Heather Latter
The 30th-annual Nestor Falls Winter Carnival held over the weekend was deemed a success once again, offering plenty of activities, entertainment, prizes, and fun for the whole family.
“I think it was a big success—it went really well,” enthused Howard Dodd, a member of the Nestor Falls recreation committee which stages the annual event that brings in people from far and wide.
While Dodd admitted organizers had hoped for a bigger turnout for Friday night’s entertainment (a performance by Winnipeg band “Without a Trace”), there were plenty who came out Saturday to participate in the slew of activities, including a fishing derby, poker derby, cribbage tournament, scavenger hunt, and children’s activities.
“By 5 o’clock on Saturday, it’s just wall-to-wall people in the hall,” he noted.
Dodd said there was a good turnout for both the fishing derby and cribbage tournament, and that everyone seemed to have a good time.
There also was a second band brought in that played Saturday night, “Highway 71,” which also was well-attended.
“It was absolutely crowded, wall-to-wall people,” Dodd remarked.
“We had the two great bands and everyone was pretty happy with the music.”
Dodd said the committee will be meeting soon to discuss the event and begin making plans for next year.
“It’s a small group, but they worked really hard to put everything together and run the carnival,” Dodd stressed as he thanked this year’s committee.
He also thanked all the businesses that helped make the carnival a success, as well as the Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls Fire Department for the pancake-and-sausage breakfast on Sunday morning.
“It was a long week but it was a good one,” Dodd said.
One of the big wins of the weekend went to Cynthia Cave of Barwick, who took home the participants’ draw prize—an Apple iPad 2.
Woody Linton of Sioux Narrows won the 50/50 draw.
Cheryl Lindquist of Warroad, Mn. took first place in the poker derby, with Cindy Haggberg of Barwick capturing first place in the photo contest.
And the ever-popular scavenger hunt saw “The Bikini Fishing Team” (Selene, Beck, and Makayla of Nestor Falls) come in first place while “The California Bears” (Jim, Dana, and Caroline of California) finished second.
The team of Kaitlyn Cottam, Faith Pollard, and Koltyn Copenance of Nestor Falls earned top honours in the youth scavenger hunt.
The winners of the snow sculpture contest were Chandler Pollard, Alexia Gate, and Marcy Holden of Nestor Falls.
Meanwhile, first place in this year’s cribbage tournament went to the team of Marvel Ricard and Joyce Graham (Fort Frances), with the team of Laurie Spanninga and Vic Juhala (Emo) and Alyshia Copenace and Branden Major (Onigaming First Nation) tying for second.
Taking third place was the team of Gladys Jolicoeur (Stratton) and Cynthia Cave (Barwick).
The high hand winner was Skylare Jack of Onigaming First Nation.
When it came to Saturday’s fishing derby, it was Holly Kropelin of Nestor Falls who captured first place in the northern category.
Steve Hanson (Nestor Falls) was second while third place was captured by Mikaela Kroeker, also of Nestor Falls.
Chris Frenette (Sioux Narrows) reeled up the biggest walleye, followed by Jodie Hoskins (Emo) in second and Charlie Kelly (Onigaming) in third.
In the crappie division, it was Steve Paulsen (Nestor Falls) who came in first place, followed by Lonny Neilson (Emo) and Doug Johnson (Nestor Falls).
No lake trout were entered in this year’s derby.
When it came to the big prizes for the participants’ draw for the fishing derby, Marlie Hampe (Nestor Falls) won the Strikemaster Laser Ice Auger sponsored by Angler’s Pro Shop.
Gordon Shrumm (Nestor Falls) took home the second prize of an HT four-person ice shelter sponsored by Helliars Resort.
Other fish derby prizes were donated by Hanson’s Hideaway Lodge, Big Pine Lake Camp, Tompkins Hardware, and A&S Burritt Ent.
