Hayes Wins Quest Again

Her performance of Heart's hit song "Alone" has earned Brittnay Hayes her second Quest for the Best title.

Hayes, who won in 2009, was voted the best vocal performance following the final sing-off last night with Larissa Desrosiers.

Hayes lost the sing-off last year, but took home $15-hundred in the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce sponsored event..

Area Residents "Be A Donor"

There continues to be strong interest in the Rainy River district from residents to register their consent for organ and tissue donation.

Figures release show 39 per cent of Fort Frances residents and 25 per cent of those living elsewhere in the district have already signed on with a provincial registry.

That's higher than the provincial average of 22 per cent.

Rainer Roost Celebrates 25 Years

Anniversary celebrations for an assisted living facility in Rainer.

Decker's Family Care established Rainer Roost 25 year ago as a 7 bed unit, expanding later to 23.

John Decker says they've been able to fill a real need.

A open house will be held tomorrow at 1 p.m. with the facility making a special dedication in honour of a former resident.

Warm Weather To Continue

More warm and dry weather is on the way for the Rainy River district.

Environment Canada's Chantal Cerny says the higher than normal temperatures already experienced this summer will likely continue in the fall.

The average temperature for June was 1.4 C above the norm while the thermometer this month has reached over 30 C four times, compared with the average of two.


Rainfall amounts for June was the lowest it's been in eight years while another monthly record low could be achieved in July.

Health Care To Many Could End

Millions of Ontarians could find themselves without health insurance coverage if they ignore government notices to get a new health card.

There are still more than 3-and-a-half million residents with the old red-and-white cards, including a CTV reporter who was told her OHIP card had been cancelled and she'd have to pay $60 to see a doctor.

The old cards don't have expiry dates, but government officials say people were sent three notices to get the newer one.

If the card holder doesn't respond, and the health card hasn't been used in seven years, the government will suspend it.

Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship Results

Here are the results from the first day weigh-ins at the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship.

Rank 1, team 3 Mark Raveling and Mike Luhman 19.73
Rank 2, team 2 Glenn Leroux and Trevor Zimak 18.45
Rank 3, team 59 Tyan Teigen and Mike Teigen 18.31
Rank 4, team 91 Jim Sandelovich and Karl Howells 17.25
Rank 5, team 24 Bill Godin and Ralph Galusha 16.73
Rank 6, team 20 Chad Johnson and John Janousek 16.71
Rank 7, team 48 Dennis Fiedler and Duane Anderson 16.68
Rank 8 team 31 Troy Norman and Jay Samsal 16.67
Rank 9, team 5 Jeff Gustafson and John Peterson 16.63
Rank 10, team 56 Kurt Johnson and Pat Jeffries 16.10
Rank 11, team 74 Ted Stewner and John Guzej 15.92
Rank 12, team 101 Dan Grosenick and Trevor Guderyan 15.89
Rank 13, team 46 Dorian Lindholm and Bill Wilcox 15.71
Rank 14, team 35 Brian Hansen and Lee Erickson 15.67
Rank 15, team 65 Dave Lindsay and Norm Lindsay 15.64
Rank 16, team 44 Jason Pavleck and Bill Walls 15.55
Rank 17, team 42 Dennis Barnard and Scott Gobeil 15.40
Rank 18, team 14 Ted Heyens and Leo Heyens 15.37
Rank 19, team 34 Chad Adrians and Caleb Colwell 15.36
Rank 20 team 104 Jody Shypit and Jeremy Shypit 15.35
Rank 21, team 84 Dan Seckora and Pete Garin 15.34
Rank 22, team 38 Leroy Wilson and Mike Wilson 15.27
Rank 22, team 60 George McDonald and Kevin Erickson 15.27
Rank 24, team 7 Darren Ward and Tony Holenko 15.24
Rank 25, team 37 Scott Ourada and john Allen 15.00
Rank 26, team 43 Glenn Ward and Mark Wilson 14.70
Rank 27 team 17 Jim Merthan and David Skallet 14.66
Rank 28, team 96 Luc Levesque and Alex Parent 14.52
Rank 29, team 1 Richard Rud and Joh Austin 14.48
Rank 30, team 55 Jarold Nesbitt and Pat Villemaire 14.38
Rank 31, team 49 James Kaemingh and Dan Veldhuisen 14.26
Rank 32, team 72 Paul Kielb and Tyler Long 14.12
Rank 33, team 30 Scott Walsh and Heath Iacarella 14.11
Rank 34, team 6 Bill Sentor and Brian Durham 14.06
Rank 35, team 76 Paul Visser and Dillon Swire 13.94
Rank 36, team 8 Scott Bonnema and Mark Fisher 13.86
Rank 37, team 103 John Gibbons and Jules Gibbons 13.66
Rank 38, team 57 Scott D. Roe and Rick Grissom 13.63
Rank 39, team 99 Colin Gluting and Scott Gluting 13.57
Rank 40, team 18 Steve Sandberg and Scott Sandberg 13.44
Rank 41, team 28 Morgan Cadene and Rene Cadene 13.40
Rank 42, team 94 Matt Dronyk and Marcel Tookenay 12.93
Rank 43, team 54 Nathan Brigham and Brett Myers 12.92
Rank 44, team 100 Duane Peterson and Travis Peterson 12.87
Rank 44, team 36 Tom Pearson and Adam Dalum 12.87
Rank 46, team 22, Frank McClymont and Terry McClymont 12.78
Rank 47 team 62, Jim Ducharme and Larry Ducharme, 12.52
Rank 48, team 40 Josh Miller and stan Miller 12.48
Rank 49, team 16 Bryan Gustafson and Jamie Bruce 12.46
Rank 50, team 82 Larry Buttner and Mike Jolicouer 12.39
Rank 51, team 33 Troy Jutting and Tom Ward 12.29
Rank 52, team 19 Dale Labelle and Dave Byrnes 12.25
Rank 53, team 41 Murphy Paypompee and Thomas White 12.19
Rank 54, team 4 Lauren Ras and chuck Olson 12.11
Rank 55, team 51 Derek Kuntz and Bob Kuntz 12.10
Rank 56 team 67 Les Whitefish and Norma Spencer 11.94
Rank 57, team 47 Harvey Cochrane and Gerald Arch 11.86
Rank 58, team 13 Kyle Juillery and John Glenn 11.85
Rank 59, team 53 Ryan Hastie and Rick Cooper 11.72
Rank 60 team 80 Larry Bollig and Todd Bollig 11.69
Rank 61, team 73 Darren Marcine and Tony Gierke 11.66
Rank 62, team 89 Mike Badiuk and Jeff Bragg 11.60
Rank 63, team 21 Doug McBride and Matt Plante 11.59
Rank 64, team 97 Terry Wilson and James Lambert 11.45
Rank 65, team 12 Paul Jewiss and Mike Graham 11.38
Rank 66, team 70 Dave Bennett and Mark Libitka 11.09
Rank 67, team 68 Rob Newhouse and Paul Singerhouse 11.08
Rank 68, team 50 Cole Godbout and Braedon Keast 11.08
Rank 69, team 39 Shanke Wepruk and Mike Maxton 10.95
Rank 70, team 88 Anthony Veert and Tyson Mclean 10.20
Rank 71, team 9 Joe Thrun and Jim Moyhagh 10.00
Rank 72, team 15 Jon Evans and Dave Evan 9.93
Rank 73, team 75 Randy Paishk and Vernon Fair 9.88
Rank 74, team 29 Erick Bennet and Hiram Archibald 9.86
Rank 75, team 69 John Miller AND TIM Miller 9.69
Rank 76, team 66 David Doty and Troy Ostby 9.64
Rank 77, team 85 Mike Adams anD Michelle Adams 9.43
Rank 78, team 102 Dave Beckmann and Ron Gerdusmeier9.04
Rank 79, team 26 Steve Hurlburt and Alex Orme 8.91
Rank 80, team 93 Ray Watson and Norm Woods 8.86
Rank 81, team 86 Terry Allan and Bob Calder 8.76
Rank 82, team 87 Calvin McKay and Danny Fontenot 8.70
Rank 83, team 23 Jeff Schreiner and Tam Schreiner 7.80
Rank 84, team 45 Dan Fraser and Patti Fraser 7.55
Rank 85, team 98 Sean Good and Pete Badiuk 7.46
Rank 86, team 77 Daniel Mueller and David Mueller 7.21
Rank 87, team 63 Phil Bangert and Dave Bangert 7.04
Rank 88, team 79 Tom Johson and Clarence Johnson 6.25
Rank 89, team 58 Bill Brooks and Mike Klawitter 5.64
Rank 90, team 92 Clint Geyshick and Kerek Geyshick 4.50
Rank 91, team 81 Kent Ballan and Steve Ballan 3.40
Rank 92, team 90 Andrew Perrault and Tasha Perrault --
Rank 92, team 83 Colin Santerre and Brian Caul --
Rank 92, team 78 Justin Rose and Courtney Armstrong --
Rank 92, team 25 Greg Kizeweski and dave Markquart --
Rank 92, team 71 Jonathan Ottertail and Blair Whitefish --
Rank 92, team 10 Vince Godbout and Ron Tucker --

Youth Arrested in Shooting Incident.

Police have made an arrest in connection with a shooting incident earlier this week at Whitefish Bay First Nation near Sioux Narrows.

A 16-year-old, whose name can not be released, is facing a charge of second degree murder.

Treaty Three Police found the body of 61-year-old Charles Minshall Sunday morning after responding to reports of shots coming from the area his store.

Police aren't saying, for now, how he died.

Drug Trafficking Ring Busted

Police say they have dismantled a prescription drug and cocaine trafficking ring allegedly run by an inmate in jail.


Investigators believe the group has been operating for two years and funnelled large amounts of cocaine and the painkiller Oxycodone from southern Ontario cities to communities in the northwest.

Eleven people, including a jail employee, are facing nearly 100 charges after the six-month joint investigation between the provincial police, RCMP and various local police forces.

Don't Pick Up Hitchhikers

Police are advising motorists not to pick up hitchhikers on Highway 17 in the Schreiber area, east of Thunder Bay.

They're searching for a man wanted in connection with a break-in near the city.

Two others were arrested, one later released, after OPP, trailing a suspect vehicle, had to deploy a spike belt to slow it down.

The occupants then fled on foot.

Bass Tournament Kicks Off

Midge McTaggart photo

First day of fishing in the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship goes today.

95 angling teams began leaving from the Sorting Gap Marina at 7 a.m.

Event chair Gord Watson says a change in prize structure introduced last year is helping to generate excitement with a few more local teams taking part.

Weigh-ins at the Memorial Sports Centre begin at about 3:30 p.m.

Be sure to stay with 93.1 The Border as we provide live updates.

Quest For The Best Tonight

Twenty of the area best singers compete at Quest for the Best tonight.

They'll be divided into two groups with the winners of each section taking part in a sing-off for the one-thousand dollar first place money.

The show at the Memorial Sports Centre begins at 7:30 p.m.with 93.1 The Border's own Dave Bishop hosting.

Torys Dispute Teachers Contract

The Progressive Conservatives say Liberal claims they negotiated a two-year wage freeze with the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association are false.

P-C Leader Tim Hudak says teachers will still be allowed to advance on a salary grid, which means automatic raises for many of them.

Rain Helps Forest Fires Situation

Rain is helping to lower the forest fire hazard in the Rainy River district.

The Ministry of Natural Resources says four fires, allowed to burn within Quetico Provincial Park, received heavy amounts of rainfall and were showing minimal signs of life yesterday.

Those storms also brought plenty of lightning strikes which the MNR says could mean the potential of more new starts in the near future.

Power Corp Worried With Energy Review

The Fort Frances Power Corporation is expressing concern with the province's review of the energy sector.

It includes a potential sell-off or amalgamation of municipally owned distribution utilities.

Chair Doug McCaig is worried the province may force the Power Corp being folded in with either Hydro One or other area utilities.

McCaig says such a move could impact on local rates, which are the lowest in the province.

New Forest Fires Reported

The Ministry of Natural Resources is closely watch if a storm passing through the area will provide any help to the number of forest fires burning across northwestern Ontario.

Ten new starts were reported yesterday, including two new lighting-cause blazes within Quetico Provincial Park.

A total of 70 across the northwest are active.

Drug Investigation Revealed Today

Details of a joint forces drug investigation are expected to be revealed later today.

Officials says it focused on the trafficking of prescription medication and other illegal drugs from southern Ontario to several communities in the northwest.

OPP, Thunder Bay Police, RCMP and Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service were null.

E-Waste Depots Set Up

There are now permanent depots in the Rainy River district for people to dump their old electronic equipment.

Asselin's Transportation and Storage is setting up two locations.

Co-owner Eldon Mose says one will be at main office in Alberton township.

A second site is at the Black Sturgeon landfill site located on Highway 502.


Materials collected will be shipped to recycling facilities.

Home Price Report Questioned

A report on rising Ontario home prices has drawn concern from a Liberal MP.

The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation says home prices in Ontario are up 17 per cent over the past four years, 26 per cent in the Kenora-Rainy River districts.

The corporation says the numbers suggest a strong real estate market.

MP John McCallum says the increase is high given the current economic environment.

Atikokan Showcased

Atikokan is showcasing its promising future to a Thunder Bay audience today.

The town's inviting developers, miners and investors to an open house at the Whitewater Golf Course to learn more about its activities.

The town's preparing for an economic boom in the energy, forestry and mining industries with as many as four projects, creating as many as 900 new jobs, about to proceed.

Parade of Boats Tonight

FFCBC photo

Just one more sleep before the fishing begins at the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship, but tonight anglers  showcase their boats and gear in the annual Parade of Boats.

This year, it starts at the Memorial Sports Centre, beginning at 5:30 p.m., and travelling west down Scott Street to Mowat Avenue.

Anglers will then head to Boston Pizza where you get your opportunity to rub shoulders and obtain a few fishing tips.

Home Sales Up

The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation says the average home price in the Kenora and Rainy River districts has increased 26 per cent over the past four years. 

MPAC's chief assessor Larry Hummel says different forces affect the real estate market in northern Ontario, including the recent increase in activity in the mining sector.

Overall, Ontario's home prices are up 17 per cent.

Portage Avenue Underpass To Close

The Portage Avenue underpass in Fort Frances will be temporarily closed to traffic next week.

The closures happen next Tuesday and Wednesday, between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., both days.

It's to allow crews working on the pumping station to install new electrical services.

A temporary pedestrian walkway will be set up on the east side of the road during the closure.

Mining Symposium Planned

Mining and skilled trades are the wave of the future in northwestern Ontario, so the federal government is giving a hand to help aboriginal youth gain access to those sectors.

Federal government's setting aside $46-thousand to support an Aboriginal Trades and Employment Symposium in Dryden.

The September event will include reps from various mining companies.

Man Dead In Shooting Incident

A 61-year-old man is dead following a shooting incident at Whitefish Bay First Nation near Sioux Narrows.

Police says Charles Minshall was the owner of a store in the community.

Treaty Three Police Service found his body after responding to reports of gunfire being heard in the area of the store Sunday morning.

No one has yet been arrested.

No Injuries In Boating Incident

No one was injured in a boating accident on Rainy Lake on the weekend.

Koochiching County Sheriff's Office says two boats received minimal damage after brushing each other sides Saturday night.


Police says both operators thought the other was going to turn away to avoid a collision, but neither did.

Man Arrested On Sexual Assault Charges

A 25-year-old man man faces a long list of charges after a 50-year-old woman was sexually assaulted in the Red Lake area.

OPP says the two knew each other.

The victim was transported to hospital and released.

The accused remains in custody.

No names have been released.

MNR Getting More Fire Aid

The Ministry of Natural Resources is receiving more outside help to deal with a rash of forest fires in northwestern Ontario.

Twenty firerangers from Saskatchewan and 20 from New Brunswick will join Ontario's crews on the fire lines.

Waterbombers from Quebec and Newfoundland have also been called in.

Twenty firerangers from Minnesota arrived last week.

Five new fires were reported yesterday, bringing to 70 the number active.

Four are in the Rainy River district.

Sun Starts Deck Fire

The sun is being blamed for starting a fire in Littlefork.

Fire personnel were called to extinguish a blaze Sunday night on a deck of a home.

Officials say it was started by the sun hitting a mirror to create a heat source.

Town Seeks Federal Dollars

The town of Fort Frances will submit federal funding requests for four components a recent energy retrofit study.

Upgrades to the Memorial Sports Centre and a group of facilities that include the Daycare Centre, Museum, East End Hall, Sister Kennedy Centre and Sorting Gap Marina top the list.

Councillor Paul Ryan says its in line intent of new Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund.

Upgrades to the Civic Centre and sewer and water plants will also be part of the application.

New Aestheticians

A special graduation ceremony for six students of a new program at Confederation College's Rainy River campus.

They're the first to complete an introductory aesthetics course.

Instructor Sara Enns says students can use the program to further their education or start their own business.

The College is looking at offering the 13-week program again this fall.

New Diapers Wanted

A collection of new diapers is underway in International Falls.

The United Way of Northeastern Minnesota is teaming up with a number of businesses and groups to collect diapers for needy families in Koochiching County.

Spokesperson Elizabeth Johnson says it's a first  for the community.

Depots have been set up at Border State Bank, Bremer Bank, City Drug, Kmart, Koochiching County Health Department, KSDM/KGHS Radio, Stewart's Super One, SUPERVALU, TruStar and Wells Fargo.

UnitedHealthcare and Boise will also be conducting internal drives with their employees.

The diapers will be distributed by the Salvation Army and Falls Hunger Coalition when the drive is over August 13.

Atikokan Plant To Stop Burning Coal In October

Ontario Power Generation's plant in Atikokan will stop using coal this fall.

The plant won't be generating power using biomass until 2014.

Plant Manager Chris Fralick says they'll be shutting the plant down in October to allow for the conversion work to proceed.

Cost of the work is estimated at about $200-million.

Fralick says the existing workforce of 85 will continue to be on site during the work.

Dragon Boat Club Formed

There's a move to keep the Dragon Boats floating all summer long along the Rainy River.

A club is being formed to help coordinate use of the boat obtained by Northern Community Development Services of Fort Frances.

Executive Director Jenny Greenhaulgh says it stems from the recent Dragon Boat festival in Fort Frances.

Greenhaulgh says they'll be making it available to both individuals and groups.


She says they're still in the process of finalizing scheduling of the boat.

Town To Seek Retrofit Funds

The town of Fort Frances is looking at the federal government's new community infrastructure fund to help with an energy retrofit project.

An administrative report to council tonight recommends it submit an application for the previously approved project with Honeywell listed at over $3.4 million.

The feds are making about $4-million dollars in its fund available to northern Ontario communities.

Other projects, including the reconstruction of Colonization Road East, were considered, but the energy saving initiative was was identified as top priority.

New Fires In Rainy River District

There are two new forest fires in the Rainy River district.

Both are lightning caused and listed as being under control.

One is located south of Mine Centre.

The other is near Lower Squirrel Lake, northeast of Atikokan.

A third fire still burns within Quetico Provincial Park.

Because it's posing no problem, the 0.4 hectare fire is being allowed to burn itself out because of its benefits to renewing the area's ecosystem.

Plane Crash Near Brainerd

A pilot has been killed and a passenger injured following a plane crash into a lake near Brainerd, Minnesota.

The Federal Aviation Administration says it happened just before 10 yesterday morning at Upper Whitefish Lake.

The FAA says the plane was amateur-built four years ago.

Class Action Lawsuit Launched

A class action lawsuit has been launched against Elections Ontario regarding the loss of personal information of up to 2.4 million voters.

This after Ontario's chief electoral officer announced last week that two memory sticks containing copies of personal information collected from voters in 20 to 25 ridings went missing in April.

New Instructor At Rainy River Community College

Rainy River Community College has hired a new part-time American Indian Studies instructor.

Stephen Briggs of International Falls will begin his tenure August 20.

He has been with the Minnesota Indian Education Association Board of Directors, but has worked at the College in past summers as an assistant teacher for its Ojibwe Immersion Camps and with its American Indian Studies Department.

Kids Pro Tournament

11-year-old Aarron Meyers is the big winner of the Canada Safeway Kids Pro fishing tournament to open the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship.

Meyers reeled in almost 11.5 pounds of fish with partners James Kaemingh and Dan Veldhuisen.


All 19 youngsters involved caught fish.


Here's the complete standings


Kid-Angler -  Pro Angler - Total Weight
Aaron Meyers - James Kaemingh - 11.35
Blake Morken - Vince Godbout - 10.30
Braedon Belluz - Shane Wepruck - 10.14
Aiden Wielinga - Troy Norman - 9.96
Caleb Woods - Luke Levesque - 9.49
A.J. Kellar - Luke Levesque - 9.28
Shaye McCormick - Cole Godbout - 9.10
Hunter Bourassa - Dave Lindsay - 9.16
Jacob Albright - Larry Butner - 7.87
Chase Badiuk - Phil Banger - 7.63
Jarvis Esselink - Mike Adams - 7:48
Maverick Wickham - Dave Lindsay - 7.22

Trace Gosselin - Dan Fraser - 6.73
Sullivan Shortreed - Ray Watson - 4.82
Garrett Hyatt - Jon Evans - 4.61
Jesse Esselink - Anthony Veert - 4.00

Gaige Dyke - Sean Good - 3.40
Gabby Peters - Bryan Gustafson - 2.80
Rachel Anderson - Bryan Gustafson - 2.80

OPG Gets Power Deal

Ontario Power Generation has a power purchase agreement with the Ontario Power Authority for its soon to be converted coal-fired plant in Atikokan.

It was the last step needed before the plant can be switched to using biomass.

Mayor Dennis Brown says it's a huge relief for his community that has been waiting several months for the announcement.

Work on the conversion will start this fall.

Northern Fires Key Focus

MNR photo

Focus for Ministry of Natural Resources forest firefighters continues to be in the remote north.

Eleven fires of the 70 active are now over 100 hectares.

One of the largest is within Woodland Caribou Provincial Park that has scorched almost one thousand hectares.

Another concern is a cluster of fires burning near the remote communities of Deer Lake and Keewaywin where smoke may be a concern for residents.


Meantime, a new forest fire has been reported in the Rainy River district.

The small fire, located at Dash Lake, north of Emo, is listed as being human caused, but under control.

It's the 35th fire in the district this fire season.

Walk For Good Life Approaches

An annual pilgrimage by native youth through the Kenora and Rainy River districts remembers a well respected elder this year.

The 500-kilometre Walk for Good Life is aimed at inspiring youth.

Larissa Desrosiers of the group Good Life for Young People says this year's walks honours Elder Joseph Morrison.

The walk starts July 29th at Eagle Lake First Nation, ending there a week later.

BIZKIDS Coming to Fort Frances

CKDR photo

A camp aimed at creating young entrepreneurs comes to Fort Frances for the first time next week.

The Northwest Business Centre's BizKids Camp is geared to those between the ages of 9 and 12.

The Centre's Stephanie Armstrong says they'll be a number of activities and tours with participants selling products created at a market next Friday.

There's still some space available and those interested can contact the Centre's Dryden office.

Drilling Scaled Back

Rainy River Resources is scaling back some of its drilling work in the district.

Eight of twelve diamond drill rigs working at its gold project north of Barwick have already been demobilized.

Another will be halted in September.

Meantime, more gold findings are being reported in the latest results of the drill program done to determine the exact size of deposit.

Railroad Daze

Supplied photo

Railroad Daze kicks off in Rainy River today.

Rec Director Kam Kuzyk says there's plenty of events to help celebrate the communities railroad heritage.

Among event is the Great Beaver Cardboard and Duct Tape Boat Races - vessels made up of only cardboard and duct tape.


The race is now in its 10th season.


Registration is Sunday at 12:30 p.m. down at Hannam Park with the race at 3 p.m.


Here's a complete list of all events.



Friday July 20, 2012


10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. - The Library's Best Book Sale Ever! ~ Rainy River Public Library
11:00  a.m. - 11:45  a.m.  -  Kids' TD Summer Reading Club ~ Rainy River Public Library
5:30 p.m.  -  Beer Gardens & Canteen Open ~ Rec. Centre Ball Diamonds
5:30  p.m.  - So You Think You Can Dance Rainy River ~ Upstairs of Rec. Centre
5:30   p.m. - 7:00 p.m. - Locum House Supper ~ Senior’s Centre ~ 201 Atwood Ave - Pulled Pork sandwiches, Salads, Dessert – Freewill Offering
6:00  p.m. -  Opening games of the Mixed Slo-pitch Tournament Rec. Centre Ball Diamonds
8:00  p.m. -  Family Movie Night – Journey 2: The Mysterious Island Upstairs of Rec. Centre – Free Admission

Saturday July 21, 2012

9:00  a.m. - Mixed Slo-pitch Tournament starts ~ Rec. Centre Ball Diamonds
10:00  a.m. -  6:00 P.M. The Library's Best Book Sale Ever! ~ Rainy River Public Library
10:00   a.m. - Canteen open’s ~ Rec. Centre Ball Diamonds
10:00   a.m. -  4:00 P.M. 1st Annual Craft Show ~ Seniors Centre ~ 201 Atwood Ave.
10:00   a.m. - 5:00 P.M. Fun Fly (radio controlled planes) on Burns Rd. (In between Hwy 600 and Government Rd.)
10:00   a.m. - Bike Rodeo ~ School Parking Lot
11:00   a.m. - Beer Gardens Open ~ Rec. Centre Ball Diamonds
11:00  a.m. - Railroad Daze Parade ~ Route: Hannam Park up through Main St. (Please call the Rec. Centre to register a float)
11:00  a.m. -  1:30  p.m. -  Farmer’s Market ~ Atwood Ave.
1:00  p.m. -  2:30  p.m. -  Fastball Grudge Match between R.R. Royals and Pinewood Bears
Rec. Centre Ball Diamonds
1:00  p.m. -  3:00  p.m. -  “Ooey Gooey Fun” Kids Games ~ Best Start Hub Parking Lot
4:30  p.m. -  7:00  p.m. -  Steak Fry $12 a plate ~ Legion
8:00  p.m. -  Home Run Derby ~ Rec. Centre Ball Diamonds
9:00  p.m. -  2:00 a.m. - Age of majority Dance – DJ Amy Anderson Rec. Centre - $5 Admission



Sunday July 22, 2012


9:00  a.m. - Mixed Slo-pitch Tournament starts ~ Rec. Centre Ball Diamonds
10:00   a.m. - Canteen opens ~ Rec. Centre Ball Diamonds
10:00   a.m. -  2:00 p.m. - 1st Annual Craft Show ~ Seniors Centre ~ 201 Atwood Ave.
10:30  a.m. - Rainy River Community Worship Service (inter-denominational)  Hannam Park ~    Rain Location - Evangelical Covenant Church
11:00   a.m. - Beer Gardens open ~ Rec. Centre Ball Diamonds
12:30  p.m. -  The Great Beaver Cardboard Boat Registration and supply pick up: $10.00 per team at Hannam Park
2:00  p.m. -  Championship Slo-pitch ball game ~ Rec. Centre Ball Diamonds
3:30  p.m. -  The Cardboard & Duct Tape Boat Races Begin! Hannam Park Waterfront

Research Project Turning In To Book

A report released last year on race-relations in the Rainy River district is being turned into book form.

Author Jeff Denis says he's secured a contract with an academic publisher.

He's back in the area to discuss his findings and gather more data.

Denis' research was conducted over an 18-month period that included interviews and surveys

Kelly Loses National Chief Bid

Former Treaty Three Grand Chief Diane Kelly has failed in her bid to become National Chief of the  Assembly of First Nations.

Kelly dropped out of the race after finishing third with 39 votes in the second round of balloting.

Shawn Atleo, who was returned for a second term, says First Nations are increasingly demanding to be treated as equal partners in governance and in control over natural resources.

He says his mandate will reflect the will of the regional chiefs who advise him.

Help From Minnesota Arrives

Map of Active Fires

Ontario is now receiving assistance from Minnesota is dealing with a rash of forest fires in northwestern Ontario.

Twenty firefighters from the State are being deployed near the remote communities of Deer Lake and Keewaywin to aid in suppression efforts of several fires there.

The lack of fire activity in the Rainy River district is also allowing the MNR to relocate some personnel from this district to the remote north.

Five new fires were reported yesterday, bringing to 70 the number of those active.

Former ORNGE CEO Says Government Was Informed

The man at the centre of the Ornge scandal says the government never told him he was veering off course in running the province's air ambulance service.

Chris Mazza told a legislative committee yesterday the Ministry of Health was fully informed about what he was doing at the taxpayer-funded organization.

Health Minister Deb Matthews disputes Mazza's testimony, saying even the auditor general had trouble finding out what was going

Candidate Proposes Federal Mining Institute

A Democratic congressional candidate in northern Minnesota is proposing developing a new federal institute on mining and the environment.

Rick Nolan says the institute would be located in the Iron Range area and could help the industry overcome production and environmental issues to create more jobs.

Rival candidate Jeff Anderson calls the plans wasteful federal spending.

Worldwide Support For Experimental Lakes Area

The international community isn't giving up its fight to keep the Experimental Lakes Area near Kenora open.

More than 29-hundred people from 58 countries have signed an on-line petition calling on the federal government to reverse its decision to end funding to the research site.

Some signatories says the federal government has a mandate to conduct whole-ecosystem freshwater research.