Native Groups Joining Forces

Two First Nation government organizations are joining forces.

Chiefs of Grand Council of Treaty 3 and Anishinabek Nation are forming a unity to share ideas.

Treaty 3 spokesperson Dale Morrisseau says one of the main issues is protectng treaty rights.

Morrisseau says both communities have been working on the same proceeses so it makes sense to come together and share ideas.

Fort Water Third Best

The drinking water in Fort Frances is among the best in northwestern Ontario.

The town's water was selected third in an annual taste test held recently by the Northwestern Ontario Water and Wastewater conference.

Wabigoon Lake First Nation placed first while Red Lake was second.

Water samples were also rated for colour, odour and chlorine residuals

Kennedy Enter Leadership Race

The number of contenders to succeed Dalton McGuinty as Liberal leader and premier has grown to five.

Former MP Gerard Kennedy launched his bid yesterday, saying he has no ties to the scandals that have rocked Ontario's Liberal government.

Kennedy lost to McGuinty in the 1996 Ontario Liberal leadership race and lost the federal Liberal leadership to Stephane Dion 10 years later.

Campbell Acquires Kids In The Hall Prop

MPP Sarah Campbell photo

A prop used by the Canadian comedy troupe Kids in the Hall now sits in the Queen's Park office of Sarah Campbell.

A gas-powered bike with fake bones, used in the 2010 series "Death Comes to Town," was given to the Kenora-Rainy River MPP after the Kids went looking for places to store it.

Campbell, a fan of Kids in the Hall, considers the Bike to a piece of Canadian history.

Officer Charged

The Ontario Special Investigations Unit is charging a Kenora police officer in connection with a fatal collision back in September.

Constable Troy Bender has been charged with one count of dangerous driving causing death.

A female prisoner in the cruiser, 42 year old Gloria Assin, was killed after the cruiser she was in came into collision with a transport.

Bender will appear in Kenora court December 20th.

Students Remember

Students at Fort Frances High are taking time to remember veterans this Remembrance Day.

The school's student leadership council held a Remembrance Day assembly Thursday.

President Meghan Metke says all students should take time to reflect.

Member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 29 also participated.

Hoskins Steps Down

Another Ontario cabinet minister has stepped down as the race for the Liberal leadership heats up.

Eric Hoskins announced Friday he's resigning as as minister of children and youth services.

But he's not saying if he'll run for the Liberals top job.

He plans to release more details on his decision this week.

Baak Elected Majority Senate Leader

A State Senator who now represents Koochiching County will once again lead Democrats in the Minnesota Senate.

Tom Bakk's has been elected as majority leader.

Bakk, of Cook, led the Democratic minority for the past two years.

Outfitter Of The Year

NOTO photo

A lodge owner from the Rainy River district is being recognized.

Tom Pearson of Camp Narrows Lodge has been named Outfitter of the Year by the Northern Ontario Tourist Outfitters Association.

NOTO say it recognizes Pearson's outstanding contribution during the past year.

Facebook Game Established To Help Minor Hockey

A Rainy River district business is trying to help area hockey associations win some cash.

Darren Lowes of Lowes says building centre chain Tim-Br Mart has an on-line game called Sharp Shooter for people to play to help minor hockey.

$100,000 is up for grabs.

The game on Facebook continues until early January with winners announced a month later

Death Now A Murder

OPP have now released the name of the man found dead inside a Fort Frances motel.

He's been identified as 45-year-old Leo Whitecrow of Seine River First Nation.

Acting Sergeant Anne McCoy says the case is now being considered a homicide.

However, the exact cause of death isn't being released at this time.

New Fishing Regulations Proposed

The Ministry of Natural Resources is proposing some changes to fishing regulations effecting lakes in our region.

It includes a change in the slot size for northern pike and a reduction in limits for bass and crappie.

No changes are proposed for walleye or lake trout.

The MNR is now gathering input with the intent of making the changes permanent in January 2014.

Contract For Sonoco Workers

A new deal for employees at Sonoco in Fort Frances.

The Communication, Energy and Paperworkers union says a new five-year-deal has been ratified.

It includes a $500 dollar lump sum payment and pay increases in the final four years of the contract.

Sonoco provides paper cores for use in rolls of paper at paper mills such as Resolute Forest Products.

Another Open House On Gold Project

Another open house today on Rainy River Resources gold project.

It happens this afternoon at the Emo Legion, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Company vice-president Kyle Stanfield says it gives residents a change to learn more about the project and the environmental assessments now underway.

New Mayor Ready To Take Office

The new mayor-elect for International Falls says he's humbled by the show of confidence he received from voters in Tuesday night's election.

Bob Anderson defeated councillor Paul Eklund in the run off for city mayor.

Anderson was also mayor in the 1980's and says he's ready to work for the city again.

Anderson and new councillor-elect Pete Kalar officially take office in January.

Vote Numbers For Minnesota

Minnesota officials say unofficial turnout in Tuesday's election was about 76 per cent.

Secretary of State Mark Ritchie says the final turnout percentage will be a bit higher when the vote count is final.

Be A Fan!

Ontario Provincial Police and Special Olympics want you to "Be A Fan."

It's a campaign underway aimed at raising awareness and money for Special Olympians.

Gaby Hanzuk, a local coordinator, says OPP are their biggest fan with events such as their annual Torch Run.

The campaign includes the sale of red skate laces being sold at Fort Frances High School.

Local Soldiers Remembered

Soldiers from the Rainy River district who fought for Canada in past wars are being honoured at the Fort Frances museum.

Josie Miller, of the Branch 29 Legion Ladies Auxiliary, says photos and artifacts from area soldiers are are display.

It's a display that's usually up for Remembrance Day at the Legion, but Miller says they decided to bring it to the Museum for a wider audience.

The display will remain at the Museum until the end of December.

One of District's Oldest Residents Dies

Funeral services will be held this Saturday for one of the Rainy River District's oldest residents.

Walter Andrusco died in LaVerendrye Hospital yesterday at the age of 105.

Originally born in the Ukraine, Andrusko immigrated to Canada with his father when he was sixteen, eventually settling in Fort Frances.

Andrusco was an founding member of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and a member of the former Fort Frances Civic Band for several years before retiring as its conductors and bandmaster in 1979.

New Huts For Voyageurs National Park

There will be some new huts for snowmobiles travelling through Voyageurs National Park to use this winter.

Snowmobile-marker Polaris, in partnership with the Voyageur National Park Association, is helping to fund the construction of three warming huts.

The huts will also contain park and trail information.

The Minnesota-based company is also donating two new FS IQ WideTrak snowmobiles for park rangers to conduct winter environmental field studies and maintenance activities.