One new fire was reported yesterday—a 0.1 hectare blaze located in the Red Lake District north of Woodland Caribou Park. FireRangers and water bombers responded, and no problems are anticipated in extinguishing the blaze.
This brings the total number of active fires in the region up to four. There’s been 81 fires to date, consuming 337 ha.

An oasis—a retreat, a refuge, a haven, a sanctuary. There’s one in Rainy River—the central courtyard at the Rainy River High School. Long overlooked, it’s in for a major upgrade to increase its usability and use.
Raised as a positive goal by the RRHS Council, said chair Peggy Advent, two years of planning are bearing concrete results—literally.
John Laplante’s Grade 9 shop class as a bonus project designed and built 10 concrete benches with beautifully inlaid original stained glass design.

“Without vision, the people perish.”
This idea put forth in 1897 had vision. It was practical, forthright and a brave venture.
Those who caught the vision could not have know how far-reaching the organization to be known as the Women’s Institute would be in influencing better homemaking and good citizenship.
On February 19, 1897, the first formal organization of a Women’s Institute took place through the combined efforts of Erland Lee and his wife Janet, with the encouragement of Adelaide Hoodless.
Adelaide’s young child had passed away from impurities in their milk.

Hallett Hall at Rainycrest LTC Facility hosted the annual meeting for Riverside Health Care Facilities Inc. last Thursday. About twenty members of the corporation were in attendance.
Robin Wright, chair opened the meeting with a brief recap of the past year’s events.
Wayne Woods, president and CEO, touched on the challenges and successes Riverside was experiencing, including the pressure the shortage of physicians was placing on the delivery of emergency services, and the implementation of the Local Health Integration Network (LHIN).

Despite repeated power interruptions, the Sturgeon Creek Alternative Program honoured six Grade 12 graduates and another 10 from Grade 8 at the Sturgeon Creek School gymnasium last Thursday.
Former SCAP grad Simeon Nussbaumer was the emcee, with the graduates and staff being ushered in to “Pomp and Circumstance” performed by the student orchestra.
Principal Kendall Olsen and vice-principal Don McBride presented the dipomas and awards to the honourees.

In the words of Tommy Smothers, “There’s pumas in the crevasses!”
Are they also on the prowl near Morson?
Last Wednesday around 7:30 p.m., Ashley Gibbons, a resident of the new subdivision of the Big Island town site, spotted a large cat crossing the yard of neighbour Phyllisity Jack.
Armed with her camera, Jack left her house and spotted the animal lying in the grass at the end of the street.
Upon spotting her, it rose and walked slowly off into the bush, but not before Jack managed to snap a photo with her digital camera.

Cloudy skies, showers, and a chilly breeze Friday afternoon didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of scores of well-wishers touring “Rainy Acre,” the Herman and Annie Krahn family farm in Dawson Township, just east of Rainy River.
It was just over a year ago that the Krahns’ dairy operation was wiped out by a devastating fire which destroyed not only the barn, but most of his herd.
Today, it’s been replaced with a million-dollar-plus investment in the latest in dairy farm technology.

The Seven Generations Education Institute held its 14th-annual graduation ceremony last Thursday afternoon with the largest graduating class since the school’s inception.
Those receiving their secondary school diploma and Bachelor of Education, as well as those who received accredited post-secondary education in social work and indigenous wellness, stood together to celebrate the fact they had made it.
Many guest speakers gave testament to the institute’s strong and accomplished graduates. Among these was Diane Kelly, recently elected grand chief of Treaty #3.

Canadian Arrow Mines Ltd. currently is exploring nickel sulphide deposits just east of Sioux Narrows—and is looking to re-open a mine that’s been there since the 1950s.
The company held an information session at La Place Rendez-Vous in Fort Frances last Tuesday evening as part of a tour in the area to speak with the public about its Kenbridge nickel property.
“If we hid in the woods all this time and popped up years down the road and said, ‘Oh, we’re putting up a mine’—well, that’s just bad manners,” quipped company president and geologist Kim Tyler.

The Restricted Fire Zone previously imposed in the Lake Despair area of the Fort Frances District was lifted at 12:01 a.m. today
Campfires for cooking and warmth are allowed now that the restriction has been lifted.
However, some municipalities may impose restrictions on burning.
The Ministry of Natural Resources appreciated the public’s co-operation during the Restricted Fire Zone.
In related news, there are no new or active fires in the West Fire Region at this time, the MNR reported late yesterday afternoon.