MNR Watching Leaky Dam

The Ministry of Natural Resources is monitoring closely an earthen dam in the Atikokan area.

The Hardy Dam, constructed as part of the former Steep Rock Mine's water diversion project, is showing signs of leaking.

Spokesperson Michelle Novak says an environmental assessment will be done to consider corrective measures.

Novak says the Ministry's is also reviewing more immediate solutions to prevent a complete collapse.

Highway Open

The Trans Canada Highway near Vermillion Bay is open again after a transport truck caught fire.

OPP closed the highway earlier this morning until the fire could be put out and the tractor trailer unit removed from the road.

No one was hurt.

Man Charges with Shooting Truck

A northeastern Ontario man is going back to hunting school after shooting a hole in his truck.

The man was charged back in November after OPP had come the vehicle parked along side of Highway 71 near Finland with a loaded rifle inside.

An investigation with Ministry of Natural Conservation Officers determine the man had been hunting deer at night and the firearm had accidentally discharged inside the vehicle.

Lower Passport Fees Requested

Thunder Bay MP Bruce Hyer wants Canadians and Americans to pay lower passport fees.

Hyer says reducing the costs of the travel document would be a boost to tourism.

He's introduced a private members bill in the House of Commons.

The bill's not likely to pass because of the Harper government majority.

Wild Food Workshop

Area residents can learn more about the presence of wild foods in the Rainy River district.

Rainy River District Stewardship is hosting a workshop next month in Devlin.

Member Rick Neilson says its aimed at helping people to identify what foods they can eat and how to use them.

Neilson says the March 3 workshop will also include a session on plants used by First Nations for traditional and medicinal means.

DSSAB Cuts

The Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board is not anticipating any reduction in service from a recent round of job cuts.

Six full time equivalent positions have been eliminated.

Interim CAO Dan McCormick says the cuts were almost inevitable with the province having frozen funding for Social Housing at 2002 levels and financial pressures faced by municipalities to pick up the slack.

Most of the cuts were within the Board's Social Housing portfolio.

Dragon Boats to Float Rainy River

Dragon Boats could make an appearance on the Rainy River this summer.

Jenny Greenhalgh of NCDS has secured a boat from Dragon Boat Canada.

She's hoping to include it in an event as part of Canada Day festivities in Fort Frances.

Greenhalgh says a number of organizations have already expressed interest in participating.

Man Found

A happy ending to an OPP search for a missing Winnipeg man in the Kenora area.

Police had initiated the search for 28-year-old Steven Suche after failing to return from a snowmobile ride on Lake of the Woods the Tuesday night.

OPP says he was found safe and sound yesterday afternoon.

Question of the Day - February 3

There's a mixed feeling on whether the town of the Fort Frances should issue fines when Police respond to false alarms.

55 per cent of respondents to our poll question don't think it's necessary while 45 per cent support the idea.

The Fort Frances Police Services Board is asking town council to consider a by-law to reduce the number of false alarms.

Today's question, do you believe the Premier when he says there are no tax increases planned to help lower the deficit.

Let us know on our website, www.931TheBorder. ca

Infrastructure Help Proposed

Northern Ontario's New Democrats want to see FEDNOR used to help fund municipal infrastructure projects.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty says a separate pot of money could be set aside through the regional economic development agency for northern Ontario municipalities to access.

Rafferty says financial help for infrastructure upgrades is a major need among municipalities, but doubts there will be any coming in the upcoming budget.

Child Porn Charges

No one from Northwestern Ontario has been charged in a massive child pornography sweep in Ontario.

Sixty men face a total of 213 charges in what police described as one of the largest child pornography investigations in the province's history.

OPP Detective-Sergeant Frank Goldschmidt says at 22 victims were identified during the probe.

The suspects, aged 16 to 64, are described as being from all walks of life, including one who is a child care worker.

Warm January

January was the warmest it's been in almost ten years in International Falls.

The National Weather Service says the month's average temperature 14 F, or minus 10 Celsius was the fourth warmest on record.

That's also the same average as experienced in 2001.

The normal for the month is 4.4 F.

A total of 15 inches of snow also fell in January, four inches below normal.

Fort Frances is Hockeyville

Fort Frances is making a run to become Kraft's next Hockeyville.

Local resident Jonathon Glueheisen submitted the town's name in the annual contest to find Canada's most passionate hockey town and hopes resident will rally around it.

The winning town gets $100,000 in arena upgrades and the opportunity to host an NHL exhibition game.

The first step in winning will happen next month with participating communities seeking on-line votes to advance further.

Child Porn Investigation Details Today

Ontario Provincial Police will announce details today of a province-wide child pornography investigation.

Police says numerous charges have been laid in connection with the case.

There's no immediate word if any of those charges are in northwestern Ontario.

Path of the Voyageur Work Continues

The first phase of Atikokan's Path of the Voyageur tourism initiative is complete.

The project aims to use the area's fur trading history as a way of attracting more visitors.

Atikokan councillor Marlene Davidson says they now have a better idea of what's along the route from Thunder Bay to Kenora.

Davidson says they're now hoping to hire a tourism marketer to promote the initiative in the near future.

New 3-year Plan Seeks Approval

The Rainy River Future Development Corporation is seeking FEDNOR approval of a new 3-year business plan for the district.

Client Services Manager Geoff Gillon says benefiting from the increased mining activity will be one of the key objectives.

The RRFDC also wants to further its Go Local campaign that rewards people who keep more of their spending dollars in the district.

Snow Sculptures Needed

The Rainy River Arts Collective is still looking for individuals, groups or organizations to take part in crafting a snow sculpture later this month.

No one has yet applied to take part in the Winter Sculpture Garden.

As many as eight sites are proposed.

Those interested must apply to the Fort Frances Museum by Saturday.

Catholic Board Survey

The Northwest District Catholic District School Board is looking to hear from the public.

Education Director Mary Catherine Kelly says they've launched a survey to assist in the development of next budget and strategic plan.

The survey can be found on the board's website or at any Catholic school.

It's Ground Hog Day

Canada's furry forecasters are calling for an early spring.

Ontario's Wiarton Willie and Nova Scotia's prognosticating rodent Shubenacadie Sam failed to see their shadows on this morning.

However, the predictions by the Canadian groundhogs are at odds with Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil, who is calling for six more weeks of winter.

Atikokan Tax Sale

The town of Atikokan is putting a number of properties up for tax sale.

The public will have until the end of February to submit tenders for any or the sixteen locations.

Most are residential properties, but one is a former Chinese restaurant in the downtown area.