Fort Frances Times Online Edition - May 1, 2019

A stroke can be one of the most frightening experiences in a lifetime.

The condition can be sudden and fatal, and even if a patient survives there can be severe neurological damage, as the brain suffers from an impact to blood supply during a stroke.

The Rainy River Future Development Corporation (RRFDC) and the Town of Fort Frances have announced that TD Bank Group will be the 2019 sponsor of the Rainy Lake Movie Nights.

The sponsorship will support the screening of five free family movies on Thursday evenings throughout the summer, starting on May 23.

A pair of candidates from Thunder Bay are currently vying for the NDP nomination for the Thunder Bay-Rainy River riding in the upcoming federal election.

On Friday, May 10, the public is invited to Weechi-it-te-win Family Services'“Children's Wellness BBQ.”

There will be a free lunch of hamburgers, hot dogs, beverages and cake located at 601 Victoria Ave. from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m..

There will be educational and prevention information on site.

The Northwestern Health Unit knows about needles.

Tbaytel held its annual general meeting Monday at Thunder Bay City Hall and released “Game Changing,” the company's 2018 report to the community.

The report highlights a number of Tbaytel's key accomplishments from throughout 2018, as well as the company's strategic direction and summarized financial information.

It wasn't exactly business as usual at the Seven Generations salon on Friday.

“It's rare to see it so busy in here,” Don Eldridge said.

Eldridge is the post-secondary co-ordinator at Seven Generations Education Institute. He was at the salon building, located at 540 King's Highway, because of a special event that was happening.

Businesses, organizations, and charitable groups from Northwestern Ontario had a chance to network and educate people on what they do at the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce's Business and Community Expo on Friday and Saturday.

More than 500 people came through the curling rink's doors over the two days to see what was being offered by 35 different exhibitors.

Riverside Health Care in conjunction with the Northwestern Health Unit has declared a gastroenteritis outbreak at Rainycrest Long Term Care Home.

All admissions, transfers, discharges and social activities have been cancelled until further notice.

Visitors are restricted to family members and caregivers only.

Indigenous women go missing and are murdered at a disproportionately higher rate than those who are non-indigenous.

To respect the indigenous women who have been affected, a Day of Remembrance and Honour for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, also known as “Red Dress Day,” is being held on Sunday, May 5 around the country.

The Fort Frances Museum and Cultural Centre opened its newest temporary exhibit on Wednesday.

The photo exhibit, “Taking Back our Natural World” showcases pieces that highlight the driving forces of climate change, as well as the impact those forces have had on the planet so far.

The Competition Bureau has concluded its investigation into high gasoline prices in northwestern Ontario, and announced yesterday it did not find evidence that an offence under the Competition Act has occurred.

As part of the investigation, bureau officers conducted field interviews at a total of 50 gas stations in the communities of Thunder Bay, Fort Frances, Dryden and Kenora.

Terry and Alanna Newman of Fort Frances were the lucky $500 Easter winners in the Rainy River District Mutual Aid Association cash calndar draw for the week of April 21-27.

Anishinaabemowin has a long-standing history and importance in the district, as it is the first language of the Ojibwe-Anishinaabeg and it was the language of trade for generations in this territory before being targeted for extinction.

The Rainy River Public Library Board is reeling from a 50 percent cut to provincial library services.

The cut was delivered by the Ontario government in its 2019 budget.

Taking over $1 million away from Ontario Library Service-North (OLS-North) and the Southern Ontario Library Service (SOLS) will be a disaster, said Rainy River librarian Michael Dawber.

The second largest cattle sale to ever be held at the Stratton Sales Barn took place on Saturday.

A total of 1,572 animals went through the ring, generating roughly $1.95 million for farmers across the district and surrounding area.

The largest cattle auction ever had at the Stratton Sales Barn was held in 2011 and sold 1,633 animals.

The Rainy River Valley Agricultural Society is hosting its “Spring in Hawaii Gala” this Saturday (May 4) at the Emo Arena.

Tickets are $50. Social hour is 5:30 p.m. dinner served at 6:30.

To make the evening more enjoyable there will be a cake roulette, penny table, a silent auction and lots of games and prizes.

The Rainy River Owl girls' and boys' soccer teams will be looking to start the NorWOSSA 'A' season off on the right foot today.

The boys were slated to face the Red Lake Rams while the girls were to battle the Sioux Lookout Warriors this afternoon in the regular season-opener at RRHS, with the outcomes not known as of press time.

The four-team field for this week's Dudley-Hewitt Cup, which kicked off yesterday and runs through Saturday in Cochrane, has been finalized.

Another season, another trip to the all-Ontarios for Jackson Arpin.

The Rainy River Owl standout continued his dominance this season with an impressive 5-0 showing en route to claiming gold in senior boys' singles at the NWOSSAA badminton championships held last Wednesday in Thunder Bay.

To say the Muskie boys' soccer team has been impressive over the last decade would be a massive understatement.

The NorWOSSA landscape has been painted black-and-gold for the last eight brilliant seasons and the Muskies are hoping they can secure a ninth-straight NorWOSSA title and with it—another trip to the all-Ontarios.

Add another Fort Frances Lakers' product to the list of who will be playing hockey for the College of St. Scholastica Saints next season.

Defenceman Nate Drobnick recently announced that he has committed to play for the Saints next season.

While the weather hasn't fully cooperated so far, the Muskie track-and-field team still was impressive at its season-opening meet last week and they'll be hoping to continue that trend at a meet in Dryden next Wednesday (May 8).

RED LAKE, Ont.—The Red Lake Miners of the SIJHL are looking to fill the role of GM/head coach for the upcoming 2019-20 season.

After four years of dedicated service to the Miners' organization, Derek Sweet-Coulter has decided to pursue another opportunity in the hockey world.

We wish Derek continued success as he transitions from the Miners' program to his next venture.

This group of students cheered as they got the correct answer at the “Oko-aabajitooyang Anishinaabemowin" station—a Jeopardy-style language competition—during the 20th-annual "Quest for Knowledge” (Gagwegakendamaawiziwin) held last Wednesday at Rainy River First Nations.

Choir director Diane Maxey addressed the audience as the Fort Frances Choraliers looked on before a concert at Rainycrest's Hallett Hall on Saturday afternoon. This year's Easter cantata, “Hope Alive in Me,” was also performed Sunday afternoon at the Zion Lutheran Church in International Falls. They have one more performance slated for this Sunday (May 5) at 3 p.m.

Volunteers and graduates of the first “Moving On from Stroke" program at La Verendrye General Hospital this year posed for a celebratory photo. Seated in the front row are volunteers Wilma Chapman, left, and Melvin Jourdain, while in the back row are volunteer LaVerna Brown, left, and graduates Blondie Ditmars, Betty and Bill Penney, and Marcus Gerber.

Conservative Party candidate for Thunder Bay-Rainy River Linda Rydholm, left, spoke to constituents at the Chamber's Business Expo on Saturday afternoon. Those who came by the booth had a chance to speak with the candidate one on one and learn about her campaign.

Abigail, Tyler, and Elon Dogget, right, were curious about the Fort Frances First Responders' booth at the business and community expo on Saturday. The First Responders had their dummy set up and showed CPR demonstrations to the youngsters.

-Sam Odrowski photo

Brothers Corbin and Owen Riches took a quiz at the Northern Development Career Services (NCDS) booth during the Chamber's expo on Saturday afternoon. They were tested on their knowledge of NCDS; Owen was the first person to score 100 percent on the quiz.

Achilles Morrisseau was almost free of the chair as Seven Gens' hairstyling student Jaida Nash, left, and program instructor April DeGagne put the finishing touches on his brand-new 'do on Friday.

A group of OPP officers, along with their furry friend, had a booth setup at the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce's Business and Community Expo on Saturday to interact with, and give out information to, the community.

Over 100 people came to watch the live spring cattle auction at the Stratton sales barn on Saturday. Much of the audience consisted of farmer and producers who watched their own cattle get sold to buyers from Manitoba and southern Ontario.

Kim Jo Bliss, left, kept track of the numbers as auctioneer Rick Wright solicited bids during the spring cattle sale at the Stratton sales barn on Saturday. The auction went until 10 p.m., running a bit later than average due to the large volume of animals up for bid.

A package of cattle entered the ring at last Saturday's sale in Stratton and were part of the nearly 1,600 head which were sold. The animals sold for a total of nearly $1.95 million, bringing a long-awaited paycheque to many of the districts farmers. -Sam Odrowski photos

Ashlyn Beck, left, of the Muskies, and Paige Anderson of the Rainy River Owls had their sights set on the airborne ball while Tala Quran (#5) looked on during Fort High's 2-0 win in exhibition action last Thursday afternoon here. The black-and-gold will next see action with some more exhibition games this weekend in Thunder Bay.

Callum Galusha cocked his arm back and got ready to make a throw during the shot put event at the Bronco Booster Track & Field Invite varsity meet last Tuesday at Falls High School. Galusha wound up 12th with a best throw of 27',8."

Rainy River Owl standout Jackson Arpin got ready to make a serve during one of his matches earlier this season. Arpin has been dominant in senior boys' singles play this season and qualified for his third trip to OFSAA with a perfect 5-0 showing at the NWOSSAA badminton championships held last Wednesday in Thunder Bay.

Muskie Connor Nelson (#4) looked on as Jackson Arpin of the Rainy River Owls looked to control the ball and move it up the pitch during Fort High's 3-2 win in exhibition action last Thursday afternoon here. The Muskies next will be in action at the annual St. John's-Ravenscourt tournament in Winnipeg this Friday through Sunday.

Andre Hendrikx had laser-like focus as he was dialed in on the finish line during the boys' 200m dash at the Broncos Booster Track & Field Invite varsity meet held last Tuesday at Falls High School. Hendrikx finished 17th for the Muskies with a time of 29.37.

Ojibwe language co-ordinator for the Rainy River District School Board Jason Jones asked students questions about the Anishinaabemowin language and verb conjugation during the Oko-aabajitooyang Anishinaabemowin station during the 20th-annual “Quest For Knoweldge” event that was held at Rainy River First Nations last Wednesday.

Heather Oltsher, right, and Joyanne Tolen admired a pillow which was up for bid in the silent auction Saturday afternoon during the “Mama's Gone Country Chic” fundraiser at the Emo-La Vallee Community Centre. This year's spring fundraiser luncheon raised just over $9,200 for the Riverside Foundation for Health Care.

The two prize-winning artist submissions to the “Taking Back our Natural World" exhibit are displayed at the Fort Frances Museum. The second-place winner "Crying Earth" by Arunima Kulmitra, left, and first-place winner "Plastic Plague” by S. LeBlanc were awarded a combined total of $500, with both prizes being donated by New Gold Inc.

Linda Esselink, left, and Ynske Kaemingh took their chances while playing the pie roulette operated by Betty DeGagne “Mama's Gone Country Chic” fundraiser on Saturday at the Emo-La Vallee Community Centre. About 125 women attended the event.

Safeway pharmacist Kim Bruyere was charged with failing to shave her head during the Fort Frances Voyageur Lions Club's seventh-annual “Bail or Jail” on Saturday at the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce's Business and Community Expo. She raised $350 when serving time in the slammer that will go towards purchasing a new mammography machine at Riverside Health.

Donald Young School students made drums and sticks in class that they presented to judges at the “Aabajitoon minik gegoo ezgi-gikendaman" station during "Quest for Knowledge” last Wednesday. Under the direction of Ojibwe language teacher Shawnee Guimond the students learned about the materials used to make the drums as well as their cultural and historical significance.

Randi Roth, left, bought an arm's-length of tickets for the watch and necklace draw from RBC volunteer Michelle Elias at the luncheon on Saturday afternoon. Elias was joined by fellow RBC volunteers Courtney Yatchuk and Dana-Lynn Begin. RBC donated $1,000 to the Foundation for the event through its “Day of Service” program.

Leah Seguin, who was representing Donald Young School, was just able to clear the bar during the girls' high jump event at the Bronco Booster Track & Field Invite varsity meet held last Tuesday at Falls High School. Seguin snagged bronze with a best jump of 4',6."