RN Program Being Brought Back

It's a program that has received nothing but positive feedback in communities across the region and it's being offered once again.

Confederation College and Lakehead University are extending their Bachelor of Science Nursing program through the Collete's regional campuses.

Corrine Gallagher is one of the instructors and says there is great demand for these positions.

Anyone interested in a career in nursing is urged to attend a meeting next Thursday.

The meeting starts at 3:30 at the Confederation campuses in Fort Frances, Kenora, Dryden, and Sioux Lookout.

Body of Minnesota Man Found in Quetico

Provincial Police have found the body of a missing Minnesota man in Basswood Lake within Quetico Provincial Park.
The remains of 78-year-old Richard Barber were found yesterday by OPP and the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Richard and his wife Elaine were in the boundary of the park for a canoe trip when their canoe capsized.

Rescue crews were able to locate Elaine and return her safely to Atikokan.

County Agreed To Airport Commission Nominee

Koochiching County is allowing a vacancy on the International Falls Airport Commission to be filled.

County commissioners have agreed to accept the city's nomination of Paul Nevanan, but only for the remainder of this year.

Commissioner Wade Pavleck says they want a review of how members are selected before committing to a longer term.

Some commissioners are concerned with Nevanan being on the board, suggesting he'd be in conflict with others he now reports to as head of the Koochiching Economic Development Authority.

LCBO Workers Ratify Deal

Unionized workers at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario have ratified a new four-year collective agreement.

Their union says the new deal provides some improvements, but doesn't outline them, and more full-time jobs.

The union says it fought off a long list of concession demands but adds that the critical issue of the LCBO's ''overuse of casual workers" remains.

Opposition Claims Long Term Homes Not Getting Proper Inspections

The opposition is accusing the Liberal government of falling down on its commitment to long-term care homes in the province.

They says government is not ensuring full inspection of facilities are done at least once a year

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says only 123 of Ontario's 600 nursing homes received the proper look-over by the Ministry of Health since 2010.

Camp Day

It's Camp Day at Tim Hortons.

A portion of coffee from today is used to help offset the cost of sending children to Tim Hortons Summer Camps.

Six youngsters from the Rainy River district will benefit this year, including three first time campers.

A number of celebrity pourers will be lending a hand, including 93.1 The Border's own Andy Cee.

Air Ambulance Helicopters Fly Again

Ornge Air helicopters in northwestern Ontario are back in the air.

The province's air ambulance service grounded its five helicopters following the last Friday's fatal accident in Moosonee that left two pilots and two paramedics dead.

Ornge says while the crash remains under investigation, preliminary information from the Transportation Safety Board did not raise concerns regarding the S76 fleet.

New Board Seeks Representatives

A new advisory board for the area's border waters is looking for some bodies.

The new International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board is seeking individuals for its Industry Advisory Group.

The group will allow industry on both sides of the border to provide input into the board's activities related to water management and water quality.

Interested individuals must apply to the end of this month.

School Staffing Changes

There will be some staffing changes among area public schools next fall.

Peg Keefer becomes the new principal of Fort Frances High School after serving in an interim basis.

Shane Bliss will take over as vice-principal.

Principals at the Robert Moore and J.W. Walker Schools will be changing locations.

Bill Daley is taking over at Robert Moore and Dianne Thompson moves over to J.W. Walker in August.

Victim In House Fire Named

The victim of last week's tragic house fire in Devlin has been identified.

She's been identified as 49-year-old Laureen McKay.

OPP and the Office of the Ontario Fire Marshall continue to investigate the the cause of the fire which completely destroyed the home located just west of the main village on Highway 11-71.

Energy Warning From NOMA

The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association feels power needs in the north are being over looked.

President Dave Canfield says the province and energy companies still don't have the right numbers for how much power will be needed when the mining sector takes off.

Canfield says it wouldn't be an issue if we were in the South.

Canfield also warns the region could experience ongoing blackouts within the next years.

Some Young Students Failing To Meet Provincial Standards

A new study suggests up to third of Ontario's kindergarten students may fail to meet provincial standards in reading, writing and math by Grade 3.

The Education Quality and Accountability Office looked at the early progress of over 72-thousand students in the province.

It says 29 per cent were deemed by their teachers to be "vulnerable'' or ``at risk'' in their language and cognitive development.

Former Mill Social Club Being Revived

An effort is underway to revive a once popular mill workers social group in Fort Frances.

The Quarter Century Club died out when then Abitibi-Bowater entered into creditor protection five years ago.

A member of group working to restart the club, Bill Morrison says it was quite active.

Morrison says the new group will hold its first event, a banquet at the Royal Canadian Legion in Fort Frances June 27.

Firefly Likes Anti-Bullying Initiative

A new national anti-bullying program is being welcomed by one area agency.

Chief Executive Officer of Firefly Karen Ingebritson says it's still a bit too early to see how it will work, but says it's a great initiative.

The program will focus on young people helping each other.

TBay Tel Review CRTC Ruling

TBaytel is still mulling over news the federal government is making changes to wireless contracts.

This December, customers will be able to cancel their cellphone contracts after two years without any penalties.

Tbaytel's Katie Crowe says they are looking over the decision, but early indications show that it is in line with what the company is already doing.

Murder Charge Laid

A murder charge has now been laid in connection with a death last month at a remote First Nations community.

34-year-old Leslie Fiddler of Sandy Lake First Nation will appear in court today on a charge of second degree murder.

The charge come after an investigation into the death of 29-year-old Uriah Kakepetum who died at the community's nursing station May 12th.

Provinces Defend Boreal Forest Protection

Manitoba and Ontario are defending the decision to commit more than 15 million dollars to get UNESCO recognition for a large stretch of boreal forest along their borders.

Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger says having the area designated a world heritage site will attract tourists to the remote area.

Michelle Nowak of Ontario's Natural Resources Ministry says the site could fill a gap in boreal forest representation in the world heritage system.

New Gold Committing To Project

New Gold says it's committed to continuing the work started by Rainy River Resources in the development of a new gold mine north of Barwick.

New Gold announced last week it would be assuming control of Rainy River in a friendly take-over bid.

President Bob Gallagher says they intend to do a thorough review of the project, but have no plans to shelve it.

Gallagher says they also want to get to know the area and meet with First Nations and community leaders who've support the project so far.

He says they also intend to honour the agreements Rainy River Resources signed with area First Nations.

Gallagher says they had been eying Rainy River for almost two years before putting forward a bid.

Education Director Honoured

The outgoing Education Director with the Northwest Catholic District School Board is being recognized a Catholic parents group.

The Ontario Association of Catholic Parents in Education is giving Mary-Catherine Kelly an Honorary Lifetime membership.

The groups' president Aimee Gerdevich says Kelly's been a strong and consistent advocate for the parent voice and a strong supporter of the Association.

Kelly was presented the honour at the Association's recent meeting in Peterborough.

No Records Set Here

No records set in Fort Frances following a weekend of wet weather across much of northwestern Ontario.

Almost 21 millimeters of rain fell over a four day period beginning last Thursday.

But that's nowhere near amounts received in areas around Dryden which topped 5 centimeters over that period.

Atikokan's rainfall was not recorded because of problems with equipment.