Hydro Rates Go Up

Electricity prices are going up.

Starting May 1st, a typical household using 800 kilowatt hours a month will see the "electricity'' line on their hydro bill increase by nearly six dollars.

Consumers using smart meters - or time-of-use pricing - will see an increase of about four dollars.

The Ontario Energy Board says the changes are due to reduced use of coal, which is being replaced with natural gas, nuclear and renewable energy.

Wood Bill Passes Second Reading

Second reading has passed on a northwestern Ontario MPP's call for wood to be used as a primary construction material in the building of provincially funded buildings.

Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro says it's a step towards helping a beleaguered forestry industry.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell supports the bill in principle, but would like to see it go farther by ensuring Ontario wood is used in that construction.

Rafferty FEDNOR Critic

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty has given some responsibilities in new NDP leader Thomas Mulcair's shadow cabinet.

Rafferty will serve as the party's critic of Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario.

Working For Their Hospital

The Atikokan General Hospital Foundation is getting the help of it's business community to raise money to purchase a cardiac monitor.

A number of businesses participated in an "I'm working for my Hospital" event Friday.

Foundation Chair Cheryl Fairbairn says participants raise money anyway they want.

$5,500 was raised in last year's event.

Cause for Paws Tickets Still Available

Ticket still remains for next week's Cause for Paws event in International Falls.

It's the Borderland Humane Society's biggest fundraiser of the year

Event Chair Kallie Kantos-Fritz says the money is used to keep the animals they have in the care healthy.

Next Saturday's event includes a dinner, an auction and games.

Tickets are still available at City Drugs, Coffee Landing, Rainy River Vet or the United Health Group in the Falls

New Gold District Identified

Rainy River Resources photo

The head of Rainy River Resources believes its stumbled on a whole new gold district in northern Ontario.

The company expects a soon to be released study on its gold project north of Barwick.

President Raymond Threlkeld cautions the revised assessment will show higher capital costs, reflecting increases in labor and materials costs.

The company had previously reported known gold resources to be just below 6-million ounces with the possibility of at least another two million more.

Park Could Expand

Voyageurs National Park could soon be getting larger.

The Voyageurs National Park Association has purchase over 61 acres on the Kempton Channel of Rainy Lake on behalf of the Park.

It includes includes boreal forest and several hundred feet of sand beach shoreline.

The land will eventually be transferred to the National Park Service.

Festival Winners - Thursday

Several multiple winners in the final day of piano competitions at the Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts

Caitlin Sande and Kaylen Cunningham each earned three first place finishes.

Katelyn Bruyere, Kaitlyn Chiasson and Janissa Judson were double winners.

The festival resumes for its final week with vocal performances.

Here is a list of all winner from Thursday.


CLASS P406 Piano Solo, Examination Courses, Popular Selection, Grade 4
1(tie). Samantha Martin - Reflection arranged by Mona Rejino
1(tie). Katelyn Bruyere - Reflection by Matthew Wilder

CLASS P407 Piano Solo, Examination Courses, Own Choice, Grade 4
1. Katelyn Bruyere - La Toupie by Mel Bones
2. Emma Dykstra - Syncopated Dance by Béla Bartok

CLASS P906 Piano Solo, Examination Courses, Popular Selection, Grade 9
1. Caitlin Sande - Bridge Over Troubled Water by Paul Simon

CLASS P806 Piano Solo, Examination Courses, Popular Selection, Grade 8
1. Kaitlyn Chiasson - Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet by Nino Rota
2. Oryn Albanese - Star Wars Main Theme by J. Williams

CLASS P807 Piano Solo, Examination Courses, Own Choice, Grade 8
1. Raymond Polz - Perpetual Motion by A. Previn
2. Kacia Veldhuisen - The Gypsies, Op. 109, No. 4 by J. F. Burgmüller

CLASS P804 Piano Solo, Examination Courses, Post-Romantic or 20th or 21st Century, Grade 8
1(tie). Oryn Albanese - Mysterious Summer’s Night by L. Kuzmenko
1(tie). Sarah Bagacki - Crimson and Pink by Robert Starer
2. Kacia Veldhuisen - Jazz Exercise No. 2 by Oscar Peterson

CLASS P904 Piano Solo, Examination Courses, Post-Romantic or 20th or 21st Century, Grade 9
1. Caitlin Sande - Golliwogg’s Cakewalk by C. Debussy

CLASS P909 Piano Solo, Examination Courses, Quick Study, Grade 9
1. Caitlin Sande

CLASS P809 Piano Solo, Examination Courses, Quick Study, Grade 8
1. Kaitlyn Chiasson
2. Sarah Bagacki

CLASS P023-M Piano Solo, Method Courses, Jazz, Level 2
1(tie). Kaylen Cunningham - Pumpkin Boogie from Faber and Faber
1(tie). Calin Campbell - Coconut Shuffle from Faber and Faber
2. Star Martin - Surfboard Boogie by Martha Mier

CLASS P024-M Piano Solo, Method Courses, Classical, Level 2
1. Mykenzie Borger - Carefree Waltz from Faber and Faber
2. Calin Campbell - Andante from Faber and Faber

CLASS P022-M Piano Solo, Method Courses, Popular, Level 2
1(tie). Kaylen Cunningham - Linus and Lucy from Faber and Faber
1(tie). Janissa Judson - Skip to My Lou from Faber and Faber
2. Naomi Dunn - Home on the Range from Faber and Faber

CLASS P021-M Piano Solo, Method Courses, Children’s Songs, Level 2

1(tie). Kaylen Cunningham - Over the Rainbow from Faber and Faber
1(tie). Janissa Judson - Green Frog Hop from Faber and Faber
2. Brandon Gustafson - Duke of York from Faber and Faber

Demolition of old Hotel Likely

Demolition is the most likely scenario for the shuttered Rainy Lake Hotel in Fort Frances.

Residents, attending a public meeting last Wednesday were told the building in too much disrepair and no one is stepping forward to reopen it for commercial purposes.

Tannis Drysdale, who's working with a committee exploring alternatives, says a market square is a more likely option.

Estimated cost, including demolition, has been pegged at about $1.6 million.

A final report will go to council later this spring.