"I Live Here" Campaign Underway

There's a new campaign aimed at instilling pride among residents of Fort Frances.

The town is launching a contest through social media called " I Live Here."

Tannis Drysdale, a member of the economic development advisory committee, says it encourages people to post photo to the town's Twitter site.

You must also include the hashtags #fortfrances and #ilivehere or #iplayhere when posting to be eligible for a weekly cash prize.

Fire Hazard On The Rise

MNR file photo

The forest fire situation in northwestern Ontario is starting to heat up once again.

The Ministry of Natural Resources says seven new fires were reported yesterday, one in the Rainy River district.

That lightning-caused fire is about 55 kilometres north of Fort Frances, burning on an island at Bluffpoint Lake.

A rise in temperatures has increased the fire hazard in the northwestern to extreme in the southwest region and moderate elsewhere.

New Librarian Search Closer to End

The search for a new Chief Librarian for the Fort Frances Public Library and Technology Centre is getting close.

Board Chair Joyce Cunningham says they've narrowed their selection to two prospective candidates.

Cunningham says they'll meet face-to-face with them later this month.

More than twenty applications were received.

Current Librarian Margaret Sedgwich steps down from the job at the end of this month, but doesn't officially retire until September.

Door-to-Door Energy Sales Ban Sought

There's a call to ban the door-to-door sale of hydro and natural gas.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell says contracts signed at the door are both misleading and costly for consumers.

Campbell says she's received hundreds of complaints about these companies across her riding.

Truck Limiters Declared Unconstitutional

A law requiring trucks to be equipped with speed limiters has been declared unconstitutional by an Ontario court.

A justice of the peace in Welland has ruled the law impairs the safety of truck drivers by not letting them have full control of their vehicles.

Because the challenge happened at the provincial court level, the law is not struck down all across the province.

Bail Numbers Uncertain

The Ontario government is admitting it has no idea how many people are out on bail in the province.

Attorney General John Gerretsen says the bail system works relatively well, but admits he doesn't actually know how many people are out on bond at any one time.

The suspect in Saturday's fatal shooting rampage in Toronto was out on bail at the time.

Block Party Today

The Ultimate Play Date goes today at the Fort Frances High School.

Lonna Oster, a speech-language pathologist for the Rainy River District School Board, says several area agencies will have play centers will be available for youngsters and their caregivers to enjoy together.

It goes from 4:30 to 7:30 and be sure to wear your play clothes

Election Filings Now Closed

The field is now set for elections in Koochiching County.

Incumbent Brian McBride will be the only candidate on the ballot in November's election in District 3.

Linda Dreher, Karin Elhard, Chris Pfeifer, Wayne Skoe and Louis Slapnicker are vying for the seat in District 5.

Koochiching County residents will also select between Democratic Tom Baak and Republican Jennifer Havlick for the Minnesota Senate seat in District 3-A.

Democrat David Dill and Republican Jim Tuomala are candidates to represent the area in the House.

Emo Fatal

One man is dead after vehicle was struck by a CN Rail freight train in Emo.

It happened at a controlled railway crossing on Queen Street, just before the noon hour yesterday.

20-year-old Matthew James Frederick Boven of Emo  was the lone occupant in the vehicle.

He had to be extricated by emergency personnel before taken to LaVerendrye Hospital in Fort Frances where he was pronounced dead.

OPP and CN Rail police continue to investigate, but say lights at the crossing were working at the time.

School Board Amalgamation Concerns

The Rainy River District School Board intends to show the public what the impact a larger school board could have on area schools.

Chair Mike Lewis says the province's talk of merging boards to save money is concerning, so they're asking Education Director Heather Campbell to gather data outlining local impacts.

Lewis says they aren't getting much support from Education Minister Laurel Broten whose recent conference calls with northern board have been cut short when pointed questions come up.

Board Budget In Place

The Rainy River District School Board has its budget in place for the next school year.

The Board will spent over $47-million in a balanced budget.

Superintendent of Business Laura Mills says it takes into account the province's desire to hold the line on teacher salaries.

There's also a nearly $1.5 million dollar loss in grant money.

The budget is also based on the expectation enrolment will to decrease by about 3.3 per cent in the coming year.

No Decision on School Rebuild

There will be no immediate decision on a possible rebuild of Donald Young School in Emo.

Trustees have agreed to defer a decision on a committee recommendation until reviews of Sturgeon Creek School near Barwick and Crossroads School in Devlin are done first.

The review of Sturgeon Creek will begin in the fall with Crossroad's looked at in the spring of 2013.

Curling Association to Expand Interest

NOCA photo

The Northern Ontario Curling Association has scored a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

The $138-thousand will be used on a variety of initiatives aimed at attracting more people to the sport.

Executive Director Leslie Kerr says it includes bringing curling into the area's First Nation communities.

The Association is also looking to develop closer ties with local rinks and the in-school program Rocks and Rinks.

Speak Out About Budget

Area residents are being encouraged to speak out about the 2012 Ontario budget.

Opposition pressure is forcing the governing Liberals to hold meetings for the next five days that began Wednesday.

All of them are in Toronto.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell says residents can still submit written submissions

Campbell says with recent concerns over the closure of the Travel Information Centres, cuts to the Ministry of Natural Resources, and the state of health care in the northwest, it's important the public have their say.

Hot-Line Helps Nab Three

A call to Minnesota's Turn-in-Poacher hotline is being credited for helping the Department of Natural Resources nab three men on Rainy River for overfishing.

The hotline allows residents to call anonymously about resource infractions.

In this case, it led Conservation officers to find the three possessing a combined catch of 40 sunfish, 23 walleye and six northern over the legal limits.

Several more bags of fish were found in a freezer chest.

The anglers now face fines of up to $3-thousand  if convicted.

Voyageurs Seeking Park Title

Voyageurs National Park, near International Falls, is in the hunt for the title as "America's Favourite Park."

It's part of contest headed up by Coca-Cola who's offering up $100-thousand to the winner as well.

The on-line vote at livepositively.com goes until July 15

Donald Young School Vote

There's not expected to be a decision tonight on a committee report's regarding the future of Donald Young School in Emo.

The issue comes before the Rainy River District School Board, but trustees will be asked to defer a decision until school reviews of Sturgeon Creek and Crossroads are complete.

A committee's report, released two months ago, supported a rebuild of Donald Young, but also suggested construction be delayed until other school reviews were complete.

School Budget Up For Discussion

The Rainy River District School Board is poised to spend over $47-million in the coming year.

Trustees are expected to discuss how those dollars will be spent at their meeting tonight.

The budget is balanced and reflects a projected enrolment decrease of about 3.3 per cent in the next school year.

It also includes drawing almost $1.5 million from reserves.

Anti Legislation Vote Today

The Ontario legislature votes today on final reading of the Liberal government's anti-bullying bill.

Much of the focus, though, has been on a provision that allows the word "gay" to be used by school clubs which is drawing the ire of the Tories and Catholics.

Education Minister Laurel Broten insists its not about re-opening the funding debate for Catholic education.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says her party will support the bill, saying its the right thing to do.

Accident Victims Names Released

The Ministry of Labour has been called in to help investigate a fatal boating accident on Lake of the Woods.

71-year old Robert Foster of Michigan and 71 year old James Saney of Ohio died after the boat they were in crashed into a rock face in Ash Bay Saturday night.

The anglers were guests of an area fishing lodge and fishing with a guide at the time.

A 62-year-old Kenora man remains in stable condition in a Winnipeg hospital.