2010: A year in review

By Ken Johnston
Editor

2010 was another busy year in Rainy River. Here is one last look at the activities Recorded by us!

January
For the second time in 24 hours, Hydro One crews had to work to restore power to residents in the west end of Rainy River District on Monday morning after another power outage was caused by a transformer overload (equipment failure in the frigid weather).
On Friday, January 1, 2010, at about 4:30 p.m. Rainy River and Stratton Volunteer Fire Depts. were called out to a single car accident just west of Stratton. Mrs. Helen Nelson, of International Falls, Minnesota, was driving a 1997 Ford Taurus going east bound on Hwy 11 when she entered the North ditch and rolled her car. She had her seat belt on and the driver air bag did deploy. She was taken by ambulance to Rainy River Hospital.
Rev. Barb Miller of Stratton was one of about 40 participants in the annual Polar Plunge in Fort Frances on New Years Day.
Princess Lillian Gibbins is this year’s New Year’s Baby! Her dad, and mom are Ryan Big George and Jocelyn Gibbins.
Town council votes to have former Rainy River Hotel demolished.
Hilary Tuesday-Archie of Big Grassy recently used her writing skills about active and healthy living by members of her community to win a digital camera in a contest.
Despite icy conditions due to a day of freezing rain the 7th Annual Alzheimer Dinner to remember (The Linda Johnston Memorial Dinner), was a huge success. It was a sell out and $2,499.35 was raised.
In the wake of the disaster in Haiti, the students of Riverview School have been working on doing their part in helping the people of Haiti. They raised $700 for relief.
February
Tim Nordin of Dawson Twp. is travelling to Sudbury for the Northern Ontario Provincial Men’s Curling championships. This is his third attempt to make it to the brier.
Council agrees to spend $5,000 towards the $10,000 cost to bring television show The Dimestore Fisherman to Rainy River in September.
Many district dignitaries and residents took the grand tour of the new RR Dist. Abattoir in Emo as it opened its doors for business.
Even though they did not win their way to brier, the Tim Nordin rink had a solid showing at the Dominion Northern Ontario Men’s Curling Playdowns last week in Sudbury.
Danny Armstrong-skip, Larry Armstrong-third, Brent Anderson-second and Dewey Beckel-lead defeated Trevor Bonot’s rink to win the 53rd Rainy River Men’s Bonspiel .
The Rainy River High School Mixed Curling Team won gold at home last week when Rainy River and Stratton Curling Clubs played host to NORWOSSA championship curling. Unfortunately for the mixed curlers they do not advance beyond NORWOSSA. They are Tyler Nielson-skip, Shauna Moen-third, Matt Armstrong-second and Chelsea Miller-lead.
March
Robert Tolen, 37, of Rainy River announced that he will be fighting a Minnesota man in Las Vegas after the pair listened to a satellite radio show. The loser will get the other country’s flag tattooed on their behind.
Interest in starting a relay for life in Rainy River appears to be growing.
After 11 years Kenora-Rainy River Alzheimer Society Executive Director Margaret Schonewille has announced she will be stepping down to take a new job in Manitoba.
Council inks a $1.8 million contract to replace sewer and water lines on Hwy. 11 in Rainy River.
Members of the Rainy River Figure Skating Club were stars on ice Saturday and Sunday as they performed for two packed houses. The theme of the shows was Across the Universe.
97% of respondents in a recent Rainy River area survey support multi-use trails in and around the community.
The Record has won a national newspaper award for its story the previous year on local businessman/contractor Garry Halverson and his woodworking business that makes custom urns.
68 year old Fred Bisel from Eagle Bend Minnesota USA died when his snowmobile went through the ice on Lake of the Woods.
The Riverview girls basketball team won the regional championships over the weekend
Officials with MNR are extremely worried as dry conditions could mean an early fire season.
Seven members of the Baudette-Rainy River Mini Kix Just For Kix dance team recently competed in the Just For Kix United We Dance Competition in Moorhead, MN on March 21st. This group placed second and performed to the song “Let’s Hear It For The Boy”.
April
Robert Tolen of Rainy River wins his boxing match against a Minnesota man in Las Vegas.
Town council warned of impending tax increases as the town faces a $40,000 deficit.
RR Hospital Auxiliary announced that it will have eight participants in its Rock-a-thon fundraiser at the annual trade show in Rainy River.
Participants in the Rainy River Biggest loser shed 330.5 lbs. in 10 weeks!
The Matt Johnson rink won the Stratton Open Bonspiel April 2-3, 2010. The team is comprised of Matt Johnson-skip, Cody Heyens-2nd, Tirzah Keffer-lead and Isaac Keffer-3rd.
Over 500 people attend the 5th Annual Rainy River and District Chamber of Commerce Trade Show.
Rainy River’s Vision 20/20 committee met with the public to update them on progress on planning the town’s future.
Progress on a Community Garden is moving along well. So well in fact it has doubled in size since its first conception.
Four students from Riverview School in Rainy River did well at the Rainy River District Festival for the Performing Arts this year. They are Lemuel Carradice who had three firsts for Piano, Moriah Carradice who had four firsts and one second place for Piano, Naomi Carradice had two firsts and two second places for Piano and Kenzie Godin who had two second places for Voice.
May
About 30 people gathered at the Rainy River Activity Depot to talk about the viability of making Rainy River a bird watching tourist destination.
In these hard economic times Danielle Levenec is bucking the trend in Rainy River having just opened her new salon Colors, Hair and Make-up!
RRHS Owl Theatre presented Loki on Trial.
Just For Kix held their spring dance show.
Courtney Hansen has done what no other Rainy River High School student has done before; she won a gold medal at the All Ontario Badminton Championships in Stratford, Ontario!
Council unanimously renewed Chief Administrative Officer Veldron Vogan’s contract for another four years.
The Rainy River Evangelical Covenant Church officially moved to its new home on Hwy. 11.
Three partners, Sandy Campbell, her daughter Kristie Tesarsky, and Donnie Tolen, all local people, have joined together to take over Beaver Mills Market from Steve and Eileen Hawkins.
Dorion Ozykowski and Ken Kreger were the guest of honour at the annual CNR retirement banquet in Rainy River.
Lynn Moffatt has been hired to replace Margaret Schonewille as the Exec. Dir. of the Kenora-Rainy River Alz. Society.
Local pharmacist Sarah Berg is concerned about changes to Ontario drug policies. If enacted she said she may have to close the local store.
Bell Canada has been upgrading equipment and lines in Rainy River and will soon offer high speed internet in the community.
The former Pinewood School was demolished.
RRHS students finished and delivered raised garden boxes to the Rainy River Community garden.
June
The $1.8 million sewer and water project on Hwy. 11 got underway in Rainy River.
Former Rainy Riverite Bill Godin, and his partner Ralph Galusha won the Emo Walleye Classic.
Morson WI meeting President Carol Pratt presented Barb Zebleckis, Betty Bartlett and Laurie Pentney with Women’s Institute Life Member certificates.
Kreger Sales and the Northern Lights Credit Union (RR Branch) won district customer service awards.
Herman Roderigues was named School Bus Driver of the Year by the Rainy River District School Board.
Pat Acree has been elected President of the Rainy River Hospital Aux.
Long time RR school secretary Cathy Seguin was honoured for her 25+ years of service by the RR Dist. Sc. Bd.
35 couples attended RRHS prom.
RR’s first ever Relay for Life raised over $53,000!
RRHS now offering an Outdoor Activities program featuring newly arrived canoes.
RRHS named its Athletes of the Year: Jr. Female: Courtney Hansen, Jr. Male: Luc Desserre, Sr. Female: Catherine Whetzel and Sr. Male: Cody Jarvis.
Public asked to help pick Rainy River’s official bird.
The Grades 4-5 and 6-8 youth soccer teams won their respective divisions at a tournament in Emo.
RRHS held its annual graduation ceremonies.
Long time visitor to Rainy River, Dan Lee of Alberta, and his wife Charlene, conducted a bird count for the Canadian Wildlife Service on Sunday June 20th. “We hit 100 (species) for the first time!” said an excited Lee.
July
Canada Day fireworks were postponed until Railroad Daze.
Council raised property taxes by 5.9% and water and sewer rates by 5%.
Progress on renovations to Riverview Manor is going good. An elevator is being added and suites being expanded to accommodate assisted living.
Rainy River has been approved for an after school program which will begin in the fall.
Railroad Daze Festival was another great success!
Long time Baudette business, Ben Franklin, announced it will be closing its doors.
The local tourist information bureau received some needed repairs.
August
The international car bridge between Rainy River and Baudette turned 50!
Glenn Crackel and Angie Armstrong were the top golfers in the men’s and women’s Rainy River Open.
Neil Gushulak, formerly of Rainy River, helped solve a mystery. Yes there is a species of cactus that grows on Lake of the Woods. He happens to be a biologist and specializes in snakes and cactus. He identified the species as the Brittle Prickly Pear.
A semi-truck overturned on the CNR tracks at Govt. Rd. when he failed to correctly navigate the corner of a detour set up to go around the construction in RR.
Bergland may lose its store if no one comes forward to replace retiring Karen Sepers who has run it for a number of years.
A wind storm picked up a very heavy fishing shack at the Troy Brown property in Pinewood and moved it several hundred feet.
With no one willing to organize the Rainy River Giant Pumpkin Festival, it appears the event will be cancelled.
Madison Brown of Pinewood raised over $1,100 for diabetes by holding a garage sale!
Chad Hanson and Terry Gill win their third Morson Bass International fishing derby!
Mayor Deb Ewald files her papers to run again.
September
A new public park was officially opened in Lake of the Woods Township. It is called Oscar’s Bay Beach Park.
Krista Rencher became the new owner/operator of the Bergland Store.
Big Grassy Lightning won the annual Rainy River Labour Day tournament while Stratton won the ‘B’ Event.
Incumbent Gord Armstrong and newbie Ashley Stamler filed papers to run for RR Town Council. Also Michele Abraham filed papers to run for the local public school board seat.
Bill Langner hit a hole-in-one at Spruce Creek Golf Course.
Many filed their paperwork at the deadline to run for council in Rainy River and surrounding townships but RR Incumbent Mayor Deb Ewald was acclaimed as no one filed to run against her.
Frustrated by vandalism at Hannam Park, Rainy River Town Council passed a curfew for the facility.
Harris Hill Resort, just northwest of Rainy River received more than $147,000 in grants to winterize its facilities.
A gas leak at Riverview School prompted the RR Volunteer Fire Dept. to the scene. However, they could not find anything wrong at the school.
No one filed papers for the office of Reeve in Morley.
Brothers Jim and Brian Ney of Baudette won the 12th annual Rainy River Walleye Tournament. This was the second time for Brian who won the very first RRWT.
Caiden Day and Chandler Pearson won the two Kids’ flights in the annual RR Kids RRWT.
October
The 100th anniversary of the 1910 fire that wiped out Baudette and Spooner, MN. was commemorated.
Anita Olson was crowned the first Bergland Giant Pumpkin champion!
Well known former Canadian Heavy Wt. Boxing Champ George Chuvalo was in Big Island to do a motivational seminar.
New owners of the Roadrunner Motel have announced intentions to move part of the facility (the annex) to Manitoba while reopening the main facility in the near future.
A U.S. man was caught running across the international bridge naked on the American side after escaping from Canadian Customs.
Larry Armstrong, Gord Armstrong, Ashley Stamler and Brent Anderson were elected to council in RR.
A record number, 71, kids registered for figure skating with the Rainy River Figure Skating Club.
Housing needs for locum doctors seen as the key to keep full time doctors here.
November
The public was able to tour the newly renovated Riverview Manor in Rainy River. $400,000 was spent to make larger suites and install an elevator so that Assisted Living could be offered locally.
Due to a tie for the fourth seat in Lake of the Woods Township, JoAnn Moen was declared the winner of the seat when her name was drawn from a hat. She joins Colleen Fadden, Glenn Anderson, Bill Lundgren and Mayor Val Pizey on council.
Funding was announced to keep the Rainy River Substance Abuse Prevention Team (SAPT) going.
Lemuel Carradice (Silver for boys 10-11), Madison Brown (Bronze girls 10-11) and Moriah Caradice (Gold girls 12-13). Fr. row, Naomi Caradice (Gold 7 & under girls) and Bethany Sinninghe (Gold girls 10-11) all qualified for the National Chess Championships when they competed in Thunder Bay at the Provincials.
Long time Clerk Treasurer Pat Giles was honoured for 30+ years by Dawson Twp.
Hundreds gathered at the legion in RR on Remembrance Day.
Sarah Berg runs the New York Marathon.
Both the RRHS Jr. and Sr. Girls Basketball teams won NORWOSSSA gold!
The Sr. Girls Basketball team wins NWOSSA gold and a trip to the All Ontarios!
While they did not win the All Ontarios, the Sr. Girls Basketball team played well and gained valuable experience there.
Riverview’s boys volleyball team won the regional championship.
Long time RR resident Pat Berg is fund raising to help fill a barn yard with animals in a third world country.
December
Rainy River’s new town council was sworn in and begins its four year term.
RR council ramps up pressure for funding for the newly renovated assisted living units at Riverview Manor.
RR native Brenley Anderson was ranked #1 in the United States for women’s collegiate hockey for points.
RR Community Choir held a Christmas concert for a packed house at the newly opened RR Covenant Church.
The RR Hospital Aux. donated $5,000 towards the cost of a special bath tub at RR Hospital. This adds to the $10,000 donation last year for the tub. Its estimated cost is about $30,000.
The Rainy River Rec. Centre was the hub for a full day of Christmas fun. Later that day the annual Santa Claus parade was held.
Dianne McCormack of Rainy River was elected to the RR District Public School Board to represent the west end of the district. She has also been appointed as Vice-Chair of the Board.
The new Lake of the Woods Council is sworn in.
Riverview School held its annual Christmas concert for a packed house at the RRHS gym.