions

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell is using social media to find out what local motorists feel about our road conditions.

Campbell has put out a Facebook message asking constituents to share their stories about the state of local highways.

She's responding to Transportation Minister Glen Murray's promise to come to northwestern Ontario and talk to local road maintenance contractors if the situation doesn't improve.

Bayfield Stops Drills

Bayfield Ventures has stopped its drills for this season.

The company has been conducting an extensive exploration program on its Burns Block project, north of Barwick and adjacent to New Gold's, formerly Rainy River Resources, gold project.

It says drilling has confirmed the widespread distribution of gold and silver with the potential of further discoveries to be made.

Murder Mystery At Fort High

A murder mystery goes at the Townshend Theatre in Fort Frances later this week.

Fort Frances High School students are doing a stage version of Agatha Christie's The Secret Adversary.

Student Cole Turcotte says it's something they don't do all that often.

The show opens Thursday night, running until Saturday.

Fort Frances Likes New Police Costing Model

Fort Frances town council isn't warming up to a resolution that opposes a new model for how municipalities will pay for OPP policing in the future.

The township of Sequin feels the new model, to be based on a $250-dollar charge per household, plus a charge for each call, will result in higher policing costs.

Fort Frances Mayor Roy Avis supports the new model, saying it will make the costing more fair.

Fort Frances now pays one of the highest costs per household costs in the province for policing.

New Price On Building Permits

A stamp of approval has been given on the new cost of building permits in Fort Frances.

Beginning in the new year, home builders will be charged a rate of 80 cents a square foot for their permits.

Administration revised its original plan of 90 cents following concerns expressed two weeks ago by Councillor Ken Perry.

Fees for sheds, decks and garages will also be based on their square footage.

Sisters Recognized As Citizens Of The Year

Florence Hill (2nd from right)

Jane McLeod (2nd from left)

They're being called superb volunteers.

94-year-old Jane McLeod and 88-year-old Florence Hill were  formally recognized as Fort Frances citizens of the year by town council last night.

The sisters are appreciative of being recognized.

The life long residents of Fort Frances continue to be active with the Legion, LaVerendrye Hospital and Rainycrest Auxiliaries and their churches.

Doer To Make A Return Visit

Fort Frances and International Falls are getting a visit next year from Canada's Ambassador to the United States.

Falls Mayor Bob Anderson says Gary Doer's visit is tentatively scheduled for June 26.

His itinerary is still being developed.

Doer was last in the area in 2010.

Bed Shortage At Thunder Bay Hospital

Thunder Bay's Hospital continues to operate in a gridlock situation.

Three elective surgeries had to be cancelled last week because there was no beds for patients waiting admission.

Spokesperson Rhonda Crocker-Ellacott says they're trying to find other beds in the community and within the hospital for patients.

Crocker-Ellacott says they're not sure why they've had an influx in patients, but does not attribute it to the cold and flu season.

Former Air Ambulance Head Doing ER Duties

The former president and Chief Executive Officer of Ontario's air ambulance service has found a new line of work.

Dr. Chris Mazza spent some in Thunder Bay this past weekend working as an emergency room doctor.

Chief of Staff at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Center, Dr. Gordon Porter says it went well and hopes Mazza will help fill future ER shifts.

Common Ground Initiative Gets Interest In North

Northerners appear to be responding to Premier Wynne's call for ideas.

Liberals from the region gathered in Thunder Bay on the weekend to discuss the Common Ground initiative.

Regional Vice-president Anthony Leek says he's happy with the response.

Some of the ideas include strengthening tele-health services and creating a Far North Advisory council.

The Liberals are giving the public an extra week to submit ideas and vote on suggestions already made.

Enforcement Blitz Nets 11

The Ministry of Natural Resources is touting the success of a weekend enforcement blitz on deer hunting safety.

The Ministry says conservation officers laid eleven charges including, hunting without a licence, trespassing on private land and obstructing a conservation officer.

Knox Fails To Reach Semi-Final Round

Knox United Church has fallen short of its effort to reach the semi-final round of the Avivia Community Fund contest.

The Fort Frances church finished just 250 votes back of the top ten which will move on.

It entered the contest in hopes of winning funding for its building renewal project.

They will kick off fundraising locally with a dinner and silent auction to take place December 7.

Tickets are available at Brockie Jewellers and Fort Frances General Supply

Crash Victims Officially Released

OPP have now officially released the names of the victims in this month's Bearskin Airline crash in Red Lake.

Police confirm 25 year old Aniruddh Sawant, 34 year old Peter Traczuk, both of Winnipeg and 53-year-old Anna Johannesson, 53 year old Peter Struk, and 64 year old Sharron Taylor, all of Red Lake, died when the plane crashed short of the runway November 10.

Two others survived.

The Transportation Safety Board continues to investigate.

Economic Response Teams Moving Along

The mayor of International Falls is happy with the progress being made by the economic response teams set up to help offset the recent job loss at the Boise paper mill.

Bob Anderson says some of the individuals on the teams have come together to form a communication group to keep area residents informed.

Anderson says the group is also awaiting on a federal grant that will help put in place some of the other initiatives identified.

NDP Fighting Against Long-Term Energy Contracts

Electricity retailers beware.

The NDP is taking directed aimed at them with a private members bill that would prevent fixed term contracts.

Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. Sarah Campbell says it's one of the biggest issues her office has to deal with.

Campbell says a recent report shows that people who have signed long term contracts often pay anywhere from 35 to 65 percent more for electricity.

Mayor Outlines Priorities

The mayor of International Falls has outlined his priorities for the next year.

Bob Anderson spokes last week during a meeting of the the International Falls Chamber of Commerce.

Anderson says he plans to focus on the basics, but sees the city's future focused on timber, tourism, technology and transportation and a strengthening of those areas.

He'd also like to see the development of a comprehensive plan to involve Koochiching County and the city of Ranier.

The last plan was done in 1966 and lead to a new by-pass.

Final Vote Day For Knox United Church

Knox United Church in Fort Frances is making a final push to gain a semi-final spot in the Aviva Community Fund contest.

The Church is hoping to secure a top ten spot as it seeks funding for its renewal project.

It's currently sitting in 13th spot, about 200 votes back of 10th, with voting in this third and final round ending at 11 a.m. today.

Click this link to vote.

FASD Committee Formed

Northwestern Ontario has a new committee focused on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.

Creighton Youth Services Director Jack Martin says the new committee will create a strong voice when speaking about FASD.

Martin says FASD is a lifelong illness and that early detection can prevent people from falling into substance abuse and mental health issues.

Chambers Scraps Pre-Thanksgiving Day Promotion

There will be no early Thanksgiving late night shopping promotion in International Falls this year.

The International Falls Chamber of Commerce says only nine of 112 businesses responded to its inquiry of the proposed promotion with eight supporting the idea of Wednesday evening shopping in advance of the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday.

The Chamber says it may revisit the promotion next year.

Festival Of Trees Bidding On Now

Bids are now being accepted in the Festival of Trees.

The trees have been decorated and donated by a number of individuals, businesses and organization.

They're on display at the Fine Line Art Gallery in Fort Frances.

Bids will be accepted up until this Saturday.

Proceeds will go to the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce and Fort Frances Kiwanis Club.