School Rankings Up in Fraser Report

Schools in the Rainy River district are seeing some improvement in their rankings by the Fraser Institute.

They're still in the middle of the pack compared with their counterparts in southern Ontario.

The Institute's Michael Thompson says whether it's a trend is hard to tell.

J.W. Walker School in Fort Frances ranks highest among area schools based on the results of standardize test scores.

Joint-Committee Supported

The Fort Frances Police Services Board has a clearer understanding on its role in the selection of an OPP detachment commander.

Speaking to the board Friday, OPP Superintendent Ron Van Straalen (STRAW-lenn) says the selection committee has to be a partnership between police, Atikokan and Fort Frances.

[CLIP] 6 seconds OC: everybody else

OPP are in the midst of selecting a new detachment commander for the Rainy River area.

Drugs Taken Off Streets

A busy month for members of the OPP's Fort Frances Community Drug Action Team.

Six people were arrested on drug offences as police seized oxycontin, oxycocet, ectasy, and marijuana in five separate incidents.

Among them, a 25-year-old Emo man who was picked up by police as he exited the Rainy River Post office carrying a parcel sent from British Columbia that contained a quanity of marijuana and cannabis resin.

Transport Driver Charged in Accident

A 40-year-old Thunder Bay man has been charged with driving with impaired following an accident last week near Atikokan.

A tractor trailer unit ended up in the ditch last Tuesday morning on Highway 11.

The driver will appear in court in April.

Help Wanted in Break-In Investigation

OPP in Fort Frances are seeking the public's help in solving a break in that occurred in Rainy River in December.

Police say a pair of gold earrings, a black IPOD and a black flip phone were taken from the home on Second Street back on December 30th.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers.

Fort Fails to Reach Hockeyville Finals

Fort Frances failed to make the final list in Kraft's Hockeyville search.

The top 15 finalists were announced Saturday.

It was the first time Fort Frances had been nominated.

Question of the Week - March 5

The Fun in the Sun Committee has been forced to curtail plans for Canada Day in Fort Frances because of a lack of volunteers.

Will you miss events not being held?

Let us know on our website www.931theborder.ca

Last week, 74 per cent of respondents said nutritional guidelines on restaurant menus would not force them to make healthier selections?

Warm and Dry Winter in International Falls

The winter season is turning out to be one of the least snowiest on record for International Falls.

The National Weather Service out of Duluth says a total of 37 inches of snow has fallen in the Falls so far, making it the 58th least snowiest.

The average temperature is 17-point-4 degrees F, more than 9 degrees above normal, making it the second warmest winter to date.

Robocall Probe

Elections Canada says it is reviewing more than 31-thousand complaints about so-called robocalls placed during the May federal election campaign.

The agency says the complaints have been pouring in over the last few weeks as the result of MPs and political parties calling on the public to send information.

The agency won't comment on the specifics around the calls, including where they're from.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty told CFOB News earlier this week that he had not heard of such calls in his riding.

Canada Day Committee Stops Work

The group tasked with organizing Canada Day celebrations in Fort Frances is ended its planning.

Organizers with Fun in the Sun says they received a couple of responses to calls for more help, but not enough to continue the group any further.

The July 1st fireworks will still go, depending on funding.

A mini king and queen contest and a volleyball tournament, organized separately, will also likely proceed.

The Committee says it will leave the planning of any other events, including the parade, to others interested.

Job Bank Down

The federal government is taking some heat for its on-line job bank being down.

Human Resources Development Canada shut the site down because of what it describes as a serious security issue effecting a limited number of federal employee accounts.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty says the length of the shutdown is not acceptable.

There's been no indication as to when the site may be back on line.

Heritage Fund in Place

Premier's not saying if the Drummond Report will have any effect on funding levels for the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund.

Speaking in Thunder Bay yesterday, Dalton McGuinty would only commit to keeping it in existence.

The fund currently has an annual budget of $100-million.

Nurses Have Plan to Improve Health Care

An Ontario nurses union says it has a plan that will improve health care at a reduced cost.

David McNeil of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario says their proposal includes creating more nurse practitioner-led clinics especially in northern Ontario.

The nurse's union  pitched their ideas to the Health Minister and a number of MPPs in Toronto Thursday.

Teacher Pay-Freeze Sought

The Ontario government wants to hold the line on teacher's salaries.

A Liberal party circular indicates provincial negotiators will seek a two-year wage freeze and an end to an expensive sick-day perk in their upcoming talks with teachers unions.

Four-year contracts for the province's 115-thousand teachers end in August.

Cooperation on Invasive Species Controls Sought

Koochiching County is worried Minnesota and Ontario aren't working closer enough to protect the area's border waters from invasive species.

Minnesota's Department of Natural Resources will conduct boat inspections on its side of the Rainy Lake and Rainy River this year.

Koochiching County Commissioner Wade Paveleck says it should be a joint effort with Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources.

Paveleck says agencies on both sides of the border have worked together on other initiatives, but nothing related to invasive species.

Hunting Draws Now Done On-line

The Ministry of Natural Resources is making big game draws for Deer, Elk, and Moose available online.

Spokesperson John Cooper says hunters who feel uncomfortable using the Internet can apply through a telephone hot line or in person at Service Ontario locations.

Cooper says the MNR is no longer accepting applications through the mail.

Official Election Results Now Released

Officials results from last October's provincial election have finally been released.

There's no change to the numbers in Kenora-Rainy River won by the NDP's Sarah Campbell.

Poll-by-poll results do show her greatest support was from the Rainy River district, Dryden, Sioux Lookout and remote First Nations communities.

Robocall Allegations in Provincial Election

Some of the alleged dirty tricks featuring automated calling machines used in the federal election are said to have surfaced in the campaign for last October's provincial election.

 The Ontario Liberals, who were reduced to a minority government, say they were targeted in several ridings with so-called robocalls to voters.

Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak said his party had not heard any complaints targeting Tory candidates, nor did they engage in any of the dirty tricks.

Elections Ontario refuses to say if there were any complaints filed about dirty tricks during the campaign.

Premier Visit

Premier Dalton McGuinty comes to northwestern Ontario today.

He's in Thunder Bay where he'll tour the Thunder Bay Regional Research Institute and visit the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.

Northern Ontario Committee Proposed

A northern Ontario MPP is hoping to create a new legislative committee that would be made up soley of Northern MPP's.

John Vanthof says it would have the power to examine legislation that directly impacts the north.

The motion will be debated and voted upon on March 1st.