Plane Crash Victims Identified

OPP have recovered two bodies from a fatal plane crash in northwestern Ontario.

OPP says 59-year-old Jim Beauchene and 58-year-old Brenda Beauchene, both of Phoenix, Arizona, were found amongst the wreckage at the bottom of Red Lake by a police dive team Saturday evening.

The float plane they were in crashed into the water, shortly after taking off Thursday.

Medical School Featured in New Television Drama

A television series based on the Northern Ontario Medical School makes its debut on TV Ontario next Sunday.

It's called Hard Rock Medical

Actress Tamara Duarte plays Gina Russo, a first year med student and feels it's a good portrayal of the medical challenges facing the north.

Fort Frances Public Library will be advance screen the first two episodes Thursday night.

The show will air on Sunday on TV Ontario.

Chilly Morning

It's June, but residents around the Borderland are waking up to sub-freezing temperatures.

Frost warnings were issued by Environment Canada earlier this morning as temperatures
Yesterday morning, International Falls reported a low of 30 degrees, a record low for the date.

Crane Lake reported a morning low of 28.

Weather Keeps Forest Fire Hazard Down

The weekend's wet and cool weather helped keep the forest fire situation in northwestern Ontario down.

No new fires were reported on the weekend while there is just one still active.

That being a blaze near Webequie First Nation which is classed as under control.

Careful Of Ticks

The Northwestern Health Unit is advising the public to protect themselves from Lyme Disease.

It's something that can be transmitted through deer ticks.

Public Health Inspector Kurt Casey says the tick must be on the person for 24-hours for the bacteria to enter the body.

The Health Unit is also offering Tick Kit at its offices.

Rainy River Resources Welcome New Operators

The current developers of a planned open pit gold mine north of Barwick are confident the project will become a reality under new owners.

Rainy River Resources is agreeing to a friendly buy-out by New Gold.

Rainy River's Nick Nikolakakis says feels the decision to accept the deal now makes good sense.

Nikolakakis says New Gold has a good track record of developing mines and excellent management team that fits well with the Rainy River gold project.

House Fire Claims One

One person is dead following a house fire in LaVallee township.

Members of the LaVallee Fire Department were called to the home on Highway 11 just before 5 Friday morning.

No name has been released at this time.

Cause of the fire is still under investigation.

College Grad Set

Graduation ceremonies at Confederation College's campus in Fort Frances have been announced.

They are set for June 17 at the Townshend Theatre, and for the first time, there will be two separate ceremonies.

One will feature 50 students who have earned certificates and diplomas from various College programs.

The other will recognize students participating in the "School Within A College" program.

That program allowed students to gain College credits that were also credited toward receiving
their Secondary School diploma.

Take Over Of Rainy River Resources Announced

There's a new owner of a major gold project in the Rainy River district.

Vancouver based New Gold has reached a friendly deal to acquire Rainy River Resources.

The offer values Rainy River at about $310 million.

New Gold would pay up to $198 million in cash with the remainder in stock.

Rainy River's board is supporting the deal.

New Life-Saving Training Coming To Area High Schools

A new life saving initiative is coming to high schools in the Rainy River district.

The ACT Foundation is offering a new CPR and defibrillator training program for students.

Executive Director Sandra Clark teachers are getting the qualification to train the students.

The initiative is also providing Atikokan High School with 2 AED training units and 15 training mannequins while Fort Frances High is getting four training units and thirty mannequins.

Overdue Hike Found Safe

An overdue hiker is okay after spending the night in the woods of northeastern Minnesota.

The St. Louis County Sheriff's office says the 31-year-old man from Grand Rapids emerged from the woods on his own yesterday morning.

He had gone for a hike on a trail northeast of Orr Wednesday, telling family members he'd be back that night.

Because of bad weather, the hiker decided to camp out overnight and hike out in the morning.

Missing Teen Sought

OPP are seeking the public's help in locating a Fort Frances teen.

Police say 16-year-old Angela Shutes had left a home in the town's east end May 19.

She was spotted at a north end home Monday night in the company of a man where she told people there she did not wish to be found.

Shutes is described as being native with a heavy build and wearing dark rimmed glasses.

She sometimes uses the last name as Linklater.

DNA Being Sought To Identify Decades Old Remains

Minnesota authorities are asking families of missing loved ones to provide DNA samples as part of an effort to identify about 100 sets of human remains.

The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension says many of the unidentified remains were discovered decades ago, before DNA testing was available.

Kasabonika Residents Return Home

Emergency Management Ontario says all of the residents of Kasabonika Lake First Nation who were evacuated from the community have returned home.

EMO says the flood situation in the remote northwestern Ontario First Nation has stabilized, although water levels in the area still remain high.

Power Outages Hits Western Part of District

A brief power outage yesterday for several residents living west of Fort Frances.

Nearly 42-hundred Hydro One customers between Alberton township and Rainy River were without power for about ninety minutes yesterday afternoon.

Hydro One says the outage was so crews could make emergency repairs. 

Zebra Mussels Found In Minnesota Waters Linked To Ontario

File photo

Zebra mussels have been found in a Minnesota lake that eventually flows into the Rainy River and Lake of the Woods.

The Department of Natural Resources confirms the invasive species were found attached to a dock removed last fall from Sand Lake, 170 kilometres, southwest of International Falls.

Zebra mussels have also been identified in nearby Little Sand Lake.

Both lakes are part of a chain of waters that eventually flow into Rainy River.

Additional searches of connected waters are being performed to determine the scope of the infestation.

New Kids' Garden Club Formed

Young people will get a chance to grow a their own garden this summer.

A new Kids's Garden Club is being establish as part of the Fort Frances Community Garden.

Krista Nielson of the Northwestern Health Unit says a number of small plots are being set up for children of all ages to participate.

Nielson says it will help foster healthy eating habits and educate youngsters about where their food comes from.

Registration to the club can be made by calling Krista at the Health Unit at 274-9371

CEP/CAW Merge To Be Called Unifor

What will become Canada's largest private sector union now has a name.

The new group _ which brings together the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union and the Canadian Auto Workers _ will be called Unifor.

Its logo will be a red U on a white shield.

The new union will represent about six-thousand workers in northwestern Ontario.

Library Announced Summer Hour

Summer hours for the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre will kick in this weekend.

It will be open Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. while closing weekends.

Tax Extension Given To Some Minnesota Businesses

Some Minnesota businesses are getting extra time to pay taxes.

The Minnesota Department of Revenue is advising that some commercial property owners can have two extra weeks to make their first-half tax payments.

It's the result of a new law meant to accommodate businesses that have seen profits hampered by a cool, wet spring.