Christmas Kettles Ring

The Salvation Army's Christmas kettles are now ringing in Fort Frances.

Th agency is hoping to raise $15-thousand - the same goal as last year.

Captain Angel Sandoval says the need for the agencies help is as great as its ever been.

Sandoval says volunteers are also needed to help ring the Kettles bells at several locations this month.

Mural to Get Touch Up

Downtown wall murals in Fort Frances will get a touch up in the new year.

The Fort Frances Downtown Business Improvement Association will be working with local artist Lindsay Hamilton to fix-up murals located on the walls of the CIBC and the Masonic Building.

President Connie Cuthbertson says the murals aren't in bad shape.

Cuthbertson says the BIA is also looking at the painting of a third mural.

Man Removed from Plane

A 27 year old West Jet passenger's mental state is being evaluated after an unexpected landing at Thunder Bay's Airport over the weekend.

Police say a man became agitated during the flight, and the flight crew had to restrain him until landing in the city.

The unnamed man said a bomb was on the plane as he was being removed.

No explosive device was found.

Support for Attawapiskat

First Nations chiefs in B.C. are rallying behind the troubled northern Ontario reserve of Attawapiskat.

The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs is urging band councils across the country to raise funds for humanitarian assistance on the reserve.

The Harper government took control of public funds away from Attawapiskat last week over concerns about health, safety and financial mismanagement.

Long-Gun Bill Waiting for Approval

Still two weeks left in the current sitting of Parliament, but its not known if the bill to scrap the federal long-gun registry will be passed before Christmas.

Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford is optimistic.

The current sitting of the House of Commons is set to wrap up on December 16.

Child Poverty Report

A report being released today says a 2009 decision to boost the Ontario Child Benefit to cushion struggling families during the recession helped pull 19-thousand children out of poverty.

But it also says the province is still a long way in keeping its 2008 pledge to cut child poverty by 25 per cent by 2013 and lift 90-thousand kids out of poverty.

Auditor Report Today

Ontario Auditor General Jim McCarter will issue the province's annual report card today.

The report includes 13 value-for money audits of Ontario ministries and agencies ranging from consumer protection to the quality of health care.

Socio-Economic Impact Study Underway

Oskisko Mining has started looking at the impacts its proposed open-pit gold mine near Atikokan might have on existing services in the district.

The company projects up to two-thousand employees in the construction phase and five hundred in the mill.

Mark Bowler, a senior advisory, says a socio-economic impact study will identify potential challenges.

Bowler says having enough trained staff might be one of the early challenges.

Boise in Good Shape

There's some good news emerging from Boise's mill in International Falls.

Mill manager Bert Brown says the mill's is extremely stable, but still needs to work on getting costs down without the need for layoffs and production shutdowns.

Brown says the mill is also focused on improving safety with a goal of being incident free.

Chamber Elects Officers

The Fort France Chamber of Commerce has its slate of officers for the next year.

Mark Caron, of M.L. Caron Electric returns as President.

Caron says improving on the next year's Home and Leisure Show will be one of the main objectives for the Chamber.

Social Media Promoted to Businesss

Businesses in the Rainy River district are being encouraged to use social media more to attract customers.

Melissa Schenk of MS2 Productions says with a good on-line identify sites such as Facebook and Twitter can help businesses owners become remembered..

Schenk is in the Fort Frances this week to hold workshops.

Feds Blasted over Attawapiskat Stance

Some aboriginal leaders are blasting the Harper government for putting the Attawapiskat First Nation under third party management.

The Chiefs of Ontario say the government is not showing respect and support for residents of the northern Ontario reserve.

The government wants an accounting of the 90 million dollars it gave to Attawapiskat over the past five years.

Cell Phone Bill Goes to Committee

A bill designed to reduce sticker shock when Ontarians open their cellphone bills has passed second reading in the legislature.

The Liberal private member's bill would make the cost of using a cellphone more transparent, and clarify contracts so that customers know what they're paying for.

It now goes to committee for study.

Green Energy Change Shot Down

A proposal to restore the ability of municipalities to oppose green energy projects has been killed at Queen's Park.

The Liberals and NDP voted against the Conservative private member's bill to give municipalities more say over new wind and solar projects.

Assessment Appeal Begins

The first meeting of what could be a lengthy process has been held in Abitibi-Bowater's appeal of the assessed value of its Fort Frances mill property.

The province's Assessment Review Board held a teleconference this week and set dates for future meeting for next spring.

The company, now known as Resolute Forest Products, feels the value of its properties for last three years was assess too high.

The town has said it stands to lose as much as 800-thousand dollars in taxes if the company wins its case.

Economic Opportunities Explored

The township of Emo is looking to the future.

Last night, the community held a public meeting to gather input on future economic development opportunities.

Mayor Vince Sheppard says the township wants to expand.

Sheppard says council will review comments received to determine the next steps.

Atikokan Gets Provincial Dollars

The provincial government is helping the town of Atikokan identify potential investment opportunities.

Funding will help the town develop a new community Geographic Information System that can be used for site selectors and potential investors.

A study of accommodation and housing needs is also being done.

Mining Focus for Chamber

One of the companies poised to open a gold mine in the Atikokan area will outline its project to members of the Fort Frances business community today.

Officials with Osisko Mining are the guest speakers at the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce's annual meeting.

Chamber Manager Anthony Mason says the Chamber wants to keep people informed about what going on in mining.

The meeting at the La Place Rendez-Vous begins at 4 p.m.

Mineral Mountain Expands

Mineral Mountain Resources is adding to its land base in the Rainy River district.

The BC-based mining company is acquiring ten mining claims located around its Straw Lake gold project from a resident of Emo.

The company believes the area to be similar to one nearby being explored by Manitou Gold.

Benefit for Heart Transplant Patient Planned

A benefit dinner is being planned for a Fort Frances woman recovering from a heart transplant.

25-year-old Samantha Pearson has been in an Ottawa hospital room since the October 22 operation.

Her cousin, Chad Canfield says family and friends are looking to raise some funds for her and her family.

The dinner will be held at Fort Frances High School December 8 from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm.

Advance tickets can be picked up at the Great Bear, NCDC, Northwoods Gallery and Gifts, Emo Drug and Cooper Chiropractic