Access Roads in Rough Shape

The Ministry of Natural resources is advising people to use caution while travelling on resource access roads.

They say not all roads receive regular maintenance and could be a danger to travellers.

The risks include washouts, water over the road, and heavy rutting.

The advisory comes following last weekend's heavy rainfall across northwestern Ontario.

Fire Hazard Remains Low

High humidity levels are helping to control the forest fire hazard in northwestern Ontario.

Jeff Antoszek of the Ministry of Natural Resources says there is enough moisture in the air to keep forest from getting tinder dry.

"Even though it is hot and muggy out, the fire hazard isn't increasing at the same rate," says Antoszek. "In the spring time when it is very warm and dry, the fire hazard escalates very quickly."

The fire hazard in the Rainy River district is currently low.

Parade of Boats Returns

The Parade of Boats is returning to the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship.

It's being renamed the Boston Pizza Parade of Boats following a sponsorship agreement with the local restaurant operator Dale Fortes.

"When we learning it wasn't part of the Bass tournament last year we were disappointed but understood the reasons for it," says Fortes. "We have the opportunity with Boston Pizza to bring it back and make sure the fans are treated to the Parade of Boats."

As part of its commitment, the restaurant will award $1,000 in cash to the best dressed boat as voted by parade-goers.

Forest Tenure Opposed

The Ontario Forest Industry Association is calling on the provincial government to cancel its plans to reform the forest tenure process.

President Jamie Lim says it's going to have a negative impact on the forest industry.

"It's going to increase costs for the forest sector," says Lim. "It's going to reduce efficiencies. It's going to create a reduction in wood supply in the provincial and local levels. Most importantly it going to create an absolutely large degree of uncertainty."

The Association is part of a province wide coalition made up of unions, forestry groups, municipalities and business leaders voicing their opposition to the changes how the province's forest are allocated and managed.

However, the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association isn't taking a stand for or against the province's proposed reforms.

President Anne Krassilowsky says there's too diverse a forest industry for them to determine if the province's proposed changes is right for the region.

New Attorney for I. Falls

(New City Attorney Steven Shermoen with International Falls Mayor Shawn Mason)


The city of International Falls has a new attorney.

Local lawyer Steven Shermoen takes over from Joe Boyle who will retire at the end of this month.

First Nations Leader Coming to Fort Frances

A British Columbia First Nations leader, who's been identified as one of the "Top Fifty Canadian to Watch" by MacLeans Magazine is coming to Fort Frances.

Chief Clarence Louie of Osoyoos will be a keynote speaker at the Northern Networks Trade Conference hosted by the town in September.

Since 1985, Louie's leadership has helped his band become a multi-faceted corporation that owns nine businesses employing hundreds of people.

Bass Tournament Nearing

Organizers of this year's Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship are making a final push for more anglers, sponsors, volunteers and spectators.

The event will be held for the first time indoors at the Memorial Sports Centre in less than two weeks.

Chair Tom Fry says the need for volunteers is just a critical.

"There still some things happening at the Sorting Gap Marina," says Fry. "That's where the boats will be coming out and going in. All that stuff that took place before is still going to be happening but now we have to get them over to the arena and inside. It's split venue that's going to require a few more volunteers."

Fry says there's also room for more angler teams.

Those interested can register by visiting the Championship office at the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce building or by calling 274-0316.

Rain Hurting Crop Research

The weather has not been a friend to the Emo Agricultural Research Station this year.

More than 90 mm or 3.5 inches of rain has been record in early parts of July already.

Research technician Kim Jo Bliss says rainfalls this summer are having a huge impact on their
ability to conduct research.

"Our crops are showing signs of stress, turning yellow and falling down, or lodging, because of the heavy rains," says Bliss. "We're late getting our forages, our hay and pasture crops off the ground and we're still trying to plant stuff."

Bliss says the area has tile drainage, but its been unable to cope with the amount water received.

She says the full impact of the excess water won't be known until they begin collecting data later in the year.

West June

The month of June turned out to be a wet month in the Borderland.

Climatologist Sandy Radecki says the 156 millimetres of rain that fell far exceeded normal levels.

"Typically you only get about 113 mm," says Radecki. "It came in the early part of the month. The latter part of the month was fairly dry. The first part of the month is seemed as if it was rainy every other day."

In fact, the weather station at the Fort Frances airport recorded rain on 21 of 30 days last month.

The average temperature for the month was 15 C, a degree lower than normal.

Caul Bridge Work Clarified

One lane of traffic will be kept open when work crews are on site at Caul Bridge on McIrvine Road in Fort Frances this summer.

Officials with the town and White Contracting confirmed the work schedule yesterday.

Northbound traffic will be required to yield the right of way to oncoming traffic.

Crews will not be on site on weekends allowing for both lanes to open.

The rehabilitation of the bridge is expected to complete by August 20.

Ball Fields Renamed

(One of two fields at Kerry Park to be renamed)


The city of International Falls is renaming two of its ball fields after two prominent figures in the city's sports community.

The fields at Kerry Park will be renamed in honour of Roger Jerome and Roger Bolstad.

Both men died earlier this year.

Jerome was active in many sports organizations, including the men's slow-pitch league.

Bolstad was prominent figure with the city's fastball teams.

A dedication ceremony is to be held at a later date.

Weststar Aquires Land

Another mining company is about to move into the Rainy River district.

Vancouver based Weststar Resources is paying out $175-thousand and 3-million in shares to acquire claims located north of Rainy River Resources' gold project in Richardson township.

The company has started the process towards further exploration.

Beardy Chats with Queen

The Grand Chief of the Nishbawbe Aski Nation is feeling good after his meeting with the Queen.

Stan Beardy met with her majesty prior to her departure from Toronto yesterday.

He says it was important she met with him because it means she respects First Nation's treaty rights.

AbitibiBowater Restructuring Plan

AbitibiBowater could end nearly eighteen months of creditor and bankruptcy protection on October 1 if its restructuring plan wins creditor support next month.

A meeting on the plan takes place August 26.

The plan would see unsecured creditors receiving between nothing and 48 per cent when their debt is converted to equity, depending on their class.

Current shareholders will walk away empty-handed.

Others fall somewhere in between, including workers who received no severance when their mills were shut over the past year.

Lions Give the Gift of Sound

(Carter Kinnear (seated) and his mother Tammy joins with members of the Fort Frances Lions Club and Jackie McCormick of the Enhanced Learning Centre to show of his near hearing aids)


The Fort Frances Lions Club is helping an 11-year-old area boy hear many sounds for the first time.

Carter Kinnear is sporting new hearing aids, paid for in part by a two-thousand dollar donation from the club.

His mother Tammy is appreciative of the gift for her son who has a hearing defect since birth.

"It's made Carter's life completely different," says Kinnear. "His learning ability and basic skills that we take for grant, such as hearing birds chirp he's never been able to hear before; that's a new experience for him."

"It's amazing," says Carter. "I feel like I can hear everything now."

Lion's past-president Jacques Fiset says club members felt obligated to help out.

"Being that the hearing aids are needed and the Lions motto and ethics is hearing and eyesight, we decided to fill our commitment and help purchase the hearing aids for him," says Fiset.

Carter received his new hearing aids three months ago.

Extended Learning Programs Eliminated

The Rainy River District School Board won't be offering any before or after school care for students attending full-day junior kindergarten at Atikokan's North Star School this fall.

Education Director Heather Campbell says only a handful of parents expressed interest in having their children taking part which wouldn't have been financially viable for the board.

Campbell says the decision does not prevent the board from offering the extended learning programs in future years.

MP's Earning Extra?

Two northwestern Ontario M-P's are in the spotlight.

New Democrats John Rafferty and Bruce Hyer are among 150 MPs who have outside business interests that could supplement their regular salary of $151-thousand a year.

Rafferty sees nothing wrong in that.

"I don't think its unreasonable to ask a member of Parliament or someone who's doing a public service for a short period time to wind up a viable business they'll likely be going back to after the election," says Rafferty.

Rafferty adds he has not seen any income from his communications and media monitoring business since he was elected.

Tour Du Fort Back Online

A new website for Tour Du Fort is finally on line.

President Kerry Zucchiatti says among the new features of Tourdufort.com is the ability to acquire passports or tickets online, including a new pick-three option giving concert goers the ability to select shows they want to see.

"By offering a few different purchase options we're hoping music lovers will pick something convenient for them and we'll see an increase in our attendance numbers," says Zucchiatti.

Zucchiatti says the new website is part of a new marketing strategy aimed better catering to the needs of its patrons and sponsors while pursuing new ones.

Wet July

It's turning out to be a wet July in the Borderland.

The U.S. National Weather Service says more than 6.18 or 15.6 centimetres of rain has fallen at International Falls since July 1st.

That breaks the old five-day record of 6.02 inches set back in August 1942.

Environment Canada says Fort Frances has already received a third of the rain it normally gets for July.

Annexation Hearings Start Today

A hearing into two competing annexation proposals involving the cities of International Falls and Rainer and Koochiching County gets underway today.

Ranier City Council approved a plan last June which proposed to annex lands around the city.

But Falls city officials expressed concerns because it included a foreign trade zone and put forward annexation plans of their own that the area.

Today's hearing at the Koochiching Court House includes two sessions for public comment this afternoon and tonight.