Civic Centre Work Proposed

The town of Fort Frances is looking at repairing a section of roof at the Civic Centre.

CAO Mark McCaig says ongoing problems requires the need to do the work as soon as possible.

Administration will examine costs and practicality of doing the work during the winter before committing the town to the project.

"Like" Us

The use of Social media is going to play heavily in future promotion of Fort Frances.

Geoff Gillon of the Rainy River Future Development Corporation says the expanded use of the internet in every day life forces them look to Facebook, Twitter and You Tube more.

RRFDC is holding a workshop this week for area businesses interested in Social media.

New Town Website

The town of Fort Frances has revamped its website.

The town's I.T. Consultant Darryl Allan says the redesigned site takes advantages of new features not previously available and recognizes provincial requirements for accessibility.

The site gives the public greater access to council agendas and minutes, town policies and general information.

Sarah Campbell Racking Up Air Miles

You can forgive Sarah Campbell for feeling a bit jet lagged these days.

The rookie M.P-P is getting used to the rigours of travelling to and from the largest riding in the province.

Campbell says she's been spending a lot more time in Toronto than anticipated.

Attawapiskat Gets Some Attention

Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says the situation in Attawapiskat is "absolutely disgusting.''

She wants to know why the Red Cross, an international aid agency, is the northern Ontario First Nations community's only source of support.

People are now flooding into Attawapiskat, a month after it issued a cry for emergency help with its substandard housing and lack of clean, running water.

Falls Parade Winners

Candy Land by the Gizzard Girls earned top honours at the 'Twas the Lights Before Christmas Parade in International Falls Friday.

They earned $300.00 for their effort.

A 3-part religious theme by Wood Interiors earned the second prize award while the Coffee Landing Cafe's Giant Red Cup placed third.

Fort Parade Winners

Organizers of the Fort Frances Parade of Lights have announced their award winners.

Fort Frances High School's Saving Faces was selected best among local organizations and churches.

The Girls Guides, Brownies and Sparks entry was the best non-profit float.

Badiuk Equipment was best among the business entries.

Dancemakers School of Dance won for best recreational group

Bill and Marie Whiting were declared best decorated individuals.

St. Mary's Youth Group was the winner of the award that best exemplified the parade theme.

Video of the parade was posted by an unknown individual on You Tube


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Bridge Upgrades Explored

Minnesota and Ontario are looking at possible improvements to the bridge linking Rainy River with Baudette.

Talks are in the very infancy stages.

J.T. Anderson of the Minnesota Department of Transportation says there's still a lot of issues to discuss before any work can take place.

Anderson says the State would like to work begin by 2017 or 2018.

Search Suspended

An air and ground search of an Atikokan man has been suspended by Ontario Provincial Police.

It began last Wednesday for 49-year-old Eric Natti in an area north of Atikokan known as Miller Lake Landing.

OPP says they're now dispatching an underwater search and recovery team to the area, but aren't provided any further details.

Parade Route Designation Requested

Fort Frances town councillors are being asked to adopt an official parade route for future events.

The Fort Frances Police Services Board is recommending they start in the east end of town around the Memorial Sports Centre or Resolute Forest Product's wood lot, travelling down either Scott or Front Streets, going no further than Mowatt Avenue.

The board says this would limit interference with traffic at major intersections and the need for officers to control those area.

The OPP gave notice this year it would be charging parade organizers if their services were required.

Lakers Seek Canteen Rights

Fort Frances Lakers Hockey Association wants to take over partial operation of concession services at the Memorial Sports Center.

It expressing interested in manning the canteen located in the Ice for Kids Arena.

Carol's Canteen currently holds a contract with the town that's set to expire next year.

Faith Day

It's a day of faith development for staff with the Northwest Catholic District School Board today.

Catholicity Coordinator Amy LaFroy says staff from the Rainy River district will gather in Fort Frances to hear from Doctor Mark McGowan.

Monsignor Pat Stilla will serve the keynote speaker of a separate event for staff from the Dryden and Sioux Lookout areas.

Resolute to Halt Paper Machines for Year

Resolute Forest Products is curtailing its papermaking operations in Fort Frances for the rest of the year beginning next week.

The company is citing poor market conditions as the reason behind the five week shutdown of its paper machines.

About one hundred employees will be impacted.

Operations at the Kraft mill are not effected.

It's the third work stoppage at the mill this year.

Bass Tournament Finances Improve

The Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship is back in the black.

The tournament organizers began the year nearly $17-thousand in the hole, but ended with a small profit.

Chair Gord Watson says having Sunset Country Ford as a major sponsor was key.

Watson also credits the work of the entire board for helping turn the financial records around.

Tournament Huge to Local Economy

There's new proof that the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship has a significant impact on the Rainy River district economy.

Rainy River Futures Development Corporation consultant Tannis Drysdale says a survey of out-of-town visitors to this year's event identified a total impact of over $460-thousand.

Drysdale says that figure equates to the creation of between six to seven full times jobs every year.

Government Criticized over First Nations Relations

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell wants the Liberal government to improve its relations with First Nations.

She says a recent decision by the K-I band to walk away from talks with government over mining rights shows its current policies aren't working.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Kathleen Wynne says they remain committed to respective and ongoing dialogue with native communities.

Second Vote on HST Removal Bill

It's a crucial day in the legislature for an NDP bill aimed at removing the HST from home heating.

The bill is up for debate and second reading -- a key hurdle to get it into committee and into third and final reading.

The Liberals vow to block the measure, saying the province can't afford to lose the $350-million the HST generates.

Weather Records

It was a record setting day weather wise in Atikokan.

Yesterday's high of 10.7 C shattered the old mark of 6.8 C set back in 1984.

Fort Frances came close reaching 8.6 C - just short of 9 C set in 1984.

Federal Government Sued

More than two dozen aboriginal communities in northwestern Ontario have filed a lawsuit accusing the federal government of denying their children a right to equal education.

Grand Chief  Diane Kelly says aboriginals were promised equal education when they signed Treaty 3 over 130 years ago, but Ottawa hasn't lived up to its side of the deal.

Chief Chuck McPherson of Couchiching First Nation says the reserve would like to have its own school, but children there receive half the funding of public school students.

Rainy River Resources on TSX

Rainy River Resources is now trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

President  Raymond Threlkeld helped open trading on the market Wednesday morning in recognition of the company's move to the TSX.

It opened trading at just over $7.00 a share.