Power restored after temporary outage
A storm wreaked havoc here last night causing thousands of district and town residents to lose their power.
“Mother Nature did a number on us,” said Joerg Ruppenstein, president and CEO of the Fort Frances Power Corp. (FFPC).
High winds brought several trees crashing down, resulting in damaged hydro lines, causing the blackout.
More new fires sparked across region
There were 15 new fires confirmed in the region by yesterday afternoon, including one new blaze in the district.
Fort Frances fire #70 is “not under control” at 0.1 hectares and is located near Entwine Lake, approximately 88 kilometres northeast of Fort Frances. It was started by lightning.
Human remains ID'd
Members of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) located human remains in the Dryden area.
The Office of the Chief Coroner has been engaged and a post mortem examination began in Toronto last week.
The remains have been positively identified as Henry Stone-Arnold, 28 years-old, of Dryden who had been reported missing earlier this month.
Cutting up tree
Crews from the Town of Fort Frances were seen working quickly to clean up the debris scattered throughout town this morning from last night's thunderstorm. A severe thunderstorm warning was in effect last night by Environment Canada, as an area of thunderstorms from the Dakotas and Minnesota were making their way northeastward into northern Ontario.
Upside down plane
Those driving over the Noden Causeway this morning might have seen the oddity of a float plane flipped upside down after a thunderstorm barrelled through Fort Frances and surrounding area last night.
Thumbs up
Local MPP Greg Rickford held a big thumbs up with members of the OPP and town council inside the Civic Centre last Friday after making an announcement regarding the new $18-million OPP detachment that is being built on 200 McIrvine Road. The official construction start date is May 6, 2019. Be sure to check out this Wednesday's Times for more details.
Fish fry fans
Sheri De Gagne, left, and Sue Drew enjoyed some freshly-fried fish at Sunny Cove Camp's Russel Hall last Friday in support of the Watten Fire Department. Those who attended enjoyed an “all you can eat” fish and chip dinner.
Feds to revamp Phoenix
OTTAWA—Angry civil servants protested the Phoenix pay system debacle outside a federal Liberal cabinet retreat Thursday as the Trudeau government declared it would soon be taking an “entirely different approach” to how its employees get paid.
Crude oil exports increase
CALGARY—The National Energy Board says crude-by-rail exports from Canada set another record in June, rising to 204,558 barrels per day.
That's up almost three percent from 198,800 in May and 86 percent from 109,500 in June 2017.
Mind-altering breast milk? New pot study poses that question
CHICAGO — Marijuana’s main mind-altering ingredient was detected in nursing mothers’ breast milk in a small study that comes amid evidence that more U.S. women are using pot during pregnancy and afterward.
Experts say the ingredient, THC, has chemical properties that could allow it to disrupt brain development and potentially cause harm, although solid evidence of that is lacking.
Aspirin disappoints for avoiding first heart attack, stroke
Taking a low-dose aspirin every day has long been known to cut the chances of another heart attack, stroke or other heart problem in people who already have had one, but the risks don’t outweigh the benefits for most other folks, major new research finds.
Estrada struggles as Jays lose to Philly
TORONTO—Hampered by a back injury, Marco Estrada struggled through his start yesterday.
Estrada (7-10) surrendered five earned runs on seven hits and walked four over parts of just three innings as the Toronto Blue Jays fell 8-3 to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Haley wins playoff opener
BOWMANVILLE, Ont.—Justin Haley took the lead after Noah Gragson and Todd Gilliland collided on the final turn in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series playoff opener yesterday at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
Roughriders take tight game over B.C. Lions
VANCOUVER—The B.C. Lions know they're facing an uphill slog in the second half of the season after dropping yet another close game.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders (5-4) squeezed out a 24-21 win Saturday night, handing the Leos (3-6) their first home loss of the season.
Riders quarterback Zach Collaros threw for 215 yards, while B.C.'s Travis Lulay put up 231.
Canada's Henderson wins Women's Open
REGINA—Brooke Henderson was reminded all week of what was at stake at the CP Women's Open.
She knew about the 45-year Canadian victory drought at the tournament, the pressure of playing on home soil, the list of the LPGA Tour's finest players who were nipping at her heels.
Snake found under hood of man's SUV
OMRO, Wis.—A Wisconsin motorist was having car trouble when he pulled over to find a slithering surprise.
Chris Nguyen opened the hood of his mother's SUV. Inside, he found a four-foot-long ball python.
Police in Omro responded. They tried to wriggle the snake free and called Menasha snake rescuer Steve Keller for help.
Gunman kills 2, then himself at video game tourney
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.—A gunman opened fire yesterday at an online video game tournament as it was being livestreamed from a Florida mall, killing two people and then fatally shooting himself in a rampage that wounded several others, authorities said.
Sheriff: Gunman kills 2, then himself at video game tourney
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A gunman opened fire Sunday at an online video game tournament as it was being livestreamed from a Florida mall, killing two people and then fatally shooting himself in a rampage that wounded several others, authorities said.
UN team: Myanmar military chiefs should face ‘genocide’ case
GENEVA — Investigators working for the U.N.’s top human rights body said Monday that Myanmar military leaders should be prosecuted for genocide against Rohingya Muslims, taking the unusual step of identifying six by name among those behind deadly, systematic crimes against the ethnic minority.
Nothing sacred: Russian spies tried hacking Orthodox clergy
LONDON — The Russian hackers indicted by the U.S. special prosecutor last month have spent years trying to steal the private correspondence of some of the world’s most senior Orthodox Christian figures, The Associated Press has found, illustrating the high stakes as Kyiv and Moscow wrestle over the religious future of Ukraine.
Cooler tomorrow
Tonight will see occasional rain and drizzle with a low of eight C (46 F).
Tomorrow will be cooler with low clouds, a high of 16 (61) and a low of seven (45).
Wednesday will see clouds early on before becoming sunny. Expect a high of 20 (68) and a low of nine (48).