Festival Results From Thursday April 11

The first week of the Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts has come to a close with Kaylen Cunningham capturing a pair of first place awards in piano.

The festival resumes next Tuesday with competition in English and French drama.

Local comedian Ryan McMahon returns home to serve as adjudicator.

Here is a list of all winners from Thursday.


Popular Selection, Grade 5
FIRST:  Katelyn Bruyere

Popular Selection, Grade 6
FIRST:  Jordan Bruyere

Popular Selection, Grade 8
FIRST:  Erin Gustafson

Popular Selection, Grade 9
FIRST:  Sarah Bagacki
SEOND:  Kaitlyn Chiasson

Quick Study, Grade 8
FIRST:  Lorianne Dueck
SECOND:  Lucas Koomans

Own Choice, Grade 2
FIRST:  Kaylen Cunningham

Romantic 20th or 21st Century, Grade 3
FIRST:  Jessica Empey
SECOND:  Jacob Gustafson

Romantic 20th or 21st Century, Grade 2
FIRST:  Kaylen Cunningham

Classical, Level 2
FIRST:  Jordan Eldridge
SECOND:  Katrina Klug

 Children's Songs, Level 2
FIRST:  Chandler Borger
SECOND:  (Tie) Mykenzie Borger, Star Martin

Children's Songs, Level 2
FIRST:  Kaylyn Levesque
SECOND:  (Tie) Naomi Dunn, Presley McQuaker

Traditional Hymn, Folk Hymn or Modern Chorus
FIRST:  Teagan Friesen

Communities Preparing For Mining Boom

Several communities in the Rainy River district are getting preparing for the benefits expected from new mines in the region.

Chapple township is receiving provincial funding to develop an economic development strategy and complete an inventory of available assets.

Atikokan is ensuring its community data is in GIS format.

It's also completing an analysis of available land for residential use and conducting a temporary housing study.

The Rainy River Future Development Corporation is receiving money to conduct an industrial park assessment.

Winter Shows It's Still Here

Another blast of winter for the Borderland today.

As much as five centimeters has fallen across the region so far with at least another five expected by the time the storm moves away later tonight.

There are no road closures, but the Ministry of Transportation reports highways in the Rainy River district to be snow covered with slushy sections.

Similar conditions are report on highways in Koochiching County.

Winter Trends Examined

There has been some wacky weather in northwestern Ontario this winter.

Environment Canada Geoff Coulson admits it's been a different winter that we normally expect.

There's been more snow fall than last year, but the trend for temperatures have been unusual with December and January warmer than normal while February, March and April have been colder than normal.

Coulson adds temperatures will likely stay cooler than normal for at least another two weeks.

Coroner's Inquest Called Into Death

The death of a Fort Frances man two years ago has sparked a coroner's inquest.

74-year-old Edwin "Teddy" Davis died while operating a trail groomer that broke through the ice on Manitou Lake in February 2011.

He had been building a winter road for a mining company.

The inquest will be held May 21st in Dryden.

Labour Board Rules EFTO Broke The Law

The Ontario Labour Relations Board says the union representing public elementary school teachers broke the law when it advised its members to withdraw from extracurricular activities.

The board says the action constituted a strike within the meaning of the Education Act.

The Elementary Teachers Federation's actions were province wide
, but the ruling only apply to two southern Ontario school boards who challenged the directive.

Cause For Paws Tomorrow

The Borderland Humane Society is preparing for a major fundraiser.

It's Cause for Paws goes Saturday at Lenard's in International Falls.

Event chair Kallie Kantos-Fritz says it's the fifth year for the event as the Society itself celebrates its 40th year.

Money raised is used in a variety of ways, including offsetting the costs to care for the animals the Society has at its facility.

Feasibility Report On Proposed Mine Released

Rainy River Resources says it has its road map to begin development of an open pit mine north of Barwick late next year.

The company has released it's feasiblity study identifying project costs at a billion dollars, creating 400 jobs during construction and 600 when the mine opens.

President Raymond Threlkeld doesn't foresee anything sidetracking plans.

The project currently going through the environment assessment process the company expects will be complete in time to begin construction in the fall of 2014.

Transmission Line Meetings Planned

Minnesota Power is giving area residents several opportunities to comment on proposed routes for a new transmission line to the Manitoba border.

A series of open houses will begin next week with one taking place in Littlefork April 19 at the Littlefork Community Centre.

The line is required to facilitate a power agreement with Manitoba Hydro that will selling power to Minnesota beginning in 2020.

Canada Day Draw Tickets Available

Riverside Foundation for Health Care is rolling out its annual Canada Day Cash Lottery.

Tickets are now available.

Over $19-thousand in cash and prizes is again up for grabs, including a 10-thousand dollars grand prize.

Early bird purchasers get in on a draw for an all-inclusive Fly-In Fishing Trip to Manitou Weather Station Fishing Lodge.

Tickets are available at Gillons' Insurance, Green's Country Wide, McTaggarts, Emo Health Centre, Rainy River Health Centre, Rainycrest Long Term Care and La Verendrye Hospital.

You can also call 274-4803 to purchase your tickets by phone with a credit card.

Rainy River Release Feasibility Study

Rainy River Resources is pegging developing of an open pit mine at its gold project north of Barwick to cost over a billion dollars.

The figure is contained in a feasibility study released by the company.

Pre-production costs come in at over $700 million.

Another $163-million is identified for an underground operation.

The study says as many as 400 jobs would be created during the construction phase with employment in the mines reaching at least 600.

About four-million ounces of gold and over 10-million ounces of silver have been identified with exploration to boost those numbers continuing.

The company, is hoping development on the project, currently going through the environmental assessment process, can begin late 2014.

Good Samaritan Society Soliciting For Funds

The Good Samaritan Society is turned to local governments for help in raising the local share towards its new home in International Falls.

Administrator Adam Coe is making a pitch to the Koochiching Development Authority for $100-thousand.

The Society is working to raising at least a million dollars.

The $18-million facility is on schedule to open later this summer.

The KDA is reserving a decision until a later date.

Riverside Gets "B" Rating

A national media website ranking the quality of care at hospitals is giving Riverside Health Care Facilities a "B" rating.

The report on Rate My Hospital is based on information compiled by the Canadian Institute For Health Information.

Riverside's rating compares with that given to other hospitals in northwestern Ontario.

No Extension Granted To Ice For Kids Arena

There will be no ice at the Ice For Kids Arena this summer.

Fort Frances Minor Hockey had asked that the ice stay until at least the end of June.

Town council declined the request at its meeting earlier this week.

The ice is being removed April 20.

With the FortLakers in the SIJHL finals, any home games after that will be played in the 52 Canadians Rink.



Frances

Sousa Confident Of Reached Deal With LCBO Workers

Finance Minister Charles Sousa says he's confident a deal can be worked out between the Liquor Control Board of Ontario and its unionized workers.

95 per cent members with the Ontario Public Service Employees Union voted in favour of strike

Sousa says there is no money for pay raises but adds "the best deals are negotiated one.''
action to back contract demands.

NDP Wants Wait Staff Tips Left Alone

The provincial New Democrats want to protect servers' tips from restaurant and bar owners.

MPP Michael Prue is introducing a a private members bill that simply states "an employer shall not take any portion of an employee's tips or  gratuities.''

Ontario's Labour Minister Yasir Naqvi says he agrees with  idea, but isn't saying if the Liberals will adopt Prue's bill or introduce one of their own.

CANWARN Program Promoted

Northwestern Ontario is looking for "Storm Hunters".

Environment Canada's Geoff Coulson says they're out promoting its CANWARN program which helps the agency better report and forecast severe weather.

Environment Canada is planning to hold a number of information sessions in the near future.

Weather's Safe In The Borderland

It pays to live in the Borderland.

An advocacy group has come out with a new report that illustrates Minnesota's vulnerability to weather disasters.

Koochiching County is one of only five counties in the State that did not sustain a federally declared weather disaster in the past five years.

Out Of Town Library User Fees Questioned

FFPLTC photo

The fee paid by users living outside of Fort Frances to use the town library are getting a second look.

It's now a $77.00 charge.

Councillor Paul Ryan says that's far lower than the real cost to local taxpayers which pay $105.00 through taxation.

Council intends to seek input from the Library Board before deciding on any change.

Gasification Project Getting A Rethink

Some sober second thoughts about a proposed facility in Koochiching County that would generate energy through the burning of waste.

The Koochiching Development Authority has decided not to talk with the city International Falls on a proposed site for the gasification project.

County Commissioner Wade Pavleck says given that the project's taking longer than expected to develop, the county needs to decide if they want to continue first.

The project was first projected seven years ago.