Fort Frances Times Online Edition - April 17, 2019

The fallout from the sudden, heavy snowfall and frigid temperatures may have put a dampener on some of the festivities, but Emo's “Spring Fever Days” went out with a bang on its final day.

While not everything that was planned to run on Saturday survived the wild weather from earlier in the week, overall the day was hailed as a success.

A program at Confederation College is coming to the end of its second year, and casting an eye to the future.

Community Integration through Cooperative Education (CICE) is a two-year certificate program at Confederation College in Fort Frances that is a little different from your regular college program.

Locally-made craft beer is a reflection of where it comes from. Lake of the Woods Brewing Company is proudly Ontario's northernmost brewery. Our brewing heritage is born out of the very place that we call home, right here on the northern shores of Lake of the Woods.

The province is expanding the use of service plates for boat, snowmobiles, and off-road vehicles.

Transportation minister Jeff Yurek recently announced changes that will make it easier and more efficient to transport boats, snowmobiles, and off-road vehicles (ATVs) to customers and recreational shows.

Employers across the district are having a hard time filling entry-level positions.

To address this issue and lessen the gap ,a summer hiring fair was held at Fort High last Wednesday.

During the event employers accepted resumes, conducted on the spot interviews, and networked with students in hopes of filling vacant positions.

TBT Engineering is honoured, humbled and proud to be named one of “Canada's Top Employers Top Small and Medium Employers” for 2019.

With a corporate history extending back over 50 years, TBT Engineering strives to always provide exceptional services and support to the communities in which we live and work.

Local MP Don Rusnak strongly supports the measures in Budget 2019 that will build the groundwork for a national pharmacare system.

“These are a strong first step,” he said.

“Community members in Northwestern Ontario have been paying too much for too long for their medication,” Rusnak stressed.

The provincial budget of April 11, 2019, calls for significant cuts to legal aid funding in Ontario.

If these cuts are of the reported magnitude of 30 percent, it could result in a serious reduction in front-line services in the Kenora and Rainy River districts.

Close to 250 people packed into the Devlin Hall on Saturday to enjoy a spaghetti dinner and help the La Vallee Fire Department raise money to upgrade and purchase firefighting equipment.

The Emo and District Lions Club would like to thank everyone who purchased tickets for this year's “Lions' Share” grocery raffle.

Once again the profits from the draw will be going back into the district to fund several of the club's current projects.

Ontario's government is working for the people by fighting against increased costs to public institutions caused by the burdensome federal carbon tax.

Fort Frances Legion Ladies Auxiliary to Br. #29 met on April 10 with 32 members in attendance.

The meeting was brought to order at 7:05 p.m. by president Alfreda Easton, followed by the minutes of the March 13 general meeting and the April 1 executive meeting being read and approved.

There were no new membership applications presented for approval.

Trimming a horse's hooves is a difficult task and with a lack of farrier services being offered locally, many are opting to do it themselves.

Jenna Jarvis, 22, is one of the few who provide the service and has been doing so for about a year now.

After a long and busy day, Lisa Teeple and her team had the chance to step back and examine the fruits of their labour.

“I'm happy," Teeple said when asked about how this year's "Ag Day” turned out.

“We were happy with the number that we had turn out. We always wish for more but we were happy that we had as many as we did.”

Ruby's Pantry is pleased to accept a $325 donation from Waschke Family GM Center in International Falls.

The local car dealer contributes to the community monthly, according to office manager Beth Gable.

“We prefer to keep the money local,” she noted.

“We like to focus on organizations who assist children and those who work to alleviate food insecurity,” Gable added.

Bob MacDonald and Alice Pollard of Fort Frances were among the $30 cash calendar winners for the week of April 7-13.

Other winners in the Rainy River District Mutual Aid Association draw for that week included Tim Mutz (Devlin), Mary Elder (Atikokan), Dawn and Shawn Jacobson (Thunder Bay), and Joe Bremault (South Junction, Man.).

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada released the results of its 600 MHz spectrum auction last week and Tbaytel is among a number of wireless carriers from across the country that were successful at obtaining spectrum.

Tbaytel acquired a block of spectrum in the 600 MHz frequency band within the company's geographical serving territory.

The Thunder Bay North Stars' trio of Jacob Brown, Keighan Gerrie, and Ryan Mignault collected a combined nine points to help their sqaud upend the Red Lake Miners 5-2 on Sunday night in Game 2 of the SIJHL's Bill Salonen Cup Final at the Fort William Gardens.

With the win, the North Stars evened the best-of-seven set at 1-1 heading into Game 3 tonight at the Cochenour Arena.

What a way to wrap up the regular season.

The Mighty Mustang youth wrestling program from International Falls had five of its wrestlers earn podium finishes at the Jaycee's State Championship held Friday and Saturday in Grand Rapids, Mn.

Florida State Seminole student-athletes gathered last Wednesday for the 25th-annual Golden Nole Awards banquet, which is hosted by the Student Athlete Advisory Council (S.A.A.C.).

The event honours the contributions made in the community and also recognizes those student-athletes that go above and beyond to display leadership on and off the field while striving to live unconquered.

With his junior hockey career now complete, Jaedin Ness is looking forward to a new opportunity.

The forward, who spent the last two seasons with the Fort Frances Lakers, announced last week that he has committed to play hockey for the College of St. Scholastica Saints starting next season.

With another great season in the books, the Fort Frances Girls'/Women's Hockey Association honoured the efforts of its players at its annual year-end awards banquet on Sunday evening at the Memorial Sports Centre.

Here is a complete list of the winners from each team:

The SIJHL announced Thursday its first and second all-star teams for the 2018-19 season.

These annual awards recognize the individual accomplishments of six forwards, four defencemen, and two goalies during the course of regular season play in the SIJHL.

The first and second all-stars were selected in voting done by each of the SIJHL's six clubs.

Almost two dozen local bowlers headed up to Dryden earlier this month and returned home as champs once again!

Fort Frances compiled 35 overall points to capture the aggregate banner for the second-straight year in the annual tournament that pits the local club against those in Dryden, Kenora, and Balmertown.

An impressive wrestling season keeps on getting better for Hudson Mann.

The eighth grader, who originally is from Fort Frances, wrestled his way to top spot at the Gord Garvie Memorial Tournament back on April 4.

Mann was part of a team of his friends that hail from Superior Wis.

Instructor Kim Daley, guided Kayleigh Spiers of the Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung Historical Centre along as she strung her beaded craft at the library on Saturday as part of the Métis beading workshop. The event is part of the historical centre's Indigenous Art Workshops that are hosted around the district.

-Sam Odrowski photo

Hudson Mann, left, teamed up with some friends from Superior, Wisc. to wrestle to a first-place finish at the Gord Garvie Memorial Tournament in Thunder Bay back on April 4. Mann, who was born in Fort Frances, has put in the work and wrestled well all season.

Grillmeister Steve Loshaw flipped burgers outside of Rainy River Meats in Emo during “Spring Fever Days” on Saturday. Sunshine and warmer weather helped to draw a crowd to the last day of the annual event after a cold and wintry week.

Vai Lockman of Fort Frances looked to level change and get ready to grapple with his opponent during a match at the Jaycee's State Championship held on Friday and Saturday in Grand Rapids, Mn. The third-grader nabbed a podium spot with a third-place finish at the tourney.

Emo residents Katherine Young launched a personalized ice chunk, dubbed the HMS “Hello,” on Rainy River with her brother, Alexander, on Sunday afternoon. They joined numerous other district residents who were thrilled to get outdoors on Saturday and Saturday.

Former Fort Frances Lakers' forward Jaedin Ness will be taking his talents and joining the College of St. Scholastica Saints' hockey program next season. The 21-year-old from Wayzata, Mn. racked up 52 goals and 28 assists over the last two seasons in the SIJHL with the Lakers.

Volunteer firefighters Adam Esselink, left, and Iain McMillan served up spaghetti to attendees of the La Vallee Fire Department's third-annual spaghetti dinner fundraiser. The event was meant to offer community engagement, information on fire safety and an affordable meal, while fundraising for the local fire department.

Chase Councillor fired a shot on net during a session at the Fort Frances Atom 'AA' Canadians' prospects camp that was held last Monday-Wednesday at “The Duke” Couchiching Arena. Prospective players for the 2019-2020 season were able to showcase all that they could bring to the squad during various drills.

TBT Engineering was named one of Canada's Top Small & Medium Employers for 2019 during an awards ceremony Friday in Toronto.

Alia McQuaker got in some quality cuddle time with one of the kittens at the petting zoo outside of Emo Feeds as part of “Spring Fever Days” on Saturday.

Marly Wrolstad got a haircut from Stacy Kreger as part of “Cuts for Cancer” at the Hair and Body Care Shoppe in Emo during Spring Fever Days on Saturday. Kreger said the annual event raised between $5,000-$6,000 for the Tamarack House in Thunder Bay, and more donations are expected to come in over the rest of this week.

In addition to the snakes and alligators, there were some weird looking fish caught by anglers in the Winyah Bay Area last week, including this alligator gar that I caught on a Chatterbait.

Ian McDonald, a crop innovation specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Farming and Rural Affairs, gave a talk on the effects of soil compaction and how to combat it at “Ag Day.” The day-long event featured speakers and vendors and covered a wide range of topics of interest to farmers and the layperson alike.

Alivia Bordynuik watched as Raina Johnson Luoma applied a glitter tattoo to her arm at the Emo Arena on Saturday as part of “Spring Fever Days.” While the Nestor Falls Marine boat show occupied the arena floor, the upstairs hosted a number of craft and vendor tables.

Blair Whitefish, left, and Adrian Indian rocked the house at the Malcolm's Fight Fundraiser at From the Grind Up on Friday evening. Malcolm Robertson is an infant from Churchill, Man. who is currently undergoing treatment for Infant Acute Myelogenous Leukemia in Winnipeg. All proceeds from the event went towards supporting the Robertson family.

Safeway employees April Deveau, left and Landyn Gesic had a booth set up at Fort Frances High School for their job fair on Wednesday. They provided students with information about the jobs they offer as well as accepted resumes from those interested in a position at the store here.

Terry Beadle took a chance at the penny table during the La Vallee Fire Department's third-annual spaghetti dinner at the Devlin Hall on Saturday. An array of prizes were available to bid on at the penny table and a $300 fire safety door prize was raffled off for attendees at the end of the night.

The Town of Rainy River recently replaced the waterline from First Street to Sixth Street along Atwood Avenue and is waiting to have the road paved. Water and sewer lines will also be replaced along 5th Street during the 2019 construction season. The town's water and sewer lines are over 110 years old and the number of water breaks and sewer backups were increasing in frequency.

Livia Lundon, left, Allison Cox, Janice Cousineau, and Natalie DeGagne of the Riverside Foundation for Health Care's special event committee showed off just some of the penny table and silent auction items that will be available at this year's spring fundraiser luncheon which be held on Saturday, April 27 at 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. in the upstairs hall at the Emo Arena.

John Gerber, left, and Rick Boersma showed off their winnings at “Ag Day" on April 6. The two were among the winners of several draws which featured items from companies that had a presence at "Ag Day,” including Precision Land Solutions and Lake of the Woods Brewery.

TORONTO — The recipient of what’s believed to be North America’s first paired living liver donation says he has “the deepest regards” for the stranger who saved his life.