By Howard Hampton
MPP Kenora-RR

If you’ve ever read the book “Catch 22” by Joseph Heller, you’ll appreciate the predicament that unincorporated Local Roads & Services Boards have found themselves in over the last couple years. While the federal government announced that the gas tax rebate would also go to assist road maintenance and construction in unincorporated territories, jurisdictional disputes with the provincial government have prevented money from flowing.

By Al Lowe
Contributor

There are over 300 thrushes in the world, including the English Blackbird, and the Nightingale. In this great bird family, there are some of the very best singers in the world.

By Gary Sliworsky
Ag. Rep.

The Office of Open Learning and the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) are excited to offer a diploma in ag communications. This unique program is the first of its kind in Canada and is looking for individuals to fill the first class.

I will make no bones about it. I enjoy summer fishing. I even enjoy fall fishing but I don’t ice fish.
When I began getting serious about fishing, I started to build fishing rods. The first three rods were from kits. They were bait casters.

Letter to the editor,
As President of the Rainy River Playschool Inc, Board, I am writing back in response to the letter submitted to your paper June 19 in regards to the closure of playschool. First off I want to state that no decision has been made as of yet, and yes it has been talked about, but it was talked about at a Playschool Board meeting. What is discussed at these meetings is supposed to be discussed in confidence. Both the board and the employees of RR Playschool Inc. are bound by a confidentiality agreement. We appreciate the public’s concern as to the future of the Rainy River Playschool program. We as a volunteer board understand the importance of these programs both to the children and their families. The Rainy River Playschool Inc. Board is a volunteer Board that governs the Playschool Program that runs Mondays and Thursdays, October thru May, 9:30 am to 11:30am, The Learn, Laugh and Play Childcare Centre which operates year around Monday to Friday 7:00am - 5:30pm, and the Ontario Early Years Centre/Family Resource Program which operates various hours throughout the week, year around.

The great outdoors...
Over the weekend my girl friend and her kids travelled to Chippewa National Forest just east of Cass Lake to do some camping.
I have never camped in a national park before and when I arrived there I was a bit lost.

By Ken Johnston
Editor

If you are a cell phone user in Rainy River you may have noticed that your phone suddenly started working much better, especially in buildings.
A spokesperson for Norwest Mobility told the Record Monday that they have upgraded the tower to 800 megahertz. That gives better signal strength and hence better building penetration. Norwest Mobility also did the same upgrade in Fort Frances about a month ago.

By Ken Johnston
Editor

Well there was no parade in Rainy River Canada Day, but it did rain on the only scheduled activity here; the fireworks.
The Rainy River Volunteer Fire Dept. had all the launchers set up and ready to fire off another great fireworks display marking Canada’s 140th birthday. But Mother Nature had other plans for the community.

LINDA JANE MCQUADE (nee DELAFIELD)
It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of our dear mother, grandma, mother-in-law and friend, Linda McQuade on May 26, 2007. She will be dearly missed by her daughters and partners, Gwen (Keith), Nancy (Brian), Leslie (Don); grandchildren, Jeff (Heather), Allison (Mike), Alexis, Gavin, Dave (Lynne), and Ken (Lisa); and her many friends of so many years. She cherished also the new friendships that she made more recently wherever she went (Dakota House and Victoria Hospital), always taking an avid interest in all her neighbours, roommates and her caregivers. She was predeceased by her mother, father, step-mother (Mary Patterson / Delafield); her brother John and wife Gladys, Ray, and Nick Kalansky (son-in-law). Linda, the only daughter of James Delafield and Jane Bowen, was born in Rainy River, ON on March 1, 1920. Linda's mother died of pneumonia when Linda was only eight years old. Papa found a replacement Mom in Mary Patterson. Mary didn't have any children of her own, so she took on the raising of Linda and John. Linda was an A student and loved to learn and excel in school. In those days, girls weren't encouraged to go to university, so her brother went off to Engineering at University and Linda went to Nursing School in Port Arthur, ON in 1938. In 1942 Mom joined the R.C.A.F. as a nursing assistant in St. Thomas, ON and then Trenton. There she met her 1st love, Don Mackintosh, an observer in the R.C.A.F. He played the tuba in the T.T.S. (Tech Training School) Marching Band and had a beautiful voice. Linda's and his love of music and singing made them a natural pair and they were married on December 24, 1942, Don was killed in action in July 1944. In 1945 Linda moved to Winnipeg to work with the D.V.A. and met Wallace Raymond McQuade (Ray) on a blind date arranged by Bob Collins and they were married on July 19, 1947 in All Saints Anglican Church (the very Church in which she will have her Funeral Service). They had three daughters quickly thereafter, but the task of raising three girls and taking care of a husband, moving to Riverview, a newly developed area of Winnipeg (all mud and construction), getting pneumonia in 1949 and being flooded in 1950, wasn't enough for Linda...she decided she had to get her driver's license at age 35, in 1955, with kids, ages seven, five and three. Linda loved a challenge!! And maybe also her love of laughter and jokes kept her going. She had a wonderful sense of humour - she could quote jokes forever and never forget the punch line!!! Linda was always active in her community and her church and was always eager to help others. She joined St. Alban's Church in 1951 and taught Sunday School, sang in the choir from 1974 to 2002, and was an active member of the Ladies Guild from 1951 to 2005. She was very sad to have been too ill and unable to attend the St. Alban's closing ceremonies held in April of this year. Linda was an avid 5 pin bowler, belonging to the Academy Lanes' Early Birds from 1965 to 2003. She was an active member of the Princess Elizabeth Guild for many years. She sold Avon from 1970 to 1981, which she loved mainly for it's social aspect of meeting new people. She was an accomplished bridge player, and poker player, having made many a trip to Las Vegas, and never missed an opportunity to play as a spare for bridge or in her regular groups. Linda delivered Meals on Wheels for years, and helped Trudy, a polio victim who lived in King Edward Hospital, with her Avon orders. We will miss you Mom, Grandma, Linda - you will be in our hearts forever. Thank you for giving and caring so much. The family would like to thank Monique of the Palliative Care team and her many colleagues, the many caring nurses and staff at Victoria Hospital, especially Etienne, Grace, Albert and Debra, Dr. Green and Dr. Penner and all the Gentle Touch team, especially Lee Ann who became a friend to Linda and her family over these last three months, and Sara who was with Mom for a long time, too. In accordance with Linda's wishes cremation has taken place. Funeral service will be held on Friday, June 1 at 1:30 p.m. at All Saints Anglican Church at the corner of Broadway and Osborne. Parking bans on the street will be waived. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Linda's memory to the Winnipeg Humane Society or CancerCare.

William "Bill" McAteer Ducasse
June 10th, 1936 ~ June 20th , 2007

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of William "Bill" McAteer Ducasse, after a lengthy illness, with his family by his side on June 20th, 2007. Bill was the oldest of four boys, born in Rainy River to Bill Sr. and Mary Ducasse. Bill attended the North Bay Normal School and obtained his teaching degree. He then moved to Dryden in 1958 to teach. Bill’s teaching career was spent at Riverview School, Pinewood School and he was the Principal at Sprucedale School, finishing his career as Principal of Pinewood School. Bill belonged to the Tree-Toppers Model Airplane Club, the Kinsmen, and the K40 Club of Dryden. He enjoyed fishing and traveling with his wife, especially to Arizona in the winter. Bill has left to mourn, his beloved wife of 45 years, Connie, his daughter Michelle Gauthier and her husband Albert and his grandchildren Jonathon and Samantha Gauthier of Salem Oregon. Bill will also be sadly missed by his brothers Marshal, Frank, David and their families, all his nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, extended family and friends. Sadly Bill was predeceased by his daughter Shelly Ann on June 28, 1988. In keeping with Bill’s wishes a private family service will be held. If friends so desire donations may be made to the DHRC CT Scan Fund or to the DRHC Oncology Unit through the Stevens Funeral Homes "Moffat Chapel" P.O. Box 412 Dryden, ON P8N 2Z1. Condolences may be emailed to sympathycard@shaw.ca subject line: Ducasse