Old Gold Mine Explored

(Shotgun Exploration photo)

A former gold mine in the Rainy River district may be getting some new life.

Mineral Mountain Resources says its started preliminary exploration of the Straw Lake Beach Gold Mine, located about 50 kilometres north of Fort Frances.

The work comes as the Vancouver-based mining company received regulatory approval to earn 75-per cent of the property now owned by Shotgun Exploration, a private company from Atikokan.

The mine operated briefly during the 1930's before closing in 1941 due to a lack of adequate power and start of World War 2.

Bass Tournament Meeting Tonight

The fate of the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship could be on the line tonight.

Tournament organizers are holding an information meeting at the Memorial Sports Centre to help fill vacancies on their board, including the position of chair.

Officials have said unless someone takes over that role, the tournament won't continue.

The meeting begins at the Sportplex Board room at 6:30 p.m.

AbitibiBowater Reorganization Plan in Court

AbitibiBowater's quest to restructure is winding down, with a U.S. Bankruptcy Court set to hear oral arguments on the newsprint giant's reorganization plan on November 5.

The hearing will take place about six weeks after opponents began to mount an effort in court to challenge the plan of reorganization.

Among the concerns is a six-million dollar bonus plan for company executives.

Chili Cook-Off Helps Food Banks

Area food banks were the big winners at the yesterday's Great Canadian Chili Cook-off put on by the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce.

Residents who taste tested the various chili recipes brought several pounds of food while Link-Line donated $5,000 to local food banks.

Chamber president Cathy Emes says those contributions are important.

"There's members of our community that are less fortunate than those of us that have time to do these kind of community projects," says Emes, "and we want to show the people of Fort Frances that the Chamber and many of our corporate sponsors have them in our heart."

CIBC was voted by the public as having the best chili while the Fort Frances Public Library was the judge's choice.

Hampton Running Again

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton is confirming his intentions to run again in the next provincial election.

That election is still a year away, but Hampton says he's already started his campaign.

Hampton has been the area's MPP since 1987.

Rainy River Cereal Introduced to Toronto area

Residents of southern Ontario will soon get a taste of Rainy River Cereal.

The unique wild rice cereal, being made by the company at Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation, will be on display at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto.

President Drew Atwell says it's an important fair to be at.

"We're going to meet distributors," says Atwell. "We're going to meet potential partners. We're going to meet industry experts. We're going to get a lot of good feedback on our product which has been excellent so far."

Atwell says success at the fair will help determine how quickly they can get product out to a wider market.

The company is also in the process of entering into a partnership with Shoal Lake Wild Rice out of Kenora that would give it a long-term supply of wild rice.

Ambassador for Safety Awards

A municipal councillor and an area organization have been recognized for their contributions to improving safety in the Rainy River district.

Freeda Carmody, a councillor from LaVallee township, was honoured with an Ambassador for Safety award by Safe Communities Canada for her work to maintain to district-wide municipal support for Safe Communities Rainy River.

"If we don't continue participating and everyone do their part, we won't be able to continue with the safety in our district," says Carmody. "That's very, very important that we have the funding."

The Rainy River District Substance Abuse Prevention team has also been rewarded for its work by Safe Communities Canada.

Coordinator Hugh Dennis says it recognizes a recent photo-voice project.

"We're using the videos produced by the teenagers to show the younger students in elementary school," says Dennis, "so that the younger kids that the older youth have made decisions that are wise and avoided the trap of substance abuse."

Fort Frances Man Honoured

A Fort Frances man has been honoured by the provincial government.

Anthony Kadikoff received an Ontario Senior Achievement Award during a ceremony last week at Queen's Park for his work to improve the lives of the area's cancer patients.

"It's in recognition of the work I've done in the complete district since the start and promotion of Tamarack House funding," says Kadikoff, "which I was one of the leading fundraisers for. A home away from home for people with cancer when they go to Thunder Bay, they stay for free."

Kadikoff also serves as a board member with the Thunder Bay Regional Health Science Centre Foundation.

No Expansion of Smoking Ban

The Ontario government is snuffing out a recommendation to let landlords ban smoking in rental apartments.

The Tobacco Strategy Advisory Group wants Ontario to outlaw smoking in multi-residential rental units, on all restaurant patios and in all parks and playgrounds.

But Health Promotion Minister Margarett Best says they have already banned smoking in many public areas and do not want to make the law even tougher.

Chili Cook-Off Today

About twelve teams will be putting their best chili recipes to the test at today's Great Canadian Chili Cook-off put on by the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce.

The public is invited to attend the event that begins at 11:30 a.m at the Legion in Fort Frances to vote your favourite.

The event will also be used to collect food items as part of a Shaw Communication and Cambell's Canada campaign.

Border Incident Reported

A Rochester, Minnesota man faces charges following a bizarre incident that occurred at both area border crossings and ended with the man running naked across the bridge to Baudette.

A spokesperson with the Canada Border Services Agency says it happened last Wednesday when the 20-year-old man was about to enter the United States, first at International Falls and then later at Baudette, only to turn around and drive through Canada customs at both Fort Frances and Rainy River.

Officials say the man was arrested only after he returned to Rainy River custom office to ask for directions.

While in custody, the man reportedly removed his clothes and escaped through a window, running across the bridge to Baudette before U.S. authorities arrested him again.

The man was charged with assault and indecent exposure by Baudette city police, but no charges have yet been laid by Canadian authorities.

211 Service Now Available

(Marie Klassen, executive director of 211 North, speaking a launch of service in the Rainy River District)

211 service is now available in the Rainy River district.

It's a phone helpline that residents can call to access information on a variety of services and programs.

Trudy McCormick of the Northwest Community Legal Clinic says callers connect to a live person.

"During office hours during the daytime you'll get someone in Thunder Bay at the information and referral centre there," says McCormick. "After hours the number still works but it's forwarded to a call centre in Toronto because there isn't the need in the north yet to justify the funding for a 24-hour service."

More than 56,000 thousand agencies' data bases are connected to 211 with about 260 of them from the Rainy River district

Native Education Promoted

Teachers across the Rainy River district gathered at Fort Frances High School yesterday to learn more about the importance of using aboriginal languages in the classroom.

Anton Treuer, a professor at Bemidji University, says the ability to learn in their own language reduces the drop-out rate among native students.

"It goes to show that when kids learn their language and their culture, when they learn about themselves, that translates into positive self-esteem and academic excellence across the curriculum," says Treuer.

Treuer says it can also help bridge the gap between communities and races.

Emo Mayoral Candidates

This week, CFOB is looking at the mayoral races across the Rainy River district, and today we turn out attention to Emo.

Incumbent Ed Carlson says the need for expanded water and sewer treatment facilities is among a top priority.

"We're expecting definite growth in Emo," says Carlson, "hoping with Rainy River Resources. Even without that we still have to expand the water treatment in providing capacity and increase pressure and another cell in the lagoon as well."

Vince Sheppard is campaigning on a need for more openness at the council table.

"What I would like is to have the Ontario Ombudsman back as our investigator," says Sheppard. "We have our official plan that has to be reopened. It's been in place for fourteen years. It's supposed to redone every five years."

Carlson is seeking his second term as mayor while Sheppard is a newcomer to municipal politics.

Glow Sticks Made Available

(Grace Silander (l) of Safe Communities Rainy River and OPP Const. Anne McCoy prepare to distribute glow sticks to area schools)

Hundred of glow sticks are being made available to school children across the Rainy River district this week.

Grace Silander of Safe Communities Rainy River says it's a project spearheaded by the Family and Children Services Rainy River.

"There will be enough glow sticks for all of the students in the district," says Silander, "so that when they go out with their Halloween costumes on the glow stick will light up their costume so that people can see them and the drivers will be able to identify them."

The glow sticks will be distributed through schools, nurseries and day care centres as well as FACS offices.

Senior Achievement Award Given

An Atikokan resident is back home after received a Senior Achievement Award from the province in a ceremony last week in Toronto.

Vik Prokopchuk says he was honoured just being nominated by his community for such an award.

"Being nominated by my fellow citizens, really that's the highest honour I think can anyone can get," says Prokopchuk, "because the people know you know what you've done or didn't do."

Prokopchuk was recognized for his business and management experience that's benefited both Atikokan and northwestern Ontario.

Contact North Use Increases

Interest in distance education continues to grow in northern Ontario.

Contact North says over 23,000 people are using the network's services to access a variety of college and university courses in their own communities.

Vice-president of regional services Debby Sefton says that's a 50 per cent increase over last year.

"We're excited about the increase," says Sefton, "and we seems to have continual increases. I think a lot of it is attributed to the types of programs that are being offered by our educational partners."

The Fort Frances site has 268 registrants while Atikokan has over one hundred this year.

McGuinty in Attack Mode

Dalton McGuinty is moving into attack mode in the run up to next year's provincial election.

McGuinty told Liberals gathered in Toronto on the weekend that he'll be reminding voters about the legacy of Ontario's last Progressive Conservative government.

McGuinty said that legacy is one of closed hospitals, school strikes and fired water inspectors.

Atikokan Mayoral Candidates

This week B-93 is looking at the mayoral races in communities across the Rainy River district, beginning with Atikokan where two candidates seeking the top council seat.

Incumbent Dennis Brown, who's held the seat for the past 13 years says continuing to build Atikokan's economy remains key.

"We need jobs and we need to have the tax base," say Brown. "We're certainly emphasising working with initiatives that are already present and helping to move them forward in the days ahead."

Bob Davidson is challenging for the position and is putting a need to improve live for seniors high on his agenda.

"Seniors in Atikokan need the very best care we can provide for them," says Davidson. "If I'm elected, I'll be working pretty aggressively on things that make live a little better for them in Atikokan."

Davidson is a former two-term Reeve of the community.

Hallowe'en Costume Exchange Planned

A new Halloween costume exchange is being set up in the Rainy River district.

Organizer Sherri Putzer says the exchange allows parents to trade in old children's costumes for a different one.

"Those who can, they donate a costume," says Putzer, "and they receive a coupon to use at the costume exchange."

Used and slightly worn costumes can be dropped off at Best Start Hubs in Couchiching, Fort Frances, Rainy River, Stratton and Emo where the coupons for this Friday's and Saturday exchange at J.W. Walker School in Fort Frances will be issued.