I sometimes think that as a resident of the Rainy River district that I have not taken enough time to be a home tourist. I suspect that many of us are that way. As a family, we travelled to Winnipeg to take in the various museums and art galleries. We […]
Jim Cumming – From the Publisher Emeritus’ Pen
Jim is the former publisher of the Fort Frances Times Ltd. He writes a weekly column and can be contacted at jcumming@fortfrances.com
Sometimes “things happen” as my good friend Phil Bangert would say. This past weekend was like that and it became a bit of a trial. We were heading to the lake. We were even leaving early to try and avoid the lineup moving over the overpass. We were on schedule. […]
As I travelled the highway to Rainy River delivering papers last Wednesday, I could not help but notice the flocks of sea gulls in the field feasting on what I suppose are earthworms. Gardeners love those earth animals as they break up leaves and other vegetation and leave behind rich […]
Every two weeks we put two blue boxes on the boulevard. At our home, the blue boxes contain a mixture of empty cereal boxes, clear plastic containers that once held strawberries or some other fruit, salad dressing bottles and empty gallon jugs that once held milk. Asselin Transportation collects all […]
We finally made it to the cabin. Earlier this year, the International Joint Commission had expressed concern that flooding on Rainy Lake might occur with the record snow fall through the winter and heavy rains last October, but we were able to pull right up to our dock. The lake […]
In the spring of 1980, my wife and I were on our hands and knees with shovels, bare root stock digging holes for shrubbery and trees. Today those same trees and shrubs are coming to the end of their lifetime. We have watched and enjoyed them from the time that […]
It is lake time again. Commissioner’s Bay has already lost its ice. Creeks are brimming with fast flowing water. I have booked my boat to be ready for pickup this weekend and hope that I will be able to travel to the cabin for the first trip of the year. […]
Sometimes we think that we are younger and stronger than we really are, and all too often when we take on jobs, our bodies remind us of our ages. Marnie and I have been remodeling at our home for three years. Last year, we expanded the work to include an […]
We have begun a new era at the Fort Frances Times with a trusted new editor. My first writing adventure was an assignment by Mr. Steve Bond, my English teacher. At the time I didn’t think of him as a good teacher but over time I have come to realize […]
I am being tasked with explaining what is the role of a newspaper in a community. I have given this a great deal of thought and this past Friday night the incoming president of the Ontario Community Newspaper Association explained it most eloquently by showcasing a series of front pages […]
With Easter being as late as possible, “Emo Spring Fever Days” are jumping a week ahead this year. Across the district from Atikokan to Rainy River and north to Sioux Narrows this marks the first big event of the year, a tradition that goes back more than 50 years. Even […]
It is often difficult to keep up with the heartbeat of the district. Even catching up at a Tim’s or McDonald’s with friends, we miss out on lots of activities that are taking place across our communities that enhance or have some effect on our lives and those of our […]
