Town To Take Over Former Hotel

The former Rainy Lake Hotel will become property of the town of Fort Frances.

Town councillors agreed last night to vest the shuttered hotel.

CAO Mark McCaig says since no one came forward to buy it in a recent tax sale, a decision by the town had to be made.

The decision is also seen as a first step towards developing the site into a proposed market square, but those discussions won't happen until next year's budget talks.

Arena Fix Approved

Fort Frances town council has approved spending more than $95-thousand to get ice back in the Ice for Kids Arena by mid-September.

It to replace a key part of the rink's ice plant that experienced an ammonia leak last week.

Community Service Manager Jason Kabel says the upside is the problem was identified soon enough to avoid a major disruption.

Users who booked the rink later this summer will be moved to the 52 Canadians Arena.

Fort Frances Gets Helping Hands

Some helping hands for the town of Fort Frances.

Union Gas is providing the town with four thousand dollars to be used on improvement projects identified by the company's employees.

Utility Services and Construction manager Luke Skaarup says it's part of a company initiative known as Helping Hands.

Three projects are at the Memorial Sports Centre with the other funding flowers for the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce's annual beautification project known as Project Petunia.

No Fires Burning

All forest fires burning in the Rainy River district are now out.

The most recent was a human caused fire near Manion Lake, about 15 kilometres east of Mine Centre.

There have been 27 fires in the district since the start of this year's forest fire season,

Highway Open Again

Highway 11 near Atikokan is back open to traffic.

Provincial Police were dealing with a big rig carrying a wide load that got stuck at a construction site, just west of the community yesterday afternoon.

It forced that closure of a section of the highway to be temporarily shut down.

Local Board Not All That Happy With Teachers Deal

Last week's deal between the Province and Elementary Catholic teachers is getting a luke-warm response from the Northwest District Catholic School Board.

Education Director Mary Catherine Kelly says the deal came as a surprise to her, noting that the Ontario Catholic School Trustees Association, which represents Catholic Board, wasn't even consulted on the deal.

Report suggest the Association withdrew from negotiations the night before the deal was reached.

Kelly says they'll move forward on the contract they maybe didn't want, but wants to see more details.

Police Get Help Stopping Stolen Vehicle

A little assistance from the public and General Motors helped police nab a young driver and a vehicle reported stolen from Seine River First Nation Sunday night.

Provincial Police were altered first by Treaty Three Police, then tracked the vehicle down based on information from the public who complained of it operating in an erratic manner.

Constable Anne McCoy says when the 2010 Chevrolet Avalanche failed to stop for police, officers turned to General Motors OnStar service who safely shut the truck ignition off.

The driver, who is under the age of 18, faces several charges. 

Boating Accident

Police are investigating a boating accident on Lake of the Woods near Morson.

Provincial Police say two boats collided with one ending up on the shore.

A 69-year-old Winnipeg man was transported to hospital in Winnipeg with serious injuries.

The driver of the other boat wasn't injured.

Population Sign To Be Changed

The Ministry of Transportation is poised to make a change to the town of Fort Frances population sign.

It's to better reflect the town's true population.

Statistics Canada has it at just under 8-thousand people.

The sign reads 85-hundred.

The MTO plans to change it to 8-thousand.

Some Anglers Not Following the Law

A recent enforcement blitz by the Ministry of Natural Resources has found some anglers not obeying area fishing regulations.

Sixteen charges and 25 warnings were issued in the blitz that saw Conservation officers visit 25 fishing lodges and one provincial park at the end of June.

More Mosquitos In Minnesota

Recent hot weather in Minnesota is helping to increase the mosquito population in the state.

The Metropolitan Mosquito Control District says some of its traps are counting twice the typical  population normally found.

The last few months have been good for mosquitoes: moist breeding grounds plus warm temperatures.

Ice Plant Problems at Memorial Sports Centre

There may be no ice available at the Ice for Kids Arena in Fort Frances until the middle of September.

A burst tube within the ice plant's chiller caused an ammonia leak last week.

There's now concern about the condition of the other 100-plus tubes.

A report from Community Services manager Jason Kabel recommends the entire chiller be replaced at a cost of $84-thousand.

Fall and summer bookings are being moved to the 52 Canadians rink in the meantime.

Benefit Planned for Rainy River Woman

Friends and family of an area woman are rallying to help raise money for some specialized cancer treatment.

Cindy Asselin of Rainy River was diagnosed with terminal esophageal cancer in January 2011 and told by doctors in March there's no treatment left for her.

Her son Scott says she now has a chance to get treatment in California.

A benefit will be held July 17 at the Legion in Rainy River to raise the $38-thousand needed.

An account has also been set up at CIBC in Cindy's name for those who would like to donate money.

Courthouse Opens

Court proceedings expected to resume today back at the Fort Frances courthouse.

The building was shutdown over a week ago because of a water line break.

A spokesperson for the Attorney General's office says certain sections of the basement are still closed, including the Ontario Court of Justice courtroom  and the Intake Court.

Matters to heard by those courts are being rescheduled to other rooms.

Junkheap Removed From Road

Minn. State Patrol photo

Minnesota State Patrol is talking about this one that didn't get away.


Troopers stopped a Ford Pinto Canada Day on Highway 53 just south of International Fall for unsafe equipment.

Minn. State Patrol photo

Much of the vehicle, both outside and inside was rusted out with a tire holding up the driver's seat.

A gas can, located in the passenger seat, was rigged up to the engine.

 The car was impounded and the driver now faces several charges.

Youth Arrested

An area youth is facing several charges following an incident last night.

OPP say the youth was driving a pick-up truck officers attempted to stop when he fled, driving in a dangerous manner.

Police received several calls about the vehicle operating in the same manner before eventually arresting the driver.

Concern With Area Gold Project

A U.S. financial services group isn't optimistic Rainy River Resources will be on target to get its open-pit gold mine north of Barwick in operation.

UBS points to recent drops in gold prices.

It suggests with prices down 15 per cent off last year's highs, Rainy River Resources project will likely remain in a state of incubation until prices improve.

The company has targeted construction to begin in 2014 and is currently working towards the start of an environmental assessment.

Bridge Work Begins Today

Work to replace two bridges on Highway 11 east of International Falls is to begin today.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation says traffic at the Tilson Creek and Jackfish Bay bridges will be reduced to one lane controlled by traffic signals.

More Forest Fires In Rainy River District

Another two forest fires on the weekend in the Rainy River district.

A small blaze near Manion Lake along the Turtle River Road was human caused and is under control.

Another lightning-caused fire near Clarkson Lake, east of Nestor Falls, is out.

The forest fire rating in the region is currently moderate.

Wind Power Not Working - MPP

A northern Ontario MPP says pristine locations are being sacrificed for a source of power that's failing Ontario residents.

Conservative Vic Fedeli says as demand topped 23-thousand megawatts yesterday, wind power was contributing just 77 of those megawatts.