Festival Results From Tuesday April 23

Several multi winners as the vocal performances kicked off the final week of the Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts.

Callahan Wiedenhoeft, Brianna Eldridge and Mackenna Begin all walked away with four first place finishes.

Joelle Bruyere and Emma Dykstra had three wins each.


Here are the results from Tuesday

Secular Solo, Examination Courses, Grade 2
FIRST: Joelle Bruyere
SECOND: Keisha DeBungie

Secular Solo, Examination Courses, Grade 3
FIRST:  Star Martin
SECOND:  Lily Matthews

Secular Solo, Examination Courses, Grade 4
FIRST:  Callahan Wiedenhoeft

Secular Solo, Examination Courses, Grade 5
FIRST:  Emma Dykstra 

Secular Solo, Examination Courses, Grade 6
FIRST:  McKenna Begin

Secular Solo, 11 and 12 years
FIRST:   (Tie) Brianna Eldridge, Callahan Wiedenhoeft

Secular Solo, 13 and 14 years
FIRST:  Kaitlynn Lougheed

Sacred Solo, Examination Courses, Grade 5
FIRST:  Emma Dykstra

Traditional Folk Song, Examination Courses, Grade 3
FIRST:  Brianna Eldridge
SECOND:  Carmen Hebert

Traditional Folk Song, Examination Courses, Grade 4
FIRST:  Callahan Wiedenhoeft

Traditional Folk Song, Examination Courses, Grade 5
FIRST:  Emma Dykstra

Traditional Folk Song, Examination Courses, Grade 6
FIRST:  McKenna Begin

Traditional Folk Song, 11 and 12 years
FIRST:  Caitlin Anderson

Traditional Folk Song, 13 and 14 years
FIRST:  McKenna Begin
SECOND:  (Tie) Jillian Armstrong, Emily Loney

Musical Theatre, Solo, 7 and 8 years
FIRST:  Christian Wiedenhoeft
SECOND:   Joelle Bruyere

Musical Theatre, Solo, 9 and 10 years
FIRST:  Carmen Hebert
SECOND:  Lily Matthews

Musical Theatre, Solo, 11 and 12 years
FIRST:  Brianna Eldridge
SECOND:  Callahan Wiedenhoeft

Vocal Duet, 9 to 12 years
FIRST:  Callahan Wiedenhoeft  and Christian Wiedenhoeft

Sacred Solo, 7 and 8 years
FIRST:  Joelle Bruyere

Sacred Solo, 11 and 12 years
FIRST:  Mira Donaldson
SECOND:  Hannah Cunningham

Contemporary Solo, 7 and 8 years
FIRST:  Joelle Bruyere

Contemporary Solo, 9 and 10 years
FIRST:  Carmen Hebert
SECOND:  Star Jewel Martin

Contemporary Solo, 11 and 12 years
FIRST:  Brianna Eldridge
SECOND:  Callahan Wiedenhoeft

Contemporary Solo, 13 and 14 years
FIRST:  McKenna Begin
SECOND:  (Tie) Kaitlynn Lougheed, Jillian Armstrong

Fort Upset With MPAC But Will Pay Its Bill

Fort Frances will be paying its bill, but is standing behind other municipalities in seeking changes to how the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation does its job.

Town council has approved a lengthy resolution calling on the province to hold MPAC accountable for its decisions.

Mayor Roy Avis says there's been a little movement by the province to hear from communities impacted.

He'll be joining others for a meeting in Toronto on Monday to outline their concerns to the Deputy Finance Minister.

Some communities, who are suffering huge drops in assessment to large industries, are withholding money owed to MPAC in their demands for change.

Budget Now Complete

The 2013 budget is now in the books for the town of Fort Frances.

Council gave formal approval to the documents at its meeting last night.

Treasurer Laurie Witherspoon says the town is projected to spend about $22.5 million dollars over the next year.

Most of the tax dollars collected will go to services the town has no control over.

The spending includes the tax rebate owing to Resolute Forest Products due to a lowering of its assessment.

Meeting On Huffman Subdivision Tonight

Fort Frances council will meet again tonight for a special meeting regarding the Huffman School subdivision.

It's to outline to prospective buyers the project and the lottery to sell off the 16 available lots.

The meeting is at 7 p.m. at the Civic Centre.

Input Gathered Into Aging With Dignity Initiative

File photo

The group working towards an assisted living facility for the Rainy River district continues to gather input.

The Assisted Living Action Group recently completed a series of community presentations.

Chair Erma Armit says they're happy with the feedback received to date.

The group will be at this weekend's Business Expo to gather more input for a final report in June.

Trillium Funding Announced

A couple of groups in the Rainy River district are the latest recipients of funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

The township of Atikokan is receiving $50-thousand to install new playground equipment at Centennial Park.

Halkirk township Fire Protection Team will use over $13-thousand to purchase equipment and upgrade the exterior of its fire and community hall.

School Reviews Continue

The public reviews of two schools continue tonight.

A committee reviewing Crossroads School in Devlin will hold a public meeting at the Naicatchewenin First Nation Community Centre at 6:30 p.m.

A committee reviewing Our Lady of the Way School holds a meeting at the Stratton school beginning at 6 p.m.

Riverside Dealing With Health Issues

Riverside Health Care Facilities is dealing with a couple of health issues at its facilities.

Visitor restrictions have been imposed at the long-term care unit of Rainy River Health Centre because of a number of cases of gastroenteritis.

Only family members can visit with those visits restricted to a patients room.

Meantime, Riverside has declared an outbreak at Rainycrest Long Term Care Home after several residents experienced mild respiratory symptoms.

Visits there are still permitted, but residents experiencing any symptoms of ill health are asked stay away until you're better.

Local Resident Recognized For Volunteerism

Tyson Grinsell (l)

A Fort Frances resident is being recognized by the province for his volunteerism.

Tyson Grinsell is among nine people receiving Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers Awards.

Grinsell is being honoured for starting a math tutoring program for grade 9 students at Fort Frances High, later expanding it to all math students preparing for their exams.

He received the award during a ceremony in Toronto on Monday.

Festival Results From Friday April 19

Mackenzie Wright was a double winner during the French Drama competitions of the Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts.

Those events taking place Friday.

Vocal competitions close out the festival beginning tomorrow.

Here are the results from Friday.

French Poetry (Solo), Grades 7 and 8
FIRST:  Aiden Tullio
SECOND:  Braeden Belluz

French Poetry (Duet), Grades 7 and 8
FIRST:  (Tie) Katelin Gurniak and Elizabeth Gosselin Klem, Maggie Gurski and Naomi McManaman
SECOND:  Avery Wilson-Hands and Hailey George

French Poetry (Solo), Grades 7 and 8
FIRST:  Mackenzie Wright

French Poetry (Duet), Grades 7 and 8
FIRST:  (Tie) Madison Botsford and Abigale Mcleod

French Poetry (Duet), Grades 7 and 8
FIRST:  Emma Noga and Abby Sanders
SECOND:  Wyatt Mcleod and Michael Drouin

French Reading, Grades 7 and 8
FIRST:  Mackenzie Wright

French Reading (Duet), Grades 9 and up
FIRST:  Eric Matthews and Douglas DeBernardeaux

French Reading, Grades 3 and 4
FIRST:  Matthew Watts

French Poetry, Grades 5 and 6
FIRST:  Cole Trimble

French Poetry, Grades 5 and 6
FIRST:  Madison Williams

French Poetry, Grades 5 and 6
FIRST:  Janissa Judson
SECOND:  (Tie) Skyler Friesen, Maria Harrison

French Poetry, Grades 7 and 8
FIRST:  Alexa Veldhuisen

Border Fee Examined

Crossing the border may cost you.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is requesting as part of its 2014 budget to study the feasibility of collecting a fee from pedestrians and passenger vehicles crossing between the United States and Canada by land.

Whether this fee would focus on those entering or exiting the United States, or both, and how much each crossing might cost has yet to be determined.

More Criticism Towards Ontario Tourism Ministry

More harsh criticism towards Ontario's Ministry of Tourism.

Ontario's Sunset Country Travel Association is among groups still upset that area tourist information centres remain closed.

Executive Director Gerry Cariou says government doesn't see the challenges facing the region.

Cariou adds there is a strong web presence for the area, responding to Tourism Minister Michael Chan's comments last week on the need to use the Internet more to promote the region.

Cariou says the websites can only do so much and don't offer the same level of service that can be provided at travel centres.

Non-Confidence Motion Planned

Ontario's Progressive Conservatives plan to move a motion of non-confidence in the minority Liberal government over the cancelled gas plants in Oakville and Mississauga.

Reports suggest the Tories have already started the legal proceedings for the non-confidence motion, which they hope to introduce before the Liberals present the provincial budget.

Budget Before Council Tonight

Fort Frances council intends to finalize its 2013 budget tonight.

The public will get one final chance to comment during tonight meeting before council gives final approval.

The budget includes a levy increase of 1.8 per cent for residential ratepayers which translates in an average tax increase of less than one per cent.

The public portion of tonight's meeting begins at about 5:50 p.m.

Visitor Restrictions Imposed In Rainy River

Riverside Health Care Facilities has imposed visitor restrictions at one of its facilities.

Officials says its due to a number of cases of gastroenteritis at the long-term care unit of Rainy River Health Centre.

Visiting is restricted to family members with visits confined to a patients room.

Food Security Discussion

Some help today for those struggling to eat healthy.

The Northwestern Health Unit and the Fort France Public Library are holding an information session on the programs available that can keep the food budget down while still being able to put healthy food on the table.

Health Promoter Krista Nielson says its a huge problem for many in northwestern Ontario.

Tonight's meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Library.

Fundraiser Total Counted

A recent fundraiser for the Borderland Humane Society has netted some much needed cash.

Over $14,000 has been raised through its "Cause for Paws” event held earlier this month.

The money goes towards offsetting the costs of caring for animals the Society has at its International Falls shelter, as well as other public programs such as spaying and neutering initiatives.

Temperature Record Set In International Falls

A new record low temperature in International Falls on the weekend.

The thermometer dipped to 16 below C or 4 F Saturday.

The old record was 8 below C or 18 F, set in 1966

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Storm Cancels Buses In Atikokan

A winter storm, impact mostly areas to the east of Fort Frances, has led to Iron Range Bus Lines cancelling all of its buses for students in Atikokan today.

It's been snowing since yesterday with the bulk of the snow coming overnight.

Highways east of Fort Frances are also snow covered with icy sections with the blowing snow hindering visibility.

High School Teachers Accept Revised Contract

Public high school teachers and support staff have endorsed a revised contract with the province.

The Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation says it's members voted 84 per cent in favour of the new pact.

Tory education critic Lisa MacLeod estimates the deal will cost taxpayers $114 million dollars, despite the Liberals and the union saying it was cost-neutral.