Garry John Countess, 72, passed away Friday, May 18, 2012 at Leamington District Memorial Hospital in Leamington, Ont. Beloved husband of Jan; dear father of Jennifer Countess (Dennis Neufeld), Dr. Robert Countess (Sarah), and Rebecca Countess; and loving grandfather of Jadyn and Adam Neufeld, and Madeleine and John Countess. Garry […]
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David Orland Barnard, 63, of Atikokan, Ont., passed away at his residence on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 after a courageous battle with cancer. David was born March 31, 1949 in Kenora, Ont. to George and Anna Barnard. At an early age, he worked for the Sapawe sawmill in Atikokan. Then […]
Jennifer Anderson Dear editor: Why do I “Relay?” Why do I spend months planning to “Relay?” I could tell you that I “Relay” because my father-in-law died of prostate cancer, and I am hoping for better testing and treatments if my husband is diagnosed. I could tell you that I […]
When you take a look at most fishing boats out on Lake of the Woods and Rainy Lake these days, it is common to see some sort of GPS unit mounted on it. GPS technology makes it easy for us to navigate areas of these lakes that we might not […]
While fishing is the farthest thing from my wheelhouse when it comes to my personal sporting preferences, the intrigue that always occurs during the final weigh-in of any tournament is always dramatic. Last year was a perfect example of that here in Rainy River District, especially with the Fort Frances […]
I am experiencing the letdown that comes with the end of a really great holiday. I liken my quick descent back to reality to the loud gurgle and sucking swirl of water that I always stare at after finishing a sinkload of dirty dishes. “Uh-huh, there goes my ‘Cloud 9’ […]
I’ve been known as a plant-killer—a reputation that has spanned a good many years and one that is fairly well-earned. A shortcoming, if you prefer, and one that I share with my mother. Her plants always looked a tad beaten, neglected, misfortunate. Her life was busy; perhaps I will use […]
For almost two decades, I have spent the Memorial Day weekend at the Canada Games Complex in Thunder Bay officiating at the Thunderbolts’ swim meet, which attracts swimmers from Minnesota, North Dakota, and Manitoba as well as across Northwestern Ontario. For local swimmers, it is their one meet a season […]
Everyone knows the provincial government is cash-strapped—and certainly is leaving no stone unturned in its mission to slay the deficit by its target date. “Downloading” became a dirty word in the 1990s as the powers that be at Queen’s Park sought to save money by shifting programs and services onto […]
A couple of weeks ago, the Ministry of Natural Resources quietly announced serious cuts to its “Bear Wise” program, including the cancellation of the trapping and relocation component that deals with nuisance bears. At the time of the announcement, the MNR suggested the program was ineffective in dealing with wayward […]
Do you remember watching your mother make soap the old-fashioned way–in a large cast iron pot on an open fire? I do! Your answer to that question reveals two things–whether or not you grew up on a farm, and what your age is. When I was young, butchering day was […]
As it seems to happen here in Rainy River District, we have weather extremes: extremely cold, extremely hot, extremely dry, and extremely damp. We all will agree that we needed the rain, but now it’s time for this pattern to move off–preferably to the Timmins area, where they have been […]
