Friday, November 27, 2009

Local Sports for Friday November 27

Fort Frances Lakers managed just 18 shots in a 4-2 loss to the K and A Wolverines in Thunder Bay last night.

The teams were tied 2-2 in the second with the Lakers getting markers from Jake Ransom and Morgan McNeill before the Wolverines scored twice in the third for the win.

Netminder Jameson Shortreed stopped 53 of 57 shots in the loss.


Fort Frances Canadians host the Gus Lindberg Memorial Midget AA hockey tournament at the Memorial Sport Centre this weekend.

Six teams have entered with the Canadians playing their first game tonight against Kenora's Saint Thomas Aquinas at 6:15 p.m.


Nor-Fab Flames Peewee Girls and the Dynamic Homes Hurricanes Atom Girls teams are in tournaments in Warroad this weekend.

Nor-Fab opens play tonight against Warroad while the Hurricanes begin the tournament with a game against Roseau tomorrow.


In high school hockey, Fort Frances Muskies boys team travels to Detroit Lakes for a pair of exhibition games while the girls team is in Dryden for a tournament.

The girls first game is this afternoon against Sioux Lookout.



Atikokan is the host site of the Junior Men's and Women's Inter-Regional Curling Playdown.

Seven men's and four women's teams are competing in the 3-day Tournament.

Fort Frances is represented by Ethan Jordbro's rink on the men's side and Tirzah Keffer on the women's.

Out-of-Province Health Visits Increase

Health Minister Deb Matthews says she's trying to tackle a huge increase in out-of-province visits covered by Ontario health insurance.

A new report says Ontario agreed to fund almost 12-thousand procedures or treatments outside the province last year, up from about 2-thousand in 2001.

Matthews says the government is putting more money into reducing those visits.

More Flu Clinics Here

The Northwestern Health Unit has unveiled its December schedule for vaccinations clinics for the H1H1 flu.

Clinics in Rainy River, Fort Frances and Atikokan have been scheduled through to the middle of December.

But in other parts of the province they appear to be coming to an end - despite the fact that many people have not got the shot.

Public health units in Hamilton and Stratford plan to close their clinics next week, saying demand for shots is dropping.

Legal Aid Boycot Grows

A boycott of the legal aid system in Ontario could be widening to include all offences.

The Criminal Lawyers' Association is considering its options but some lawyers are pushing hard for an escalated protest to back demands for higher fees.

The boycott now only applies to cases involving guns and gangs and homicides.

Lawyers voluntarily take on legal aid work so the government can't force them back to work.

Lodge Burns

OPP say foul play is not suspected in a fire that destroyed a tourist camp in northwestern Ontario.

Yesterday's fire levelled the main lodge at Cedar Point Lodge near Waldhof, west of Dryden.

No one was injured.

Donations Wanted

The Salvation Army will be seeking donations of non-perishable foods and money from parade goers.

They'll be aided in tomorrow's parade by staff and management of B-93 and other volunteers.

Captain Angel Sandoval is hoping people will help out.

"We expect people will provide economical contributions," says Sandoval, " food and gifts. Everything is welcome. We have a big increase in the number of people asking for help this year."

Sandoval cites the economy as a reason for the increase.

Parade of Lights Tomorrow

The fifty-second annual Parade of Lights goes tomorrow evening in Fort Frances.

More than 20 organizations have confirmed entry to date.

Set up takes place at 3 p.m. in front of the Fort Frances Volunteer Bureau with judging at 4 p.m. and the parade starting at 5 p.m.

While not prohibited, parade organizers are asking motorists to avoid parking on Scott Street until the parade is over.

RIDE Program Out in Force

The Ontario Provincial Police kick off their 2009 Holiday RIDE campaign today.

The Province wide initiative will wraps up on January 2.

Constable Dave Cain says holiday party guests shouldn't feel their only option is to drink and drive.

"We're reminding the public that there is no excuse for drinking and driving," says Cain. "There are many other ways to get home whether you take a cab or arrange ahead of time for a designated driver."

Last year, OPP laid more than 300 impaired driving charges on Ontario's roads.

CAS Commission Announced

The Ontario government has appointed a promised commission to study the workings of the children's aid system.

It follows complaints Children's Aid Societies are not able to do a proper job of protecting children with their current budgets.

Premier Dalton McGuinty has refused to commit new money, saying his government has raised budgets by 30 per cent.

Critics have said children were at risk of being left in abusive homes and are facing higher suicide rates in one part of northern Ontario.

They also complained the promised commission had yet to get off the ground.

Laurel Broten, the minister of children and youth services,announced the appointment of the commission Thursday.

Broten says the commission is an opportunity "to find creative solutions to improve services children and youth are receiving in Ontario within available resources.''

Pikangikum Help Needed

An appeal for supplies for children and youth in Pikangikum First Nation has generated a strong response in the Rainy River District.

Family and Children Services Rainy River is spearheading the drive after responding to pleas for food and clothing from Sioux Lookout's Tikinagan Child and Family Services.

Jacquee Loerzel says a variety of items are still needed.

"We're looking for things like cases of enfamil infant formula with iron," says Loerzel, "cases of diapers sizes 4 to 6, winter clothing including hats, mitts, boots and jackets for infants, children and youth. We're also looking for fleece blankets, ski pants and wool socks. We're also looking for non-perishable food items."

The items can be brought to Beaver Mills in Rainy River, Cloverleaf in Emo, Walmart and Safeway in Fort Frances or to FACS offices in Fort Frances and Atikokan.