News

More than 20 residents will be heading to “jail” this Saturday (May 11) as the local Voyageur Lions Club hosts its “Jail or Bail” fundraiser at Canadian Tire from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
“People have been quite positive about it and have agreed to go into jail,” noted club member Diana Larocque, adding they’ve each been given pledge sheets and must raise $300 in order to get out.

Anthony Leek, the Liberal candidate for Kenora-Rainy River, hailed last week’s provincial budget as “balanced” but local NDP MPP Sarah Campbell and PC candidate Randy Nickle weren’t as enthusiastic.
“There are some good parts and there are some bad parts,” Campbell remarked.

Atikokan High School will be presented with the Rainy River District School Board’s monthly “Recognition of Excellence” at its regular meeting there tonight.
The school will be honoured for its “Learning For All” project and Information Technology coaching.

The Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for its annual beautification program, “Project Petunia.”
But if the program is to continue, it will need more sponsors.
Chamber manager Annely Armstrong said she’s asking individuals and businesses to sponsor the program, which supplies flowers for basket and planters seen in the community.

International Falls was dealt a harsh blow yesterday with news the Boise Inc. paper mill there will be shutting down two paper machines and an off-machine coater this fall, resulting in about 265 job cuts.
“It’s certainly devastating for the community,” Falls Mayor Bob Anderson said.
“At the same time, it’s not total despair,” he added.

The Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts will wrap up its 2013 event with the annual “highlights” concert this Sunday (May 3).
Slated for 2 p.m. at the Townshend Theatre, the concert will feature some of this year’s star performances from the three weeks the festival ran in April.
Three Rose Bowl winners also will be honoured Sunday.

The touchless car wash located at the corner of Second Street East and Mowat Avenue has been upgraded with new equipment to make it better for customers and the owners alike.
It also sports a new name.
The business, which was known as “Lovin’ Touch” for years, now is known as the “Auto Spa.”

he Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce is working on several projects this year, including a business directory it aims to launch in 2014.
The Chamber also will be involved in the July 1-4 celebrations as well as “Quest for the Best,” which will coincide with the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship again this year.

Resolute Forest Products’ future is based on innovation and sustainability, company president and CEO Richard Garneau told delegates at the annual meeting of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association in Thunder Bay last Thursday.

Coinciding with National Victims of Crime Awareness Week (April 21-27), Peggy Loyie of the Rainy River District Victim Services Program was honoured with the Attorney General’s Victim Services Awards of Distinction for 2013.
Loyie, among 10 other individuals and six organizations receiving the award last week in Toronto, was humble about the recognition.