New Champions in Bass Championship

For the first time in nine years, a Fort Frances name is appearing on the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship trophy.

Dorian Lindholm with long-time fishing partner Bill Wilcox of Texas captured the 2010 tournament with a three day catch of 56.45 pounds.

"We had no problem in the pre-fish," says Lindholm. "We had very little problem fishing. It worked out really good for us."

Wilcox says the duo stayed true to their game plan.

"we had a good game plan and changed up water each day," says Wilcox. "That was the key because we used our fish up each day and just changed locations."

Mark Raveling of Minnesota and Mike Luhman of Wisconsin finished second.

Jeff Gustafson of Kenora and John Peterson of Bemidji, who carried the biggest weight on the final day before the final three angling teams weighed-in, were third.

Three-time defending champs Joe Thrun and Jim Moynaugh fell to 19th after weighing in with just 8-pounds on the final day.

Bass Tournament Staying Inside

It's looking like the Memorial Sports Centre will be a permanent home for the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championships.

The event was held indoors for the first time and chair Tom Fry says it worked out every well for organizers.

"I think we're here to stay," says Fry. "It was just an awesome show. Everything was professionally done. The arena looked great. That boat parade worked out just super going in a circle around the arena. I don't think we could have done it any better."

Fry says the big challenge for next year will filling a number of positions on the board of directors including his role as chair.

"There are a few other directors who have indicated they would like to step down so we're going to be looking for directors no later than September 1st."

The organizing committee faced a similar problem which threatened the 2010 tournament before being able to fill several vacancies late last fall.

Bag Bag Considered

Sioux Lookout is close to becoming the first town in Ontario to ban plastic bags in stores.

Councillors approved the second reading of a by-law last week.

Town clerk Mary MacKenzie says they'll seek out more public comment before bringing the by-law back for a final reading in September.

Summer Students Give OPP as Helping Hand

Ontario Provincial Police in Fort Frances are getting some assistance this summer from a couple of summer students.

Samantha Meuller and Brett McMahon are bicycling throughout the town, carrying out a variety of policing programs.

"We've been involved in certain problems including the Lock It or Lose It," says Meuller. "We've conducted traffic surveys for statistics on traffic behaviour. We are also positive role models for the Positive Tickets Program within the bike rodeos that we hold for the children of the Rainy River district."

McMahon says the experience he's gaining may be used toward a possible career in policing.

"I've always been interested in law enforcement," says McMahon, "so I thought this would be a great opportunity to get to know what they do and get a feel for it."

The local detachment also has a student assigned to its Marine unit.

PUSH Seeks Input

Persons United for Self-Help is looking for Northwestern Ontario residents who want to share their story.

Spokesperson Justin Miller says they want to hear from people living with disabilities.

"Share their stories of various issues they have faced in regards to barriers they have encountered with their disabilities," says Miller. "We have representatives go out to the other smaller communities in the region to ask give people a better understand of PUSH Northwest."

Miller says many people in the region still have trouble finding adequate housing and transportation.

Pickle Story Today at Library

A story about pickles and diversity will be told at Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre today.

Pickle Bumps for Baby Dill is the first picture book for children by author Bob Fulton of St. Cloud Minnesota.

Fulton credits his youngest grandson for the idea.

"He says tell us a story about pickles," says Fulton. "He just loves pickles. I thought, well, how do you tell a story about a pickle. The first thing that came to mind was the saying 'like bump on a pickle.' I thought well maybe we can have a story about a pickle that doesn't have any bumps and where does that go."

Fulton will hold readings at the library this 2 p.m. this afternoon and tomorrow at 11 a.m..

A book signing is planned for Wednesday at Betty's in Fort Frances.