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An early celebration of Canada Day in Emo. The Borderland Racing Association, with support from the Rainy River Valley District Agricultural Society and the township of Emo, will host a pre-Canada Day event on Sunday. Board member Darren Derendorf says several family activities will take place on the fairgrounds. "...

A mining exploration company working in the Nestor Falls area reports strong gold finds. Alberta-based Golden Rapture Mining says it is identified in samples from its Phillips Township property. A total of 22 samples were tested. "I am extremely pleased that we have just made rapid steps toward identifying additio...

The District of Rainy River Services Board (DRRSB) is rewarding four area students with $500 each. The money is part of a bursary program aimed at students considering a career in fields within the Services Board. This year's winners are Jade Bellluz and Lilly Jourdain from Fort Frances High School, Matteo Ferreira fro...

Canada Day activities in Fort Frances will include a parade. Organizers were worried they would not have enough participants. Beyak Automotive Group is spearheading the Canada Day event and spokesperson Holly Kaemingh says a few more groups and organizers registered earlier this week. "We are having the parade. Th...

The Rainy River District School Board will spend almost $64 million on the education of its students in the next school year. That is an increase of more than $3.7 million but also reflects an increase in provincial funding by almost the same amount. No money is being drawn out of the Board's surplus. The budget reflec...

Library workers in Fort Frances have unionized, The thirteen full and part-time employees voted to join the Canadian Union of Public Employees, The decision was based on issues with management, budget cuts and reduced hours. "This has been a long time coming and we're excited to start our collective bargaining pro...

A Thunder Bay firm has been selected to replace an aging pedestrian bridge in Atikokan. Town council awarded the contract to replace the bridge at Maple Crescent to Pete's Backhoe Service. The all-steel bridge will cost the town just over $233,000. Public Works Director Tyler Dziarmaga says the contractor says they sho...

Organizers for this year's Canada Day fireworks display will receive a little extra money from the town of Fort Frances. They requested $5,000. Council agreed to $2,000. The money will come from council's public relations account. Councillor Mike Behan was okay with the unbudgeted expense. "You see these unbudgete...

There is a push to have the province reassume policing costs in small, rural areas. The request from the Municipality of Tweed would not impact those on contracts such as Fort Frances. Mayor Andrew Hallikas says the government still needs to take action with soaring costs. "I believe the amount that we're paying f...

A reopening of the pool at the Memorial Sports Centre may not be that far away. It has undergone extensive renovations since last November. Operations and Facilities Manager Travis Rob says some work still needs to be done. "The remaining work, as of right now, is to finish up the new guards on the viewing area, i...

An Ontario court is being asked to quash an Integrity Commissioner's report that led to a Fort Frances councillor resigning in May. The report ruled David Kircher breached several sections of the Council Code of Conduct. It recommended he face a suspension and make a public apology. Kircher left the council meeting aft...

An early provincial election is not on Greg Rickford's mind. There is speculation Premier Ford may pull the plug as early as next spring. The Ontario Liberals have started to name candidates while the NDP is busy putting its campaign team in place. Kenora-Rainy River M-P-P says it is business as usual for him. "Th...

There will be a strong student voice around the Rainy River District School Board table in September. For the first time, there will be three student trustees. Education Director Heather Campbell says one will act as a voice for their Indigenous students. "And we see their role as not only serving on the student s...

The splash park in Fort Frances is now open. Dignitaries gathered Sunday to officially open official opening at Legion Park which also includes new playground equipment and washrooms. Festivities took place in the rain but that did not prevent a number of people from joining in the celebration. Mayor Andrew Hallikas ex...

No injuries following a houseboat fire on Rainy Lake. Ontario Provincial Police posted on their Facebook page that it occurred Saturday near Goose Portage. A photo showed the boat completely engulfed in flames. The boat was complete destroyed but its occupants managed to escape. No word on the cause.

Two road projects planned for Fort Frances this year may not happen. Town council is expected to discuss, at their meeting tonight, an administration report that recommends the improvements to Third Street West between Central and York Avenues and Scott Street between Reid and Mosher Avenues be delayed until 2025. Admi...

A new steel walking bridge is proposed in Atikokan. It would replace an existing one at Maple Crescent that crosses the Atikokan River. A 2023 inspection found it and one at Main Street to be in severe states of deterioration. Both bridge were closed at the beginning of June. Council agreed to replace the Maple Cres. b...

A yearlong investigation into illegal moose hunting in northwestern Ontario has resulted in $56,500 in fines. A total of 11 people and one business were charged and face 27 years' worth of hunting license suspensions. The investigation centered around Eagle, Chase and Snowshoe Lake and took place between October of 202...

A 33 year old man has been charged with 2nd degree murder in connection to a death on the Wabaseemoong Independent Nation. Emergency Medical Services responded to a person in medical distress on Friday. He subsequently died. The victim has been identified as 34 year old Carl Lee Jamieson Junior. A post-mortem exam will...

Fort Frances town council is being asked to consider donating more to the Canada Day fireworks display. The town makes an annual contribution of $7,500. But organizers say while the town's contribution has remained stable, the cost of putting on the display has more than doubled to over $22,000 in the past twenty years...