LaBelle’s derby reels in big bass!

Dale LaBelle once again managed to pull off another successful bass tournament.
The event was held this past Saturday and Sunday (Sept. 27-28) saw 71 vying for prizes. Dale usually cuts off the team limit at 70, but allowed an extra one to compete this year.
When the final weigh-ins took place Sunday afternoon, the top team once again was Ted Stewner (Winnipeg) and Al Carlson (Kenora), who brought in the maximum 10 fish for a 42.46-pound total and the $5,000.
The pair also won the inaugural derby last year.
Second place went to a local Devlin angler, Doug McBride, and his partner, Steve Ballan from Fort Frances, winning $2,500. They also won another $300 for having the big fish on Saturday (5.28 pounds).
Al McTaggart (Fort Frances) and Ryan Haines (Sioux Lookout) wound up in third place overall, pocketing $1,500, while fourth place went to Tom Pearson (Fort Frances) and Eric Leasman (Devlin).
Sunday’s big fish—and the $300 prize—was reeled by Todd Grennier and Corrie Curtis with a catch of 5.26 pounds.
Dale said he”s planning on next year’s Rainy Lake Fall Bass Classic to be another success, noting this year’s weights beat out last year’s—with a four-pound average for bass caught.
• • •
Brian Hagarty has hung up his hat at NorFab just west of Fort Frances and taken on a new job near Minneapolis, Mn., where he will be managing a business with work being similar to NorFab’s.
Congratulations, Brian, on your new endeavour.
Brian will be commuting to Minneapolis as he and Tammy will continue to keep their home in Burriss.
• • •
The Crossroads school student council for the year will be chosen this Friday afternoon (Oct. 3).
• • •
The Rainy River Cattlemen’s Association will host its annual calf sale this Saturday (Oct. 4) starting at 9 a.m. at the Stratton sales barn.
• • •
This Sunday (Oct. 5), there will be an “On the Road Again” farm bus tour, which is being held in conjunction with Agriculture Week (Oct. 6-12).
Contact Betty Salchert (486-3536) to sign up or for more information. Tickets cost only $2 each, which also are good for many prizes.
As I mentioned already, Agriculture Week runs Oct. 6-12 this year. To promote this, there will be a special display promoting beef at the Clover Valley Farmers’ Market in Fort Frances on Saturday, Oct. 11.
• • •
A reminder there will be a tea and bake sale at the W.I. Museum in Emo this Monday (Oct. 6) over the lunch hour. Come and enjoy soup and sandwiches.
• • •
Congratulations are in order for Charla Carlson and John Girard, who were married Sept. 20 in Devlin and enjoyed a reception with friends and family at the Devlin Hall.
Also, congratulations to Patsy Daw and Doug Olsen, who were wed Sept. 27 in Fort Frances and also enjoyed a reception in Devlin with well-wishers.
Congratulations to both couples. Your community wishes you much happiness.
• • •
It is with pleasure that I tell you I will be leaving for London, Ont. on Saturday to attend the wedding of my son, Travis, on Oct. 11. Since I’ll be away, I won’t have any Devlin news for two weeks, but please look for it in the Fort Frances Times again in three weeks.
• • •
I must mention our exchange student, Sarah, was ecstatic to see snow Monday night. My brother, Ralph, and nephew, Scott, shared in with her on her first snowball fight.
I’m not sure who got the most hits, but the laughter and excitement from Sarah made the snow seem “almost okay.” She immediately phoned her parents in Australia to tell them about “seeing snow.”
Her excitement “almost” made the snow a good thing.
• • •
Finally, a reminder the annual Harvest Supper is coming up this Sunday (Oct. 5) at the Devlin Hall. This is always an awesome meal and a great time to visit.
The cost is $10 for adults, $5 for children aged six-12, and free for those five and under.
• • •
Robin’s 2¢:
This is one is for the new brides and my daughter-in-law to be!
A young couple got married and went on their honeymoon. When they got back, the bride—from a well-to-do family—immediately called her mother.
“Mama,” she said tearfully, “the honeymoon was wonderful! So romantic. But as soon as we returned, Leo started using the most horrible language—things I’d never heard before!
“I mean, all those awful four-letter words! I want to come home! Please, Mama!”
“Now, dear,” her mother said, “calm down! You need to work this out with your husband. Tell me, what could be so awful? What four-letter words?”
“I’m so embarrassed; they’re just too awful! Come get me, please!”
“Darling, baby, tell your mother these four-letter words.”
Still sobbing, the bride said, “Oh, Mama, he used words like dust, wash, iron, cook. . . .”
“I’ll be there in 20 minutes,” her mother said.