USA Out Pulls Canada

Greg Coleman (r) with trophy

Advantage International Falls.

The Americans took every event in the annual Pulling For Peace Tug of War with Fort Frances.

While relishing in the win, Falls Mayor Bob Anderson says it's a great event for both sides of the border.

Fort Mayor Roy Avis says everyone worked hard for peace in both countries.

Celebrities Help Pull For Peace

Sarah Campbell photo

There were celebrities on both sides of the border involved in tug of war.

Former Ontario Strongman champion Luke Skaarup was among those on the rope for the Fort Frances celebrity team.

The Falls celebrity team was dominated by a number of former Minnesota Vikings.

Former punter and now broadcast Greg Coleman says the event was a great way to boost the pride of communities who've taken a hit economically with recent downsizing of their major employers.

U.S. Consulate General Visit

FFCC photo

Canada's U.S. Consulate General is in the area to take part this week's festivities both in Fort Frances and International Falls.

Jamshed Merchant says it's given him a good perspective of the relationships enjoyed by the two communities.

He says his participation in the tug of war showed him the closeness of Fort Frances with International Falls.

Merchant is also meeting with elected officials to discuss mutual concerns.

New Faces To Riverside Board

There are some new faces to Riverside Health Care's Board of Directors.

Janice Beazley of Fort Frances and Doug Robinson of Rainy River have been appointed to the board for three years teams.

Carol Hyatt, representing the Emo area, joins for a one year term.

Marlis Bruyere and Norma Elliott, who serves as vice-chair, also return to the health care system’s governing body.

Michelle Marinaro remains as Chair

Help With Technology Offered

Seniors struggling with their cellphone or e-reader can turn to the Fort Frances Public Library and Technology Centre for help.

The Library is hosting a tech boot camp each Wednesday this summer.

Cameron Penny will among staff ready to answer any question.

People can bring their devices and questions to the Library from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday afternoons until the end of August.

Moose Triggers Three Vehicle Accident

No injuries following an accident east of Atikokan involving three vehicles.

OPP says a vehicle first hit a moose on Highway 11 near Sapawe, early yesterday morning.

A second vehicle stopped to assist when a transport struck both vehicles causing one to burst into flames.

The highway was closed for a short period of time.

Busy Weekend For OPP

A busy long weekend for OPP officers in the Rainy River district.

Police responded to 105 calls.

It included an assault of a woman at home on Fourth Street in Fort Frances Saturday night.

A 35-year-old woman faces charges.

Police are also investigating three break-ins, two at garages of homes on Christie Avenue where alcohol and a bicycle were taken.

Another happened at a cabin on Murdock Lake where an outboard motor, a chainsaw and other tools were removed.

OPP also nabbed three area motorists for driving while impaired.

Smokey Sky Not Worrisome

MNR file photo

The Ministry of Natural Resources says local residents shouldn't be too concerned about smoke that has been drifting into some parts of northwestern Ontario over the weekend.

Hazy, smoky conditions were reported in several communities.

The MNR says the smoke is from forest fires that are burning in northern Manitoba and even the Northwest Territories.

Despite very hot, dry conditions over the weekend, the MNR says there was not much in the way of fire activity, but the hazard has jumped into the high to extreme range across the northwest.

Ontario Names Ring Of Fire Negotiator

Ontario is putting former Supreme Court of Canada Justice Frank Iacobucci in charge of negotiations in the Ring of Fire.

Iacobucci will represent the province's interests in negotiations with Mattawa Chiefs negotiator Bob Rae.

He'll also report directly to Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle.

Dragon Boat Festival Success

There was plenty of Canadian pride in the Rainy River District as area residents gathered to celebrate Canada's birthday.

In Fort Frances, many took in the Boundary Waters Dragon Boat Festival.

Organizer Jenny Greenhalgh is pleased how the event, now in its second years, has grown.

Thirteen teams participated, almost doubling last year's entries.


Greenhalgh says tremendous support from sponsors and volunteers also helped make the event a success.

Dragon Boat Winners

It was a team representing the Fort Frances Dental Centre that came out on top of the Dragon Boat Festival.

Spokesperson for Dragon's Breath Lindy Coile says it was a challenge from Gillon's Insurance that got them involved.

The team beat out Smokey's Bears,  team representing the Ministry of Natural Resources, in the final.

BP Royalties,  representing Boston Pizza, finished third overall.

Fort Frances Makes The Final 20

Fort Frances is into the finals of the Kraft Celebration Tour.

The town was selected to be among twenty communities to advance for the right to earn $25-thousand and a chance to host a segment of TSN's Sportscentre.

It was nominated on two separate bids by the Fort Frances Curling Club.

The town will go head-to-head with Dryden on July 19 in a public vote.

New Duties For Former Teacher

A former Fort Frances High School teacher now has some new duties.

Paul Elliot assumes the presidency of the Ontario Secondary Schools Teachers' Federation.

Elliot was elected to the post early this spring.

He's been on a leave of absence from teaching since elected to the OSSTF executive in 2005.

Stolen Vehicle Investigated

OPP are looking into the theft of a vehicle in Atikokan they believe was in an accident.

Police says the GMC half tonne was taken from a Mercury Avenue East Home early Friday morning.

The vehicle was returned, but brought back to a neighbour's yard with damage.

New Bus Touring Northwestern Ontario

Regional Cancer Care Northwest is hitting the road this month to showcase its new and improved bus.

Spokesperson Alison McMullen says the bus allows for screening for colon, breast and cervical cancer  to women 50-years of age and old in their own communities.

The bus begin its travels July 15 with stops in Dryden, Ear Falls and Red Lake.

New Administrator For Rainycrest

There will be a new administrator for Rainycrest Long-Term Care Home in Fort Frances.

Darryl Galusha will take over from Edith Bodnar July 15th.

He also becomes director responsible for Senior’s Services with Riverside Health Care Facilities.

Bodnar is retiring, but delayed her departure so Riverside could complete its hiring process.

Galusha is original from Fort Frances and is current an assistance administrator with the District of Kenora Home for the Aged.

Hydro Outages

A pair of power outages in the Rainy river district have been resolved.

One impacted about 446 Hydro One customers in the Mine Centre area.

Another 141 people in the Nestor Falls area were impacted in the second.

Power went out to both area earlier this morning.

MNR Watching Lightning Strikes

The Ministry of Natural Resources is watching closely storms passing through the Rainy River district.

The MNR says its lightning locator system recorded a high level of lightning strike activity with heavy concentrations around Atikokan.

The strikes are being monitored to see if they lead to any new forest fires.

There hasn't been a forest fire in the Rainy River district since early June.

Regional Partnership Recommendation For Agri-Food Sector

A new report recommendations a need for great regional partnerships in northern Ontario's agri-food sector.

The report by two Lakehead University researchers was done as part of a much larger review of farmers’ markets, co-ops and other sustainable food programs province wide.

Co-author of the northern Ontario report Mirella Stroink says greater collaboration would strengthen those groups who now struggle with issues around funding, marketing and administrative support.

The researchers also see a need for some policies that help improve access and marketing of foods found in the forest such blueberries and maple syrup.

Parade Welcoming More Entries

There's still time to get a float ready for this year's Canada Day parade in Fort Frances.

It's being organized by the Rainy River Future Development Corporation.

Student intern Nicole Mueller says they have about twenty entrants so far and will welcome more participants right up to Parade Day.


This year's theme "There's something in the Water" ties in with this year's Dragon Boat Festival.