Fort Frances Times Online Edition - April 22, 2020

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, Riverside Health Care and the Riverside Foundation for Health Care have been overwhelmed by messages of thanks and support from our community.

As the safety and well-being of our residents, staff, physicians and the community is our top priority, Riverside is following the directives from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and introducing additional restrictions at all of our long-term care sites.

With all of the precuations set in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some grocery stores in the Rainy River District are helping to alleviate some of the stresses of social distancing by offering delivery and curbside pick-up services.

In Fort Frances, Einar's Foods currently offers both delivery and curbside pick-up services.

Juno Award Nominee, and Canadian children's recording artist, Mary Lambert, is looking for help from Canadians to create a new music video. During this time when we are in our homes, Lambert thought this would be a great project for families to do together.

On behalf of the Anishinaabe Nation in Treaty 3 and the Grand Council, I am requesting that April 23, 2020 be recognized as a National Day of Prayer. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all people across Mother Earth and in these dire times our prayers and ceremonies can be a powerful source of strength and reassurance.

With Ontario's top doctors announcing that the province's curve has crested, speculation has begun about whether restrictions can ease, and what that may look like. But local officials feel caution is still the best path.

Well another week of isolation is behind us. The cool weather should help everyone stay inside. The wind has been nasty and even though the sun is shining brightly the wind ruins the day. I must say though, the wind has dried things up and trust me if you seen the mess, we had last fall, this is a welcome treat. I think the area that I sacrificed for feeding last fall will need a disc over it.

The search is on for a new owner to take over the operation of a beloved local property.

At the Town of Fort Frances' regular council meeting on March 9, Mayor June Caul announced the town would be looking to step away from owning Sunny Cove Camp, formerly the property of the Kiwanis club before the town took over operations in 2009.

There is no doubt that our daily lives have changed dramatically over the past few months. The COVID-19 outbreak has ushered in emergency actions from governments around the world at a pace unseen before.

On the street, social distancing is keeping me from getting up close and personal. All I see are folks across the road and as a matter of course; I always wave and shout a generic no-name “Hello.” It's not that I'm particularly friendly… even though I am; it's that my eyesight particularly without my glasses on just ain't up to what it used to be.

You've likely run into this situation already: You're at home on quarantine or self-isolation orders. Try as you might, Netflix and Disney+ just aren't cutting it today (or you've already exhausted everything there is to watch, we're not here to judge), and you've done everything there is to do on your daily Animal Crossing task list.

A second case of COVID-19 has been confirmed in Kenora.

(KENORA, ON) Members of the Kenora Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police(OPP) are looking to the public to assist in locating a 15 year old male.

Mekhi Pelly is described as an aboriginal male with a thin build approximately 6" tall who was last seen at 5:25 p.m. on April 19, 2020.

He was last seen wearing beige pants, a camo hoodie and glasses.

When it comes to Gospel Music, few are more steadfast than Willie and Rodi Longnecker. And while Social Distancing may have curbed their ability to hold their long time Gospel singing gatherings, it certainly has not silenced them. . . just detoured them a little on their journey.

As news headlines speculate about food shortages and disrupted supply chains, one local business is ramping up to keep Canadian tables full.

Many seasonal camps are on the brink of permanent closure, according to representatives from Indigenous Tourism Ontario (ITO), Nature and Outdoor Tourism Ontario (NOTO) and the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO). The three tourism industry groups have appealed to the provincial and federal governments to provide support to all seasonal tourism businesses across Northern Ontario.

Several local rural businesses are continuing to practice safety procedures regarding the Covid 19 Virus.

DevLynn's continues to allow only four customers in the store at a time

A pair of local sisters are doing their part to help lift the spirits of residents on both sides of the border during these unprecedented times.

THUNDER BAY, Ont.—The SIJHL announced yesterday that Fort Frances Lakers' head coach and general manager Wayne Strachan has been named the recipient of its prestigious Gary Cook Memorial Award for the 2019-20 season.

This distinguished honour is presented annually by the SIJHL to an individual in recognition of their efforts, commitment and contributions to the league.

While this COVID19 and social distancing has certainly thrown a monkey wrench into the works the RRWT and the RRBB Lions Club are not throwing in the towel.

Message from the President:

THUNDER BAY, Ont. -On Thursday, the SIJHL announced that three members of the Wisconsin Lumberjacks have earned themselves the opportunity to attend college and play NCAA Division III hockey next season.

Goaltender Matt Fitzgerald will be heading to Concordia College in Moorhead, Mn. to join the Cobbers program, who compete out of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

An outpouring of gratitude for frontline workers has been appearing throughout town. Last week, the Couchiching First Nation Fire Department made deliveries of food and thanks to Riverside facilities, including Rainycrest LTC home.

Emo Feeds has realized a five-year dream, to ship local grain by rail. The change will being a cost-effective transportation method to the region, which will enable Rainy River farmers to expand production, access new markets and bring in needed supplies.

Paisley and Connor McTavish are making friends with the birds. They downloaded plans they found online, and built a birdhouse with their Grandpa Doug McTavish. What has your family been doing to stay busy during COVID-19? Take a picture and send it to us at tips@fortfrances.com, so we can share it with readers!

Tonight will be partly cloudy with a chance of flurries and a low of -2 C (28 F).

Tomorrow will see a chance of rain showers or flurries throughout the day and overnight with a high of 13 (55) and a low of zero (32).

Friday will see continued chances of rain showers or flurries with a high of 12 (54) and a low of zero (32).