Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Ban Remains in Place

A ban on open fires within Rainy River district municipalities will remain in place for a little while longer.

The Ministry of Natural Resources says with minimal rain in the forecast and conditions to be windy and dry for the next few days, it's asked area municipalities to maintain their declared burning bans for now.

The ban has been in place since March 29 after area fire departments were called upon to deal with a rash of grass fires.

Phone Scam Warning


Bell Canada is warning residents of a possible scam effecting its customers.

It comes after an Ignace resident received a call from someone claiming to be with the company advising they would be sent a new cell phone if they provided their name, date of birth and Social Insurance Number.

The victim never received a new phone.

OPP remind residents never to give out personal information over the phone.

Hydro Rates Dropping in Atikokan


Atikokan Hydro customers will be paying less for power starting May 1.

The Ontario Energy Board has approved new electricity distribution rates that will see the delivery fees on customer's bills drop by 7-point-9 per cent.

Customers using 800 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month will pay $116.00.

Festival Results Day 2


The second day piano competitions at the Rainy River District Festival of the Arts resulted in just one multiple winner.

Ursula Chojko-Bolec picked up two first place finishes for her performances of Over the Rainbow and Chopin's Nocturne in C-sharp minor.

Competitions resume this afternoon at the Townsend Theatre and tonight at Knox United Church.
Here is a list of all winners from day 2 of the festival.
FESTIVAL RESULTS, PIANO DIVISION, Tuesday, April 13, 2010

CLASS P606
First – Kaitlyn Chiasson
Second – Sarah Bagacki
CLASS P706
First – Anika Alexander
Second – Audrey Chojko-Bolec
CLASS P806
First – Caitlin Sande
CLASS P906
First – (TIE) Cameo Harrison and Chelsea Carlson
CLASS P1004
First – Alicia Adair
Second – Christina Empey
CLASS P904
First – Ursula Chojko-Bolec
Second – Rachel Lipinski
CLASS P903
First – Ursula Chojko-Bolec
Second – Meagan Empey
CLASS P022
First – (TIE) Alina Eldridge and Alexa Veldhuisen
Second – Jenna Mack
CLASS P101
First – Caitlin Rittau
Second – Judy Wu
CLASS P103
First – Katelyn Bruyere
Second - (TIE) Alyssa Chiasson and Paris Bell-Faith Gauthier
CLASS P201
First – Justis Paul-Emile Gauthier
Second – Cara Josephine Sane
CLASS P203
First – Cara Josephine Sane
Second – Justis Paul-Emile Gauthier
CLASS P207
First – Alice Ash Johnston
Second – Cara Josephine Sane

Quest Returns to Bass Championship

(Left: B-93's Randy Thoms and Christa Pare hosting 2009 Quest for the Best)


Quest for the Best will again be a part of the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship.

The popular singing contest moved last year to the end of June, but was met with a less than expected audience.

Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce manager Anthony Mason says they're again hoping to capitalize on the Bass tournament's popularity.

"Everybody knows about the Bass tournament," says Mason. "They already have the people coming. As long as we put on a good event, then people will show up."

Mason says planning for Quest will happen following this year's Home and Leisure Show.

Search for Local Business Opportunities


The Rainy River Future Development Corporation is looking for local opportunities in Minnesota's Iron Range area.

Client Manager Manager Geoff Gillon says they're working with the Northern Networks Trade Conference on how to benefit from the expansion of the mining industry in that area.

"SR Steel is going to spend about $4 billion," says Gillon, "but the total expenditure in the Iron Range between now and 2014 is somewhere around $6.5 billion. That's basically at our door step as far as the business community is concerned and we need to know more about how to access opportunities down there."

Gillon says they're also looking at opportunities in the Greater Toronto area.

Burning Ban Decision Today

A lifting of the ban on open-air burning within Rainy River district municipalities could come as early as today.

Area municipal fire departments jointly imposed the ban at the end of March in response to an outbreak of several grass fires within their communities.

The MNR is to access the fire hazard today to determine if the ban is still needed.

New Role for Native Leader


The province has appointed former Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief John Beaucage to help it address the needs of aboriginal children and youth.

Beaucage will give the province advice on aboriginal child welfare issues for one year.

He'll also help with discussions between the government and First Nations leaders.

Community Garden Planned


The town of Rainy River is starting a community garden.

Andrew Hartnell says they're working with the Northwestern Health Unit in getting the garden started.

"We've just started this last year," says Hartnell. "We built our shed and got the garden going and it will be in full swing this summer."

Hartnell says prospective gardeners can contact the Health Unit in Rainy River to participate.

It will be set up on land near Riverview School.

A similar project is planned in Fort Frances in the town's north end.

New Chaplain

There will be new Chaplain at Rainycrest Long Term Care.

Reverend Wayne McIntosh replaces the Fort Frances home's long-time Chaplain John Chornoby.

McIntosh is Pastor at St. John's Anglican Church in Fort Frances.

Film in Festival

A Fort Frances independent film producer is taking his latest production on the film festival circuit.

Andrew George's "A Good Indian" looks at the issue of racism, and he's now entered it in an on-line festival.

"It's on Babelgum," says George. "Babelgum Film Festival was started a few years ago by Spike Lee. It's been pretty popular so I uploaded it there and it's been doing well. It's been in the top ten of views for the past week. Go check it out and rate it. The rating is really the big thing."

George says he's hoping to take the 8-minute film to more traditional festivals in the future.

To watch this video go to: http://www.babelgum.com/5000616/good-indian.html

Highway Expansion Plans Announced

The province has announced its planned for a partial twinning the Trans Canada highway between Thunder Bay and Nipigon.

Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle says work will start this year on the first phase of twinning the highway.

Once all phases are complete, a continuous 33-kilometre four-lane divided highway heading east out of Thunder Bay, costing one-billion dollars, will be in place.

Motorboat Fines

Four American residents have been fined a total of $1,000 for using a motorboat in Quetico Provincial Park.

The men were charged last May after MNR Conservation officers came across them leaving the park with their boat and motor in tow.

Motorboats are not permitted in Quetico, except in the Lac La Croix and Beaverhouse area.

Atikokan Museum Grant

Some provincial support for the Atikokan Centennial Museum.

The museum will use just over 17-thousand dollars towards its operations.

The money is through a government program that provides annual funding to museums to support Ontario’s heritage.