Red Cross To Provide Help In Local Emergencies

The Canadian Red Cross has a renewed presence in the Rainy River District.

It's signing protocols with area municipalities that spells out the agencies role in emergency situations.

Disaster Management Coordinator Kari Raptor says the agency will be there to help victims for such things as shelter.

Raptor says they're now in the process of finding volunteers to assist in those efforts.

Lightning Caused Fires Possible

The Ministry of Natural Resources is on the watch for lightning fires.

There are currently 15 fires now burning, although none are in the Rainy River district.

The Ministry says the region may see new lightning-caused fires pop-up in the next couple of days resulting from a storm that passed by Monday night.

Meantime, MNR is sending ten FireRanger crews from northwestern Ontario to help deal with forest fires in northeastern Ontario.

Restrictions Lifted

Burning restrictions are being lifted in Koochiching County today.

The County is one of the last in Minnesota where restrictions has been kept in place.

Property Clean-up Dilemma

Difficulties in dealing with unsightly properties are becoming a sore spot for Koochiching County Commissioners.

The County has a committee set up to handle complaints, but Public Health Director Susan Cosgrove says many of the cases don't necessarily fall within the committee's jurisdiction.

Chair Brian McBride says there's a public perception the County isn't doing anything, but in some cases there's nothing they can do.

Water Meter Bills Issued

Commercial and institutional properties in Fort Frances that received new water meters last fall are now getting their bills.

Operations and Facilities manager Doug Brown says they're still working through a few glitches, but the new metres ensure the protection and quality of the town's drinking water.

The new metres replace ones that had been in place for up to forty years.

Premier Not Worried With Doctors Group Warning

Premier Dalton McGuinty says he's not worried doctors will leave the province because the government slashed fees they're paid.

McGuinty says doctors are doing better now than when his government came to power, and he's confident they'll stay in Ontario.

A doctors group is warning physicians they may want to look elsewhere given the Liberals recent decision to cut fees and freeze wages.

Lipinski Back as Metis Nation President

A Fort Frances area man has been given another mandate to head the Metis Nation of Ontario.

Gary Lipinski received over 87 per cent of the vote to be returned as president in what the Metis Nation says was a record voter turnout for recent elections.

Lipinski says its a strong mandate to continue to push forward on their Métis rights agenda.

Seniors Allowed To Address Council

There's little it can offer, but Fort Frances town council will give a seniors group the right to speak at an upcoming meeting on a number of issues.

Requests to address council are rarely turned down, or even debated.

Mayor Roy Avis says council really has no control over the issues the group wants to talk about.

Members of the Seniors-Retirees against Pension and Elder Abuse plan to talk their concerns over pensions, old age security and the pending assessment appeal by Resolute Forest Products and it's impact on seniors.

Theatre User Surtax To Increase

A surtax, paid by users of the Townshead Theatre, will go up this September.

Fort Frances town council agreed to hike the fee to a dollar-fifty per ticket, up from the dollar fee theatre users have paid since 1999.

The money is used to offset theatre improvements.


Meantime, there will be some work taking place in the Townshend Theatre this summer.

The theatre stage flooring is being replaced at a cost of $21-thousand.

There was a plan to doing some painting inside, but an estimated of $32-thousand cost  was felt too high by the Theatre Advisory Committee.

It's feels that job can, instead, be left up to the Rainy River District School Board to do as part of its summer painting projects.

Development of Dog Park To Proceed

The development of an off-lease dog park in Fort Frances has been given the green-light.

No site has been immediately identified.

A committee will now be formed to hash out the details.

Members of the Kiwanis Club have expressed interested in partnering with the town on the project.

New Detachment Commander Outlines Objectives to Media

The OPP's new detachment commander for the Rainy River district is committing to making sure the public is safe while watching the dollars paid by area municipalities for policing.

Inspector Steve Shouldice sat down with members of the media yesterday.

He says strengthening the local drug enforcement team is among his priorities.

Shouldice also wants to continue enhancing the partnerships OPP now enjoy in the region.

Foul Play Not Suspected in Death

OPP are ruling out foul play in the death of a 22 year old man in Keewatin.

The man was found on Sunday near a CP rail crossing.

Police are holding back his name until his family is notified.

Question of the Week

Little public support for doctors and their fight with the province over wage freezes and fee cuts.

70 per cent of respondents to a question on our website give support to the government.

This week, we ask if you think the province should continue to ask gun sellers to keep records of who buys guns from them?

Have your say at 931theborder.ca.

Tree Planting At Fort High

There's a new look to the grounds at Fort Frances High School.

Seventy sugar and silver cloud maples have been planted as part of a project between the school and the Rainy River District Stewardship Council.

Teacher Rob Donaldson says students involved are taking full interest in the tree's survival.

The $15,000 project was made possible through a variety of donations.

MPP Claims Increase Rates From Proposed Bill

A northwestern Ontario Liberal is warning about a loophole in an opposition proposal to reduce auto insurance rates.

Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro says the NDP sponsored bill, while lowering rates in southern Ontario, would actually increase rates for residents of northern Ontario.

The NDP deny Mauro's claims.

Back Door Gun Registry?

Despite denials by the premier, Opposition Leader Tim Hudak says the Liberal government is planning to create a provincial gun registry.

Premier Dalton McGuinty has said he wants stores to keep registers of who buys guns.

But the Tory leader says McGuinty's true motive is to bring in what he calls "a back door gun registry.''

Seniors Survey Now Out

An important step towards getting an assisted living facility in Fort Frances is now underway.

The local Assisted Living Action Group is seeking input from seniors and others on their needs across the Rainy River district.

Chair Irma Armit says the information will help create a 20-year plan.

The survey is on the Senior and Law Enforcement Together's new website and will end June 22.

Falls Home Show Considered

It's Home and Leisure Show just ended, but the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce is already looking to have it's next event very soon.

Manager Anthony Mason says consideration is being given to hold another show this fall.

All of the details are still to be worked out, but Mason is hoping it will attract different vendors and products with the Christmas holiday shopper in mind.

Mason was happy with the turn-out for the weekend event, with attendance nearly last year's numbers.

Theatre Surcharge Increase Proposed

Users of the Townshend Theatre in Fort Frances could be paying a little more in the near future.

The Theatre's advisory committee is recommending a user surtax, applied to ticket sales, be increased to a dollar-fifty this September.

The surcharge, now at a dollar a head, has not increased since it was implemented in 1999.

The money raised goes towards Theatre improvements.

The recommendation goes to Fort Frances town council for its approval tonight.

Changes to Super Valu

Some changes to a grocery store in International Falls.

The SuperValu store will become Country Market after being part of a sale to Miner's Incorporation of Hermantown.

Miner's owns the Super One grocery chain.

The company says employees at SuperValu have been offered jobs in the new store.