Chamber Awards Presented

The region's best has been honoured in Fort Frances.

Betty's of Fort Frances was named business of the year at the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce business awards.

Christine Krueger of the Fort Frances Dental Centre was named employee of the year.

Business woman of the year is Jennifer Horton, owner of Curvy Chick and Chick with a Camera.

Ben Morelli of From the Grind Up was selected Entrepreneur of the Year.

Small Business Trainer of the Year is Bobbie Parker of Mr. Sub.

Home Based Business Award went to Kupila's Sound Centre and Miles Kupila.

Donna Lowey of Lowey's Greenhouse and Tompkins Home Hardware received customer service awards.

Kayne Shaw was presented with the Tony Beyak Memorial Volunteer of the Year Award.

Spring Forward

It's time to get ready for longer days.

We will spring ahead when daylight savings time begins Sunday.

It means you will have to push your clock ahead an hour when you go to bed Saturday night.

Cell phones, laptops, computers will automatically update.

Falls Chamber Introduces New Award

International Falls Chamber of Commerce is creating a new award to honour its strongest supporters.

The new Pillar award replaces the small business and large business of the year awards traditionally handed out each spring.

The first recipients are Boise Paper, Bremer Bank, Coca-Cola Bottling, The Journal, Mid-Continent Communications and KGHS-KSDM radio.

The Chamber will still issue an award for Citizen of the Year.

Nominations for this year are now being accepted

Dragon Boat Festival Welcoming Americans

There could be some American flavour to this year's Dragon Boat festival in Fort Frances.

Event organizer Jenny Greenhalgh was in International Falls this week to promote the event to that city's council.

She is hoping increased involvement grows the event.

City councilor Cynthia Jacksa says they're ready to take part and may look at challenging Fort Frances council to a race.

Greenhalgh says she's also hoping to see participation from Duluth and Bemidji.

The event takes place along the Rainy River July 1.

Couchiching Band Elections Today

Band elections are take place today at Couchiching First Nations.

Seven candidates are seeking the position of Chief.

29 are looking to fill one of six council seats.

Provincial Cabinet Minister Visits

A visit today by a member of Premier Kathleen Wynne's cabinet.

Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle is in Fort Frances to attend a Liberal riding fundraiser.

He's also scheduled to meet with Fort Frances town council.

Charges Laid In Accident Caught On Tape

You Tube

Another accident caught on camera has led to charges against a Manitoba man.
OPP say the accident happened Saturday afternoon when a pick-up truck came into collision with another hauling a trailer that pulled onto the highway.

Three people involved suffered only minor injuries.

The driver of the truck pulling the trailer was charged with failing to yield.

Cyber-bullying Scam In Fort Frances

OPP are warning area residents about a phone scam asking you support an initiative to combat cyber-bullying.

Recently, a Fort Frances resident was contacted and asked to make a donation of up to $300.

OPP warn people to remain cautious if an unfamiliar organization calls asking for donations.

Revenue Canada Scam

Scams involving Revenue Canada are making their rounds.

Emails are circulating claiming you've received a tax refund or the agency made an error with your claim and you can obtain your money by clicking a link and filling out personal information.

Revenue Canada says it doesn't not issue refunds in such a manner.

Forest Industries Assocation Supports Larger Wood Construction Buildings

Mid-rise wood construction continues to be a major issue for the Ontario Forest Industries Association.

The Association would like changes to the building code allowing wood in the construction of six floor buildings.

President Jamie Lim says the Province would see an instant benefit.

She notes every six-floor project would use 1 million board feet of lumber.

Park Reservation System Set To Go

A new campsite reservation and fee system goes into effect next month at Voyageurs National Park.

The park is phasing in the system over a two year period with 34 sites up for grabs this year.

Until now, campsites and houseboat sites were available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Park officials are hoping the change will lead to more visitors.

Northwestern Ontario High School Rate Low By Fraser Institute

The Fraser Institute is questioned area high school's performance in province-wide testing.

The Conservative think-tank says most schools in northwestern Ontario fall below the provincial average in terms of its review.

Author Peter Cowley wonders if schools in the region can improve.

Overall, schools in the Kenora and Rainy River districts averaged 4.2 out of 10 in the study, below the provincial average of 6.

Atikokan High School and Rainy River High Schools were among those that scored better than the average.

Explosion Cause Still Undetermined

Still no word yet on the reason for last week's explosion at Resolute Forest Products.

A company spokesperson tells CFOB-News that both the Ministry of Labour and the Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Service have conducted their probes at the biomass boiler.

The company's now looking at what corrective measures can be put in place, but is still trying to determine the exact cause of the accident.

Meantime, a worker who was serious burned remains in hospital.

His condition, though, is not being revealed.

Feds Aim To Change Rifle Ruling

A RCMP decision to reclassify a commonly used hunting rifle in northwestern Ontario has grabbed the attention of Kenora MP Greg Rickford.

Swiss Arm rifles are now deemed prohibited.

Rickford calls the decision unacceptable and says the government is working to ensure that impacted owners won't be punished.

Rickford adds a review of the decision is underway with the aim of a specific policy being drafted permitting the rifles.

Hydro Working On Billing Problem

The opposition at Queen's Park is taking the provincial government to task for billing errors at Hydro One.

Premier Kathleen Wynne says the utility is addressing the issue.

Wynne adds that Hydro One has hired extra staff to sort out some of the billing errors that have been plaguing its system for several months. 

New Human Resources Manager Named

The town of Fort Frances has a new human resources manager.

Aaron Petrin takes over from Christine Ruppenstein who left the municipality to take on a position with New Gold as a Human Resources Supervisor.

A Thousand Ways To Improve

Minnesota's Governor has a thousand ways to make his State's government work better.

Mark Dayton has unveiled his administration's legislative agenda for what he calls the "Unsession."

He's put for over one-thousand proposals aimed at improving state government services, eliminating outdated statues and simplifying the language of existing laws.

He's also proposing reforms making the tax system easier to understand

Economic Value Of Park Revealed

A new report is showing the value of Voyageurs National Park to the economy of International Falls and Koochiching County.

The National Park Service says over $16-million was spent in the area by the more than 214-thousand who visited the park in 2012, helping to support 225 local jobs.

39 per cent of the money was spent at area restaurants, grocery and convenience stores.

27 per cent was on accommodations.

FASD Highlighted In Fort Frances

An expert in the area of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder comes to Fort Frances later this week.

Jody Allen Crowe, the founder of Healthy Brains for Children, speaks to high school students and community members tomorrow before meeting with educators Friday.

Crowe sees prevention at the top in dealing with FASD.

The public session goes tomorrow at the Metis Hall beginning at 7 p-m.

Town Seeks Meeting With First Nations

An olive branch is being extended by the town of Fort Frances to area First Nations.

A court judge ruled recently that a stretch of shoreline along Rainy Lake known as the Two Chain road allowance is owned by the town.

Mayor Roy Avis says he'd like to sit down with First Nations involved.

First Nations involved in the case have suggested they may appeal the ruling.