One last look at 2011

By Ken Johnston
Editor

Editor's Note: 2011 was another busy year in the Rainy River area. Here are some of the headlines that made the pages of the Record this year!

January
Jason Speaker of Rainy River was the west RR District’s New Years Baby!
Funding was approved by the Province for Assisted Living in Rainy River. The province will provide $120,000 per year to fund Assisted Living at Riverview Manor in the community.
RR Rec. Board asked for help from the Town of RR to tear down their decaying chimney.
For the second year in a row Tim Nordin of Dawson Township is one step away from the Brier.
Gerry Marchuk retired as Legion President after 21 years.
A lawsuit against the Rainy River Cattlemens Association was dismissed by a judge.
Marg Hawthorne was honoured for her years of volunteer service to the Anglican Church in RR.
RR entered the Hockeyville contest.
Nearly $2,400 was raised at the annual Linda Johnston Memorial Alzheimers dinner to remember.

February
Members of the Rainy River District Municipal Association agreed to look at cost sharing for the Fort Frances Airport.
The future of the district’s big tent could be in jeopardy if more users are not found for it.
The Northwestern Health Unit announced that costs for municipalities will go down in 2011.
RR Mayor Deb Ewald was reelected President of the RRDMA.
Long time Legion President Gerry Marchuk was honoured at a banquet for his years of service.
Costs to replace the existing car bridge between Baudette and RR have been pegged at $50-$70 million.
Lake of the Woods Township announced its support for the RR Locum House Project.
A major water main break forced the entire town’s water system to be shut down in RR for several hours.
RRHS Owls Jr. and Sr. girls volleyball teams won gold and silver respectively at NORWOSSAs.
Council passed an interim tax bylaw and raised user fees by 3%.
Eleven people participated in the Shiver on the River 5 km run. Bryan Hasbargen and Sarah Fraser were the first male and female competitors across the finish line.
Baudette’s Bantam Bears, on which several Canadians played, won District 16 championships.
The Dale Morrison rink won the RR Men’s Curling Bonspiel.

March
RRHS Sr. Girls Owls Volleyball team won NWOSSA gold to clinch a berth to the All Ontarios!
Manny Nordin of RR won $50,000 on a scratch ticket.
RRHS Outdoor Activities Class went on a dogsled adventure.
RRHS mixed curling team went undefeated all season and won NORWOSSA gold as well.
TBaytel introduced 3G cell phone service in the area.
Brenley Anderson, of RR, was a member of a college hockey championship team in the US.
Bantam team advances to State Championships.
Four seek election in Thunder Bay-Rainy River as federal election set for May 2nd.
Michael Dawber was promoted to CEO/Librarian of the Rainy River Public Library.

April
Tragedy was averted at the Legion when the club was locked down until police arrived when a man threatened to bring a gun into the club. Police apprehended him without incident.
Kaylee Halverson and Kenzie Godin raised over $1,300 in a week to provide bed kits for poor kids around the world.
RR Council and Lake of the Woods Councils both announced they would be supporting the RR Locum House Project to the tune of $25,000 each.
RRHS Owls Justin Moen, Skylar Arpin and Courtney Hansen advance to NWOSSAs in badminton.
Local coach Rebecca Tolen finished 2nd in a provincial competition after writing an essay about coaching.
RRHS Owl Courtney Hansen advances to All Ontarios in badminton.

May
At a public meeting on the Locum House, it was announced that the initial price estimates of about $300,000 were low and the realistically it would be between $600-$700,000.
A workplace accident claimed the life of well known and well liked businessman Shawn McDonald at Stratton Service.
John Rafferty, NDP candidate, won the Thunder Bay-RR riding again in the May 2nd federal election.
Rainy River’s television debut on the Dime Store Fisherman was set for May 20th.
Alexis Sharp of Stratton won the prestigious Rose Bowl for her skills on the piano at the RR District Music Festival.
RR Locum House received a big boost at a fundraising dinner. Efforts to date have produced almost $145,000 towards the project.
RR Trade Show was a success again this year.
While she did not win All Ontario gold, Courtney Hansen had a strong showing at the event.
Donald Robert Bolen of Stratton was killed in a train car collision.
An Illinois man was killed and another is missing when their boat capsized on Lake of the Woods.
Robert Handorgan and Oliver Gibbins won the Spruce Creek golf tourney.

June
The Rainy River Locum House committee voted to move ahead with the project.
RRHS Owls girls finished 2nd in NORWOSSA soccer.
Cheryl Morrison was recognized by the public school board for volunteering to teach RRHS students how to be First Responders.
The body of the second boater lost on Lake of the Woods has been found.
A rumoured white robin was finally captured by Jack Elliott on film.
RRHS students published a cookbook with recipes from different cultural backgrounds with an aim to promote diversity.
RR Relay for Life raised $37,000.
Dr. Shu announced that she will not be coming to RR to practise after Dr. Beller leaves. She had said she would take half-time practise in RR.
RR council took $172,000 out of its reserves to balance its books.

July
RR residents warned about higher than standard levels of Trihalomethane (THM) in the community’s drinking water.
Interim Auditor General for Canada, John Wiersema, has a local connection. He is related to many people in the area.
Long time RR town councillor Brent Anderson resigned from council. Susan Carpenter was appointed to fill the vacancy as she was the runner up in the recent elections.
$2,500 was raised for the RR Locum House at a fish fry during Railroad Daze.
Many people enjoyed the wide array of activities at the annual Railroad Daze Festival.
Lindsay Bourre of Rainy River won her first ever race at Emo Speedway.
RR photographer, Kim Chorney, has had her work published on greeting cards.
RR native, Darwin Tetreault, is serving with the RCMP, training police in Afghanistan.
RR House is petitioning the rejection of funding assistance from the provincial government.
Vandals wreaked havoc in Morson, breaking into and severely damaging properties there.

August
Long time Member of Provincial Parliament, Howard Hampton, announced his retirement.
Fire destroyed the former Mel Weafer residence in the west end of town.
Danny Armstrong and Angie Armstrong, won the men’s and women’s titles at the Rainy River Open Golf Tourney.
RR Native, Jeremy Beller, was part of archeological find in Israel.
It was announced that Don Gale of Rainy River will be inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame this fall.
Eleanor Barron of Barwick has been hired to provide services in this area for the Kenora-RR Alzheimer Society.
RR council came under fire for its second increase in water/sewer rates in less than a year.
Almost $200,000 has been raised for the RR Locum House.
The nation mourned the loss of NDP federal leader Jack Layton, who died of cancer.
Tragedy struck as a 10 year old local boy was killed in an ATV accident near RR.
Kaylee Heyens of Stratton was crowned Emo Fair Queen.
Chad Hanson and Terry Gill won their 4th Morson Bass International tourney title!
Lake of the Woods camp owner, Bill Amason went missing on the lake.
Summer student, Jonathan Stamler, completed some renovations to the 4008 Heritage Square Museum.

September
Ground breaking ceremonies for RR Locum House were held at the property on the River between Sixth and Eight Streets.
Shortages of locum doctors threaten to see RR Emergency Room close periodically.
Camp owner Bill Amason was found dead on Lake of the Woods.
Two of Rainy River’s oldest residents, Myrtle Lauzon (105) and Clinton Park (107) passed away.
Jaden Gustafson of RR recently met Jays great Roberto Allomar at a special baseball training camp.
Two fires were extinguished in RR. One was in Bud Hannam’s garage and one in the west end of town at the former Roger Arnould residence. Arson is suspected.
Final building designs have been approved for RR Locum House.
Beefs Warriors win the RR Royals Labour Day Fastball tourney.
Kaylee Heyens of Stratton was appointed as student trustee on the RR Dist. School Board.
Work on new multi-purpose trails began in Rainy River.
Fran Farragher brought in a monster green pepper she grew in her garden.
Oliver and Jason Gibbins won their 4th Rainy River Walleye Tournament title.

October
Don Gale was inducted into the NWO Sports Hall of Fame in Thunder Bay.
Many members of the RR Legion Aux. were honoured for years of service.
NDP candidate Sarah Campbell won the local seat in the provincial election, replacing long time MPP Howard Hampton.
RRHS Outdoor Activities program was honoured by the public board when it met in RR.
Riverview cross country runners brought home several medals from the district meet.
Council voted to bend the rules for bonding requirements to build projects for the town, in order to allow local contractors to participate in building the RR Locum House.

November
Linda and Dennis Watson, two of Sleeman’s newest residents, have opened a new business there; L & D creations!
Locum House to go to tender.
Rainy River Federation of Agriculture has amended its constitution to downsize its board and quorum requirements.
RRHS Jr. and Sr. girls won NORWOSSA gold and silver respectively when they hosted NORWOSSA playoffs at home!
Linda Armstrong and Val Pizey were honoured for their 25+ years on Dawson and Lake of the Woods councils respectively.
New signs and first stage of the Rainy River Trails Network were unveiled.
A large crowd was on hand for the Remembrance Day services in Rainy River.
The international auto bridge at Rainy River and Baudette faces some international logistical hurdles before it can be replaced later this decade.
Riverview School Gr. 7/8 girls brought home gold medals from a volleyball tournament in Fort Frances.
Mark Mast of Rainy River is leading another mission to Guatemala.
O.P.P. asked for public help in solving the causes of two fires in Rainy River earlier in 2011.
While fighting cancer in the hospital in Winnipeg, former Rainy River man Shae Hagarty has been using his time in the hospital to try and recruit doctors for Rainy River.

December
Shortage of doctors in Rainy River was raised at Queen’s Park by newly elected Member of Provincial Parliament Sarah Campbell.
Stratton curler Jessica Haw, who is joined on her team by vice Kaylee Heyens, second Maria Vandenbrand, and lead Myan Miller in advancing to the Jr. Provincials next month.
Despite concerns by RR resident Rick Bourre, town council proceeded to pass a minor variance at no charge for the planned RR Locum House.
A new mobile service, the SmileMobile, visited Rainy River to provide dental services.
Doctor shortage not unique to RR. M.P.P. Campbell raised the fact that another Northwestern Ontario community, Ear Falls, is also in the same boat as RR.
RR Community Choir held its annual Christmas concerts in Pinewood and Baudette.
Many citizens kicked off the holiday season by enjoying Rainy River’s Christmas Extravaganza that included activities at the RR Rec. Centre, visits with Santa and an awesome parade!
RR Legion elected a new executive for 2012. They are: President - Walter Wagner; 1st Vice - Marlene McNally, 2nd Vice - Kelly Legiehn; executive officers - Evelyn Bourre, Janet Schaaf, Cam Hanson, Mickey Gustafson, Art Selman, Past President - Gerry Marchuk; Sgt at Arms - Terry Cooper; Sec/Treas - Ann Desrosier.