One last look at 2012

Editor’s Note: It was another busy year in the area. Here is one last look at it through the pages of the Record.

January
Dr. David Singleton announced that he is resigning effective June 2013.
Trevor Bonot’s Stratton curling rink advanced to the men’s provincial playdowns.
Hayley Arpin, 13, won a bronze medal at the Western Canadian Badminton Championships.
MPP Sarah Campbell said doctor situation in RR is a top priority for her.
The Grand Theater in Baudette announced that it is raising money for a digital projector upgrade.
Sarah Berg participated in the Disney Marathon in Orlando, Florida.
Former Rainy River woman, Cindy (nee Godin) Hamilton ships hand made moccasins all over the world as part of a business she has in Williams, MN.
The Kenora-Rainy River Alzheimer Society put out a call for area quilters to make special touch quilts to be distributed across the region to people suffering with dementia.
The Baudette/Rainy River Squirts hockey team placed 2nd in a Fort Frances tournament.
Nearly $3,000 was raised for Alzheimers at the annual Linda Johnston Memorial Dinner.
February
District ambulance costs could escalate if Rainy River fails to resolve doctor shortage and the ER is forced to close in Rainy River.
2011 census figures reported a 5.5% decline in district population.
Dale Morrison, Al Wolanicki, Don Jarvis and Andy Sirman won the first RR curling bonspiel of the season.
Dr. Singleton announced that he is moving his resignation up from June 2013 to April of 2012.
RRHS Jr. Girls Volleyball team won NORWOSSA gold.
MPP Sarah Campbell raised Rainy River’s doctor situation in the provincial parliament.
Kenzie Godin was named to a regional volleyball team and will compete at the Ontario Winter Games in March.
Richard Trenchard was elected President of the RR and Dist. Chamber of Commerce.
March
Mayor Deb Ewald spoke with Ministry of Health officials on how funding models are hurting rural community medical services.
Morgan Haw wins the prestigious 4H Degagne Award.
RR Figure Skating Club held their annual ice show at Rainy River Arena. The theme was “Blades of Magic.”
Two buildings belonging to Wayne McCarthy were lost to fire.
Police arrested Emo man at RR Post Office for drug related offences.
RRHS girls curling team won NORWOSSA and NWOSSA silver medals.
MPP Campbell urged the public to write letters to save the Emergency Room services at RR Health Centre.
Cathy Seguin, Mark Jodoin, Dave Seguin and Claude Seguin won RR Curling Clubs final bonspiel of the season.
Strange weather occurred with the temperatures soaring in to the 80 degree Fahrenheit range on March 18th
Doctors have been found to cover RR Medical Facilities until the end of August.
The ice went out on the Rainy River March 20th.
April
The province announced that it will close seven Travel Information Centres, including Rainy River’s.
Cody Heyens of Stratton had a banner year curling with Fanshaw College. On the mixed team he won silver and on the men’s he won gold at the national level.
The Rainy River Locum House was scaled back from a duplex to a single dwelling to house locum doctors.
Deb Armstrong, Angie Armstrong, Alicia Nordin and Stephanie Brown won the RR Curling Clubs league championship.
MPP Campbell called on the province to reverse the decision to close the tourist info. centres.
Riverview Elementary School’s grade 8 girls basketball team won gold at the Crossroads School Tournament.
Dr. Singleton decided to withdraw his resignation and resume practising in Rainy River in September.
RRHS students Skylar Arpin and Courtney Hansen won NORWOSSA Gold in badminton and then a berth to the All Ontarios by winning NWOSSA gold.
Joe Kaliska reflected on his dad’s last minute changing of boats from the Titanic to the Lusitania.
Nearly a million dollars flowed through the Stratton Cattle Sales barn!
May
RRHS Owl Theatre performed Oliver Twist.
Tenders were let for the RR Locum House.
Gillons’ and Thunder Bay Insurance merged.
Cliff Westover and Gord Hoskins were the guests of honour at the CN Retirement banquet.
New owners took over Rainy River Drugs.
Cecil Wilson of Barwick received the Queens Jubilee medal.
RRHS girls soccer team won NORWOSSA gold and then a berth to the All Ontarios when they won NWOSSA’s!
The former Howard McKenzie home was destroyed by fire.
June
Local contractor John Sinninghe was selected as the successful bidder to build the RR Locum House.
Kam Kuzyk has been hired as the new Rainy River Recreation Director.
Bruce Kelly and Lena Copenance won the Spruce Creek Spring Swing golf tournament.
The section of the new Rainy River Trails network that runs through Hannam Park was paved.
RRHS prom was held with the theme being “A Night in Paris”
Courtney Hansen and Luc Desserre were named RRHS Athletes of the Year.
RR secured two doctors, Singleton and Ennett for four years.
RR Relay for Life raised over $47,000.
July
RR taxes went up about 1.5%.
RR played host to the district fastball league All-star game.
A new business, J & E’s Unique Variety opened in the former Toy Library location.
A new pharmacist, Kweene Tacaata, started at RR Drugs.
The Rainy River Hotel was demolished.
Rainy River enjoyed the 25th Annual Railroad Daze.
Danny Armstrong and Dewey Beckel won the Ken Pentney Memorial Golf tourney at Spruce Creek Golf Course in Morson.
August
Dewey Beckel and Lori Kuzyk won the 44th Rainy River Open Golf tourney.
RR Town Council pursues purchasing the former Ontario Travel Info. Centre for a buck.
A large black bear had the town buzzing as it spent a day in a tree on the 100 block of Third St. It was eventually trapped and taken out of town.
Pat Gibbins and Pat Handorgan won the Morson Bass International tournament.
September
Riverside Foundation kicked off its Together We Can fundraising campaign to raise $650,000 for a new digital mammography machine in the district.
Big Grassy Braves defeated the Stratton Eagles to win the RR Dist. Fastball league title.
Sight and Sound won the RR Labour Day Fastball classic.
Rainy River’s oldest business, The Canadian Northern Hotel was destroyed by fire.
Dave Lewis took over as the new manager of the RR LCBO.
RRHS students staged a walk out to protest the Ontario government’s Bill 115.
Our Lady of the Way School in Stratton celebrated its 25th birthday.
Sean Gaudry and John Blight won the RRWT.
October
Service Ontario announced plans to cut hours at Rainy River office.
Riverview students participated in the Terry Fox run/walk and raised nearly $1,400!
Long time RR teacher Mark Jodoin was recognized by the school board as he retired.
Terry Brennan and Todd Halverson won the Lake of the Woods Walleye Challenge.
Kim Chorney ran the Chicago Marathon.
RR Cattlemen’s Association completed its final cattle sale of the year injecting a $4.2 million boost into the district economy through its sales.
Both Jr. and Sr. girls RRHS basketball teams set to compete in NORWOSSA playoffs.
November
Property values declined across much of the district with Rainy River taking the largest drop.
Linda Armstrong of Sleeman was presented with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.
The new digital mammography machine was brought on line in Fort Frances for district residents to use.
Both RRHS girls basketball teams won NORWOSSA gold. Senior girls now move on to NWOSSAs.
Gerry Marchuk of RR was presented with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Over 100 touch quilts were made and distributed locally for the Kenora-RR Alzheimer’s Society.
Many attended Remembrance Day Services at the RR Legion.
RRHS Sr. Girls B-ball won a berth to the All Ontarios by winning NWOSSAs.
Council announced that a part time dentist will begin practising in RR in January of 2013.
Jeannette Armstrong was named Volunteer of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce.
Jobs were slashed at the Resolute paper mill in Fort Frances.
CN Hotel rubble was cleaned up and hauled away.

December
Library and Rec. Board employee Justin Wagner worked to get families into birding with special program.
Rainy River’s last gas station closed its doors.
Town council received word it will get funding to redo water lines and pave First St.
Nancy Gate and Vivian Locking each received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Just for Kix held their annual Christmas show.