Many of about 40 people who attended a meeting at the Emo-La Vallee Community Centre on Thursday night spoke in favour of a ban on smoking in enclosed public places. Emo council, Emo Chamber of Commerce president Colleen Vennechenko, business owners, doctors, and even Chapple Coun. Rick Neilson were on […]
Local News
With more than 300 ballots already turned in as of Friday, it’s clear many people have taken the time to name the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship’s new “basscot”—and take a chance to win $100 in “Bass Bucks.” Those wishing to suggest a name still can submit their choice by […]
Confederation College will graduate 36 students this evening but even before ceremony begins, many already have found employment in their new careers. “Our graduates have had great success this year,” said Don Lovisa, manager of the college’s Fort Frances campus. The ceremony, which gets underway at 6 p.m. at the […]
The call is out for written proposals as to how to spend $33,000 to help local families, children, or the less fortunate following the first meeting of the Fort Frances Community Foundation at the Civic Centre last night. About 20 people attended the meeting, during which there was discussion over […]
Are you green, orange, blue, or gold? If you don’t know but are curious to find out, now is the time to sign up for a “True Colors” workshop next Thursday evening at the Fort Frances Volunteer Bureau (in the old CN station). Running from 6:30-9:30 p.m., certified trainer Carol […]
A shortage of qualified supply teachers and classroom space were chief concerns at Tuesday night’s regular monthly meeting of the Northwest Catholic District School Board, with trustees trying to make more from less. A report on the state of supply teachers outlined the use of unqualified substitute teachers—those who have […]
Fort St. Pierre and the Lookout Tower at Pither’s Point will be closed to the public indefinitely—and perhaps permanently—if the necessary repairs have not been made, according to a report by Community Services manager George Bell at Monday night’s council meeting. The news came after a study was carried out […]
For a second year in a row, no election may be needed at Riverside Health Care Facilities Inc.’s annual general meeting next month as no one has stepped forward to sit on its board of directors. “We’re looking for more people,” board chair Craig Sanders said Tuesday, noting the deadline […]
The “Re-Inventing Fort Frances” committee remains hopeful the final piece of its funding puzzle—federal dollars—will fall into place by next month. “We’re all anxiously awaiting,” committee member Susan Bodnarchuk said Tuesday. “We did recently have a little meeting with Jennifer Rasmussen [of FedNor] just to be sure things are in […]
More than two weeks after public service employees returned to work, provincial government offices still are trying to cope with the backlog caused by the almost two-month long strike. “We are working our way through the backlog of work accumulated in the duration of the strike,” said probation and parole […]
Arriving in Fort Frances on the heels of his college graduation, a 21-year-old optometrist settled into a clinic on Scott Street. A half-century later, Dr. Robert Lidkea is still caring for the eyes of the community—and has no plans to quit anytime soon. “I was 21 years old when I […]
The 32-annual Manitou fish fry began with the unveiling of a plaque designating heritage status to the mounds and ended with some 1,000 people lining up to devour almost 400 pounds of walleye and 40 pounds of smoked sturgeon. An assembly line of volunteers battered the fish, tossed the salads, […]







