News Release MNR Moose and deer gun hunting seasons are now under way in Northwestern Ontario and hunters should know and follow the rules, and take necessary safety precautions. HUNTING RULES: * All hunters must wear solid hunter orange clothing (minimum of 400 sq. inches) and a hunter orange cap, except during an “archery-only” season. * A hunter cannot possess a game seal belonging to anyone else while hunting or use a licence or any part of a licence that belongs to someone else. * Handle firearms with care and attention at all times.

News Release RRDSSAB Deb Ewald, Chair of the Social Housing Committee of the Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board (RRDSSAB), is very pleased with the Province’s new initiative

By Becky Mollberg Coach This meet marked the end of my first year coaching the CC team, and it was a cold, cloudy and windy ending, with some awesome performances by all. The place of the meet was in Hawley - a 4 1/2 hour bus ride. But we were able to get there early enough for the team to feel good about the time they had to stretch their bus legs and get warmed up and ready for the races.

News Release Ont. Govt. TORONTO AND ALBANY, Oct. 28 /CNW/ - Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty today commended New York State Governor Eliot Spitzer for his announcement that New York will develop an enhanced driver’s licence to allow Upstate New Yorkers to cross the New York-Canada border without a passport. Under the US Department of Homeland Security’s Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, travelers entering the US from Canada would be required to carry a passport as soon as next summer.

News Release MPS OTTAWA, Oct. 24 /CNW Telbec/ - The Minister of Public Safety, the Honourable Stockwell Day, announced today that on December 1, 2007, the Government of Canada will reduce the CAN$80 application fees for the NEXUS and the Free and Secure Trade (FAST) programs to CAN$50, which will coincide with the current cost of these application fees in the United States at US$50. “This new application fee is a result of the strong Canadian economy,” said Minister Day. “Canadians work hard to support themselves and their families.

News Release LWCB The Lake of the Woods Control Board has authorized a series of outflow increases from Lake of the Woods due to quickly rising lake levels. Winnipeg River levels are also rising quickly, due to the outflow increases. Lake of the Woods basin conditions have changed from very dry to wet in the past several weeks due to rainfall and high flows released from upstream lakes. Lake of the Woods inflow has increased five-fold in the past three weeks.

By Deb Armstrong RRCC The Rainy River Curling Club is just about ready to start another season of curling. All it needs is some curlers. If your interested in curling either regular or spare call Ralph Armstrong at 852-3921; Murray Aikenhead at 852-3330 or Angie Armstrong at 852-3984. Curling will start on November 7th. The Curling Schedule is Monday’s at 6:30 - Jr. Curling; Wednesday’s at 7:00 & 9:00 - Mens; Thursday’s at 7:30 - Ladies and Friday’s at 7:30 - Open league. The dues are $135.00 for men’s & womens; $75.00 for spare and $50.00 for jr.’s.

By Jack Elliott Correspondent A Welcome to Rainy River social was held on Friday evening, Oct 26, at 7:00 pm at the Rainy River Activity Depot. A mix of about two dozen residents, both long term and ‘Recently Returned’ got to know each other better along with the services available in the community. This evening was the first of several steps activities planned by the Welcome to Rainy River Committee. Mayor Debbie Ewald, Rainy River Legion President, Gerry Marchuk, Chamber of Commerce President, Susan Carpenter and Welcome to Rainy River chair, Marilyn McAlister, welcomed the guests.

By Melanie Mathieson Gardening Guru This is the time of year when many gardeners are out planting spring-flowering bulbs. Let’s face it, planting bulbs is a time-consuming job that involves a fair degree of effort and nothing is more frustrating than watching your local squirrel population digging around, undoing your hard work and running off with their cheeks stuffed full of tulip bulbs! If you have a lot of squirrels in your neighbourhood, you may want to consider avoiding planting both tulip and crocus bulbs.

By Al Lowe Contributor Buteos are our largest hawks. There are five of these birds in Canada, but only three of them would normally be seen here in the Northwest. They are typically large birds, and stocky ones, too. They have wide, rounded wings, and tails which are rounded at the ends (not squared off). When looking for food, they usually soar high in the sky in big, lazy circles. Two of these species make their homes here, and another can be seen during migration. Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis). This is a big hawk, and the one you are most likely to see.