BIA to Lose Coordinator

The Fort Frances Downtown Business Improvement Association is moving ahead without the services of a full-time coordinator.

B.I.A. members decided at a recent meeting to let its long-time coordinator Patti Anderson go at the end of July.

Chair Connie Cuthbertson says its part of their restructuring plan.

"She's done a fabulous job for us," says Cuthbertson, "but it really comes down to us needing to have more money to do more projects. She's very graciously understood our position all along. It's just a necessity at this time."

Cuthbertson says it's hoped the money saved can be used for other projects promoting downtown businesses.

Abattoir Get Award

The Rainy River District Regional Abattoir in Emo has been honoured by the province with a Premier's Awards for Agri-food innovation excellence.

Board president Steve Lowshaw accepted the award during a ceremony in Thunder Bay yesterday.

"It's very humbling and satisfying to see the recognition that was given to the work we've put into that innovation," says Lowshaw. "The next steps are to continue developing further markets, processing in the area. Help sustain and develop the agriculture industry with that facility."

The Abattoir has been in operation since February.

Boise Celebrates

Boise is celebrating 100 years of paper manufacturing in International Falls today.

The mill is holding celebrations at Smokey Bear Park with both Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty and Congressman Jim Obestar expected to attend.

The first paper was made at the mill on June 6, 1910.

Relay For Life in Fort Tonight

Organizers of Fort Frances' Relay for Life are promising the fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society to be the most exciting its ever been.

It's being held tonight at Fort Frances High School.

Committee member John Homer says they also have an indoor option if the weather turns nasty.

"We have access to the gym," says Homer, "and we will be inside the gym if it rains. That's one of the great things about this new venue. As much as the (Pither's) Point was a great place. If it rained, we had to be outside in the rain. We don't have to be there this year."

Opening ceremonies will begin at 6 p.m. with the survivor's walk kicking off the 12-hour event at 7 p.m.

Graduation for Fort High

It was a time to offer congratulations for graduating students from Fort Frances High School last night

One-hundred and 33 students received diplomas at ceremonies held at the Memorial Sports Centre last night.

Principal Al McManaman says area residents should feel proud of the class of 2010.

"I look back at the good things the kids did in terms of doing well on their assignments and tests" says McManaman. "We have a good group of kids representing our community who shown through community service and raising money for the Haitian relief effort. That kind of thing shows really well for our student body and our community."

Shane Beck was this year's valedictorian.

Alberton Accepts Group Homes

Alberton township council is to allow group homes within certain parts of its township.

Council approved changes to its zoning by-law Wednesday night - almost a year after Weechi-ti-win Family Services' failed attempt to relocate its training and learning center to the community.

Councillor Mike Ford says the changes are not about restricting anyone from setting up a home in the future.

"This is just about land," says Ford, "how land is used now - how land is used in the future. It's not dealing with what's on the land or who's on the land."

Group homes will be permitted in areas zoned rural or rural residential, but must meet certain criteria.

New Arena Planned for Atikokan

The town of Atikokan is looking to replace its arena.

Mayor Dennis Brown says a leak from the nearby swimming pool four years ago is believed to have caused damaged to the arena's ice surface, and doesn't think spending half-a-million dollars to fix the problem makes good sense.

"Because of the age of the arena and other things that need replacing, such as the boards, glass and refrigerated floor system, we should instead build a new arena," says Brown.

Brown says they're looking at an 800-seat facility that may include a fitness centre and walking track and attached the existing pool facility.

Costs are estimated at between $5-and-7-million.

Moose Research

Researchers from Ontario and Minnesota are gathered in International Falls Thursday to discuss the future of moose in their areas.

The one-day symposium examined the issues impacting moose populations such as climate change, disease and environment.

Hunter Fined

A Timmins, Ontario man has been banned from hunting for one year after being found guilty of shooting a deer on private property.

Sylvain Gravel was charged last year.

Court was told he admitting to shooting the deer to a Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officer who was investigating a complaint of a hunter trespassing on private land near Split Rock Road in Sifton township, northeast of Fort Frances.

Gravel was also fined three-thousand dollars.

Canada Day Preparations

Canada Day festivities are shaping up in the town of Fort Frances.

Organizer Dawn Booth says they have a full schedule of events planned for next Thursday, thanks in part to the response received in a call for help last month.

"Considering six weeks ago we were pretty much done and over with, we've made a pretty positive turn," says Booth. "Hopefully it will continue in this fashion and this year we'll be successful and next year we'll continue to grow."

The planning committee is now seeking entrants for the Canada Day parade which will run back along the Fort Frances waterfront.

Rainy River H.S. Graduation Held

The class of 2010 at Rainy River High School was recognized at graduation ceremonies held at the high school Wednesday night.

A total of 33 students received diplomas.

Principal Jim Chorney says the year overall was a positive one for the graduating students.

"We've introduced some new programs," says Chorney, "like our outdoor education program which has been a big hit and will hopefully continue to grow. Hopefully they have all matured and all enjoyed the year and ready for the next step."

Alica Joduin was this year's valedictorian.

Mining Results Released

A mining company conducting exploration activities near Babbit, Minnesota, is expressing some optimism with the release of its latest findings.

Franconia Minerals is looking at develop an underground mine at Birch Lake for copper, nickle, platinum and palladium.

The company says the latest results are helping to adequately determine how much resources are available.

District Hit by Vandals

The Rainy River district continues hit by senseless acts of vandalism.

Provincial Police says over the weekend, a vehicle was used to cause damage to the parking lot at the LaVallee Fire Monument.

The Emo Soccer Fields were also torn up by a vehicle driving on the grass before leaving tread marks behind on the concrete pad of a nearby picnic area.

Three signs at the north end of Highway 613 were spray painted.

And last Thursday, a home in Emo was sprayed with an oily substance.

Police say they're looking for any information from the public to aid in their investigation.

FACS Consider Merger

Two northwestern Ontario children's aid agencies are looking to become one.

Family and Children Services Rainy River and the Kenora-Patricia Child and Family Services are seeking provincial approval to merge effective April 1, 2011.

Rainy River board chair Bob McGreevy says funding challenges led them to explore the idea.

"At the outset that was clearly the motivation for us to seek partnerships," says McGreevy. "However as we move through this it's become clear this is a process that will strengthen both organizations."

McGreevy admits there will be some staffing changes, but all of those details still have to be worked out.

College Honours Area Grads

(A record 61 graduates from Confederation College's campus in Fort Frances received diplomas and certificates at Tuesday's Convocation Ceremonies at the Townshend Theatre)


An Atikokan woman has won Confederation College's highest awards a graduating student can receive - doing so without stepping into a classroom.

Barbara Kwasnicia earned three awards, including the prestigious Governor General's Academic Medal, after completing the Social Service Worker program through distance education.

She's the College's first distance ed student to receive the award.

"I hope that it just shows not only other people in the region who have to access education through distance education," says Kwasnicia, "that you don't have to be fresh out of high school to do it and anyone who wants it bad enough can be successful."

Kwasnicia was one of a record 61 students to receive diploma and certificates at Convocation ceremonies held Tuesday night for graduates from the campus in Fort Frances.

Praise for New Library

Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre is getting high some praise.

Wendy Newman, a senior fellow at the University of Toronto applauds the introduction of audio and video conferencing technology.

She says increased local use can help convince others still reluctant about the technology.

"This is one of the respects in which the north and communities that are farther away can actually be the teachers," says Newman, "be the people who say this works and here's how and join us and let's get this done."

Newman says the technology can save both time and money for businesses and increase training opportunities for staff.

Chiefs Meeting Continues

First Nation Leaders from across the province resume their meetings at Couchiching First Nations today (Wednesday).

They're here for the Ontario Chiefs Conference.

Regional Chief Angus Toulouse says they're tackling a number of issues.

"Education, the inequity in terms of the kind of funding that we do get from government, the inequity in social justice," says Toulouse. "You name it, the various sectors that need First Nations leaders redress."

Today's (Wednesday's) session is to be highlighted by a visit from Assembly of First Nation Chief Shawn Atleo.

Rent Guidelines in Place

Ontario's rent increase guideline for 2011 has been set at 0.7 per cent.

The guideline is the maximum amount a landlord can increase the rent of most sitting tenants without seeking approval of the Landlord and Tenant Board.

The government says it's the lowest guideline in the 35-year history of Ontario rent regulation.

SuperCorp. Protest

The opposition and labour groups are raising the alarm over talk of creating a so-called SuperCorp.

It would oversee a portion of provincial electricity, liquor and lottery assets that could potentially be sold off.

Premier McGuinty says no decision has been made, but admits his government is considering such a sale to raise money.

Minnesota Civic Leaders Meet

Minnesota mayors, city council members and city administrators are getting together in St. Cloud this week to focus on their financial problems.

The League of Minnesota Cities holds its annual conference starting today (Wednesday).

The conference will focus on financial strategies for weathering the economic downturn and declining state aid.