College Numbers Up

Officials with Rainy River Community College in International Falls are reporting an increase in enrolment.

Classes resumed this week.

New Provost Ken Simberg says early numbers show a ten per increase in student numbers.

"We had set an enrollment goal of 300 full-time equivalents," says Simberg. "Today were at about 307. We think it will go up a little more as we still have students coming in and adding classes at this time even."

Simberg says they were also somewhat successful in the push for more Ontario students.

The college offered tuition fees to them at the same rate paid by Minnesota residents.

Emo Fair a Success

This year's Rainy River Valley Agricultural Fall Fair is being hailed a success.

Exact attendance figures are still being counted, but the Society's president Emily Watson says good weather helped bring people out.

"When we were speaking with the owners of the midway, Jim and Michelle Mills, they told us that in their memory this has been the best fair in the Rainy River district in many, many years," says Watson. "So in my eyes it has been very successful."

Watson says they nearly faced a catastrophe when a sewer back-up threaten to shutdown the washrooms the night before the fair opened.

Watson says a quick response from Harold McQuaker Enterprises allowed the fair to go uninterrupted.

More Help to B.C.

The Ministry of Natural Resources is continue to send more help to fire ravaged British Columbia.

Another 184-firefighters are scheduled to leave for the west coast today to replace two-hundred who will end their two-week deployment Friday.

There are over 300 MNR personnel working in B.C.

Teachers Ready for New Year

(CJUK photo)

Teachers across northwestern Ontario have gathered in Thunder Bay to prepare for the start of another school year.

They're attending the annual Northern Ontario Education Leaders conference.

Organizer Carol Volbracht says offers teachers new ways of teaching.

"Our main focus is literacy," says Volbracht. "We have about ninety teachers. We have a variety of speakers both from outside of the area and local speakers who are representing some of things they've done in their classroom.

The theme this year is Navigating the Winds of Change.

Native Housing Funded

Three northwestern Ontario First Nations communities are receiving federal funding to improve housing conditions in their communities.

Rainy River First Nations will use just over $20-thousand to retrofit two existing homes.

Onigaming near Nestor Falls will make upgrades to five homes using about 462-thousand.

The remote community of Sandy Lake is getting $2.9 million to build ten new homes.

No TB Found in Deer

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says its found no evidence of bovine tuberculosis in deer testing this past winter.

Samples were taken from 450 deer shot by hunters in northwestern Minnesota.

Officials says the results are encouraging, noting the last t.b. positive deer was found last fall.

The DNR plans to test a thousand deer this fall.

Fort Frances Civic Election Taking Shape

The civic election in Fort Frances is beginning to take shape.

Mayor Roy Avis led a host of incumbents to file for re-election.

Avis says there's been a lot of progress made under his leadership and want to continue that work.

"We have quite a few things on going at the present time," says Avis. "One of them is the Point Park litigation. Other ones being Sunny Cove Camp. I'd like to see improvements and long-term strategy for that (be complete). All those put together I'd like to see another four years as mayor of the town.

His filing was immediately followed by councillor John Albanese who's seeking another term.

"I've got the time," says Albanese. "I'm very involved in politics and I feel the town of Fort Frances needs a person like me as a watch dog.

Rick Wiedenhoeft is also seeking another term as councillor.

"I think we have a really good council right now that's headed in the right direction," says Wiedenhoeft, "and I want to be a part of that for the next four years."

Wiedenhoeft says if elected this will could be his last term in office.

He was first elected in 2003.

Harper Cabinet Minister to Visit Fort

A member of the Harper government will be paying Fort Frances a visit.

Industry Minister Tony Clement will be in the community Tuesday for a luncheon meeting with area business leaders where he'll talk about bringing new business to northern Ontario.

Clement, who's also responsible for FEDNOR, is also expected to make a announcement at the Fort Frances Public Library and Technology Centre.

It's the first visit by a federal cabinet minister to the Fort Frances area in some time.

Building Problems at Water Plant

The painting of the Fort Frances water treatment plant has led to some other repairs needed to the building's exterior.

Operations and Facilities Manager Doug Brown says a problem with the brick mortar was discovered when crews pressure washed the building.

"What we're hearing from the sub-contractor is that the mortar froze when it was initially installed," says Brown. "so when they high pressure washed the mortar was just popping out."

Brown says they're now looking at the cost of repairs.

Lobbying Required

A Fort Frances councillor is defending the need to send delegations to Toronto to lobby on the town's behalf.

The latest trip was last week where some member of council met with a couple members of McGuinty's Cabinet.

Sharon Tibbs says without such trips, the town may not have reaped past grant money.

"From looking at the amounts of grants from 2009 through to 2010, if it was not our ability to go to these meetings and send a delegation that is willing to talk to Ministries and other meetings we go to, that we would have some of the funding the province makes available," says Tibbs.

Tibbs adds that without elected officials sitting on the government's side, the town almost has to be its own advocate.

More Help to B.C. Again

Another 64 Ministry of Natural Resources forest fire fighting personnel have left northwestern Ontario to help with the fire fight in British Columbia.

They replace 21 who returned home yesterday following a two week deployment.

High Schools Open

High Schools in both Fort Frances and International Falls open today.

Fort Frances High School students in grades 10, 11 and 12 who did not register in June can do so today.

At Falls High School, class schedules can be picked up.

Road Closure in Fort Frances

Seconds Street in Fort Frances at Portage Avenue is now closed.

Crews are removing recycled asphalt in advance of next week's paving of the road.

It's to reopen by 11 a.m.

Motorists can detour around the area by taking Third or Scott Streets.

Aboriginal Awareness Program for Police

OPP officers from across northwestern Ontario are taking part this week in an aboriginal awareness course at a Kenora area First Nation community.

Inspector Dave Lucas of the Kenora Detachment says its an effort to strengthen relations between police and First Nations people.

"It is a positive example of how we're working with the First Nations communities in the area," says Lucas. "It also maintains our commitment that we're maintaining the local needs as far as policing is concerned."

A total of twenty-four officers are taking part.

Inukshuk Attracting Attention

There's a new roadside attraction on Highway 11.

It's a nearly ten-foot high rock Inukshuk located at the entrance to Quetico North Outfitters, near Quetico Park.

Co-owner Clint Taylor says its a project he first considered many years ago.

"It was about ten or twelve years ago we had an idea to gathering up these rocks and building one," says Taylor. "That's when we first started seeing them showing up along the highway. We gathered up the rocks, but the projects go put aside."

Taylor says the Inukshuk has been a huge hit with many customers stopping just to take a picture.

Avis to File

A second member of Fort Frances town council is poised to file nomination papers for this October's municipal election.

Mayor Roy Avis told members of the media last night that he intends to file for re-election today.

Avis has been on council for the past 13 years, the last four as mayor.

The only official candidate so far is Sharon Tibbs, who's seeking re-election as councillor

Council Meets With Cabinet

The town of Fort Frances had the ear of a few members of the McGuinty cabinet last week.

Mayor Roy Avis, councillor Paul Ryan and CAO Mark McCaig met with Aboriginal Affairs Minister Chris Bentley and Community and Social Services Minister Sandra Pupatello during the Association of Ontario Municipalities conference in Toronto.

Ryan says the meeting were short, but too the point.

"They have to respond to our briefs and we'll see what kind of result we get out of it," says Ryan. "I can tell you our discussions were very frank and to the point."

Topics included policing costs, First Nations blockades and the costs paid for social services.

North End Road Work

Expect plenty of work this week in Fort Frances' north end.

Paving of Portage Avenue between First and Sixth Streets is expected next week and Operations and Facilities Manager Doug Brown says there will be some road closures in advance.

Bay City Contracting will be working in the intersection of Second Street and Portage Avenue Wednesday 7:00 am to approximately 11:00 am to the remove the recycling asphalt paving material and install granular " A" material.

As a result traffic will re-routed onto First Street and Third Street around this intersection.

On Thursday, crews will be working in the intersection of Third and Portage 9:00 am to approximately 1:00 pm.

As a result the Portage Avenue Underpass between Third and Fifth Streets will be closed.

Next Tuesday, Bay City Contracting will be working in the intersection of Fifth Street and Portage Avenue from 9:00 am to approximately 3:00 pm, again result in a closure of the underpass during this time.

A surface treatment of Fifth Street is also expected to begin tomorrow.

Lions' Park Help

The Fort Frances Lion Club is hoping for some help from the town in completing a walkway at Lion's Park in Fort Frances.

The club wants to finish off the link between the fountain and kiosk this year, but some of the costs have come well over budget.

It's now asked if the town will assist in the installation.

The request has gone to the town's operations and facilities committee for further discussion.

New Insurance Rules

New rules impacting auto insurance policies in Ontario are not sitting well with Kenora-Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton.

Drivers face an array of new choices when they renew their auto insurance policies under the rules that kick in September 1.

But Hampton says the changes don't look good.

"People will be paying more for their auto insurance," says Hampton, "but if they read the fine print of the auto insurance contract, people will be getting much less. That's why we need public auto insurance because you get decent coverages without having to pay and arm and a leg."

Finance Minister Dwight Duncan says the choices will let consumers lower their premiums and dismisses claims the new system will be too confusing for consumers.