Fort Frances Times Online Edition - July 11, 2018

The incoming mayor and council will get a pay raise.

Council agreed Monday night to recommendations of the Council Remuneration Committee to increase the mayor's salary from the current rate of $23,695 to $26,689 in 2019 while the deputy mayor's pay will increase from $13,908.04 to $15,665.

The councillor salary will go from $12,362.70 to $13,925.

When Premier Doug Ford asked me to serve as the minister of indigenous affairs, I was eager to take on the important role of working with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people in the province of Ontario.

I am proud of my previous work with indigenous communities and I am proud to represent so many indigenous people in my constituency.

Couchiching First Nation is the latest of the Grand Council Treaty #3 communities to accept and engage in “Project Green Light”—a volunteer-based effort that looks at promoting violence-free homes.

As a part of the Borderland Pride Week lineup, From the Grind Up is hosting a weekend kick-off reception on July 13 called “Fort Fabulous Friday," during which a "drag show” will take place.

Borderland Pride co-chair Douglas Judson said it's a great networking opportunity for those in the LGBTQ2 community.

Boaters launching from the Sorting Gap Marina here soon will be able to use the Shevlin wood yard for parking if there's no other place to do so.

Town council agreed Monday night to endorse an indemnity agreement with Resolute Forest Products for the Sorting Gap Marina to use the wood yard as overflow parking for boats and trailers during peak period demand time.

Colleges Ontario is pleased to announce Don Lovisa, president and CEO of Durham College, has started a two-year term as the new chair of Colleges Ontario, the association representing Ontario's 24 public colleges.

“In an environment of mass change, automation, and technological disruption, it is essential that more people have access to a high-quality college education,” Lovisa said.

July 9-15 is “Pride Week” in Rainy River District and Koochiching County. This week marks the first time our region will come together to recognize and affirm that the diversity of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression is a positive contribution to our communities, workplaces, and schools.

The race for mayor of Fort Frances is heating up now that a second candidate has stepped forward for the Oct. 22 municipal election.

“I have worked very hard and learned an enormous amount in my term as town councillor,” said Coun. June Caul, who filed her nomination last Wednesday afternoon after no shortage of encouragement from the public.

A grand opening was held Friday at the new Fort Frances Tribal Area Health Services' diabetes and foot care clinic that relocated to town earlier this year.

Those with an interest in drama and the performing arts will have an excellent opportunity to hone their skills next month with the return of Fort Frances Little Theatre's camp.

After a two-year hiatus, the local troupe has organized a week-long camp from Aug. 6-11, starting at 9 a.m. and wrapping up by 4 p.m. each day.

The Rainy River District OPP is reminding residents to lock their vehicles to prevent theft.

Over the past few weeks, police in the area have received more than 10 reports of vehicles being entered in Fort Frances.

On Friday (July 6), the Kenora OPP was dispatched to a report of a man who had entered into the water and did not surface at Goshawk Lake landing in Whitedog First Nation Territory.

Members of the OPP's Marine and Trails Unit, OPP Crime Unit, Treaty #3 Police Service, and Kenora Ambulance all attended the scene to search for the male.

Recent lightning activity gave rise to four new forest fires, all in Sioux Lookout District, by yesterday afternoon.

Three of the blazes were listed as “not under control" at last report while the other one was listed as "under observation.”

Naicatchewenin First Nation now is home to nine new on-call emergency first responders.

The community had a first response team in the past but over time, it had become inactive through a lack of interest and some quitting because of the extreme nature of the job.

Tania Bimm of Atikokan won the $1,000 up for grabs on Canada Day in the Rainy River District Mutual Aid Association's weekly cash calendar draw.

Kevin Shmyr of Atikokan was the $100 winner for July 1.

The second barn concert of the season at Cornell Farms in La Vallee will feature Pat Temple and the HiLO Players tomorrow (July 12) starting at 7:30 p.m.

Temple is well-known for his American music where Western swing meets hillbilly jazz. He has played everywhere across North America and in all sorts of venues.

Paul Caruso from Rainy River will be the opening act.

The Backus Community Center in International Falls is pleased to accept a $550 grant from the Diocese of Duluth and its Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl Small Grant Fund.

Funding from this grant will be used towards food purchases for the “Community Café,” which is a joint project of the Falls Hunger Coalition and Backus.

Two Wisconsin men have been fined for travelling on a closed road.

Michael Miller of Eagle and George Miller of Eau Claire pleaded guilty and each were fined $750 for travelling on a closed road contrary to the Public Lands Act.

Science North will be holding a free “Robots en Route” workshop on Tuesday, July 24 for children aged seven-12.

Call the Emo Public Library at 482-2575 for more information or to register (space is limited).

A reminder the TD summer reading program also is underway at the EPL.

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A Manitoba resident has been fined $2,000 for illegal dumping on Ontario Crown land.

George Blair of Landmark pleaded guilty to unlawfully depositing a material, substance, or thing on Crown land.

He was fined $2,000 and received a probation order prohibiting him from camping on Ontario's Crown land for one year.

The Northwestern Health Unit is asking pet owners to ensure their pet's rabies vaccinations are up-to-date.

Ontario recently amended pet ownership laws under the Health Protection and Promotion Act (HPPA).

The Northwestern Health Unit area previously was exempt from mandatory rabies vaccination for pets but as of July 1, 2018:

Offence was hard to come by for CJ Contracting and Centra Pipelines on Monday night.

Ian Jodoin scored early in the first half to pace first-place CJ (6-2) to a 1-0 win over second-place Centra (4-4) in Borderland Soccer League men's division action at the St. Francis Sports Field.

The stars will be shining brightly once again in the Rainy River District Women's Fastball League.

Rosters have been announced for the annual all-star game, which is set for next Wednesday (July 18) at 7 p.m. at Manitou.

Cindy Major and Roxanne Handorgan played the role of the “bash sisters” in Rainy River District Women's Fastball League action Monday night.

Both clubbed homers to pace the Big Grassy Lynx (6-7) to a narrow 13-11 win over the Manitou T-Birdies (3-10).

Candace Handorgan earned the win while Summer Leonard took the loss.

The wins just keep on coming for the Fort Frances Braves.

The Rainy River District Fastball League leaders improved their record to 11-0 with a 15-7 win over the Northwest Bay Chieftains (2-11-1) last Thursday night.

Cole Tymkin earned the victory while Darren Smith took the loss.

It's been a tight race in the Borderland Racing Association's points standings so far between Gavin Paull and Brody Strachan.

This time it was Paull who came out on top over Strachan, claiming the checkered flag in the WISSOTA Modifieds division at the Emo Speedway on Saturday night for his second feature win of the season.

A local football player will get to showcase his skills to former NFL coaches and players next week.

Jaykob Ryll was selected from thousands of applicants to attend the Pro Football Hall of Fame Academy's International/Rising Stars football camp slated for July 17-19 at the Pro Football Hall of Fame stadium in Canton, Ohio.

The Fort Frances Lakers have added some size and versatility up front with their signing of forward Isaac Baron last week.

The Burnsville, Mn. native comes to Fort Frances after spending last season in the NA3HL with the Iowa Bulls and La Crosse Freeze.

Local band “Who Cares" performed at the Rainy Lake Square last Thursday evening during a tribute concert for local musician Myron Hawrylak, who had passed away in late March. Dozens of people came to the square, the site of where Hawrylak often played at the old Rainy Lake Hotel, to hear the music of the various musicians he had played with over the years.

Cameron Mosbeck held on tightly so his fish didn't flop away as his partner and uncle, Dallas Mosbeck, looked on during the top-five boat parade at the 18th-annual “Castin For Cash” bass tournament Saturday afternoon. The Emo natives followed up their second-place finish last year by placing fifth this time around with a two-day haul of 25.60 pounds. See story, more photos B1.

Jasmine Nastiuk, left, and Priscilla Simard lifted bags filled with green lights bulbs while Couchiching Chief Brian Perrault held up a green blanket wrapped around tobacco, two green lights, and a green ribbon that was passed on from Lac La Criox Chief Clayton Ottertail at the Couchiching pow-wow grounds back on July 1.

Seth Jewell put his creative skills to the test during a guided art session provided by International Falls artist Cherie Serrano (nee Taylor). He and nearly 20 other youngsters were provided with paint brushes, an easel, and a canvas and then taught how to paint an ice cream cone. The art session is part of St.

The store window at Curvy Chick on Scott Street is among the numerous businesses and organizations that have decorated in celebration of the inaugural “Borderland Pride Week" here. In addition to the distinctive rainbow colours reflecting diversity, many participants have included hearts and messages of "love for all” in their displays.

Dr. Dave Smith, left, a chiropodist from Thundar Bay, stood with Sandra McNay, RPN and foot care nurse, Chelsea Janveau, RPN, and Tracey Roach, RN and diabetes clinician of the Fort Frances Tribal Area Health Services during the grand-opening event in front of the diabetes and foot care clinic located on King's Highway that opened earlier this year.

Trisha Wood, a dietitian at the Valley Diabetes Education Centre here, spoke yesterday to St. Michael's students about the four food groups, the importance of healthy eating, and the suprising amounts of sugar in commonly-purchased beverages during the summer program being held there.

Henry Smith, Melani Sutton, and Logan Sutton-Byzewski found a good spot to colour their “Pride” flags on Monday at the open-air art studio at the Rainy Lake new Square hosted by Community Living Fort Frances & District. Kids and adults of all ages made their way down for an afternoon of arts and crafts where buttons, flags, and ribbon wands were created.

Don Smith, left, was presented with a plaque, certificate, and gift card from Dean Councillor, Armand Jourdain Sr., and Mark Cudney after graduating from a 40-hour first responders course provided by the North West Regional Training Program in the community of Naicatchewenin.

The Fort Frances Vipers hosted a volleyball camp last Tuesday through Saturday at Fort High and J.W. Walker School. The camp, which ran from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. each day and was open to both boys and girls, focused on all the fundamentals of volleyball so the young athletes could improve their skills.

Red Gut Babes' third baseman Mel Jones scooped up a grounder and proceeded to make the throw to first to record the out during her squad's 14-1 win over the Fort Frances Mud Dogs last Wednesday evening at the St. Francis Sports Field.

Joey Angus of CJ Contracting tried to dangle the ball around Cole Magill of Manitou Forest Products during his squad's 5-0 win in Borderland Soccer League men's division action last Wednesday night at the St. Francis Sports Field. CJ then won its fifth-straight game Monday night with a 1-0 shutout of Centra Pipelines and next will face Manitou again tonight.

Mike Wilson and Zack McBride anxiously looked on as they manned the “hot seats” while the eventual champs, Don Copenace and Greg Swire, weighed in on Saturday afternoon during the top-five boat parade. Wilson and McBride settled for second place with a two-day haul of 28.29 pounds.

Don Copenace was feeling the love as his partner, Greg Swire, gave him a joking smooch on the cheek after the duo claimed the title at the 18th-annual “Castin For Cash” bass tournament held Friday and Saturday at Lake Despair Lodge. The pair had a two-day haul of 29.19 pounds, which topped the 60-team field and made them champs for the first time since 2004.

The Science North “Bluecoats" visited the Fort Frances Public Library last Thursday for a "Make it Move" workshop, which demostrates the science behind gravity, momentum, and biomechanics through hands-on activities.

Karl Engstron and Jeff Gustafson hold up part of their winning catch from Shoal Lake this past weekend.

Heather Leishman of the Fort Frances Mud Dogs hit a soft grounder during her squad's 14-1 loss to the Red Gut Babes in Rainy River District Women's Fastball League action last Wednesday night at the St. Francis Sports Field.

Emcee Mark Allen interviewed Paul Jewiss and his grandson, Eli Johnson, after the pair had weighed in their Day 2 haul at the 18th-annual “Castin For Cash” bass tournament Saturday afternoon at Lake Despair Lodge. The pair finished in 13th place with a two-day total of 18.65 pounds.

Jess Steele held up some of the 10.79-pound haul that she and her dad, Jim, caught earlier in the day on Saturday. The duo finished 14th with a two-day weight of 18.38 pounds.

BERLIN — The steady drum of anti-German rhetoric from the United States, one of the country’s traditionally closest friends, has people wondering whether to get ready for a messy breakup.