Museum Promoted

A new campaign to attract more people to the Fort Frances Museum.

Friends of the Museum chair Duane Hicks says they've developed new cards contained various information about the museum.

Hicks says the cards will be found at a variety of locations, including tourist centres around northwestern Ontario and northern Minnesota.

Hicks says it makes the museum more "sexier" to visitors and hopes it will draw more people in this summer.

Busy Summer Planned For Work Crews

There's going to be a considerable amount of road work around Fort Frances this summer.

A total of seven different projects are scheduled.

Operations and Facilities Manager Doug Brown says the biggest will be a further upgrade to Third Street East between Crowe and Frenette Avenues to place aging infrastructure.

Because of the proximity of Robert Moore School, that work won't start until school ends in June.

The town is also looking at road improvements on Frog Creek Road to its airport and a replacement of some fire hydrants and storm sewer manholes throughout the town.

Fort Frances Budget Delayed

Town of Fort Frances is hoping to finalize its budget by the end of this month.

Council had planned to pass it at its meeting this past week.

Mayor Roy Avis says some recent changes impacting the assessed value of the Resolute Forest Products mill which is being closed played into a delay.


Avis says a previously announced tax increase of half-a-per cent may change, but not by much.

Supreme Court Hearing Clear-Cut Logging Case

The submissions have been made to the Supreme Court over the legality of clear-cut logging on First Nations territory.

It involves a case involving two trappers from the Grassy Narrows First Nation.

Lawyers for the band say the province overstepped its bounds by issuing a forestry license for the area.

The province insists it has legal authority to issue sustainable forest licenses.

All Quiet On the Forest Fire Front

Cool, wet weather is keeping the forest fire situation quiet in northwestern Ontario.

The Ministry of Natural Resources says there have been just seven fires this year, all human caused.

None in the Rainy River district.

Province-wide, there have been 14 fires, compared with 81 at this time last year.

Money For Falls Area In Bonding Bill

File photo

Two projects in the International Falls area are included in a pair of capital investment bills passing through the Minnesota House in voting early this morning.

The more than one-billion dollars in spending includes $8.5 million to bring sewer services to the Island View area near Voyageurs National Park.

Another $2.2 million has been earmarked for an expansion of the International Falls airport terminal.

The Senate is to vote on the bonding bills today.

Election Promises

Progressive Conservatives are planning to reduce the amount of money you pay in personal income taxes.

PC leader Tim Hudak says it will happen once the budget is balanced.

The Tory's have promised to balance the books within two years of taking office.

Provincial Liberals are planning to increase funding for children's treatment centres.

Premier Kathleen Wynne says the extra $5-million dollars will help reduce wait times for families with special needs children and youth seeking services.

It's a re-commitment of a promise made in the failed provincial budget.

The NDP are promising to the hike the minimum wage to $12.00 an hour.

Leader Andrea Horwath says she's also reduce the corporate tax rate paid by small businesses by 1.5 per cent.

Leaders Friday

Premier Kathleen Wynne is focusing on heath care with a visit to a Toronto area hospital and later speaking to close out Nurses Week in the province.

NDP leader Andrea Horwath is in southwestern Ontario with stops in Sarnia, London, Cambridge and Kitchener.

PC Leader Tim Hudak starts his day in Toronto before going to Barrie and Mississauga.

Business Expo Starts

Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce kicks off its business and community expo.

Manager Annely Armstrong says more than 50 exhibitors will be on hand starting at 4 PM at the Memorial Sports Centre.

Some of the vendors are coming from as far away as Manitoba and Iowa.

Admission is $3.00 per person with children under 12 free.

It runs through until tomorrow.

College Grad Today

It's the end of the year for graduating students at Rainy River Community College in International Falls.

The college holds its commencement ceremony today beginning at 1 PM at the College.

A total of 91 students will receive degrees, diplomas or certificates for completion of programs.

Nineteen will received their practical nursing diploma as part of a joint program with Itasca
Community College.

Rentech's Atikokan Plant On Schedule

Rentech says it's on schedule and on budget with its pellet manufacturing plants in Atikokan and Wawa.

The company says it on target to deliver the first order of pellets from its Atikokan plant to Ontario Power Generation and its Atikokan power plant this summer.

The Wawa plant will ship out its first pellets by the end of the year.

New Gold Recognized For Energy Conservation Program

A mining company planning to open a gold mine in the Rainy River district is being recognized for energy conservation efforts at another of its mines.

New Gold is among ten recipients of a federal government sponsored award.

It's for a program in place at its New Afton Mine.

Mill Exhibit Opens

A recognition of the past.

A new exhibit about the mill in Fort Frances is now open at the Fort Frances Museum.

It's opening was intended to be a celebration of 100 years of operation, but curator Sherry George says last week's closure announced dampened that somewhat.

But George says it's still important to recognize the mill and the people who've worked there and helped shape Fort Frances over the past century.

George says while there were hard and bad times, the mill has enjoyed many good times which are showcased in the exhibit.

It will remain at the Museum until August.

Supreme Court Hears Logging-Rights Issue

Logging rights in the Whiskey Jack Forest near Grassy Narrows will be under the microscope today.

 

The Supreme Court is hearing arguments about the legality of clear-cut logging around the First Nations community north of Kenora.

 

The band has long argued a forestry license issued for the area violates their Treaty rights.

Local Candidate Promoting Million Jobs Plan

The Kenora-Rainy River Conservative candidate is out promoting his party's 'Million Jobs' plan.

 

Randy Nickle says there's great potential for northwestern Ontario and believes helping the mining sector is the place to start.

 

Nickle says controlling energy prices will also help attract new business to the north.

NDP MPP Supports New Cabinet Post

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell is supporting her party's plan to create a new cabinet position aimed at helping the province find savings.

 

Campbell says a Minister of Savings and Accountability is an important step towards restoring trust in government.

 

Among its goals is to find savings that equal 0.5 % of the budget on an annual basis.

Greens Promoting Their Platform

The Green party is out with its platform for the 2014 Ontario election.

One of the highlights is spending $4-billion over four years on energy retrofit credits.

Kenora-Rainy River candidate Tim McKillop says energy needs in the north must be addressed.

McKillop adds investing in solar panels will help save northern communities money and eliminate the need of diesel generators.

Leaders Thursday

On the provincial election campaign trail today, Premier Kathleen Wynne campaigns in Walkerton and Waterloo.

NDP leader Andrea Horwath has several media events scheduled in the Toronto area.

PC leader Tim Hudak is travelling around the London and Guelph regions.

I Am Awesome Registration

Registration for the "I Am Awesome" girls retreat is now open.

 

The first 75 girls to register through its website will be eligible to attend the event, this year taking place at Sunny Cove Camp near Fort Frances.

 

Director Renee Martin-Brown says their win in the Aviva Community Fund contest earlier this year has allowed them to for go registration cost, but there is still a fundraising component.

 

A number of art-based workshops will be held aimed at building self-esteem and confidence among the young girls.

 

The camp takes place this September.

Music Of Don Messer Rings Out In Fort Frances

A bit of Don Messer tonight in Fort Frances.

Award-winning Canadian fiddler Scott Woods plays at Knox United Church to help it raise money for its capital improvement project.

Woods says he's happy to lend a hand.

Woods says people attending the show will hear him perform many of the songs Don Messer did on his television show which air for many years on the CBC.

Tickets are still available at Fort Frances General Supply and Brockies Jewellers.