Fort Frances Times Online Edition - October 4, 2017

The La Vallee Fire and Emergency Service is going door-to-door to provide information about smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and home escape plans as part of a new fire safety campaign.

These visits began last night (Oct. 3) and will continue again tonight (Oct. 4) from 6-9 p.m.

They also will continue next Tuesday and Wednesday (Oct. 10-11) at the same time.

Kathy Mueller is keeping her fingers crossed that one of two Iraqi families the community is sponsoring will arrive here later this fall.

The local committee, which first raised money to bring the family here and then made preparations for them, had expected the family to arrive this past spring.

The Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Service will hold its Fall Fire Safety Day this Saturday (Oct. 7) from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Canadian Tire.

“Fall Fire Safety Day is always our kick-off for Fire Prevention Week [Oct. 8-14],” Fire Prevention Capt. Wayne Riches told the Times.

While more and more of the work gets done at the future Rainy Lake Square each day, plans for a grand opening and first Saturday market are on hold for now.

Top 40 cover band “Pop Vegas" still will perform the fourth and final concert in the "Rainy Lake 150” series tomorrow (Oct. 5) from 6-8 p.m. on the 200 block of Scott Street.

In my last 20 years of writing the Devlin news, it is fair to say some weeks are more difficult than others to write about what's happening.

This week certainly is one of them—starting here in our own district. And I say district because the sudden passing of the beautiful (inside and out) Kim Clendenning (nee Belluz) has touched our entire area and beyond.

An article in last Wednesday's Times on the district's first fully-electric car stated Dave Goodman Automotive is a KIA dealership.

In fact, they are a satellite sales and service outlet for Performance KIA in Thunder Bay.

The Times regrets any confusion or inconvenience this error may have caused.

Brent Johnson of Atikokan was the $50 winner in the Alzheimer Society of Kenora/Rainy River Districts cash calendar draw for October.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the Rainy River District Breast Health Network once again is hosting it biennial “Luncheon of Hope” on Saturday, Oct. 21 at noon at La Place Rendez-Vous.

Organizers are excited to present “The Butterfly Story,” a transformative art experience and presentation about breast cancer survivors and their journey.

NuVision Resources, a mining company with claims in the Mine Centre area, gave an update on its successful exploration at a presentation last Wednesday at La Place Rendez-Vous.

The company reported its activity over the last four years has come up with unique gold zones on its Cat Key property, located about 60 km east of Fort Frances.

Adrian Trenchard once again took the prize for the heaviest pumpkin at the annual Rainy River Valley Giant Pumpkin Festival on Saturday, with this year's entry weighing in at 329 pounds.

It was the third-straight “golden hoe” for the 13-year-old grower from Sleeman.

Trenchard told the Times he wasn't really that sure about his chances in the contest this year.

Last Thursday, Mikinaak School at Onigaming First Nation received two very special visitors.

Sherrill Tucker and her friend, Heather Whitmell, both from Toronto, arrived with a donation of school supplies for the roughly 100 students at the K-12 school.

Local logging contractors may be shipping some wood to the mill in International Falls in the future.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has granted an export permit for a small volume of pulpwood through Crossroute Sustainable Forest Licence (SFL) contractors.

Want to get involved in your communities? Interested in working alongside your local OPP officers?

The OPP Auxiliary Unit may be for you!

A free public information session to explain the hiring process for the OPP Auxiliary Program will be held this Sunday (Oct. 8) at 7 p.m. at the Fort Frances OPP detachment (located at the Civic Centre).

The Township of Emo is preparing to host the first “Run for the Donut” 5K this Saturday (Oct. 7).

Set to begin at 10 a.m., the race will start and finish at Lions Park.

It will feature music, prizes, and, of course, doughnuts!

An awards ceremony will take place following the race, with prizes for the top three male and female finishers.

Kalin Wagner and Scott Dingwall had a three-fish total of 13.52 pounds to capture the annual Rainy Lake Bass Classic held Saturday at La Belle's Birch Point Camp.

The champs also weighed in the big fish of the tournament—a 5.10-pound lunker.

Jason and Van Pavleck were a close second at 13.26 pounds, which included a 4.62-pounder as their big fish.

Former Muskie golfer Tyson-Skylar Morrisseau was a member of the Confederation College team that qualified for the Ontario College Athletic Association championship running Oct. 2-4 at the Crimson Ridge Golf Course in Sault Ste. Marie.

The team also included fellow freshmen Ben Erwin and Ryley Plewes, along with returning veterans Nathan Lohnes and Cam Zappitelli.

The North West Local Health Integration Network board of directors on Friday announced the retirement of CEO Laura Kokocinski effective April 1, 2018.

Kokocinski, who was appointed as CEO on Sept. 1, 2010, joined the organization in 2006 as a senior director, Planning, Integration and Community Engagement.

On many occasions, I've mentioned great ways to transform your dinner-making experience into a special event, like pouring a glass of wine and putting on some great music.

But what about breakfast? Isn't this the most important meal of the day? Yes, to most health professionals it is, so this column is dedicated to making that pinnacle feast into something extraordinary.

Preliminary tick surveillance results from the Kenora area are emphasizing the need to take preventive measures to prevent tick bites when outdoors.

The Northwestern Health Unit recently conducted tick surveillance in and around Kenora, and analysis showed higher rates of Lyme disease in black-legged ticks.

The Muskie football team went almost two full years between wins.

They've now won two in the span of three weeks.

The black-and-gold improved to 2-2 in the Andy Currie Division ('A') following a 39-32 triumph over the visiting Tec Voc Hornets on Thursday in the squad's annual Homecoming game.

The Emo Hospital Auxiliary held its meeting on Sept. 14.

We look forward to our year ahead, in which we will be raising money for projects to help our Emo health centre as well as other Riverside Health Care needs.

We have 25 members but would love to have more. We encourage both men and women to join our Emo Hospital Auxiliary.

Membership is $5 a year.

Playing in the “Fish Tank” wasn't much of an advantage for the Muskie court teams last Thursday against the Kenora Broncos.

The lone bright spot was the junior girls' basketball team, which improved to 3-0 in NorWOSSA play with a 67-39 victory.

True to form for the “King of Rock 'n Roll," Elvis Presley tribute artist Daylin James turned on the charm with the crowd during a concert on the 200 block of Scott Street on Thursday evening. The third concert in the "Rainy Lake 150" series, James and his Good Rockin' Tonite Band delighted about 250 fans of all ages.

A group of steers wandered around the auction ring to be inspected by the group of potential buyers during Saturday's cattle sale at the Stratton sales barn. During the sale, 1,322 head were sold for a total of $1,593,461.97.

Fort Frances High School teacher Bill Fisher, the unlucky winner of a student vote, had to kiss “Tyrion” the goat in front of the whole school during the annual Homecoming pep rally last Thursday in the Townshend Theatre. The vote also served as a fundraiser, with students donating as they voted, which garnered $432 for the Terry Fox Foundation.

William Richards was looking like a proud father as he carried in his entry for the “best decorated” pumpkin contest, which earned him a third-place prize in the adult category after the afternoon's judging.

Ken Desjardins was among the participants in “Life Chain 2017” here Sunday afternoon. A small group of men and women lined the north side of the 300 and 400 blocks of Scott Street for an hour of silent prayer and witness on behalf of voiceless fellow citizens such as unborn babies, vulnerable seniors, and physically- or mentally-challenged people.

The dedicated team of volunteers weighed the entries for the giant pumpkin contest using a scale hanging from a forklift. Some of the lighter entries could be loaded onto a pallet for weighing. But for the heavier ones that could not easily be moved by hand, a special harness was buckled around the pumpkin so it could be lifted off the ground.

JoAnne Formanek Gustafson, a local teacher and member of the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario, gave Jack Hedman advice on making his own “Orange Shirt Day" button Saturday afternoon at the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre. She also showed participants how to make a beaded "Orange Shirt" lapel pin to wear in recognition of survivors of residential school.

The “Owandem" was relocated from the Public Works yard here to Mark Faragher's BodyWorks shop in Devlin on Sept. 20 so he can begin refurbishing the vintage vessel. A crane from George Armstrong Co. Ltd. lifted the boat onto a trailer provided by CJ Contracting. Claude Joidin then transported it to Devlin, where Erwin Hughes helped Faragher unload it.

Sydney, Georgia, and Emily Romyn posed for a silly photo with a pumpkin theme to remember their time at the Giant Pumpkin Festival on Saturday in Rainy River. The festival included something for everyone, with a number of children's traditional games and activities put on by the Best Start Hub there.

Capt. Kirk Armstrong of the Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Service cut his cake using on the tools of the trade—a fire axe—during a retirement come-and-go event Friday morning at the Fort Frances Fire Hall. Capt. Armstrong has retired after nearly 31 years on the force. After three years as a volunteer firefighter, he started full-time on Nov 3, 1986.

Allen Raoul, a project geologist for NuVision Resources, gave on update on the Cat Key property to a group last Wednesday morning at the Rendez-Vous. The company has found a number of unique gold zones on the property, located about 60 km east of Fort Frances, and will continue to develop the site with further drilling and exploration.

Heather Whitmell (left) and Sherrill Tucker, both from Toronto, spoke with Onigaming First Nation Chief Kathy Kishiqueb after making their donation of supplies to the Mikinaak School there on Thursday. The donation was collected in southern Ontario and personally delivered by the two women to raise awareness around the funding needs of First Nations' schools in honour of “Canada 150.”

Guests at the pumpkin festival were greeted by a harvest theme as soon as they entered the large tent set up at Hannam Park. Scarecrows and straw bales served as a welcome to the event that featured vendors, games, contests, and, of course, the weighing of the giant pumpkins.

Gary Smith of Centra Pipelines congratulated 13-year-old Adrian Trenchard from Sleeman for having the heaviest pumpkin at the Rainy River Valley Giant Pumpkin Festival—winning the “golden hoe” and a prize of $500. This is the third-straight win for Trenchard, whose entry tipped the scales at 329 pounds during the afternoon's official weigh-in.

Showing it isn't just the size of pumpkins that count, festival attendees were able to see some amazing works of pumpkin art as the entries for the “best decorated” contests came in and were set up on tables under the big tent at Hannam Park.

Jenaya Jeffery, along with her son, Ethan, and daughter, Alivia, were among the many families who came out for an “Orange Shirt Day” community barbecue Saturday at the Fort Frances Tribal Area Behavioural Health Services on King's Highway. People of all ages came out for the event, which was held in recognition of residential school survivors.

Jamie Petrin, DSSAB community homeless liaison, is working with partner agencies to get a more accurate picture of homelessness in the district.

Students at St. Michael's here participated in the annual, cross-country Terry Fox School Run last Thursday. A number of schools in town, and across the district, held their own annual walks either on Sept. 28 or the week before in support of cancer research.

Mike Richards and Jeff Gustafson held up their bass from the weekend at Whitefish Bay on Lake of the Woods.

Junior Muskie Jevonte Philips went high to tip this ball during his team's 3-1 win over the Dryden Eagles in NorWOSSA action here last Tuesday afternoon.

The Muskie offensive line gave quarterback Brady Meeks enough protection to unload this deep pass attempt during the second quarter Thursday in the team's annual Homecoming game. The black-and-gold will close out the regular season with three-straight road games.

Star Muskie running back Sekina Scheibler looked to get outside in first-quarter action against the Tec Voc Hornets here last Thursday afternoon. Scheibler wound up rushing for five touchdowns as Fort High won 39-32 to improve to 2-2 in the Andy Currie Division ('A').

It will be mainly clear tonight, with an overnight low of two C (36 F).

Tomorrow will be mostly sunny, with a high of 13 (55) and low around zero (32).

More sunshine is forecast for Friday, along with a high of 15 (59) and low dipping to four (39).

Then Saturday also will be sunny and even milder, with a high of 19 (66) and low near zero (32).