Falls City Administrator Offered Job In Washington State

It appears the city of International Falls will be looking for a new city administrators.

Rod Otterness has been hired on to serve as city manager of Union Gap, Washington, a community of about 63-hundred people 140 miles southeast of Seattle.

Union Gap City Council offered the job to Otterness last week.

Otterness has been Falls city administrator since 2004.

Dog Park On Hold

Plans for a dog park in Fort Frances are on hold.

A town advisory committee working on the project has decided to stop any further planning.

Chair Duane Hicks says financial pressures facing the town played into their decision.



Hicks says they're look at revisiting the project in the fall to determine if they'll proceed with public meetings.

The committee narrowed its search to four potential sites, pegging costs in the area of $30-thousand.

Wellness Conference Next Week

A focus on holistic health later this month.

Gizhewaadiziwin Health Access Centre and Fort Frances Area Tribal Health Services are hosting a Wellness Conference next week.

The Centre's Program Manager Beverley Cochrane says several presenters are coming who will offer tools and demonstrate ways to achieve physical, spiritual, mental and emotional health.

Cochrane says the conference will also promote programs available in the Fort Frances area.

New Blood Plasma Clinics Concerns

The province is asking the federal government to hold off on approving new clinics that would pay people to give blood plasma.

Three clinics are proposed for Ontario.

Health Minister Deb Matthews says it would be irresponsible to allow a paid-donor system without first determining how it could impact the supply of blood and blood products.

Rae Tours Northwestern Ontario

Federal interim Liberal leader Bob Rae is in Dryden and Kenora today.

Yesterday, he was in Thunder Bay where he spoke about the Ring of Fire and First Nation involvement.

Rae says he's looking at how he can legally represent Matawa Chiefs with their dealings in the chromite mining development.

The one-time Ontario Premier is in the region for party faithful fundraisers billed as "Thanks A Million, Bob."

Expanded Sale Tax Still Possible

Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk says there's still room to discuss an expanded sales tax even though Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton intends to abandon that budget approach.

Bakk, who represents Koochiching County, says the Senate Tax Committee plans to consider whether some services should be part of the sales tax mix.

Dayton is releasing a revised budget proposal later this week which still includes a higher tax income rate on the state top wage earners.

Snoasis Winners

The winners have been announced in this past weekend's Snoasis at the former Huffman School property.

Lindsay Hamilton and Joe Galbraith's creation "Building Bridges" earned the judges pick.

"Fishing Fantasy," a snow sculpture created by the staff at the Fort Frances Times was voted fan favourite.

Organizers says they were happy with the turned to the event they hope to continue.

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

Google Earth

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

File photo

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.