More Fires Reported

The forest fire activity in northwestern Ontario continues to heat up.

Fifteen new fire were reported yesterday, bringing to 35 the number of active blazes in the region.

None are in the Rainy River district.

The Ministry of Natural Resources says many of the new blazes are the direct result of lightning-strikes.

Area Guide Charged

A fishing guide from the Rainy River district has been fined four-thousand dollars for a variety of offences.

Ron Lemmon of Bergland was charged following a two-year investigation by the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Court was told that during one fishing trip, he encouraged anglers to take more than their legal limit and then sold them off.

In another incident, he sold both walleye caught by someone else and venison to another person.

NOMA Worries Over Doctor Fees Dispute

The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association is wading into the contract dispute between the province and its doctors.

In a letter to Health Minister Deb Matthews, NOMA president Ron Nelson worries some of the changes in fees will impact northern Ontario communities' ability to recruit and retain doctors.

He's asking Mathews to ensure the cuts to fees don't impact disproportionately northern doctors with specialized services working in both hospitals and clinics.

First Nations Leadership Debate

Candidates seeking become the top Native Chief in Canada debated the issues last night.

Diane Kelly, a former Grand Chief of Treaty Three, believes her experience can help be of great assistance to the Assembly of First Nations in dealing with senior levels of governments.

She one of seven candidates up for the position.

More than 600 First Nations chiefs will select a Grand Chief  at the Assembly's conference next week.

Walk For Justice

A walk across the country is hoping to see important change.

Leo Baskatawang and others are walking across Canada to see the government make changes to the Indian Act.

Baskatawang says they've been put on the back burner for far too long.

The group hopes to be in Ottawa by September 3.

Heat Killing Off Fish

Heat is taking its toll on fish in Minnesota.

High water temperatures and low oxygen levels have combined for thousands of northern pike in several shallow lakes to die.

Northerns are vulnerable because they're better suited to cooler temperatures and can't seek refuge in the depths when lakes and streams are less than 6 feet deep.

Similar fish deaths have been noted in the Dakotas and Wisconsin.

New Library Head Named

Fort Frances Public Library Board has gone outside the community in its selection of a new Chief Executive Officer and Chief Librarian.

Alicia Subniak-Kilgour of Collingwood will take over duties September 4 from the retiring Margaret Sedgwick.

Subniak-Kilgour is currently completing a Masters degree at Western University, but has 16 years of library experience.

With Sedgwick now enjoying extended holidays until her official retirement date, Andrea Avis will be serve as interim CEO until September.

 

Lightning Fires A Concern

The threat of more lightning-caused fires still a concern for the Ministry of Natural Resources.

MNR spokesperson Heather Pridham says with recent warm temperatures, new fires are popping up almost daily.


There's no restriction on camp fires, but Priham says the public should take precaution to minimize the threat of human caused fires adding to the MNR's workload.

The three fires reported in the Rainy River district at Entwine Lake, White Otter Lake and Kishkutena Lake have all been declared out.

New Temperature Record

A new temperature record was set in Fort Frances Wednesday.

The high of 32.7 C surpassed the old mark of 32 C set in 1998.

Atikokan hit a high of 32 C, but two degrees shy of a 1966 record.

Ban Impacting County

A plan to phase out the production and import of ozone-depleting refrigerants in the U.S. could be costly to Koochiching County.

The County's Terry Glowack says many of the air conditioning units used in County buildings are using fluids that won't be readily available in 2020.

Glowack says all of them will have to replaced, some costing in excess of $20-thousand.

The County has already been forced to shell out $8-thousand to replace a unit at its jail that was damaged by a recent storm.

Atikokan Youth Group Gets Dollars

An Atikokan Youth group is receiving a financial boost from the provincial government.

Aikokan Youth Initiatives will use $30-thousand to establish a "Teen Vitality" Project.

It's will provide extra-curricular activities to address issues such areas physical activity, reducing tobacco use and mental health promotion.

Conservancy Seeks Members

Rainy Lake Conservancy photo

The Rainy Lake Conservancy is looking to expand its membership.

It's involved in an number of initiatives with the aim of preserving and protecting the Rainy Lake watershed.

Past-president Phylis Callahan says they're also looking for people to help out.

Membership forms can be found on its website www.rainylakeconservancy.org.

Camp Concerns

Officials in Koochiching County say there's little they offer to ease residents complaints about an area youth camp.

The location of docks, a parking lot and noise some of the complaints received.

Environmental Services Manager Dale Olson says a failure to rezone some of the land the only thing the County can really address.

Olson says while some measures can be taken to minimize noise, the camp operations are following all normal and legal regulations.


The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says it will also see if the camp could avoid moving of campers at unusual times of the night.

Koochiching Seeking Sewer Project Money

Koochiching County is hoping to secure a share of funding being offered up by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

It's seeking $7.5- million dollars for a new sanitary sewer collection system in the Island View area connecting about 200 people.

It's one of ninety projects across the State seeking a share of the $47.5-million in a State business  development fund.

Successful candidates will be announced in August.

Gold Drop Not Warranted

A market analyst says there's no reason for the price of gold to be selling at current prices.

Speaking on Smartstox.com, Bill Murphy of the Gold Anti-Trustee Action Committee blames the recent free-fall on a gold cartel consisting of government and world banks.

He says despite claims of economic issues impacting Europe, he sees no reason for gold to be sitting at its lowest level in more than a year.

Some analysts says the price drop will impact on junior and developing gold projects trying to attract investors.

Want To Use The Dragon Boat?

There's an attempt to get the Dragon Boat back on the Rainy River.

NCDS in Fort Frances will be hosting a meeting Thursday night (July 12) at 5 p.m. for anyone interested in using the boat this summer.

It follows the recent Dragon Boat festival that attracted nine teams and plenty of spectators.

Water Meter Problems

Still some issues with new water meters installed earlier this year by the town of Fort Frances.

About 170 meters were installed to replace old ones within the town's commercial, industrial and institutional sectors.

Operations and Facilities Manager Doug Brown says 67 meters are still experiencing some minor problems.

Brown says the firm that worked on the project is returning to fix them, but is still waiting for the necessary parts.

More Land Purchases

Another property acquisition in the Rainy River district for the purpose of mineral exploration.

Bold Ventures says it's acquiring two properties in McCaul township, about 14 kilometers east of Atikokan.

The company says the site has seen some exploration in the past, primarily for gold.

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.