Railroad Daze was a streaming success

Ken Johnston
Editor

The 15th annual Rainy River Railroad Daze was a resounding success!
All scheduled and even a few that weren’t scheduled were met with good turnouts.
Sidewalk sales downtown were busy both Friday and Saturday. The parade, kicked off by the train whistle, was again a big draw and very well run by Parade Marshall Harry Arnould and his Deputy Anne Mailloux. Hundreds of people were on the route and cheered for the floats.
Several businesses sponsored contests at their respective shops. On Friday the Village Green held minnow races in which owner Marilyn Jenson said, “all the kids were winners!”
CIBC also held a hopscotch contest. Winning the 8 and under category was Kaitlyn Bonhomme. Coming in second was Kelsey Jonassen. In the 9 and over category Diane Bayle. Christa Big George came in second.
On Saturday the contests kicked off with a hotdog eating contest at Susan’s Corner Store. Winning the 5-8 year old category was Kyle Olson of Rainy River and coming in second was Eric Bois of Fort Frances. In the 9-12 category Shane Dixon of Rainy River won and Christa Big George came in second. In the 13-16 year old category Mark Clifford of Rainy River won and Sherina Knutson came in second. They had 3 minutes to eat as many hotdogs as they could. Owner Susan Carpenter said the most eaten was about two and a half. All participants received a pop but the top winners received other prizes too.
At 2 p.m. there were contests all over town. Rainy River Drugs held a skipping contest. It was won by Suzanne Ostlund. Coming in second and third was Diane Bayle and Melissa Peters.
Gustafson Welding held a freezie eating contest. Kids had five freezies to eat and winning the contest was Tyler McNally of Rainy River. “He ate his twice as fast as the next closest kid,” said owner Chuck Gustafson.
At the Roadside, pie eating was on the menu at 2 p.m. Owner Pam Newman held a pie eating contest. In the adult category Brooke Ewald ate an entire pie in 40 seconds. Coming in second was Scott Olson who finished his in 60 seconds.
In the ages 10-12 category Kevin Tesarsky narrowly beat out his brother Keith. Kevin ate his pie in 1 minute and 55 seconds. Keith took 2 minutes.
In the kids category each kid ate one piece of pie. The winner was Ericka Tymkin who ate hers in 30 seconds. Second place when to Cassie Westover who ate hers in 33 seconds.
Roadside owner, Pam Newman said that she had 17 participants who all paid $2 to get in the contest. All $34 collected will be donated to the 2003 fireworks show.
At 3 p.m. Lifestyles Clothing held a unique relay race. Carts full of clothing, including bras and pantihose were placed in front of each team of three. Each team member had to put all the clothes on over their own clothes and then run to the next station where they had to remove the extra clothes. Once they were undressed the next team member had to put them on and proceed to the final station where the process was repeated. The team of Grace, Pam and Sheri Peters narrowly won.
At many of the contests there was a good crowd of spectators and they were definitely a hit with them.
Cuts for Cancer was held at 2 p.m. in front of the Quality Bakery and the Cut Above. Cut Above owner Cindy Lauzon donated her skills and helped four individuals donate their full heads of hair in the name of cancer research.
Don Gall was the first to go under the clippers. He raised $864.75.
Al McGreevy was next and he raised $755.50.
Brandon Brigham was next and he raised about $143.50.
Caiden Feliccia went next and raised $358.
In total they raised $2,121.75 for cancer research.
At the United Church they had a capacity crowd pretty much the entire afternoon for their 100th Anniversary Garden Party Saturday afternoon and a good turnout for the special 100th church service Sunday. Many people returned to Rainy River to renew old memories at the church. A former minister’s son, Richard Armistead, was reunited with Josephine MacKenzie who taught him Sunday School in 1957. MacKenzie was the matron at the old hospital, now Crystal Lindal’s home. Her sister-in-law was Alyce Corrigan.
The petting zoo was a big hit with the kids at the Recreation Center, as was the ball tournament that saw Don Gall’s team of Rainy River win the A event and Daryl Scott’s team from Fort France wind the B event.
Fireworks capped off the weekend with a bang and Railroad Daze 2002 was made a memory.