Area Women Perform At Carnegie Hall

Two Fort Frances women are now among the thousands of performers who've stepped on the stage of the famed Carnegie Hall in New York City

Sarah Hallikas and Annelise Hawyluk were part of a Toronto church choir invited to perform at an event last night.

Hallikas say it was a thrill.

The two women had only joined the choir in September not knowing of the trip to New York..

Three Fort Frances Residents Receive Diamond Jubilee Medals

Some the last Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medals have have been handed out to worthy recipients in the Rainy River district.

Fort Frances residents June Keddie, a long-time volunteer with the Canadian Cancer Society and Henry Miller, who's long promoted conservation programs to area youth, received awards during a weekend ceremony.

CFOB-News Director Randy Thoms was also presented an award for his 30 years in broadcasting.

The awards were handed out by Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty.

No Extra Pay For Deputy Mayor Duties

There will be no extra money provided to Fort Frances councillors who take on the role of deputy mayor.

Councillors, who chair committee of the whole meetings, will be assigned deputy mayor for the next two years.

The deputy mayor is usually paid more for their work.

Councillors agreed this past week to forego the extra cash.

Assessment Appeal Settlement

A settlement has been reached in Resolute Forest Products appeal of its assessment of mill properties in Fort Frances.

The agreement, which involved the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation, the town and company, will result in Resolute's assessment for the last four years being reduced by 25 per cent.

Mayor Roy Avis says the company was seeking a 58 per cent decrease.

The company will receive a tax-rebate of $2.1 million, $1.7 million from the town, which is well below the nearly $5-million had it fully won its appeal.

Salvation Army Taking On Donations

Salvation Army in Fort Frances is again accepting donations to its Thrift Store.

The agency had asked people to refrain from bringing in used items after receiving a huge collection during the Christmas holidays gathered by a local Confederation College student.

Lieutenant Dennis Maybury says they're now in a position take donations, Monday to Friday.

Out of town donors can make arrangements for a Saturday drop-off by calling the Salvation Army.

Regulations Extended

Experimental fishing regulations at five lakes of the Namakan Reservoir are being extended for another six years.

The regulations for Kabetogama, Namakan, Sand Point, Crane and Little Vermilion lakes put limit on the size of walleye anglers can catch.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says the fishery has responded well to the measure and extending it will help it further and give the Department more time to evaluate its long-term effectiveness.

Lots Of Work At Rainy River Resources Planned

Rainy River Resources photo

There's going to be lots of work this year at Rainy River Resources and its gold project north of Barwick.

The company has released an update on its planned activities for the year.

Spokesperson Indi Gopinathan says the release of a feasibility study will be a key document.

Further exploration and the submission of its environment assessment report are also planned.

Committee To Begin Work Soon

The Northwest Catholic District School Board plans to have a committee in place early this week to review Our Lady of the Way School in Stratton.

The board intends to confirm its Accommodation Review Committee at its meeting tonight with committee members gathering for the first time tomorrow.

The elementary school with about 15 students is being looked at because of low enrolment.

Exact dates for public meeting will likely determined when committee members meet.

Area Bishop Surprised By Pope's Resignation

The Bishop for the Diocese of Thunder Bay says he's surprise to see the Pope resign.

Bishop Fred Colli calls this week's announcement by Pope Benedict XVI courageous.

Colli hopes the resignation sets an example to other church leaders about when to call it quits.

Improvement Program Gets Make-over

There's some changes coming to incentive programs for residential property owners in Fort Frances.

The town has been offering rebates since 2003 to owners who demolish, renovate or rebuild older homes.

Consultant Tannis Drysdale says some requirements to participate are being changed to allow more property owners to participate.

Drysdale says despite heavy marketing, few people had taken advantage of them.

Some of the rebates offered will also be reworked.

Court Hearing On Two-Chain Issue

Legal wrangling over a section of property known as the two-chain shore allowance heads to a Fort Frances courtroom next week.

The Superior Court of Justice will hear a claim first filed by four area First Nations in 1998 against the province and federal governments.

In court documents filed,  the bands are seeking a declaration that the allowance is part of the Agency One reserve.

Four weeks over the next two month, have been set aside to hear the case.

New Health Care Programs This Fall

Rainy River Community College is planning to offer some new programs in the health care industry this fall.

The International Falls-based college is partnering with Hibbing Community College to deliver programs that help train new medical laboratory technicians, pharmacy technicians, nurses.

A certificate program in elder care and gerontology will also be offered.

College officials says the programs address high demand areas.

Rainy Lake Hotel Staying Up

The Rainy Lake Hotel will remain standing for at least another year.

Fort Frances town council has removed the nearly $1.7 million dollar demolition and creation of a market square from its capital budget.

Councillor Andrew Hallikas says they just can't afford do to it right now.

Hallikas says the building will be secured with the intent of revisiting the plan another year.

Capital List Shortened

The list of proposed capital projects for the town of Fort Frances is now a lot shorter.

Town council got their first look at the $12.5 million wish list Wednesday night.

Treasurer Laurie Witherspoon says administration whittled it down to make it more manageable.



There's now a list of about 40 projects that managers have considered to be high priority.

Council will take a closer look at the short list at a later meeting.

Subdivision Going To Tender

The town of Fort Frances is seeking interested developers for various components of the planned subdivision at the former Huffman School property.

Ads will be place in Thunder Bay and Fort Frances.




Town planner Faye Flatt says the bids will better determine the sale price of the lots.


Tenders will close March 12.

Local Groups Taking Over Concert

Two groups are taking over the planning of the summer concert in International Falls.

Falls Rotary Club and Backus Auditorium will do it with support from the city.

Ward Merrill of Backus says they're prepared to give it a go for at least three years.

Three cover bands are being considered for the July 20th concert at the Irvin N. Anderson Amphitheatre.

Biomass Considered For Thunder Bay Plant

Ontario Power Generation is now considering burning biomass as its coal-fired generating station in Thunder Bay.

OPG suspended work last fall to convert the plant to natural gas.

Plant Manager Chris Fralick says he remains optimistic the plant will continue to operate beyond 2014.

Mamma Needs To Redecorate

Riverside Foundation For Health Care is preparing for its next fundraiser.

The Foundation's Spring Luncheon will be held May 5 at Robert Moore School.

It's being called "Mamma Needs to Redecorate," so organizers as looking for gently used items that would be used to decorate a house.

Donations can be dropped off at 562 Church Street or call Nicke Baird at 274-4803.

Mauro Left Out Of Provincial Cabinet

Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro is expressing a tinge of disappointment after being left out of the new cabinet of Premier Kathleen Wynne.

Mauro says it's something he's learned to accept about politics.

Mauro says he has been asked to serve as chair of the new northern Ontario cabinet committee and serve as the parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Metis Welcomes New Aboriginal Affairs Minister

The Metis Nation of Ontario is welcoming the appointment of David Zimmer as Aboriginal Affairs Minister.

President Gary Lipinski says the Metis have enjoyed a previous relationship with the new minister when he served as a parliamentary secretary.

Lipinski says he's looking for Zimmer to continue to work towards implementing the objectives agreed upon in the recent framework agreement with the province.