Man Convicted on Sex Offences

A 44-year-old man has been sentenced to 66 months in jail and ordered to register with the Sexual Offenders Information Registry after being found guilty of three counts of Sexual Exploitation and a charge of Sexual Interference.

The charges against Garry Donald Mathewson were laid in July following a police investigation involving three males victims that took place in the Rainy River and Thunder Bay districts between 1992 and 1999.

Mathewson was also ordered by a court judge Wednesday to submit DNA samples to the Sexual Offenders Database and stay away from places frequented by children for the next ten years.

Trails Not Open Yet

The abundance of snow around the Rainy River district is generating some excitement among snowmobile enthusiasts.

However, not all trails maintained by the Borderland Snowmobile Club can't be yet be groomed.

President Dave Goodman says there's just no frost in the ground.

"The main reason you need the frost is all is that in swamp areas or soft areas the groomer will sink very quickly and get stuck," says Goodman, "and we can take the risk of taking the groomer into the swamps especially."

Goodman says the current cold stretch will help and some partial sections of trails could be open next week.

Choraliers Receive Money

The Fort Frances Choraliers have received funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

Choir director Diane Maxey says the over $11-thousand will help purchased some much desired equipment.

"We are getting a trail to house all of the equipment for easy access to move it around," says Maxey. "We're hoping to get our risers that we've wanted for a long, long time and portable. And we'll probably have a wireless microphone that will help us a lot in our performances."

Maxey says because the choir does not have a charitable number, the Valley Adult Learning Association helped obtain the money by submitting the application under its name.

Catholic Trustees Take Office

Newly elected trustees with the Northwest Catholic District School Board take to office for the first time tonight.

Teresa Larson, representing Atikokan, Catherine Bowen and James Kulchyski from Sioux Lookout, Kathy Bryck and Robert van Oort of Dryden, Anne-Marie Fitzgerald and Harold Huntley from Fort Frances and Mark Chojko-Bolec representing Stratton and area will be sworn-in at a ceremony at St. Francis School in Fort Frances.

The trustees will then elect a new chair and vice-chair.

Doctor Honoured

A Fort Frances doctor has been recognized by the Ontario College of Family Physicians.

Doctor Jason Shack was one of seventeen Ontario physicians to receive the College's Award of Excellence.

The award recognizes family physicians for their contributions to patient care, their communities and their profession.

Acts of Kindness Promoted

The Acts of Kindness fundraiser for the Fort Frances Community Chest happens tonight at the Fort Frances Legion.

Steve Sinclair, whose family benefited from a contribution from the chest about five years ago, says it's important the fund remain vibrant.

"The financial support from Community Chest is the most important thing that you can have," says Sinclair. "To know that there is someone there to help you in a time of need, but equally important is the community outreach. Neighbours helping neighbours. You need them both."

Over 100 items will be auctioned off at tonight's event.