New 70 km/h transition speed zone signs were posted at the west edge of town on Monday. While the speed limit for westbound motorists still changes from 50 km/h to 60 km/h at Heikki Lampi Sand & Gravel, it now changes from 60 km/h to 70km/h at Taylor International (at the beginning of Alberton Township), instead of going straight from 60 km/h to 90 km/h. read more

District schools are experiencing higher-than-normal absenteeism as H1N1 and the seasonal ’flu make their rounds. “Absenteeism related to illness for teachers and support staff [custodians, educational support personnel] has increased during the last week,” Diane Ross, manager of human resources for the Rainy River District School Board, said via e-mail. read more

“Swollen Members,” a popular hip-hop group from Vancouver, B.C., will perform at the Couchiching rec centre on Nov. 23 as they tour to promote their recently-released album, “Armed to the Teeth.”

A business venture two-and-a-half years in the making, Boston Pizza International Inc. opened its new restaurant and sports bar here Monday.

But still working at safety After more than 30 years on the job, first as a paramedic, then ambulance manager, and most recently the patient safety and risk management co-ordinator for Riverside Health Care Facilities, Inc., Grace Silander retired last week. read more

Calling it a fun way to make a difference, local organizers are hoping to recruit high school students to rebuild the local “Best Buddies” chapter. read more

With the provincial government proposing changes to certain rules for municipal elections, including having voters go to the polls next fall on Oct. 25 instead of Nov. 8, some members of Fort Frances town council already have been thinking about whether they’ll run or not. Coun. John Albanese said that as of right now, he’s “100 percent” sure he will run for a seat on council. read more

In conjunction with “Safe Crossing Week” (Nov. 1-7), students at J.W. Walker and St. Francis here are learning about how to be safe around trains, tracks, and at railway crossings as Safe Kids Canada and CN team up to get the message out. read more

With less than four weeks to go until the annual “Parade of Lights” here Nov. 28, organizers are reminding the public to think about entering floats and volunteering. read more

With no new bear reports made in the past two weeks, it appears the bruins started to find their dens to hibernate for the winter. And with chilly winds and regular bouts of rain and snow lately, who can blame them? read more

The Rainy River District School Board is set to approve an architectural services’ proposal for the renovation of the board’s office and demolition of the old Robert Moore School. read more

The “Citizen of the Year” selection committee will have its work cut out this week as it must review nearly two dozen applications before making a recommendation to town council at its meeting Nov. 9. A total of 23 nominations, some of which are for the same person, came in before the 4 p.m. deadline on Friday. read more

Oct. 31 marked the end of the Ministry of Natural Resources’ forest fire season, which officially began on April 1. Provincially, there were 383 fires and 20,656 hectares burned, with the West Fire Region reporting 194 fires consuming 13,934 ha. This is fewer regional fires than last year, which saw 218 blazes between April 1-Oct. 31. read more

In an effort to give town residents a chance to do a little cleaning up before the snow flies, the town will suspend the collection of some tipping fees at the local landfill on Saturday, Nov. 7 for half-ton vehicles and utility trailers. Tipping fees will be waived from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., but only for leaves, tree branches, grass clippings, and garden waste. read more

Many Canadian troops won’t be coming home for the holidays, but the upcoming festive season hopefully will be made brighter for them thanks to the Christmas care packages being assembled by the local Legion ladies’ auxiliary. “[The troops] really appreciate it,” said auxiliary president Sylvia Gunderson, noting this is the third time they’ve been involved with the effort. read more

Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath is pleased the government finally is moving forward with a plan for full-day learning, but says families shouldn’t have been forced to wait six years for action. “Parents are facing real challenges and have been waiting a very long time for the help they were promised,” noted Horwath. read more

The OPP is looking for information following an act of vandalism at the Cranberry Peatlands Interpretive Trail in Alberton. Sometime between Oct. 18 and 20, a park bench the Rainy River Valley Field Naturalists had installed earlier this month was demolished and thrown into the pond. read more

Since its establishment in 1976, the Rainy River Federation of Agriculture has acted as an umbrella organization for the various agricultural producers across Rainy River District. read more

The Emo Speedway/Borderland Racing Association held its annual banquet on Saturday at the Emo Legion. Not only was it an evening to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the Speedway, but also an opportunity to hand out awards to the drivers who contributed to the success of the past season. read more

One new fire was reported in the West Fire Region in the past few days. On Saturday, Thunder Bay Fire Management Headquarters staff responded to a report of a smouldering fire burning in moss and vegetation on a site about 20 km north of Thunder Bay. The 0.1-hectare blaze was determined to be an old lightning fire that was smouldering for a long period of time. read more