Memorandum Of Understanding Signed

A junior mining company looking for gold in the Atikokan area has signed a memorandum of understanding with an area First Nation.

Bold Venture's agreement with Lac Des Milles Lac First Nation pertains to its Wilcorp Gold project, located about 14 kilometres northeast of Atikokan.

Executive vice-president president David Graham says it sets out certain guidelines

Graham says the project is still in its infancy and when any actual drilling takes place is still to be determined.

U.S. Colleges Hold Information Session

Students thinking of going to nearby U.S. colleges can learn more about the opportunities available.

Officials with Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College will hold an information session in International Falls today.

They will be at the AmericInn from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. this afternoon.

Shoe Boxes Due Back This Week

If you obtained a shoe box as part of Operation Christmas Child, it's time to return it.

Quetico North in Atikokan, The Bargain Shop, Lowery's and Bethel Baptist Church in Fort Frances, Tompkins Hardware, Cloverleaf Family Foods and Calvary Baptist Church in Emo and Kreger Sales and Service in Rainy River have been designated drop off spots.

The boxes, to be filled with a variety of toys, school supplies and hygiene items, will eventually go to children in Central and South America.

Safe Schools Program At Catholic Schools

New security measures at catholic schools across the region go in place next month.

Beginning December 2nd, the front doors of all Northwest Catholic District School Board schools will be locked with cameras and buzzers installed to monitor who's accessing the school.

Education director with the Northwest Catholic District School Board Rick Boisvert says it enhances what they already do.

The measures follow those put in place last month at public elementary schools in the Rainy River District.

Horwath Visits Fort Frances

A visit to Fort Frances by Ontario's NDP Leader.

Andrea Horwath met for about 30 minutes with members of the Assisted Living Action Group who outlined to her their proposal to develop an assisted living facility in the Fort Frances area.

She later attended a party fundraiser.

Earlier in the day she was in Thunder Bay where she called on the Premier Kathleen Wynne to help communities struggling with property tax reassessments.

Horwath says it's unaceptable for communities to bleed taxpayers dry for decisions made by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation.

NDP Pans Bear Hunting Plan

The Ontario Government is once again allowing the hunting of bears this spring, but not in the Rainy River district.

A limited hunt will be offered over the next two springs in certain parts of the north, including areas around Thunder Bay.

NDP critic John Vanthof says it's really a step backwards given that all communities in the north aren't eligible to participate.

The hunt will also be open only to Ontario residents.

Wear Purple

Area residents are being encouraged to wear purple today.

It's part of the Shine the Light Campaign being promoted by Riverside Community Counseling as part of Women Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month.

The campaign aims to raise awareness of woman abuse

Area businesses have also been asked to dress up their window displays in purple in support of the cause.

Area Woman Appears In Farming Calender

A familiar face to the Rainy River district's agricultural community is among those in a calender promoting the faces of farming in Ontario.

Kim Jo-Bliss, who manages the Emo Agricultural Research Station and her great uncle's farm, was selected during the summer to participate in the 2014 edition put out by Farm and Food Care Ontario.

Bliss and her story can be found on September of the calender available through her.

Bliss is the first from northwestern Ontario to be included in annual calender.

Limited Spring Bear Hunt Planned

Supplied photo

It will be legal to hunt bear in the spring again in some parts of Ontario.

The province will conduct a two-year hunt in eight different wildlife management units in and around the communities of Timmins, Thunder Bay, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie and North Bay.

Natural Resources Minister David Orazetti says the initiative is a response to nuisance bear complaints by some municipalities this past year.

The hunt would be open only to Ontario residents with bear cubs and females off limits.

Fewer Deer Taken By Hunters

Fewer deer are being shot by Minnesota hunters this season.

The Department of Natural Resources says hunters harvested 77-thousand deer in the first three days of the State's firearms season.

That's down 8 per cent from last year's numbers.

The DNR still expects the final 2013 harvest to be similar to last year when about 185-thousand deer were taken.

Province Seeks Pipeline Hearings

The Ontario government is asking the Ontario Energy Board to hold public consultations on the proposed Energy East Pipeline.

A release from the province says it acknowledges the potential economic benefits of the proposed pipeline, but adds the consultation process will provide an opportunity for all Ontarians to share views on the proposal.

The findings will form the basis of a submission to the National Energy Board which has jurisdiction over the project.

Students Want Minimum Wage Increased

Students are the latest to call for a jump in Ontario's minimum wage to 14-dollars an hour.

Chair of the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario Alastair Woods says coupled with high tuition fees, low wages make it increasingly difficult for students and their families to pay for post-secondary education.

Woods says by raising the minimum wage, the government would immediately improve the lives of students and youth.

Mine Centre Place 3rd In CardBoard Boat Competition

Students at an area school are some of the best builders of cardboard boats.

A group from Mine Centre School placed third at a regional Elementary Cardboard Boat race in Dryden.

The team included students Prudence Kabatay, Ziggy Skead, Reed Dennis and Ryan Stewart with guidance from teacher Barb Dennis.

Hospital Employee Charged

An Atikokan hospital employee is facing charges in connection with the theft of prescription medication from the hospital's pharmacy.

39-year-old Cynthia Carolyn King will appear in Atikokan Court December 12 on charges of theft and breach of trust.

The charges stem from an OPP investigation that began in April 2012 when hospital administration notified police of missing medication from the pharmacy.

Missing Youth Sought

OPP are seeking the public's help in locating a missing 15 year old girl.

Adrianna Copenance was last seen leaving LaVerendrye hospital in Fort Frances Monday evening.

She is described as being 5'2", 110 pounds with shoulder length dyed auburn hair and brown eyes.

She was last seen wearing eye glasses with thick black frames, dark blue jeans, white DC shoes with neon yellow laces, a grey coat and dark grey hoodie.

Crash Victims Identified

A funeral home in Red Lake has identified the victims of Sunday's plane crash in that community.

The Herold Funeral Home says separate memorial services for 64-year-old Sharon Taylor, 53-year-old Peter Struk and 53-year-old Anna Johannesson will be held this weekend.

Two pilots, who are believed to be residents of Winnipeg, also died in the crash.

More Smoking Bans Proposed

There could be fewer places to smoke in the near future.

Ontario's Health Minister Deb Mathews says she intends to introduce legislation that will prohibit smoking on playgrounds, sports fields, and restaurant and bar patios.

Smoking is already banned inside eating establishments.

The proposed legislation will also ban the sale of flavoured tobacco products and increase fines for those caught selling tobacco to youth.

Mill Celebrations Planned

There are plans to celebrate the 100th anniversary of opening of the Fort Frances mill.

The Fort Frances Museum is in the process of putting together a committee to help celebrate next year.

Curator Sherry George says it's a part of the community that deserves to be recognized.

George says part of the celebration will include a display at the museum.

She's also hoping to include other groups, such as schools.

Former Mining Ex Moves On

A former Rainy River Resources executive has found new employment.

Michael Mutchler has been hired on by Largo Resources as its Chief Operating Officer.

Mutchler held the same post with Rainy River Resources which has since been acquired by New Gold.

Falls Parade Seeking Participants

Falls Chamber photo

Preparations are underway for the 'Twas the Lights Before Christmas Parade in International Falls.

It takes place the evening of November 29.

Falls Chamber president Faye Whitbeck says they're now accepting entries.

Call the Falls Chamber to register.

Canadian participants are welcome.