3M Honoured

(Gov. Tim Pawlenty (far left) joined with representatives from 3M in declaring the company a Yellow Ribbon Corporation)

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty was in International Falls yesterday to honour a Minnesota company as the state's third "Yellow Ribbon Corporation."

The distinction to 3M recognizes the firm's outreach program and support to military service members and their families.

Pawlenty says 3M has been a model company for the program.

"They have reached out and trying to, within their company, identify who the members of the military and veterans are," says Pawlenty, "and designed programs to try and support and encourage and thank them ranging from making sure that if they get deployed they won't take a step down in salary."

Pawlenty says 3-M has also assisted with their military members reintegrate into civilian life.

Target and Marvin Windows were honoured in previous events.

Pawlenty presented the award to 3-M during a summit on the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Campaign.

Members of the National Guard were in International Falls to promote the initiative aimed to increasing support for troops and ensuring they have supports mechanisms when they return.

Lt. Col. Barbara O'Reilly says they're hoping more companies, businesses and agencies get on board.

"The vast majority of the population supports the troops and want to do something," says O'Reilly. "What we're trying to do is build a network that gives them an opportunity to serve."

The campaign was first developed in 2005, but only recently has the Guard travelled across the state to promote the program.

NDP Nominations Meetings Continue

The federal New Democrats in the riding of Thunder Bay-Rainy River continue to holding nomination meetings to select their candidate for the next election.

The meeting began in Thunder Bay last night and will continue in Atikokan tonight.

The meetings wrap up in Fort Frances tomorrow night at the East End Community Hall.

Current MP John Rafferty is the only declared candidate.

Scott Street Closure Today

A reminder to motorists using Scott Street today.

The intersection of Scott and Portage Avenue is expected to be shutdown to permit paving operations in that area.

It's to reopen late in the day.

Catholic Board Celebrates Test Results

The Northwest Catholic District School Board is celebrating the latest results from provincial testing of its grade three, six and nine students.

Students at all of its schools who wrote the EQAO tests either met or exceeding the provincial standards in several areas.

Education Director Mary-Catherine Kelly says the results also show improved by grade six students from the time they wrote the test in grade three.

"We set very high expectations for the students," says Kelly. "We're using guided instruction to help. We've got good feedback to the students around their scores. We have excellent release time programs where the teachers get to work on their techniques and strategies to really focus instruction. So those have made really great improvements for us."

Kelly says the test scores also help the board in the development of improvement plans for students.

Ultrasound 911 Nears Goal

A committee working to bring an ultrasound unit to the health centre in Rainy River has all but achieved its goal.

Ultrasound 911, a fundraising campaign launched in May, aimed to raise $50-thousand for its purchase.

Campaign chair Larry Armstrong says the campaign generated a lot of support.

"People saw the need for it," says Armstrong, "and the people of our district are quick to respond to a need and saw it as a valuable service coming into the area."

Armstrong the new unit has already been ordered and expects it to be up and running later this year.

Power Benefits to North Expected

Ontario's northern development minister says the improvements to Hydro One's transmission lines will lead to a number of economic benefits for the northwest.

Yesterday, the province directed Hydro One to move forward on several project upgrades.

Michael Gravelle says the northwest will sure to benefit from the spending of over two-point-three billion dollars over the next three years.

"The upgrading of these transmission lines and network is going to make a real difference for new clean green energy," says Gravelle, "but also a solid baseload of power for projects that are ongoing."

Gravelle anticipates the upgrades will also lead to an expansion of new power projects in the region.

Pawlenty to Visit International Falls

A visit today to International Falls by the Governor of Minnesota.

Tim Pawlenty is to speak at the Governor’s Employer Summit being organized by the Minnesota National Guard.

He'll also help recognize 3-M for its outreach and support to military service members and their families by awarding it as Minnesota’s third "Yellow Ribbon Corporation.

The event is being held this afternoon at the Holiday Inn.

Wage Freeze Accepted

There will be no wage increase this year for police officers and fire engineers in the city of International Falls.

City council ratified a new three-year deal for the two work groups at its meeting last night.

Councillor Paul Eklund says a reduction in state aid funding restricted the city's ability to consider wage increases this year.

But he says the contract does allow for the two sides to revisit salaries in the final two years of the deal.

International Falls Seeks U.S. DOT Help

The city of International Falls and the Falls Airport Commission want the U.S. Department of Transportation to delay its decision regarding Delta Airlines' request to operate air service in the community through a federal subsidy program.

They're worried Delta's plans to reduce service under the Essential Air Service program will hurt the airport and the local economy.

Commission Secretary Susan Baratono says they would like to see a better schedule from Delta.

"We can't ask them to reject it based on the schedule because they can't," says Baratono. "We're asking them to reject it based on the fact that it will do material harm to our community and that it will do harm to our airport and that once we are in this program for two years it will be very hard to get back."

The city and commission want three to six months to study Delta's schedule which offers all four of its inbound and outbound flights during the mid-afternoon hours.

Cone Collections Continue

Interest in collecting cones in Minnesota has been high this year.

The annual purchase of cones by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources started earlier this month and run through October.

D-N-R state forest nursery supervisor Craig VanSickle says collecting native, high-quality seed is critical to the success of regenerating forests that can adapt to changing climatic conditions.

Hunting Fines Issued

A Nestor Falls lodge owner and guide is out of pocket $7-thousand after being convicted on charges related to illegal deer hunting.

Dean Roy, an owner and operator of Meline’s Lodge and Guide Service, pleaded guilty earlier this month to two counts of unlawfully hunting deer during closed season and one count of making a false statement to a Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officer.

The charges stem from a November 2008 incident in which the MNR says Roy provided guiding services to three non-resident hunters in an area that was closed for the season and later stored a deer that was shot by one of the hunters.

A Minnesota man has been fined for illegally hunting deer in the Kenora area.

The man was fined $25-hundred for careless hunting and $500 for transporting illegally killed wildlife in connection with an October 2006 incident.

The Ministry of Natural Resources says the man was charged after conservation officers found the man had shot a deer standing on a roadway in the vicinity of homes and cottages and taking the kill back to Minnesota.

Missing Teen Sought

Fort Frances OPP is seeking the the public's assistance in locating a missing youth.

15-year-old Stephanie NELSON was last seen Sunday afternoon at a friend's home on Church Street.

She's described as a First Nations female, 5-feet 8-inches tall, 125 lbs with a slim build.

She has shoulder length dark brown hair and was last seen wearing a black t-shirt, blue jeans and black boots.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Stephanie NELSON is asked to call provincial police.

Math Facilitator Hired

The Northwest Catholic District School Board has added to its administration.

Helen McKay is the board's new Mathematics Facilitator.

The position was created to provide additional support to teachers in math instruction.

Funding was provided last month through the provincial government's Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat.

Paving Operations in Fort Frances

Paving operations in the downtown area of Fort Frances take place this week.

Today, Nelson Street, between Victoria Avenue and Veterans Avenue, will be shutdown beginning at 7 a.m. forcing heaving trucks to use Scott Street as a detour.

Tomorrow, the intersection of Scott and Portage Avenue will be closed to allow for paving of Portage between First Street and Nelson.

Personal Addictions Explained

A powerful message on the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse was presented to area school students Friday.

Roland Vandal, an ex-gang member from Winnipeg, was one of the three individuals who spoke at Fort Frances High School and later at the Chronic Pain Management and Addiction Prevention Symposium.

Vandal says speaking about his experiences provides him with a form of release and closure to his former past.

"So by me getting sober and staying sober is not enough for me," says Vandal. "To get any kind of balance back in my life I need to be giving back at least enough that how much I've taken from life. That's a big motivation for me."

Vandal says while quitting his dependence on drugs and alcohol was an easy decision, staying sober has been the most difficult.

Walk Takes Place Today

A number of walkers are expected to hit the road today in honour of a Fort Frances man who helped raise thousand of dollars for Dialysis services in the Rainy River District.

The Tom Bruyere Memorial "20-Mile Walk for Dialysis" begins this morning on River Road about 20 miles east of Fort Frances.

Walkers are expected to end their walk at about 1:30 p.m. at North American Lumber.

Stand Up for Mental Health in Dryden

A group of Fort Frances residents who use comedy to talk publicly about their mental health issues is taking their routine to Dryden this weekend.

The group have participated in Stand-Up for Mental Health, a program introduced to the local area a couple of years ago by Vancouver counsellor David Granirer.

Nancy Daley of the Canadian Mental Health Association in Fort Frances says they'll be performing as part of a district-wide conference.

"It's a great way to spread the word about mental health," says Daley. "It takes some of the scariness away. We can kind of laugh at some of challenges each of us has experienced at the same time giving some education about mental illness."

Daley says many of the same people who participated in the Fort Frances shows will be performed at the Dryden show.

Hospital Deal

Staff at the Atikokan General Hospital have a new 3-year contract.

The deal for the hospital's paramedical, nursing and support staff includes wage hikes of 6-percent and improvements to benefits and vacation time.

The contract takes effect October 11th.

Chronic Pain Explored at Symposium

Chronic pain is the focus of a symposium in Fort Frances tomorrow.

The first-ever Chronic Pain Management and Addiction Prevention Symposium takes place at the Townsend Theatre beginning at 9:30 in the morning.

Patti-Jo LeDrew, the chronic disease management coordinator at the Fort Frances Community Clinic says the conference will help people with chronic care and their.

"The purpose is to educate our community about chronic pain relief and the services in our community," says Ledrew. "It's also being brought forth to provide other medalities for pain relief other than looking toward a narcotic based relief."

The keynote speak will be Doctor Jackie Gardner-Nix who founded a program that uses a mindful approach to pain management, combining medical treatment, meditation and exercise.

Cattle Sales Celebrated

50 years of cattle sales at the Stratton Sales Barn will be celebrated this weekend.

The Rainy River Cattlemen's Association will be marking the anniversary tomorrow with public tours and a community bar-b-que.

President Ken McKinnon credits volunteer support for helping the yard endure many ups and downs over the years.

"When it started 50 years ago it was volunteers who donated material and labour to put it in," says McKinnon. "It's the same today. It's the volunteers who kept the organization stable."

Festivities are the Barn begin tomorrow at 1 in the afternoon and are open to the public.