Fort Frances Times Online Edition - September 18, 2019

Cattle farmers who would like to stay up to date on changes in regulations around and the health of their animals are encouraged to attend the fall producer meeting tomorrow night (Sept. 19) at the Emo Legion.

Rainy River First Nations (RRFN) partnered with Fort Frances mill property owner Riverdedge Developments in early August and is exploring the feasibility of a couple different options at the mill site.

“We want to have the highest and best use which can create jobs and be financially feasible,” RRFN chief Robin McGinnis told the Times.

The local branch of the Salvation Army has welcomed a new corps officer to Rainy River District.

Arthur Heathcote is a long-time member of the Salvation Army and started his post in Fort Frances on June 28, though it's not the first time he's been in town.

A local community organization is spreading awareness about the dangers of drinking while pregnant by providing women with affordable and accessible pregnancy tests in two unlikely locations.

Locals who would like to cast their votes early in the federal election can now do so at the Elections Canada Office in Fort Frances.

The office is located at 540 King's Highway, in Unit B of the Rainy Lake Plaza, and is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

The Rainycrest residents' dinner was once again held at La Place Rendez-Vous by the Rainycrest Auxiliary last Tuesday.

A total of 38 residents came out with assistance by Rainycrest staff and auxiliary members.

Attendees of the dinner were able to order from a prepared menu of walleye, chicken, or pork cutlets.

It's a critical time of year for several of Ontario's most vulnerable species.

Turtle species in Ontario are in the middle of their hatching season, a difficult time for the shelled reptiles as the babies are small, slow, and up against staggering odds.

Fort Frances Tribal Area Health Services (FFTAHS) recently held a Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls awareness walk that was also aimed at raising awareness for trafficked individuals and violence against women.

The elders of Seine River First Nation developed a vision and declaration outlining how they could better the community 20 years ago.

Part of that vision was realized through the construction of a brand new 8,000 square ft. multi-use cultural centre located at the First Nation, where a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held last Thursday (Sept. 12).

The Green Party recently selected Amanda Moddejonge to run as their candidate for Thunder Bay-Rainy River in the upcoming federal election.

“I am proud to carry the Green Party banner,” she said.

"We have a strong, experienced, and dynamic leader in Elizabeth May, who many polls are showing as the only leader with a positive approval rating.

On Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019, the Rainy River District School Board will recognize Rowan's Law Day to help raise awareness about concussion safety.

This Saturday (Sept. 21) is “World Alzheimer Day.”

Alzheimer Society client services co-ordinator Mary O'Connor will be at Safeway this from 10 a.m.-noon distributing blue ribbons for “World Alzheimer Day.”

With bow hunting season underway and rifle hunting season coming up, the OPP is reminding hunters that safety needs to be a first priority.

There are a number of ways hunters can keep themselves, and those around them, safe.

These include:

Joe Georgeson, Bernice Kempf, and Colleen Tibbs of Fort Frances were among the $30 winners in the Rainy River District Mutual Aid Association's cash calendar draw for the week of Sept. 8-14.

They were joined by Rosario Beaudry (Pinewood), Linda and John Esselink (Emo), and Denis Duhamel and Benilda Motilla (Atikokan).

Ontario is providing more comprehensive services for people who are seeking to quit smoking by transitioning telephone-based smoking cessation services in Ontario from Smokers' Helpline to the Telehealth Ontario platform.

“There's no one-size-fits-all solution for Ontarians looking to quit smoking,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health.

Another year, another title at Crow Lake for Dallas Mosbeck and Wayne Howard.

Mosbeck, of Emo, and Howard, from Fort Frances, teamed up once again to take home the title for the third straight year at the Crow Lake Classic Bass Tournament held in Nestor Falls on Saturday and Sunday.

Here are the sunrise and sunset times for Sept. 19-25:

The Muskie golf team didn't end up making the trip to Sioux Lookout last Thursday for its first event of the NorWOSSA season.

The reason being most of the students had prior commitments, thus not enough were available to make the trip.

The Muskie junior boys' volleyball team had a successful season last year and they're hoping for much of the same this time around.

The defending NorWOSSA champions, who defeated the rival Dryden Eagles in four sets in last year's final here to take home gold, have an excellent core of returning players and an intriguing group of rookies this season.

Help celebrate our region's proud sports heritage at the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame's 38th-annual induction dinner and ceremonies taking place on the evening of Saturday, Sept. 28 in the Valhalla Inn Ballroom in Thunder Bay.

The Fort Frances Lakers were able to salvage a win in the pre-season finale and will be looking to keep that momentum rolling as they get set to open the SIJHL regular season this week.

It was a weekend full of learning and improvement and the Muskie senior girls' basketball team will be better off for having experienced it.

The Muskies compiled a 1-3 record at a pre-season senior girls' basketball tournament hosted by Lakehead University on Friday and Saturday, where they faced some of the best teams Thunder Bay has to offer.

With a disappointing loss in the NorWOSSA final last year firmly behind them now, the Muskie senior boys' volleyball team has been hard at work preparing for a new season that brings with it some new hopes.

The roster for this year's edition of the Muskies is looking solid, as it has seen some talented players moving up from the junior ranks as well as some veterans back in the fold.

Seine River First Nation chief Tom Johnson cut the ribbon outside of the community's newly built, 8,000 square ft. multi-use cultural centre on Thursday, where he was joined with councillors, community members, and those who helped build the facility.

Seine River FN cultural

co-ordinator Tracy Kabatay

One of the two pregnancy test dispensers being placed in bar washrooms in the district. The machines will be installed in the women's washrooms at the Copper River Inn in Fort Frances, as well as the Back Alley Bar in Emo. The coin-operated machines will charge $2 for a test, and carry messaging warning women about the dangers of drinking any amount of alcohol while pregnant.

TBT Engineering Limited branch manager D.J. MacKintosh, left, manager and legal surveyor Peter de Haan, OLS articling applicant and structural engineer Aaron Heerema, and CAD technician Heidi Wilson took a moment for a photo during the grand opening of their new consultancy office at 255 Scott St. on Thursday.

A selection of some of the messaging going out to bars across the district in conjunction with the FASD Community Partners of the Rainy River District. The coasters and table tent cards provide information about FASD, as well as common misconceptions about drinking alcohol while pregnant.

Treaty #3 Grand Chief Ogichidaa Francis Kavanaugh shook hands with Seine River First Nation chief Tom Johnson as he presented the First Nation with a painting for its brand new $5 million multi-use cultural centre on Thursday. Grand Chief Kavanaugh attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony held there that day and congratulated Seine River on building the facility. See story, more photos A5.

Rainycrest residents Gladys Kerr, front left, Joanne Magel, Greta Eide, and Helen Lalonde shared some smiles as they enjoyed a residents' dinner at La Place Rendez-Vous last Tuesday. The dinner was hosted by the Rainycrest Auxiliary and the menu consisted of walleye, chicken, and pork cutlets. -Submitted photo

A break in the rain this weekend gave runners during the Fort Frances Volunteer Bureau's Terry Fox Run on Sunday the chance to shine. More than two dozen participants signed up and raised money for the annual event, which organizers said brought in roughly $4,200 for the Terry Fox Foundation and cancer research.

Seine River First Nation councillor John Kabatay

Steve Cohlmeyer, CEO of Cohlmeyer Architects

Arthur Heathcote is the new corps officer for the Fort Frances branch of the Salvation Army. Having worked with the Salvation Army since 2012, Heathcote said he's excited to be in town and work with local community service providers to help support those in need.

Donna Chief of the Nuclear Waste Management Organization

FASD Community Partners Miranda Sigurdson, left, and Robyn Dennis served up a piece of cake to Faith Moen at the Northwestern Health Unit on Tursday. The FASD Community partners were serving up the cake in recognition of FASD Awareness Week in the area.

Ashton Cousineau did his best to get his approach shot on the green while Darian Klem and Jaden Cooper looked on during the Muskie boys' hockey team's fundraising golf scramble hosted by Heron Landing on Saturday. All proceeds from the event went to supporting the Muskie program.

Bryden Strachan was all smiles as she did her best to keep up with Michael Chapman of the Fort Frances Lakers as they engaged in a friendly race during a post-game skate with the team after the Lakers' and Muskie boys' hockey team's combined scrimmage on Friday night at the Ice For Kids Arena.

Praveen Dhaliwal of the Fort Frances Lakers had this scoring chance in front of Red Lake Miners' goalie Kolter Pawlick just escape his grasp during the first period of his squad's 2-1 win in the SIJHL pre-season finale for both teams on Sunday afternoon at the Ice For Kids Arena.

Ashton Cousineau, left, Declan Webb, Mike Vanderaa, and Peyton Avis all listened intently as Muskie coach John Gibson, centre, gave out some instruction for a drill during the Muskie senior boys' volleyball team's first practice of the season last Monday afternoon (Sept. 9) at Fort High.

Head coach Chris Sinclair had all of the Muskie boys' hockey team hopefuls gathered around for some final thoughts and instruction near the end of the third tryout session last Wednesday afternoon at the Ice For Kids Arena. The tryouts ran Monday through Thursday last week and all on hand were able to showcase what they could bring to the black-and-gold this upcoming NorWOSSA season.

Late September is prime time to catch lake trout in Sunset Country.

Paiten Kinnear (25) looked to strip Ellayna Kabel of the puck behind the net during a scrimmage at the Muskie girls' hockey team's third tryout session last Wednesday evening at the Ice For Kids Arena. All the Muskie hopefuls were trying to impress head coach Nicole Clark and the rest of the coaching staff in order to be selected to this year's roster.

Tonight will have patchy clouds and a low of 12 C (54 F).

Tomorrow will see a brief afternoon shower in the daytime, with more partial cloud coverage at night, as well as a high of 21 (70) and low of 13 (55).

Friday will be sunny to partly cloudy during the day, with a strong thunderstorm at night. Expect a high of 25 (77) and low of 16 (61).