Gravelle to Update Northern Growth Plan

An update on the Northern Growth Plan.

A forum is slated for next month in Timmins featuring mayors, aboriginal and community leaders.

Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle says he promised such a meeting to the northern mayors back in August.

The meeting is scheduled to take place December 6th.

Heart of the Continent Progressing

A new tourist idea is being discussed for our region, and both sides of the border would be part of the plan

A group called the Heart of the Continent Partnership, wants to create a new travel destination by connecting the dots between International Falls and Duluth in Minnesota and Fort Frances and Thunder Bay in Ontario.

The idea comes in the form of an interactive map that would highlight the area’s natural features and it's historic sites.

 Restaurants, Hotels and bars would also be featured.

The hope is to create new jobs and tourism.

The group is on the verge of raising $200,000 that would fund the project.

I Am Awesome Retreat in the Running for Aviva Funding

A local event, may be well on it's way to receiving additional funding for next year. .

The I Am Awesome! (And I Know It!,) retreat is currently ranked 1st in this round of voting for the Aviva Community Fund contest.

The retreat is meant to help boost the confidence of young women in our area.

The organizer of this retreat, Renée Martin-Brown is grateful to those who have voted so far.

Voting for this round ends today.

 The winning project is provided with funding for next year.

A link to the contest is available on the 93-1 The Border facebook page.

Atikokan Experience Building Boom

A brand new saw mill being built just outside of Atikokan could bring 90 more job to the area.

The 50 million dollar project is being constructed on the property of the former Buchanan Mill.

It should start operations in 2015.

On the other side of town, Ren-tech is building into a new wood pellet facility.

With the hope of creating 20 new jobs.

The plan is to supply the Atikokan Generating Station.

They are spending $22 million in an effort open in April of next year.

The Bargain! Shop Is Number One

A fundraising campaign for Easter Seals has earned number one honours for a Fort Frances department store.

Local staff at The Bargain! Shop raised $4,100, topping all stores in Ontario and Manitoba.

Manager Darcy Banman says it had been something they had been striving for after placing second for so many years.

The Fort Frances total was almost 25 per cent of money raised by all The Bargain! Shops in Ontario.

NDP Upset At Lack of Government Help for Mining

NDP Critic Michael Mantha, continues to attack the Ontario Liberal government's treatment of the mining sector.

He believes the electricity supply is not sufficient enough to support new mining developments.

Mantha says if the government doesn't take action, thousands of potential new jobs could be affected.

Mantha adds that 30 to 50% of operating costs for the Mining sector is in the price of electricity. And the threshold for the Global Adjustment program still stands at 1 megawatt, which penalizes mid-sized producers.

Crash Victims Identified

Provincial Police have identified the four other men killed in Saturday's crash on Highway 17, near English River.

26-year-old Brady Ostell, 27-year-old Andrew Ostell, both of Kitchener, 42-year-old Kyle Prince from Waterloo and 44-year-old James Jackson from Fort Erie were in a pick-up truck that collided with a transport.

The driver of the transport, a 43-year-old man from Cambridge, was also killed.

More Drug Charges Laid

OPP have have laid more charges in connection with that massive drug bust last week in Kenora.

Eight more people have been arrested and face a variety of charges, including of possession and trafficking of both cocaine and marijuana.

A total of 38 people were rounded up last week following a year-long investigation.

Quarry Issue Sent Back To Planning Commission

Plans for a rock quarry are drawing the ire of some residents in Koochiching County.

Wagner Construction wants the develop the quarry at the end of County Road 144, southeast of International Falls.

The application was denied by a planning committee, but residents living nearby, such as Cindy Black were back before the County board to convince it of their opposition.

The County is sending the issue back to the planning commission for a re-look.

Land Auction Today

Several state lands in northeastern Minnesota are about to be sold off.

A public action for the 23 parcels of land takes place today.

Many of the properties are located with Cook, Itasca, Lake and St. Louis Counties, with minimum bids ranging from 27-thousand dollars to has high as 650-thousand.

Blood Donor Clinic Closes To Target

They came close.

The Canadian Blood Services collected 231 units of blood following clinics held earlier this week in Fort Frances.

They were hoping for at least 240 units, but are still happy with the outcome.

Almost 300 people turned out.

The next clinics won't take place until next August.

Best Chili Named

FFCC photo

The people have spoken.

Gillon's Insurance's "Bewitchin Broker's Brew" was named the top tasting chili in a public vote at the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce's Great Canadian Chili Cook Off.

That differed from the judges selection of the dish "Socket To You" from the staff at Acklands-Grainger.

The Fort Frances Dental Centre won the award for the best costumes.

Regions Drug Overdoses Now Number 1 Killer

It's now become more deadly then motor vehicle collisions.

The Northwestern Health Unit has revealed some sobering statistics about drug use in our region.

Public Health Nurse Kim Elke says opiate overdoses have become the leading cause of deaths in the region.

Elke says Oxycodone is the leading cause of opiate addiction in the region even though it has been pulled of the health units drug list.

Winter Road Maintenance Questioned

OPP photo

A brief dusting of snow in some parts of the Rainy River district yesterday morning has our MPP wondering how well our highways will be plowed this winter.

Kenora-Rainy River's Sarah Campbell says over the past couple of years, her office has fielded several complaints about the condition of roads in the winter.

Campbell says government needs to step up and ensure our roads are maintained to a high standard this winter.

NDP Support Ranger Program's Return

NDP are standing with former alumni in calling for a reinstatement of the Ontario Park Ranger program.

At Queen's Park Wednesday, Michael Mantha, a former Ranger himself, questioned Natural Resources Minister David Oriazetti on the decision.

Mantha says it provided unique opportunities for young people.

But Oriazetti says by moving the program to a day-based one, they've been been able to add more locations and provide more opportunities for youth.

County Offers Loan

Koochiching County is agreeing to offer up a loan to help get a new animal shelter built in International Falls.

Commissioner Wade Pavleck says the facility is needed and a loan of up to $30 thousand is the best solution.

The city of International is also offering up a loan of up to 30 thousand to the Borderland Humane Society.

Falls Groups Get Funding

Two International Falls organizations are receiving funding from the Minnesota Power Foundation.

Five thousand dollar cheques have been doled out to the Falls Hunger Coalition and to Backus Community Center.

The coalition is using its money to keep its food bank shelves stocked while Backus will uses its gift to support a variety of its programs.

Safeway Store Not Being Sold

The Safeway store in Fort Frances will not be sold off as part of Sobey's takeover of Canada Safeway.

Sobey's spokesperson Andrew Walker says a government regulator has approved the takeover, but ordered Sobey's to sell 23 stores across the country.

None of the stores in northwestern Ontario are impacted.

The $5.8 billion dollar deal is expected to be finalized in early November.

Festival Of Frost Coming Together

A new version of the annual Christmas Parade in Fort Frances is coming together.

The event, renamed the Festival of Frost, and will include a static display of Christmas floats, events with Santa Claus and a food and toy drive.

One of the organizers Robin Payeur says they are getting interest from groups wanting to decorate a float that will be placed in the downtown core.

Payeur says they're also working on a number of other events to coincide with the Festival.

It will take place at the end of November.

Hire A Hitter

Members of the Rainy River Voyageurs men's baseball team are offering up their services.

The "Hire A Hitter" program allows residents in the International Falls area to hire a team member to do work around the house or office.

Money raised offsets travel costs to Florida in the spring.

Call Shelly at 283-3380 if you can help.