Fort Frances Times Online Edition - September 4, 2019

Soon residents across the Rainy River District won't be solely dependent on ordering cannabis online.

Couchiching was one of eight First Nations to receive a cannabis licence during a selection process that began on July 31 and a storefront is expected to open as early as the end of this year, or at the latest, summer of 2020.

As one local bus line shifts into gear to get kids to and from school, they've also made a commitment to help out in the community as well.

First Student Bus Line manager Tracy Mose said one of the things she's excited for as the school year ramps up is the increased presence she hopes the business will have in and around Fort Frances.

A community business has been hard at work preparing to get district students to school safe and sound, and they have a brand new facility to work out of this year.

First Student Bus Lines has just recently moved to their new location behind Fastenal on Sixth Street West, and operation supervisor Tracy Mose is excited for the improvements that came along with it.

People with cabins or outposts in and around the Crossroute-Sapawe Forest are encouraged to look through the 2020-2030 Forest Management Plan to see if any areas designated for harvest are near their property.

MP Don Rusnak released the following statement regarding concerns about the potential impacts of the proposed Twin Metals Mine in Northern Minnesota on the Canadian Boundary Waters:

"As a person who was born, raised, and is now raising his family in Northwestern Ontario, I have a deep understanding of the importance of the Boundary Waters.

The town recently welcomed a brand new asset management co-ordinator who will be integral in assessing and replacing its infrastructure.

Adam Mitchell was hired in June, has a background in mechanical engineering, and says he's looking forward to helping Fort Frances draft its asset management plan, which focuses on replacing aging infrastructure within the town.

The Fine Line Art Gallery has returned to the 300 block of Scott Street.

After first opening its doors at 306 Scott Street, in the fall of 1995, the Fine Line Art Gallery then relocated to 529 Mowat Ave. in 2000. As of yesterday, the gallery has moved into 326 Scott St., next to the Lighthouse.

Rick Bliss and Elvi Colvin of Fort Frances were among the Alzheimer Society of Kenora/Rainy River Districts' cash calendars winners for September.

Also winning $40 were Armine Mosbeck (Emo), Carol Boissoneau (Sioux Narrows), Eugene Heyens and Denise Johnson (Rainy River), Jan Richardson, Alice Jardine, Kathie and Ken Kress (Kenora), and John Kozak Jr. (Keewatin).

Local labour unions had a beautiful day to celebrate the most recent stat holiday.

A group of members from unions including OPSEU, CUPE, ETFO and OSSTF held a free barbecue at the point in celebration of Labour Day on Monday.

A local organization is gearing up to spread awareness around drinking and pregnancy, and it's getting help from others in the community.

The Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) will be hosting and collaborating on a series of events in recognition of FASD Awareness Week from Sept 6-12.

Rain has been dampening the fire hazard across much of the region.

The forest fire hazard is predominantly low with a few pockets of moderate hazard in the districts of Red Lake, Sioux Lookout and Nipigon.

There were no new forest fires confirmed by the afternoon yesterday.

The Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) is encouraging individuals working in or exploring the outdoors with friends, family or pets this fall, to make small changes that can help to prevent tick bites.

Even though exposure to ticks can occur from April to November, there are two surges when ticks are typically more active, one in the spring and one in the fall.

Ontario is tackling the province's school bus driver shortage by continuing the School Bus Driver Retention Pilot Program this year.

The program will help school bus operators across the province with driver retention and recruitment by rewarding school bus drivers who stay on the job throughout the year.

McKenzie Jolicouer of Stratton was the $100 winner in the Rainy River District Mutual Aid Association cash calendar draw for the week of Aug. 25-31.

The $30 winners for that week included Bev Bond, Josie Schill, Joe Shyiak, and R.J. Wilson (Fort Frances), Danielle Hammond (Devlin), Alice Bremault (Rainy River), and Olga Prusky (Atikokan).

There will be one less swimming option in Fort Frances for the foreseeable future.

The Fort Frances Aquanauts Swim Team (FFAST) has officially gone on a hiatus as they couldn't find a new coach for the 2019/20 swim season.

Former head coach Dawnn Taylor said she stepped down from the position in February due to financial reasons.

Further and further into uncharted waters they go.

Marissa Kerry pitched a complete game, two-hitter as the third-seeded Fort Frances Her-icanes eked out a 2-1 win over the top-ranked Renegades in the Rainy River District Women's Fastball League championship final last Wednesday night at the St. Francis Sports Field.

If they were aiming to make a statement, then job well done.

The Fort Frances Braves used a pair of six-run innings to cruise to a 15-0 thrashing of the Barwick Blue Knights that knotted the best-of-three Rainy River District Fastball League championship series at 1-1 last Thursday night at Couchiching.

After a tough start to the season, things got a little brighter for the Rainy River Community College Voyageurs women's volleyball team last Wednesday.

The squad, which includes former Muskies Hailee Barnard and Alex Spuzak, split its games to improve its record to 1-5.

The Fort Frances Lakers will have to appoint a new captain this season.

The Lakers announced last Thursday that Nick Lucas has committed to St. John's University in Minnesota where he will play Division III hockey for the Johnnies this season.

Resolute Forest Product's operations forester Emily Angermann spoke about operational maps with registered professional forester Sam Hawken of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry during an open house held at the Royal Canadian Legion Br. #29 last Wednesday.

Gene Gruber of the United States carefully ploughed his designated plot of farmland during the 2019 World Ploughing Championship in Baudette, Mn. on Friday. Gruber placed third overall in the conventional division. Over 50 individuals competed in the annual contest.

St. Cloud, Minnesota-based band MN13 performed classic hits and original songs during the World Ploughing Contest in Baudette on Friday afternoon. Other bands who played during the three-day contest included the Birkeland Boys, Clay Hess, Sarah Mae, and Blue Hazard.

Patty Ward, left, Sue Hanson, Leona Ellsmere, Nancy Brown and Michelle Sabbe posed together under the Gillons' Insurance “Back to School Treat Stand” at the Rainy Lake Square on Thursday. As part of their second-annual customer appreciation day, the Gillons' group was giving out free ice cream and lemonade while people completed their back-to-school shopping downtown that day.

Mel Klein of St. Cloud, Mn, gave ploughing demonstrations with his horses to show how farmers ploughed their fields before the introduction of tractors and more modern technologies during the 2019 World Ploughing Contest in Baudette on Friday and Saturday.

JoAnne Formanek Gustafson, back left, photobombed Josie Wilson and Sam Hawken as they posed in front of the OPSEU tent at the Labour Day barbecue held at the Point Park on Monday.

St. Michael's School students eagerly exited the school bus and were greeted by early childhood educator Alysia Jones this morning for the first day of the new school year. In less than a month, students at St. Michael's School will move into the new consolidated catholic school, St. Mary School, and join students who currently attend St. Francis School.

Judges for the 2019 World Ploughing Championship attentively observed the furrows ploughed by competitors during the two-day contest last Friday and Saturday. Judges determine winners by how straight the land is ploughed, the depth of the furrows, and how even their rows are.

DJ Mosbeck of the Barwick Blue Knights made a big stretch in an attempt to snag the ball and record the out at first base during his squad's 15-0 loss to the Fort Frances Braves in Game 2 of the best-of-three Rainy River District Fastball League championship series last Thursday night at Couchiching.

Head coach and general manager Wayne Strachan gave out some instruction to the players on hand for the Fort Frances Lakers' annual training camp yesterday morning at the Ice For Kids Arena. The camp continued today and will wrap up tomorrow morning. The Lakers will kick-off their four-game SIJHL pre-season schedule on Friday night at 7 p.m.

Jean Richards and the other co-op members have been busy getting the Fine Line Art Gallery ready to open its doors at its new location at 326 Scott St. The gallery originally was located at 306 Scott St. when it first opened in 1995. It then moved to Mowat Avenue.

The international bridge between Baudette and Rainy River is currently being replaced and multiple piers which act as supports under the bridge are being constructed, in addition to two concrete abutments on both sides of the river. The $30 million project is a joint effort by Ontario and Minnesota that commenced about six years ago. The project is expected to be complete by next July.

Construction along Atwood Avenue in Rainy River began during August of last year and is expected to wrap up this fall. The town's water and sewer lines, which were 110 years old, have been replaced and the road will soon be repaved. The project is projected to cost $4.4 million in total.

The Fort Frances Her-icanes and Renegades exchanged high-fives and pleasantries after the 'Canes claimed a 2-1 victory in the Rainy River District Women's Fastball League's championship final last Wednesday night at the St. Francis Sports Field. It was the fourth-straight title for the Her-icanes, who have built something of a dynasty in the women's league.

Marissa Kerry of the Fort Frances Her-icanes tried her best to avoid the tag of Renegades' pitcher Karma Andy after she had laid down a crafty bunt during the third inning of her squad's 2-1 win in the RRDWFL championship final last Wednesday night.

September is prime time to catch trophy pike in waters across Northwestern Ontario.

Coach Karissa Kajorinne of Thunder Bay huddled a group of girls around and gave them some instruction near the end of last Wednesday afternoon's session at a basketball camp held at Fort High. The camp, which was open to both girls and boys ages 11-14, aimed to help get area youth prepared for their respective seasons ahead. Kajorinne played high school basketball for the St.

Tonight will have periods of rain with a low of 10 C (50 F).

Tomorrow will be mostly cloudy with a couple of showers. Expect a high of 18 (64) and low of 10 (50).

Friday will be partly sunny with a brief shower around noon, while the high will be 20 (68) and low will be eight (46).