Fort Frances Times Online Edition - February 1, 2016

Reed Ste. Croix, left, of the Fort Frances Canadians made his move down the ice against the Dryden Wild during the Emo-Devlin-Barwick Minor Hockey Association’s IP1 Jamboree at the Emo-La Vallee Arena on Saturday. Ten teams, including five from here, took part.

The OPP has been receiving an increasing number of complaints from local bus drivers and concerned citizens regarding vehicles not stopping for school buses that are stopped with their overhead red signal-lights flashing.

There also are complaints about drivers failing to wait until pedestrians fully cross at crosswalks before driving on.

Erin Wood of Simplicity Professional Hair & Body Care drew the “Trip of the Month” draw winner for February as Kiwanian Robin Wright looked on this morning at International Travel Services. Jane Gillon of Fort Frances is heading to Roatan, Honduras—a trip valued at $4,200. Next month’s trip is a Mexico cruise ($3,600).

Brooklin Hayes showed off a spectacular spiral as part of her routine Saturday during the annual Sunset Country Interclub Regional skating competition held at the Ice For Kids arena over the weekend. A total of 19 local skaters took part, competing in elements, skills, creative improv, free skate. and a team event.

John and Helen Pohanka enjoyed their main course Saturday evening during the local Alzheimer Society’s annual “Forget Me Not” dinner at La Place Rendez-Vous here. The event also featured a silent auction, raffle prizes, and entertainment.

OTTAWA—Democratic Institutions minister Maryam Monsef concedes Canada’s first-past-the-post electoral system has its advantages.

And, whatever its flaws, she acknowledges it would be welcomed in fledgling democracies like Afghanistan, from whence she fled as a youngster.

But a mature democracy like Canada can do better, she adds.

WINNIPEG—Internal government documents say Manitoba First Nations live in some of the most dilapidated homes in the country and it will cost $2 billion to eliminate mould and chronic overcrowding in that province alone.

That’s almost 13 times more than the $150 million the federal government has budgeted for housing on all reserves across Canada this year.

McBRIDE, B.C.—The day after a colossal avalanche killed five snowmobilers in eastern B.C., Thea Pelletier climbed aboard her machine and returned to the backcountry wilderness.

She unfastened a yellow plastic lily from her backpack and planted the flower in pristine snow to pay her respects.

“I had a moment. It was intense. It was bigger than thou,” Pelletier said.

TORONTO—An Opposition member of the Ontario legislature wants to change the province’s “antiquated” liquor laws so small distillers are treated the same as craft brewers and wineries.

NASHVILLE Gary Bettman said his relationship with the union has never been better.

Perhaps that’s why he is willing to stick around as NHL commissioner into the next decade.

Bettman signed a contract through 2022, he confirmed in an interview Sunday on the NHL Network before the All-Star game. The deal was first reported by Sports Illustrated earlier in the day.

SAN DIEGO—Brandt Snedeker called it one of the best rounds he ever played—one he doubts he could repeat if he had to start over.

Still to be determined was whether his three-under 69 in a raging wind and occasional rain yesterday at Torrey Pines would be good enough to win the Farmers Insurance Open.

He has to wait until today to find out.

HONOLULU—Russell Wilson threw three first-half touchdown passes to lead Team Irvin to a 49-27 victory over Team Rice in the annual Pro Bowl yesterday.

The Seattle Seahawks’ star, who was the first player picked in the all-star game’s draft, led scoring drives on three of Team Irvin’s first four possessions at Aloha Stadium.

NASHVILLE—John Scott sat on his teammates shoulders while fans chanted “M-V-P! M-V-P!” and the NHL finally got out of the way.

The people spoke up for Scott once again last night—making the career journeyman enforcer an all-star MVP as a write-in candidate after voting him into the new 3-on-3 all-star tournament as captain of the Pacific Division.

JERUSALEM Israel’s Cabinet voted Sunday to allow non-Orthodox Jewish prayer at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, a move advocates said marked a historic show of government support for liberal streams of Judaism.

DES MOINES, Iowa Hillary Clinton is used to tough questions, but a recent query from a little girl actually moved her.

Before about 700 people at Keota High School last month, the grade-schooler clutched the microphone during a town hall meeting and asked: “What are you going to do about all this bullying?”

Homemade chicken noodle soup is well known as a panacea for whatever ails you, but the time it takes to pull it together is not always within our grasp.