Missing Man Found

OPP have located the body of a Florida man from Lake of the Woods.

68-year-old Bill Amason had been reported missing Sunday after his empty boat was found floating in Obabikon Bay.

Police says a marine unit found his body in the same area Wednesday.

College Support Workers Hit the Pickets

Just days before students head back to class for the new school year, support staff at Ontario's community colleges are on strike.

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union says it went on strike because the colleges demanded concessions and clawbacks to its existing contract.

But Gerry Barker, chairman of the colleges' bargaining team, says the colleges offered increases for support staff that would take the average salary to more than 59-thousand dollars a year with no concessions.

Anticipating pickets at Confederation College's campus in Fort Frances, the Rainy River District School Board has changed the route for vehicle traffic to Fort High.

Parents, staff and students driving to school are to use the lane by J.W. Walker School off Keating Avenue to enter and leave at the north exit at McIrvine Road.

Buses are to use the same north exit on McIrvine to enter and leave the school.

Weather Warning Canceled

A severe thunderstorm watch for the Rainy River district between the town of Rainy River and Seine River First Nation has now ended.

Weather Watch Issued

Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for much of the Rainy River district.

It's because of an active line of severe thunderstorms moving in from southern Manitoba.

Environment Canada says they are likely to weaken slightly before they reach the district, but may still be strong enough to generate strong wind gusts to 90 kilometres an hour.

Safety Zone in Effect

The new Community Safety Zone in the west end of Fort Frances goes into effect today.

Drivers caught for such things as speeding or running red lights in the area can face a doubling of fines.

Constable Anne McCoy says OPP will be paying close attention there.

"The Community Safety Zone is an enforcement pillar, a tool officers can use at their discretion in order to do some enforcement within the school zones," says McCoy. "WE want people to be aware there's lot of school kids in that area."

The zone will remain in effect until the end of June.

McKay on the Campaign Trail

The official start to the provincial election is still a few days away, but that hasn't stopped candidates in Kenora-Rainy River from stumping for votes.

Progressive Conservative candidate Rod McKay was in Fort Frances yesterday to speak to party faithful and area business leaders.

"Basically the north, we get ignored in so many ways," says McKay. "We have policies that are set in Toronto that dramatically effect the way we live and the way we operate in northern Ontario with no consideration for the impact of those decisions. That's one of the reasons why I want to win this election and try to make some change in that area.

McKay also wants to help break down barriers that hurt area businesses to be competitive.

Doc House Call Plan Supported

The Liberal candidate for Kenora-Rainy River is standing up in support of a party policy to have doctors make house calls.

Anthony Leek says it makes good sense for this riding where there's a high number of seniors who could benefit.

"I think it's really important that we start to concentrate on taking care of the baby-boom generation which is continuing to age," says Leek, "and I think this is just a step forward to helping that population.

Leek says other Liberal initiatives will help bring more doctors to the area to help fulfill that promise.

Treaty 3 to Outline Court Case

Grand Council Treaty 3 is expected to release details today of legal action it plans to against the province of Ontario.

The Grand Council is asking the Court to set aside power contract to hydro generation dams within its territory that cause impacts to aboriginal or treaty rights.

TB!S Receives Fundraising Award

Staff at The Bargain Store in Fort Frances have been recognized for their fundraising efforts for Easter Seals.

The agency presented the store with a Silver Egg award for a campaign it ran back in March.

Store manager Darcy Banman says it was something staff had been worked toward.

"We're very proud of our staff," says Banman. "All of the money goes to Fort Frances. It stays with the local branch of Easter Seals. Our store has tried for the Silver Award for many years and we finally did it."

The store raised over $1,6000 through the sale of Easter Seals Paper Eggs, the second highest in northwestern Ontario.

Fishing Fine

A North Dakota man is $1,300 out-of-pocket for having too many walleye in his possession.

Court heard that Chris Lind declared six walleye caught on Lake of the Woods near Nestor Falls in July as he passed through customs at the Rainy River-Baudette point of entry.

A check found him with eleven frozen, filleted and packaged walleye, nine over the legal limit.

Used Hockey Equipment Wanted

An equipment drive has been launched to help kids get the gear they need to play hockey this winter.

OPP and Source for Sports stores across northern Ontario had initially launched the campaign to help remote First Nations children.

Constable Anne McCoy says it's now led to one that will also help those in the Rainy River district.

Tagg's Source for Sports will be accept used hockey equipment until September 16th, turning them over to Kidsport to distribute.

Plane Crash

Transportation Safety Board officials are to investigate the crash of a float plane near Sioux Lookout that claimed the life an a Minnesota pilot.

A board spokesman says initial reports suggest the amphibious Cessna 206 was trying to land Monday on the chutes of Abram Lake when the aircraft flipped over into the water.

The pilot, identified as being from Sunfish Lake, west of St. Paul, was transported to Sioux Lookout hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Classrooms Not Ready

It will at least next week before new early learning classrooms at St. Michael's School in Fort Frances are ready for use.

Education Director for the Northwest Catholic District School Board Mary-Catherine Kelly says some work is still needed, but it didn't stop the new four-and-five-year-olds from starting the school year.

"What we were able to do was facilitate a staggered entry for our students," says Kelly. "The children are coming to school and meeting with their teachers. In the second week of school, those classrooms will be ready."

Kelly says the board will also participate this year in several programs to improve student success.

College Striking Likely

The union representing support staff at Ontario's community colleges sees little chance of avoiding a strike.

OPSEU will be in a legal strike position tomorrow morning.

The bargaining chair for the colleges says his side remains hopeful that a negotiated settlement can be reached.

Organize for School

A professional organizer from International Falls will be providing tips today on how parents and their children can get adjusted to a new school year.

Nicki Bergstrom is hosting two one-hour workshops at Falls Elementary.

Bergstrom says they'll help parents cope with the stress that often comes in getting children ready for school.

"Some of the things that we'll be talking about is actually preparing an adequate routine for your child, "says Bergstrom. "Also organizing around the house. Keeping information where it needs to be kept."

There's a ten dollar charge to the workshops at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Alzheimer Ride Successful

(Alzheimer Society of Kenora-Rainy River Districts photo)


This past weekend's Alzheimer Society Ride for Memories was a little short of its financial goal, but the event is still being hailed a huge success.

The more than $31-thousand raised was about $4-thousand less than expected.
But Executive Director of the Alzheimer Society of Kenora-Rainy River Districts, Lynn Moffatt says the turnout was huge.

"This year we had more riders than any year before," says Moffatt. "We had 160 riders. We had riders from as far as Thunder Bay coming out to this event."

Money raised goes towards support and services to families and people suffering from Alzheimer's and dementia related diseases.

Atikokan Trade Show Restyled

(Booth at past Atikokan Trade Show - Atikokan Chamber of Commerce photo)


Atikokan's Chamber of Commerce is taking a different approach to promoting its community.

Office Manager Jolene Wood says they're forgoing the traditional fall trade show for an event that encompasses the entire downtown area.

"What we want to do is showcase some of the businesses downtown," says Wood, "and give them an opportunity to have sidewalk sales or promotions of their own. Just to let people remember that we have shops downtown and to get them to come down and get shopping."

The September 10th event will include some booths at the Legion for out-of-town businesses wanting to participate.

Fire Within Voyageurs National Park

Park officials are monitoring a lightning caused fire within Voyageurs National Park.

The fire, approximately half-an-acre in size, is burning near Tooth Lake, about 2 miles south of Namakan Lake.

It was first detected Sunday.

Because of the area's remoteness and the fact there's few values at risk, the park says it won't be doing any immediate suppression efforts.

Toll Booth Threats

Dryden's Mayor is fuming are learning local taxpayers could be on the hook for the cost of paving a section of the Trans-Canada Highway through the city.

The Ministry of Transportation is planning on paving both ends of the highway up to the city limits.

Craig Nuttall is threatening to set up a toll booth if his city is forced to pay to pave the rest of the road.

Aggressive Bears in Minnesota?

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is urging people to be careful after recent reports of aggressive behavior by black bears in the Ely area.

The DNR says some reports involve collared bears that are part of research being conducted by biologist Lynn Rogers.

Rogers though disputes that the collared bears are aggressive.