Fort Frances Times Online Edition - February 15, 2018

For most of the past century, Americans have wondered if an authoritarian politician ever could be elected to high office in the United States.

Could a persuasive individual assume dictatorial control?

An answer often offered was made famous by a 1935 novel by Minnesota-born novelist Sinclair Lewis entitled “It Can't Happen Here.”

Four people have been charged with 10 drug-related offences following arrests in Kenora on Tuesday.

The arrests stemmed from a joint police investigation focused on methamphetamine trafficking in and around the Kenora area.

An article in yesterday's Times omitted a name.

Ashley Payne should have been included as a member of the Muskie girls' curling rink that won silver at the NorWOSSA playoffs earlier this week.

The Times regrets any disappointment or inconvenience this omission may have caused.

Ahead of the Muskie girls' hockey team's regular-season finale Tuesday afternoon, head coach Todd Hamilton said their goal was to finish off strong.

Mission accomplished.

How I set Your Mother and Kiss My Pass both garnered the maximum six points in Fort Frances Women's Volleyball League action Thursday night.

The Volley Llamas were right behind, nabbing four points.

Scared Hitless and Bumping Uglies each grabbed three while Take A Hit earned two.

Duck and Dive and Safe Sets both were skunked.

The Fort Frances Lakers made sure not to go on another lengthy slide.

And with only 11 games left in the regular season, it's best to stop the bleeding now.

Jaedin Ness scored twice to lead the Lakers to a 6-3 win over the lowly Minnesota Iron Rangers last night in Hoyt Lakes that snapped the squad's six-game losing streak.

Students opened their Valentines yesterday during a Valentine's Day party at J.W. Walker School. Walker also had a bake sale, with funds going to the Fort Frances Community Chest while over at Robert Moore School, students in Michelle Cain's Grade 5 class held a bake sale, with funds going to the Riverside Foundation for Health Care.

Nicole Avis and her children, Aspen and Kiplan, enjoyed making some homemade pizza yesterday at the “Valentine's Pizza Party" hosted by the Fort Frances "Best Start" Hub at the "Circle of Life” building on Mowat Avenue. Those on hand were able to build pizzas to their own liking while also enjoying some fruit dipped into a chocolate fondue.

Motus O Dance Theatre captivated the audience with its performance of “Prisoner of Tehran" on Tuesday evening at the Townshend Theatre. The latest instalment in the "Tour de Fort” entertainment series saw the troupe tell the affecting story of Iranian teenager Marina Nemat, who was imprisoned and tortured for more than two years following the Islamic Revolution of 1979.

Joan Christensen, who plays the society page editor, rehearsed her lines for the upcoming stage production of “It Can't Happen Here,” a 1935 novel by Minnesota-born novelist Sinclair Lewis, presented by the Borealis Bards in collaboration with Icebox Radio Theatre.

Joan Christensen, who plays the society page editor, rehearsed her lines for the upcoming stage production of “It Can't Happen Here,” a 1935 novel by Minnesota-born novelist Sinclair Lewis, presented by the Borealis Bards in collaboration with Icebox Radio Theatre.

PYEONGCHANG—After settling for silver in the men's 5,000 metres, Calgary speedskater Ted-Jan Bloemen lamented he didn't have more in the tank to challenge Dutch great Sven Kramer for gold.

His tank was full of high-grade octane today as Bloemen dominated the competition in the men's 10,000 metres and won the gold medal in an Olympic-record time.

TORONTO—Patrick Brown's denial of sexual misconduct allegations went up another notch yesterday as the former leader of Ontario's Progressive Conservatives challenged his accusers to go to police and file formal complaints.

VANDERHOOF, B.C.—A logging truck driver in British Columbia was taken by surprise when he saw four legs sticking out of the snow off the side of a road.

Wayne Rowley, 54, said he was driving down a forest service road near Vanderhoof last Thursday when what appeared to be a set of moose's legs in the snow caught his eye.

VANCOUVER—Researchers studying the activity of whales off British Columbia's coast have had an unusual and “surreal” encounter with a sperm whale.

Jared Towers is part of a Fisheries and Oceans Canada team monitoring the sound of cetaceans and marine mammals using a network of hydrophones in the Johnstone Strait off northeastern Vancouver Island.

OTTAWA—Indigenous Services Canada has set up a new call centre to help First Nations' children get services and supports under the child-first jurisdictional policy known as “Jordan's Principle.”

The centre will provide families with direct access to agents who will start the intake process and connect them to the Jordan's Principle representative in their area.

OTTAWA—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is planning to overhaul the way the federal government relates to indigenous peoples, proposing a new legislative framework designed to pave the way toward stronger rights and greater control over their own destiny.

“We need to both recognize and implement indigenous rights,” Trudeau said yesterday in a speech in the House of Commons.

CALGARY — The Canada Revenue Agency says it executed three search warrants Wednesday as part of a criminal investigation related to the so-called Panama Papers data leak.

WASHINGTON — Doctors are releasing the first detailed medical reports about the hearing, vision, balance and brain symptoms suffered in what the State Department has called “health attacks” on U.S. diplomats in Cuba. Still missing: A clear diagnosis of just what happened to trigger their mysterious health problems.

CHICAGO—The Toronto Raptors rolled into the all-star break knowing the toughest part is yet to come.

But they'll take where they are at the moment—staring down at the rest of the Eastern Conference.

TORONTO—All it took was a subtle change of the forward lines to unlock some new-found offence.

Nazem Kadri picked up his fourth-career hat trick, and recorded a career-high five points, as the Toronto Maple Leafs doubled the Columbus Blue Jackets 6-3 last night.

Kadri's line, consisting of Patrick Marleau and Mitch Marner, combined for five goals and five assists in the win.

LOS ANGELES—Even when Tiger Woods hardly ever lost, he never could win at Riviera.

Woods resumes his comeback from a fourth back surgery at the Genesis Open—marking his return to the course where he made his PGA Tour debut as a 16-year-old amateur, and the course where he walked away in the middle of the tournament and never returned.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.—Chase Elliott won a popularity contest before he even won a Cup Series race.

Elliott was the overwhelming favourite to be crowned the sport's next most popular driver.

Although the actual award will be handed out in nine months, fellow NASCAR drivers polled at Daytona 500 media day yesterday expect Elliott to be a slam-dunk winner.

PYEONGCHANG, Korea, Republic Of — There’s a competition at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics that has nothing to do with sports, and plenty to do with jousting between automakers and tech companies over autonomously driving vehicles.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska—Some polar bears in the Arctic are shedding pounds during the time they should be beefing up, a new study shows.

It's the climate change diet and scientists say it's not good.

They blame global warming for the dwindling ice cover on the Arctic Ocean that bears need for hunting seals each spring.

PARKLAND, Fla.—An orphaned 19-year-old with a troubled past and an AR-15 rifle was charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder this morning after being questioned for hours by state and federal authorities following the deadliest school shooting in the U.S. in five years.

JUBA, South Sudan — Six African nations are among the 10 worst in the world to be a child in a war zone, a new report says.

The Save the Children report released Thursday looks at factors including attacks on schools, child soldier recruitment, sexual violations, killings and lack of humanitarian access and is based on analysis by the Norway-based Peace Research Institute Oslo.

LONDON — Britain has blamed the Russian government for a global cyberattack that mainly hit businesses in Europe last year, accusing Moscow of “weaponizing information” in a new kind of warfare.

PARKLAND, Fla. — An orphaned 19-year-old with a troubled past and an AR-15 rifle was charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder Thursday morning after being questioned for hours by state and federal authorities following the deadliest school shooting in the U.S. in five years.

The health benefits of eating fish two or three times a week are well-documented. So, as a mom of four kiddos, I’m always looking for creative ways to add fish into our weekly menu.

“The Big Gay Mexican Mardi Gras,” presented by Borderland Pride, is set for Thursday, Feb. 15 from 7-10 p.m. at Barajas Mexican Grill in Internationals Falls (1323 3rd St.) This is an all-ages event, with admission being free. Questions can be directed via e-mail to borderlandpride@gmail.com or find Borderland Pride on Facebook.