More Donors Still Wanted

The Canadian Blood Services begins the first of two blood donor clinics today in Fort Frances.

Eighty-five appointment spaces are still to be filled.

As incentives, Boston Pizza is coming on board to to give out discount coupons towards a meal to anyone who gives blood.

Fort Floral will give a rose to each donor.

You can still call register by calling 1-888-2-DONATE.

Former City Mayor Enters Race

Bob Anderson

A former Mayor of International Falls is entering this fall's mayoral race.

Bob Anderson was the city's mayor from 1982 to 1986.

Willi Kotsiuk has announced he'll be seeking the city's councillor at large position this November.

Kostiuk recently retired from the city's police department.

Firefighters Riding For Muscular Dystrophy

Reagan Breeze (l) and Graham Warburton

An Atikokan firefighter will be hitting the road next month to raise money for Muscular Dystrophy.

Graham Warburton will join Reagan Breeze of Dryden on a bicycle ride from Kenora to Thunder Bay, beginning September 10.

Warburton says they're attendance to a recent M.D. conference convinced them of the need to do the ride.

They're now accepting donations which can be made through Muscular Dystrophy Canada website or at the Atikokan Fire Hall.

New Food Program Introduced

A new food program aimed at children at risk is being introduced to Koochiching County this fall.

The United Way's Buddy Backpack program gives youngsters each Friday a backpack full of nutritious, child-friendly, non-perishable food items.

Spokesperson Elizabeth Johnson says it enhances existing in-school breakfast and lunch programs.

The United Way will raise money for the initiative through its annual "Kooch County Cruise."

Classic cars and motorcycle riders will travel throughout the County on September 8.

Register at Northern Auto Parts or the International Falls Chamber office in the Falls, or the United Way's website.

Road Closure

Motorists who travel Highway 602 will find themselves having to take an alternative route for the next few weeks.

A section of the highway west of Fort Frances is being closed between Oakwood Drive and Bone Road

It's to permit to install a new bridge over a Rainy River tributary.

The road will be closed to traffic until August 27.

Governments' Acceptance Of Task Force Recommendations Applauded

Area agencies are applauding federal governments on both sides of the border for agreeing to recommendations of an International Joint Commission task force.

It included a new management board for the Lake of the Woods and Rainy River watersheds.

Kelli Saunders, who was on that task force, is please to see their work becoming a reality.

Saunders is hoping that a water quality summit announced will happen soon that later.

Group Donors Program Established

Canadian Blood Services is asking you to become a "partner for life".

It's the name of a program being launched in northwestern Ontario to increase the number of donors.

Spokesperson Harvey Heather says the campaign encourages groups of people to become regular donors.

OPP Busy During August Long Weekend

A busy one for Ontario Provincial Police in the Rainy River district during the August long weekend.

Police laid 49 speeding charges, 12 for distracted driving, six liquor licence offences and one driver with impaired driving.

On the water, OPP Marine Unit spent 10 hours on patrol, charging one boater for not having any lifejackets on board.

Anglers Found Not Following Rules

An enforcement blitz at a lake along the Canada-U.S border has found several anglers not following the rules.

Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officers laid 20 charges and issued 78 warnings during the four-day blitz in the middle of July at Basswood Lake located within Quetico Provincial Park

Infraction included anglers fishing without a licence, having an over-limit of fish or using barb hooks or live bait, both of which are prohibited in the park.

Businesses Receive Heritage Fund Money

Two Atikokan businesses are getting money from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund.

Exclusive Wilderness Excursions will use almost $124 thousand dollars to expand its business.

It's building an 8 unit motel at Sapawe and hiring six new employees.

Calm Lake Bread, a new bakery to create whole grain bread products in a wood-fired brick oven, is using almost $5-thousand to build a new outdoor oven.

Premier Believes Teachers Understands Reasons For Wage Freeze

File photo

Premier Dalton McGuinty says he thinks teachers understand the province can't afford to pay them more.

He says he's confident they'll come back in September, even though some have already scheduled strike votes.

Still, the premier warns that if teachers don't accept new contracts before the school year starts, he'll do it for them.

First Rider Program

Good new for parents, not so good for their children.

The start of school is school is less than a month away.

Rainy River District School Board is again offering its First Rider program to students who will ride a school bus for the first time this fall.

Sessions will go next month in Atikokan, Fort Frances and Stratton.

Call the School Board office to register.

Boise Sells Land to International Falls

Boise has agreed to sell some of its property to the city of International Falls.

The city's director of economic and community development Shawn Mason says the 77-acres will aid in the development of a multi-modal facility.

The property is located in the city's east end in the area of Highway 11 and Country State Aid Highway 155.

The purchase is worth $165-thousand.

A ground breaking ceremony will take place August 30.

New Travel App

Travellers in northwestern Ontario will soon have a new way to find out what's hot and happening.

Sunset Country Travel is developing a smart phone app to provide information on places to stay, where to eat, and things to do and see.

It's hoping to launch it in September.

More Donors Needed

The Canadian Blood Services is still looking for donors for next weeks clinic in Fort Frances.

About 140 spaces are still open for the clinics next Monday and Tuesday.

Spokesperson Harvey Heather says they're hoping most of them can be filled by first time donors.

The C.B.S. moved its spring clinic to the summer to ensure blood supplies were kept replenished.

Falls Airport Commission Supports Utah Air Carrier Bid

International Falls Airport Commission is throwing its support behind a Utah-based air carrier interested in providing air passenger service to the city.

SkyWest Airlines is one three bids being reviewed by the U-S Department of Transportation.

Commission Chair Bob Anderson says the company's proposal to provided jet service for the next two years as the most promising.

Sovereign Air and a resubmitted bid from Great Lake Airlines who indicated earlier in the year, it could not take on the route are also seeking approval.

A final decision could come by the end of the month with the selected carrier taking over Delta's route by the end of this year.

Sandy Lake Residents Return Home

Residents of Sandy Lake, evacuated because of smoke near their community last week, are back home.

The Ministry of Natural Resources says fires that were a concern to the remote community remained quiet on the weekend, allowing the 650 residents housed in hotels in Fort Frances and Thunder Bay to return.

Out of province crews from Saskatchewan and New Brunswick were also sent home with the forest fires threat diminishing due to rain and cooler temperatures.

Joint Management Board Goes Forward

Canada and the U.S. will be working together on a new management board for Lake of the Woods and Rainy Lake watersheds.

Foreign Affairs minister John Baird made the announcement on the weekend in Kenora.

The feds were supposed to make its intentions known a month ago, but Baird says he wanted to make the announcement personally.

The creation of the joint management board was a recommendation of an International Joint Commission task force.

Plane Crash In Sioux Lookout

There's been another plane crash in northwestern Ontario.

A Cessna float plane, with five people on board, crashed Sunday afternoon shortly after taking off from Pelican Lake at Sioux Lookout.

The group was planning to do a sight seeing tour of the community.

All five were sent to hospital for treatment of minor injuries and released.

More Liquor Stores Planned

More liquor stores are to open in Ontario.

The Liquor Control Board of Ontario says it's planning to add about 70 new stores in the next two years.

Their exact locations are still to be determined.