Bass Tournament Help Coming

The town of Fort Frances appears ready to help organizers of the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship.

Town councillors yesterday indicated a willingness to accept most of items requested except free use of the Memorial Sports Centre

Councillor Ken Perry was among those to express concerns with that plan.

"Giving free ice time or free rental and then the Bass tournament charging the (Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce) for rent for Quest for the Best in our facility that we're charging (them) nothing, you'd hear from me later if you didn't hear from me now," says Perry.

Efforts will instead be made to access funding through the Rainy River Future Development Corporation that could be applied to this year's fees.

Bass Tournament Looks to Move

This could be the final year that the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Tournament is held indoors.

Tournament officials confirm they're looking at a return to the waterfront as early as next year.

Committee member Jim Cumming says a committee will be struck after the July event to study the benefits of moving back outdoors.

The tournament moved to the Memorial Sports Centre for the first time last year.

Male Abuse Services Coming This Summer

It could be a couple of months before new services for male victims of sexual abuse are available in the Rainy River district.

Riverside Counselling Services of Fort Frances is part of a joint effort to bring services to the north.

Executive Director Jon Thompson says it's the first time government has provided such funding.

"The issues have long been with us in our society," says Thompson, "but this is the first initiative in Canada and in Ontario recognizing the importance of sexual abuse and the recovery from it and having services and supports throughout the province to assist that."

Thompson says having services in place also help agencies better determine the number of men needing help.

More Highway Trouble

The Ministry of Transportation is reporting a partial closure of Highway 602 this morning.

The eastbound lane, just south of the Bone Road, has been shutdown due to a collapse of an embankment.

All eastbound traffic approaching the area must yield to oncoming traffic.

New Boating Tests in Place

Tests required to obtain the mandatory Pleasure Craft Operators Card have changed.

Cameron Taylor of BoatSmart! Canada says there will be a new written exam with more questions.

"Beginning today, the exam will be 50 questions," says Taylor. "The difficulty of those questions will be enhanced to better test the boaters skill and knowledge. Those boaters that prefer to take the exam on-line will have to take a three hour study course on-line before proceeding to the final exam."

With the option of a $250 fine for not having the card, Taylor doesn't think the changes will result in people avoiding the tests.

Festival Results for Thursday April 14

Scott Walsh was the big winner in the second day of drama competitions at the Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts.

Walsh earned three first-place finishes and two seconds.

The drama competitions conclude today at the Townshend Theatre beginning at 9 a.m.

Here is a list of all winners from Thursday.

FESTIVAL RESULTS - DRAMA DIVISION, April 14, 2011

CLASS A1302-A
FIRST - Kristina Robertson
SECOND (TIE) - Bridget Jorgenson, Larissa Darah

CLASS A1302-B
FIRST (TIE) - Tasha Roth, Breanna Sheppard
SECOND - Scott Walsh

CLASS A110-B
FIRST - Breanna Sheppard

CLASS A110-C
FIRST - Scott Walsh

CLASS A110-E
FIRST - Tasha Roth

CLASS A110-F
FIRST - Scott Walsh

CLASS A706-A(I)
FIRST - St. Francis School, Grades 5 and 6

CLASS A706-A(II)
FIRST - St. Francis School, Grade 6

CLASS A1102
FIRST - Tasha Roth and Breanna Sheppard

CLASS A1306-A
FIRST - David Loney
SECOND - Erika Moffitt

CLASS A1306-B
FIRST (TIE) - Trelawney Erwin, Dylan Roen
SECOND - David Fyfe

CLASS A504-A
FIRST - Tasha Roth

CLASS A504-D
FIRST - Breanna Sheppard
SECOND - Scott Walsh

CLASS A1502
FIRST - Scott Walsh
SECOND (TIE) - Tasha Roth, Breanna Sheppard