Christmas Kettles Need To Be Filled

The Salvation Army is appealing for help.

It's launched its Christmas Kettle campaign in Fort Frances with the aim of raising at least $15-thousand.

Lieutenant Dennis Maybury says the money helps with its Christmas hamper program.

Maybury says they are also still looking for volunteers to ring the Kettles that are located at Walmart, Canada Safeway, the LCBO and Canadian Tire.

Smaller kettles have been set up at Boston Pizza and the Place.

Change In Delivery OF Child Welfare Services

First Nations people living off reserve in the Rainy River District will now access child welfare services through  Weechi-it-te-win Family Services.

Weechi-it-te-win will formally signed an agreement with the Kenora and Rainy River District Child and Family Services Friday.

The District agency's executive director Bill Leonard says it's a very important move.

Leonard says the agreement was the original goal of the Weechi-it-te-win since it's creation 30 years ago.

Organizers Happy With Festival of Frost

It was a little smaller than expected, but organizers of the Festival of Frost in Fort Frances are happy with the outcome.

About ten different groups set up displays along Scott Street Saturday.

One of the organizers Robin Payeur was pleased with the creativity.

Payeur says they will now access the event, but expects it to return next year.

I Am Awesome Seeks Public Support

Organizers of a girls' retreat are hoping to sustain local support as it vies for funding in the Aviva Community fund.

The I Am Awesome (And I Know It) retreat is into the semi-final round of voting whic begins at 11 A.M.

Organizer Rene Martin-Brown says while they finished strong in preliminary voting, they still need the public's help in getting to the finals.

The group is one of 30 entries competing for funding in the small project category.

Top ten move on to the finals.

You can cast a vote by clicking this link.

Stand Off Ends Peacefully

A 28-year-old man has been arrested following a 14-hour standoff at a home in Frenchman's Head, near Sioux Lookout.

OPP says it began midnight Sunday, ending late yesterday afternoon, forcing other homes around the area to be evacuated.

The man was eventually arrested by police without incident.

Policing Costs Expected To Rise

Fort Frances could be paying a lot more for policing in 2014.

Estimates from the OPP peg the cost at more than $2.8 million.

That's over $200-thousand more than what was estimated for this year and $300-thousand more than what the town actually paid in 2012.

An 8.5 per cent raise for officers that kicks in next year is identified as the chief reason for the increase.

Fewer Charges Laid In Fort Frances

OPP continue to lay fewer charges in Fort Frances than they did last year.

Statistics released show just over 900 charges being laid between January and October.

That's about 150 less than during the same period in 2012.

Traffic offences and charges related to the criminal code account for over two-thirds of those charges.

PSAC Wins Key Ruling

A land mark decision by the Canadian Industrial Labour Relations Board could have an impact on the Treaty Three Police Service.

Earlier this week, the Board ruled that the Public Service Alliance of Canada can represent the officers with the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service.

Union spokesperson Sharon DeSousa a similar hearing is scheduled with Treaty Three in January.

PSAC says if Treaty Three Police accept the Labour Board's ruling, they can begin working on outstanding grievances and bargaining on a new contract for the officers. 

Thefts On the Rise

Fort Frances is seeing an increase in thefts.

OPP responded to 18 calls in October, up from 12 the month before.

Some of the items targeted by thieves included fishing rods, bicycles and a snowmobile which was recovered.

Driver Charged

A 30-year-old resident of Sabaskong First Nation heads to court on a charge of impaired driving.

OPP charged the driver Thursday after noticing a vehicle stopped on Highway 71 south of Nestor Falls blocking traffic.

Snomobile Club Needs More Support

The Borderland Snowmobile Club says it needs more snowmobilers to purchase trail permits to survive.

President Dave Goodman says last year the club sold about 80 permits, but needs at least 170 sales this season to operate and maintain its nearly 500 kilometer trail network.

Last year the club spent almost $20,000 grooming trails, but collected just $15,000 in revenues.

Goodman says they did get a good start to this season with pre-sales that helped attract some new people and former users back to the trail system.

Man aCharged In Year-old Fort Frances Murder

A 26-year-old Seine River First Nation man has been arrested on a charge of second degree murder in the connection with last year's death of 45-year-old Leo Whitecrow.

The charge against Peter Deafy comes more than a year after Whitecrow's body was discovered inside a room at the Mid-Town Motel in Fort Frances

OPP Sergeant Shelly Garr won't say why it took so long, but it's not unusual.

The cause of Whitecrow's death has not yet revealed.

Impaired Drivers Nabbed

Some motorists will be visiting court rooms in the near future on impaired driving related charges.

A 24-year-old Thunder Bay man has been charged Tuesday following a single vehicle accident on Highway 622, just north of Atikokan.

OPP handed out a 3-day driver license suspension to one driver during a RIDE program check last Thursday in Atikokan.

Police also found a small amount of marijuana in another vehicle.

A 20-year-old Fort Frances man has been charged with failing to provide a breath sample after OPP checked a vehicle parked in a parking lot of a Fort Frances business on Kings Highway, also last Thursday.

Caliper Lake To Re-open

Caliper Lake Provincial Park is going to get a second chance at life.

Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls town council has agreed to take over the operations of the park from the province.

It was closed by the province last year.


Mayor Bill Thompson says the township, which already operates Sioux Narrows Park, is hoping to offset costs by using fewer staff and allowing seasonal rates for campsites.

Fire Department Receives Funding

Union Gas is lending a hand to the Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Service.

The gas utility has awarded the department a grant of 25-hundred dollars toward its emergency training program.

The Fire and Rescue Service is in the process of improving its training site at the Fort Frances airport so it can enhance training for firefighters from across the region.

Emo Arena Upgrades

Some funding to upgrade the arena in Emo.

Over 43-thousand dollars from the Ontario Trillium Foundation will be used to renovate and purchase equipment to help make the Emo-LaVallee Community Centre more accessible.