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 […]
Local News
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, […]
Hundreds of vehicles hauling boats and filled with fishing gear passed through Canada Customs here last weekend without incident—and officials are citing shorter waits for those entering the country. “We certainly didn’t have huge line-ups,” said Kent Campbell, acting superintendent for Canada Customs and Immigration here. “There wasn’t a time […]
With even more teams signed up than last year’s inaugural event, the second-annual “Relay for Life,” set to go June 21-22 at Pither’s Point Park, is well on its way to meeting the $80,000 goal. So far, 36 teams (10-12 people each) have signed up for the fundraiser for cancer […]
Health and Long-Term Care minister Tony Clement announced last Wednesday the Ontario government is investing $60,000 in Rainy River District as part of $10 million in special grants to improve land ambulance services across the province. “Our government is committed to helping municipalities provide quality ambulance services,” Clement said in […]
The arts community on both sides of the border is prepared to fight to keep the Alexander Baker-Backus School complex in International Falls open, protecting the largest auditorium in the area. More than 100 people gathered at Falls High School on Monday night for a public hearing before the Independent […]
The shortage of qualified substitute teachers tops the regular monthly meeting of the Northwest Catholic District School Board on Tuesday night. “We are concerned that we don’t have sufficient qualified teachers in supply to cover the days of supply teachers we need,” education director John Madigan said Tuesday morning. Trustees […]
The town is striking up the “Fort Frances Community Foundation” to decide what to do with $33,000—and the public is welcome to attend a meeting Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Civic Centre to get involved. “The response has been a little low, but the meeting is going ahead for […]
Although only seven blazes have been reported in the Fort Frances District since the fire season officially began April 1, Ministry of Natural Resources FireRanger crews are keeping on their toes. “The spring continues to be cooler that normal. What that does is extend our spring fire season,” said Matt […]
Youth from across Treaty 3 will be attending the second-annual Festival of Arts for Aboriginal Youth coming up May 22-25 at the Nanicost building here. “It’s going to be wonderful,” said co-ordinator Denise Bluebird. “We’ll have workshops ranging from traditional teaching and drumming all the way to graphic arts, fashion, […]
