Fort Teacher New OSSTF President

A teacher at Fort Frances High School is the new president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation.

Paul Elliot was voted in as head of the 60-thousand member union at a conference in Toronto yesterday.

He's previously served as vice-president since 2007.

Thunder Bay's Sue Doughty-Smith joins him on the OSSTF executive as Executive Officer.

Expansion Planned For J.W. Walker

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J.W. Walker School in Fort Frances will be getting larger.

Education Director with the Rainy River District School Board Heather Campbell says it's to accommodate the early learning program to be offered at the school this fall.

The work includes expanding two classrooms and relocating the entrance to the playground.

Campbell says tenders came in over budget, so the board is hoping for additional dollars from the province or approval to use reserves before starting work.

Hot Stove Murder Recreated

A high profile murder case in the Rainy River district from the 1940's is being recreated.

Tom Foley and Tracey Gibson will begin production today on a documentary on the so-called Hot Stove Murder.


Three men were hanged outside the Fort Frances Courthouse in the torture of Viola Jamieson who at one point was sat naked on a hot stove.

Foley says it's a case that he's long been fascinated with.



Gibson says the availability of documents from the case is helping in the scripting.


The pair hope to enter the completed work in film festival and plan a public showing.

Council Meeting Moved

A regular meeting of Fort Frances Council, scheduled for tonight, has been moved.

It will now be held Thursday with the public session starting at 6:35 p.m.

Natural Resources Minister Ponders Cuts

The new Minister of Natural Resources is weighing in on any possible cuts to the Ministry.

David Orazietti says the MNR like all Ministries is facing financial pressure.

Orazietti says he'll try to balance offering front line support with modern service features.

Pay Hike For Minnesota Politicians Proposed

Minnesota's governor and legislators could be in line for their first pay hikes since the late 1990s.

The Compensation Council is recommending the governor's $120-thousand a-year base pay be upped 3 percent in 2015 and again in 2016.

Legislator pay would be set at one-third of what the governor makes.

February Was Indeed Cold

If you think it felt colder than usual in February in the Borderland, your right.

Environment Canada's Peter Kimball says their look back at the weather for the month seemed to show a reverse in a warming trend experienced at the start of the winter season.


Kimball says February came in 2.5 C colder than normal after temperatures in December and January were a tick warmer than usual.

Kimball long-range forecasts point to above average temperatures in April before settling to more normal levels in May and June.

Question of the Week

An efforts by representatives on both side of the border to start working together on marketing the Borderland is being met with some positive reaction.

Our website poll shows 52 per of respondents seeing recent talks as very positive.

14 per cent see them as a good start.

This week we ask if you think the province's review of how northern Ontario mill properties were assessed will lead to any help to communities affected.

CEP Unionizes Home Health Care Group

The Communication Energy and Paperworkers union is expanding its representation in the home health care sector.

Twenty-five Revera office and client services staff across northwestern Ontario have voted 60 per cent in favour of joining CEP.

Revera provides home health care services to residents across the region including here in Fort Frances.

Town Efforts To Trap Bobcat

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The town of Fort Frances is involved in the search for a wild cat.

What's believed to be a bobcat has been spotted in the area of Church Street and Nelson Avenue for the past few weeks.

Rick Hallam, who oversees the town's by-law department, says the Ministry of Natural Resources has given it approval to set traps.

Hallam says there are reports the cat may have killed at least three domestic cats.

Northwestern Health Unit Study Released

Some concerning results in a survey from the Northwestern Health Unit.

Over 2000 students from the Kenora-Rainy River districts were asked in the Youth Action on Drugs Study on their thoughts on alcohol and drug use.

Health Promoter Saralyn Seminiuk says it also found that half didn't believe there was enough for young people to do in their hometowns.

Seminiuk says the survey also found that young people over estimate drug and alcohol use among their peers.

Campbell Supports Changes To Gas Tax

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell is supporting a bill that recommends changes to the provincial gas tax.

Campbell says while everyone pays the tax not all municipalities get their fair share or even qualify for the funding.

Campbell sees the changes a first step to creating a dedicated program for infrastructure needs in rural and northern Ontario.

Body Found In Kenora

A post mortem exam is being conducted today on a body found floating in the Winnipeg River in Kenora.

The body was found by workers yesterday morning in the area of the Norman dam.

The identify is still being determine.

New Music From Maverick Judson

Some new music from area performer Maverick Judson.

He's released a five-song disk, entitled FYI.

Judson says the music captures styles of performers who've influenced him the most.


Many of the songs were recorded while he attended school in London, Ontario, working with other musicians and producers he'd met.

He's making the disk and songs free to listeners to download through a new website maverickjudson.com.

School To Wait On Final Decision For Sturgeon Creek

The Rainy River District School Board is holding back on an immediate decision on the future of Sturgeon Creek School.

A committee, tasked with studying the Barwick-area school, presented its report to the board this week, recommending it remain open.

Committee chair Jackie McCormick says during their public meetings, no one called for closure in the several presentations and submissions received.

Education Director Heather Campbell says a board decision on the school will likely come in the fall when its receives a recommendation about Crossroads School.

A review of that Devlin-area school is currently underway

Bus Loop Questioned

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Concern is being expressed over a plan to construct a loop for buses to drop off and pick up students attending J.W. Walker School in Fort Frances.

The Rainy River District School Board says the loop off Flinders Avenue it will alleviate traffic congestion now experienced in front of the school on Keating Avenue.

Resident Bob Daiken would rather the loop be used by parents who drop off and pick up their children than buses.

Under the board's proposal, parents will be required to use a loop in front of the school and the school's parking lot beginning this fall.

Homelessness Tackled In Fort Frances

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It may not be visible seen, but homelessness exists in Fort Frances.

Agencies, who help people without a home or struggle to stay in one, outlined their work to members of the Celebrating Diversity Committee yesterday.

Danielle Spuzak of the United Native Friendship Centre says many of the area's homeless are people who couch surf, staying at friends and families for a day or two, before moving on to another place.

Official says some people go to Thunder Bay to use the shelter in winter, but return to the area in the warmer months.

Junior Career Fair Planned

It's never too young to consider your future.

Fort Frances Public Library will be hosting a junior career fair next Wednesday.

Program director Andrea Avis says the "I Wanna Be"  fair will highlight some career ideas to young people.

Avis says a wide spectrum of local professionals will be on hand to speak with the youngsters who attended the free event.

Pre-Budget Hearing In Thunder Bay

Northwestern Ontario residents get to add their ideas to a province-wide consultation on the Ontario budget tonight.

The Ontario Federation of Labour is holding a series of "People's Budget" consultations across the province with a stop in Thunder Bay.

Vice-president Irwin Nanda says they've heard some common themes.

Input collected will sent to government.

Train Crossing Waits Drawing Criticism

Koochiching County is raising concerns about C.N. Rail trains blocking at area crossings.

Board Chair Kevin Adee says discussions with rail officials in the past led to some improvements, but he says the frequency and length of time the road is blocked is reoccurring.

In one situation, he says he sat at a crossing on Van Lynn Road for a train that was 10 cars shy of clearing.

The County plans to discuss action it may take at its meeting next week.