One last look at 2007

Editor’s Note: Another year has passed and as it has for the past 88 years, the Record has kept track of the happenings in and around Rainy River. Here is a review of the stories making the paper in 2007.

January
Residents of the Rainy River District were shocked when news that long time Rainy River Walleye Tournament Emcee Lionel Robert, 54, had passed away on Dec. 27, 2006.
Border Service announced it would no longer collect refundable bottles. Rolly Morrison of Border Service said, “We don’t have the facilities or the manpower to handle the new (containers).” In addition to the extra space needed, Morrison said the new containers will require a lot more work for very little return. “We will have to sort them by size, brand and have a complete case before we can get a refund.”
The Just Imagine campaign to raise money for a CT scanner in the Rainy River District surpassed more than 2/3 of the way to its goal, passing the one million dollar mark.
Long time RRWT angler Lorne Jonassen was kicked out of the annual fishing tournament for several violations. Jonassen refuted the charges against him but the RRWT committee had no comment on the subject.
Rainy River Cattlemen’s Association announced plans to study liver flook infestations found in district cattle.
The Stratton Cattle Sales Barn will begin $202,000 worth of renovations in 2007.
Rainy River Public Library held an open house to celebrate more than $11,000 in renovations to the facility.
Marion Brumwell announced she would take over refundable bottle collections in Rainy River.
Riverview School grade three students learned from a baby through the Roots of Empathy program.
Nicole Wood-skip, Julie Tiboni-third, Nicole Blakeney-second and Carla Armstrong-lead won the annual RR Ladies Curling Bonspiel.

February
The Rainy River Volunteer Fire Dept. was called out to a trailer house on Tower Road. A resident passing by the home of Blanche Bernier noticed smoke coming from it and called it in. Firemen were on the scene quickly and managed to get the fire out in a very short time. It was thought to be electrical in nature. Mrs. Bernier was not home at the time of the fire.
CNR conductors went on strike citing safety as the main issue.
Rainy River Town Council donated $10,000 to the CT scanner project.
The Tim Nordin rink, comprised of Nordin at skip, Dale Morrison-third, Dave Seguin-second and Dale Ossachuk-lead, represented both Rainy River and Dawson Volunteer Fire Depts. at the Northern Ontario Firemen’s curling playdowns and won. They will represent the region at the National Championships in Thunder Bay in March.
Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP Ken Boshcoff urged the federal government to intervene and quickly resolve the CNR strike as it is having serious economic impacts on business in this riding.
Retired OPP Sgt. Hugh Dennis has taken over the coordinator’s job at the RR Dist. Substance Abuse Prevention Team.
Ron Bridgeman-skip, Rick Sekulich-third, Dave Evans-second and Ed Wiersema-lead, won the 50th Annual RR Men’s bonspiel.
Thieves stole snowmobile trail markers from river.
The Don Gall family of Rainy River lost their home to fire.
Former RR woman Amelia Pirkl will be competing at the US National Mixed Curling Championships in March in Grafton, ND.
Vaughn Murray of Rainy River, Ont. won a contest many folks probably wouldn’t want to. He won the Ugliest Mug Contest in North America sponsored by the National Enquirer and appeared in the publication.
The Rainy River High School Boys Curling Team advanced to the NWOSSAA playdowns after winning Silver at NORWOSSAAs. They are Mitch Seguin-Skip, Kyle Miller-third, Jared McQuaker-second and Matt Johnson-lead.
Almer Godin won the Morson Ice Fishing Derby with a 7.1 lb. walleye to win $200.

March
Former local artist, Vanessa Keeash, will be featured at an upcoming exhibit in Atikokan.
The RR Figure Skating Club held their annual ice gala and had two stellar performances.
After several weeks of trying the Rainy River Record has finally been able to obtain proof that there is a wrongful dismissal law suit against the Town of Rainy River by former Town Clerk Deb Bowman.
Dave Armstrong-skip, Jen Armstrong-third, Clint Armstrong-second and Tammy Armstrong-lead won the annual Rainy River Mixed Curling Bonspiel.
Lake of the Woods Council donates $3,500 to CT scanner fund.
Former RR man Paul Elliott was elected Vice-president of the Ontario Teachers’ Federation.
Province approved $2.25 million for long needed sewer upgrades in Rainy River.

April
It could very well be Rainy River’s first vastly e-commerce oriented business.
VMG Gifts, now open, has a physical address, which it is sharing with Good Computer Service, at 602 Government Road in Rainy River, but for the most part the majority of the business will be done on line.
RRHS students have raised $5,900 towards building a school in Sierra Leone. That is about half of their goal.
RRHS student Timo Brielmann meets Liberal Leader Stephane Dion while on trip to Ottawa.
Eight members of the RRHS badminton team advanced to NWOSSA championships.
Laurene “Buddy” Hannam received her Provincial Life Membership at the annual Region 12 Hospital Aux. convention in Rainy River.
Rainy River Public Library is looking for a new home; having outgrown the space they are in.
Town Council officially learned that the dentist is leaving RR.
Council passed a new “tougher” dog bylaw.
The Herman Krahn family loses dairy barn and 88 animals to a huge fire.
Six Owls advance to All Ontarios and win NWOSSAA badminton crown.

May
Town council unveiled its newly written 14 page strategic plan.
Pat Giles has been elected to Northern Lights Credit Union’s board of directors.
RRHS students Hillary Hansen and Chantel Heyens won an Antique Bronze Medal at the OFSAA Badminton Championships in Waterloo.
Terri Anne Lundgren named new manager of RR branch of NLCU.
Lindsay Bourre of Rainy River competed in a tae-kwon-do tournament in Winnipeg and she did very well coming out in first place in full contact sparing.
To commemorate the 20th year of the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation’s Ride for Heart in Toronto, the charity’s CEO Rocco Rossi decided to do some thing really big to mark the milestone. He chose to ride a bicycle 1,900 km down the longest street in the world, Yonge Street to raise awareness and funds for the organization.
108 years of experience were honoured at the CNR retirement dinner. The guests of honour were Ret. Conductor Doug Stein, Burdella Stein, Ret. Cond. Leland Westover, Pam Westover, Deb Armstrong and Ret. Cond. Ralph Armstrong.
RR Town Council Finance Chairman Brent Anderson reported that taxes will be going up about 5% on average for residential taxpayers and business taxes will be going down.
Vince Scott and Anders Moen of RRHS clicked their way to the top of a field of more than 2,200 students in the annual Sprott Business Competition hosted by Carleton University since 1987 over the internet. They finished 5th overall.

June
RRHS named its Athletes of the year. They are Junior Male Athlete of the Year Jordan Hansen, Senior Male Athlete of the Year Kam Kuzyk, Senior Female Athlete of the Year Alyshia Langlais and Junior Female Athlete of the Year Brenley Anderson.
Jim vanLeeuwen, formerly of Rainy River and now from Brantford, Ont., competed in the National Classifieds 10 pin bowling Championships two weekends ago in Thunder Bay. His team finished fourth, just out of the medals, and represented Southern Ontario.
Council raises residential taxes by 7.2%.
RR Rec. Bd. hired Travis Vandenbrand for the summer as a Rec. Director. He plans to revive Railroad Daze.
23 graduate from RRHS and 10 from Riverview School and nine from Our Lady of the Way.

July
Missionaries from Michigan came to Rainy River to help build a new Covenant church.
Cell phone users noticed improvements to the service here as improvements were made to the tower.
Don and Lou Ricci, Gordon Armstrong, Nathan Armstrong (Thunder Bay), Sandra Ottertail, Barb Kyroe, and Willard & Enid Peters travelled to Guatemala to do missionary work.
Local athlete Saragh Fraser attended an elite training program with Olympian Carrie Tollefson in St. Paul, MN.
Legion, CN Hotel, Library, Lowes Lumber and Marina victimized by break and enters.
Hannam Park beach closed due to ecoli.
The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation announced a $74,000 contribution to a massive renovation/upgrade project at the Stratton Sales Barn.
After two years the Rainy River Annual Golf Open has been revived.
Ken Boshcoff, MP, has helped the RR Legion secure a howitzer to display at its cenotaph.
Lowes Lumber celebrated its 70th anniversary in business.

August
Sharon Parsons, of Bergland, was named the Bergland 2007 Chili Champ on Sunday at the Fourth Annual Bergland Family Fun Day.
Former RR resident Leonard Proteau, and Korean War Vet. presented RR Legion with two flags he brought back from his visit to Korea earlier in the spring.
Glen Crackel wins RR Open.
Doug Vandersteen and Mark Pentney win the Morson Bass International fishing tournament.
Spruce Creek Golf Course opened to the public just south of Morson.

September
After a major overhaul to Rainy River High School’s heating system and the addition of air conditioning at a price tag of more than a million dollars, one would have thought that would be the end of improvements to the school for some time. But over the summer the Rainy River District School Board invest approximately another $500,000 in the facility. The Science lab, a student theatre/meeting room, some flooring and a new entrance were completed.
The Plum Coulee Farmers’ of Winnipeg won the RR Labour Day Fastball Classic.
Isaac Dyck, 18, of Rainy River, has been charged with two counts of Break and Enter contrary to the Criminal Code. Also charged is Curtis Armstrong, 19, of Emo, with Break and Enter Contrary to the Code in connection with a series of RR B & E’s in July.
RR Town Council hired Stewart Daw of Chapple Twp. to be the town’s Animal Control Officer.
Howard Hampton, MPP for Kenora-RR announced his intent to run again for the NDP in the upcoming provincial elections.
While he did not break his record set last year, the champion from the 2006 RR Valley Giant Pumpkin Festival, Ben Johnson of Kakabeka Falls, repeated as champion this year with a 902 pound pumpkin.
George Thompson, Gary Armstrong, Sr., and Fred Foulger inducted into the RR District Fastball Hall of Fame.
Bill Godin and Ralph Galusha of Devlin win the 9th Annual RR Walleye Tournament while Shelby Tymkin won the Kids RRWT.

October
Incumbent Howard Hampton, NDP, defeated Mike Wood, Lib., Penny Lucas, PC, and Jo Jo Holiday, Green Party in the provincial election.
Gill Stamler of RR was reunited with her son Gareth Sage, 40, after 33 years. Sage lives in Australia.
A neighbourhood watch program is being organized for Rainy River.
A welcome wagon type group has been struck in Rainy River to welcome newcomers to the community.
RR Town Council looks at setting up HAM radio system to be used in the event of a disaster.
Trish Neilson was reelected president of the Rainy River Federation of Agriculture.
Lowes Furniture announced it will be moving its store to Fort Frances.
RR is seeking Assisted Living housing from the government.
RR, Emo and Fort Frances Snowmobile Clubs look at merging.

November
Gord Armstrong of RR was named Volunteer of the Year by the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce.
RR snomobile club members vote to join Emo and Fort Frances club.
About 200 people attended Remembrance Day ceremonies at RR Legion.
Patrick Briere has been hired as the new Rainy River Recreation Director.
RR Town Council passed a unanimous motion to write off an account receivable in the amount of $4,911,78 as per legal advice. The receivable was for a company called DEHOCA, a one time player in the Globeco factory that never really got off the ground.
Efforts to start a Neighbourhood Watch Program in RR were formalized.
Anthony Mason has been hired as the new Town Coordinator/Economic Development Officer for Rainy River.
TBay Tel, the area’s cell phone service provider bought out the Fort Frances interests in the local network.
Mark Heyens of Stratton is making waves as a model at the national level.

December
RR had one of its best Santa Parades in years.
Rainy River became the very first KidSport chapter in NWO. The program helps less fortunate kids play sports.
More Michigan Missionaries came to RR to help with the construction of the new RR Covenant Church.
Local people travelled to Guatemala to do missionary work there and help build new homes for the impoverished there.