Fort Frances Times Online Edition - March 21, 2018

The Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, and Mitaanjigamiing First Nation on Monday announced the final settlement of an outstanding land claim stemming from events that took place more than 140 years ago.

The Riverside Foundation for Health Care, in conjunction with Riverside Health Care, is pleased to announce that Allison Erin Cox has accepted the position of Foundation director.

Cox brings knowledge and proven success in developing and implementing best practices in fundraising and community engagement.

Models are wanted for a vintage fashion show and fundraiser for the Fort Frances Women's Centre next month.

The fundraiser is set to take place on Friday, April 13 at La Place Rendez-Vous, starting with cocktails at 6 p.m.

But you can't have a fashion show without women to wear the clothes, and organizer Melinda Wickstrom of “Melinda's Unique Boutique” wants to hear from you.

With the 2018 municipal budget close to being completed, many residential property owners here can expect to see a decrease on their tax bills this year.

Town council all but put the stamp on its operating budget during a meeting late Monday afternoon.

The budget shows a shortfall of about $56,000, which amounts to a half-percent increase to the tax levy.

The Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre wants to build a storage shed on town property to keep its excess stuff, but it also will look at space under the '52 Canadians Arena as a second option.

Fort Frances Little Theatre is staging Tim Firth's British play, “Calendar Girls,” at Knox United Church here from April 12-15.

The play, based on a true story, first performed in 2009.

“Calendar Girls” is a comedy, with members of Fort Frances Little Theatre saying it's about friendship, love, and getting old.

Are you interested in performing at the Rainy Lake Square?

In preparation for the “Rainy Lake Series,” the Rainy River Future Development Corp. is looking for local talent to perform at a monthly concert series at the Rainy Lake Square on Thursday nights from May-September, 2018.

All musical genres welcome.

Performers will be chosen via a competitive online process.

The federal and provincial governments are working together to make long-term infrastructure investments to create economic growth, build inclusive communities, and support a low-carbon, “green” economy-leading to a higher quality of life for all Canadians.

Plans are underway for the Business & Community Expo 2018 set for April 27-28 at the Fort Frances Curling Club.

The event, sponsored by Tbaytel, will be held at the Fort Frances Curling Club for a third year and vendors already are singing up to participate.

Curvy Chick was taken over by seven groups of young entrepreneurs for a “Mini-Makers Vendor Market” over a two-hour period on Thursday.

The children were able to set up their booths free of charge, and sold everything from baked goodies to arts and crafts.

Fort Frances has been designated an “Age-Friendly Community” but there's still plenty of work to be done.

The town was chosen to receive a 2018 Ontario Age-Friendly Community Recognition Award next week in Toronto.

“We've been working toward this [since] September or October of 2016,” local Age-Friendly Community Committee co-ordinator Ian Simpson told the Times.

Premier Kathleen Wynne yesterday announced Ontario's plan to make prescription drugs free for people 65 and over, ensuring millions of people can afford the care they need.

Through an expansion of OHIP+, more than 4,400 prescription drugs will be available free of charge to everyone 65 and over.

Locally-grown food will be celebrated at La Place Rendez-Vous this Friday (March 23) during Cloverbelt's “Winter Farm to Fork” event.

Those who attend will receive a three-course meal created by a local chef using locally-sourced ingredients from Cloverbelt's producers.

The Fort Frances Legion Ladies Auxiliary to Br. #29 met on March 14 with 35 members in attendance.

President Alfreda Easton called the meeting to order.

An application for membership was received and approved for Joanne Smith.

An initiation also was held to welcome three new members: Shirley Dolph, Carla Krawchuk, and Sabine Drackert.

A small group of dedicated women have banded together over the past two years to create Canada Day activities here.

The Fun in the Sun committee said the level of activity at Point Park on Canada Day has gone from just 35 people the year before they took over to now thousands.

Town residents soon will have increased access to naturally-grown food that is produced locally.

The Cloverbelt Local Food Co-op (CLFC) is excited to announce the opening of its new distribution centre in Fort Frances for March 27.

It has been working towards opening a hub here since 2016.

The Pictograph Gallery in Atikokan is pleased to exhibit the works of two artists, Janette Payne, in a show entitled “Phases," and Gayle Buzzi with her creations in an exhibit called "Illusions of Nature.”

Through mixed media, visitors will be able to connect with various art forms—from ceramics to quilts.

The exhibits will run until April 7.

The Muskie girls' hockey team got off to a winning start this morning at the OFSAA 'A/AA' girls' hockey championships in Timmins.

The black-and-gold cruised to a 6-1 victory over Anderson CVI in their opening game.

Captain Annalise (CC) Hayes netted a hat trick while Taylor Croswell, Kelsey Langtry, and Jessica Steele also scored.

Guthrie United Church in Devlin will hold its annual tea and bake sale on Saturday, April 7 at the Devlin Hall.

The fun-filled event takes place from 2-3:30 p.m., with the draws beginning at 3 p.m.

There also will be a penny table and cookie walk.

Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for kids aged six-12 (those five and under are free).

The PeeWee 'AA' Canadians doubled the Current River Comets 6-3 to claim the HNO branch championship back on March 11 in Thunder Bay.

The Bantam 'AA' Canadians also won their championship game in Thunder Bay that weekend with a 9-3 drubbing of the host Beavers.

The SIJHL announced yesterday that Nick Lucas of the Fort Frances Lakers and Alex Maticic of the Thunder Bay North Stars were named co-recipients of the most sportsmanlike player award for the 2017-18 season.

The winners were determined in voting done by each of the SIJHL's six clubs.

It wasn't exactly a picturesque ending to the regular season for the Fort Frances Lakers.

A pair of weekend home losses, starting with 4-3 shootout defeat to the Dryden GM Ice Dogs on Friday night and then a 2-1 overtime setback the following night against the Thief River Falls Norskies, left the Lakers mired in a seven-game skid.

The Cloverbelt Local Food Co-op and La Place Rendez-Vous cordially invite you to its “Winter Farm to Fork” event.

This is our first such event in Rainy River District!

Please note the correct time for the event is 5-7 p.m. on Friday, March 23.

Call the Rendez-Vous at 274-9811 to reserve your spot as seating is limited.

Fifteen eager young faces peer down from the stage as they listen intently for their instruction.

First-time director Cody Boyer sits in the audience, watching the rehearsal and taking notes on slight changes to where an actor should stand or deliver a line.

A pair of local figure skaters did their best to showcase their talents over the weekend.

Both Samantha Halliday and Montana Plasky of the Border Figure Skating Club had solid performances at the Skate Ontario STARSkate Provincial/Skate Ontario Adult Championships in Kingston.

A U.S. resident has been fined $4,000 for hunting offences under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act.

Steven Evonsion, of East Hartland, Conn., pleaded guilty and was fined $3,000 for firing a high-powered rifle without due care and attention to people or property.

He also pleaded guilty, and was fined $1,000, for discharging a firearm from a vehicle.

Molly Carlson has had another excellent season on the diving board.

The Florida State sophomore, who was born in Fort Frances, earned All-America honourable mention accolades Friday at the 2018 NCAA championships held at the McCorkle Aquatics Pavilion in Columbus, Ohio.

There were more winners in the Rainy River District Mutual Aid Association's weekly cash calendar draw.

Winning $30 for March 11-17 were Roger Modeland (Atikokan), Jessica Lowey (Fort Frances), Donald King (Atikokan), Valerie Boyda (Langley, B.C.), William Maydo (Thunder Bay), Aaron McDowell (Devlin), and Ian Booth (Devlin).

A Sioux Lookout resident has been fined $3,500 for a fishing violation.

Justin Young pleaded guilty, and was fined $3,500, for angling during the closed season for lake trout.

He also received a two-year fishing licence suspension.

Court heard that on Dec. 10, Young was observed by a conservation officer angling through the ice on Big Vermilion Lake.

It was a pretty impressive weekend on the mat for members of the Mighty Mustang youth wrestling program in International Falls.

The squad competed in a pair of tournaments over the weekend, which was highlighted by a multitude of top-three finishes.

Teagan Green of the Falls nabbed first place in the 60- to 65-pound division at a tourney in Hibbing on Friday.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations officers working at the International Falls port of entry targeted a rail container destined to arrive in Ranier, Mn.

In February, CBP officers inspected the rail container and discovered merchandise in violation of intellectual property rights (IPR) regulations.

The “Go Local” program is entering its fifth year and to celebrate, it is reflecting on all the best things about Rainy River District.

Community members are encouraged to visit the Go Local Fort Frances Facebook page and share their favourite thing about living in the district.

Staff, meanwhile, will be handing out cupcakes on March 26 at various “Go Local” businesses.

Two men have been fined a total of $4,000 for moose hunting offences.

Jean Paul Mayer of Navan pleaded guilty, and was fined $3,000, for abandoning a cow moose and allowing its flesh to spoil.

Otto Sternad of Oshawa pleaded guilty, and was fined $1,000, for failing to immediately attach his seal to a cow moose.

Lindsey Grandbois, left, cheered on Dani Rousseau as she delivered a “stone" while demonstrating the "Draw-to-the-Button" curling game set up in the showroom at Sunset Country Ford here.

Brenner Bagacki, above left, and his sister, Hayden Allam, chose just the right Lego pieces to build their creations while, above right, library program director Andrea Avis got ready to put Harper Woolsey and Gabby Bourgeault's structure to the test during the “Lego Zip-Line Challenge” held Thursday at the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre.

Louise Bliss served coffee to Doug and Coleen Cross at the Emo Hospital Auxiliary's annual Shamrock tea and bake sale held Friday afternoon at the health centre's cafeteria. Auxiliary members would like to thank everyone for attending and contributing to the auxiliary's work in the hospital in Emo.

Millie Witherspoon enjoyed participating in the blanket-making workshop last Wednesday afternoon at the Sunset Country Métis Hall here. People from Fort Frances and the surrounding area came together to make blankets as well as socialize.

Maddie Buttner enjoyed putting together her “magical fairy jar lantern" during one of the March Break activities held at the Fort Frances Public Library last week. The craft used patterns that were designed on the library's new "Cricut Maker.”

This is just a fraction of the books Revco Carpet has had donated for its annual fundrasier book sale this week. The book sale runs today through Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and again Saturday from 9 a.m.-noon. The public can drop by the store at 950 Fifth St. W., fill a bag with books, and then make a donation.

Sylvie Schimann, Madeline Schimann, and Yannick Shimann sold homemade jewellery during the Mini-Entrepreneurs Vendor Market that took place last Thursday in the basement of Curvy Chick.

A pair of seagulls braved the chilly temperatures as they perched by the docks at the Sorting Gap Marina here Monday afternoon. Local lore says the seagulls' return heralds three more “snows” until spring arrives for good in Borderland. -Sam Odrowski photo

Guest speakers Jackie McCormick and Trevor Bonot offered words of encouragement for all the athletes attending the OFSAA curling banquet last night in the Fort High gym.

Janice Marshall, left, and Gayle Ikola celebrated St Patrick's Day by attending the “Baked Potato Bar” fundraiser dinner at the Church of the Holy Spirit here. Admission was a free-will offering for the church's outreach projects in the local community, with about 40 people turning out to celebrate St. Patrick's Day and support a good cause.

Muskie girls' curler Katrina Slomke was working diligently on her shot-delivery skills during practice Friday afternoon at the Fort Frances Curling Club. Slomke is member of Tory Beaudry's rink, who will try to build off their silver-medal finish at NWOSSAA as they host the OFSAA curling championships today through Saturday.

Rodger Dueck of the Mighty Mustang youth wrestling program had his opponent in all kinds of trouble with a tight headlock during one of his matches over the weekend. The International Falls native finished fourth in the 70- to 75-pound division at a tournament in Hibbing on Friday, then followed that up by snagging third place the following day in Nashwauk, Mn.

Cousineau Real Estate has thrown its support behind the Muskie girls' hockey team with this vivid painted window at its downtown location. The third-seeded black-and-gold opened play today at the 16-team OFSAA 'A/AA' championships in Timmins, facing fifth-ranked Anderson CVI (Whitby) and 10th-seeded ÉSC Thériault.

Samantha Halliday, with the Border Figure Skating Club, had a solid showing over the weekend in Kingston, where she placed 12th in the STAR 6 women's event at the Skate Ontario STARSkate Provincial/Skate Ontario Adult Championships. Fellow club member Montana Plasky, meanwhile, also finished 12th in the STAR 8 women's event.

Jeff Gustafson held up a big pike caught from Lake of the Woods this past weekend.