District

It was Lillian Kellar’s worst nightmare, but it was her dream to see it documented properly for the sake of all she lost—and for all that everyone else lost.
After the tragic fire that claimed 17 lives in Dance Township on Thanksgiving Day back in 1938, Kellar wanted to see a book that would set the record straight, telling the story without fiction and, most importantly, without sensationalism.
She spent much of her time conducting interviews and writing articles—all in the hope that one day her book would be completed.

On Nov. 7, OPP officers received a 9-1-1 call advising them of three lost boaters who were stranded on Rainy Lake.
The three were returning from a cabin when they got turned around in their directions and ran out of fuel.
The men were able to make calls with their cell phone to notify family members of their situation who, in turned, called police.
Initially, the men believed their location to be in the area of East Camp Narrows on Rainy Lake, but this information coming into police pertaining to their exact location was conflicted.

Countrywide, it’s the time of the year to get into the “learn to do by doing” spirit as November marks national 4-H month.
Locally, there won’t be much happening, noted Tracy Hyatt, the district’s 4-H volunteer co-ordinator, since this time of year is slower for the area’s 4-H clubs. The clubs and activities usually pick up more at the beginning of winter and into the spring, she said.

Preliminary plans are in the works for a new school in Mine Centre.
“Mine Centre has been a long time without a new school,” noted Jack McMaster, director of education for the Rainy River District School Board.
“And this is another opportunity for ourselves, as a board, to build a new facility and also to present a new facility to the students and families living out in that region,” he added.

Now weighing in at 15 pounds and three-and-a-half ounces, “Baby Ben” has a lot to celebrate with the arrival of his first birthday.
Born Nov. 10 last year, tiny Benjamin Marr arrived 15 weeks early and weighed just one pound, four oz. He would spend the next months in hospital in Winnipeg until finally coming home to his family in Emo in the spring.
“He’s thrived since we’ve come home. He’s truly amazing,” his mother, Jennifer Marr, enthused. “Doctors, when we go to Winnipeg, they can’t believe he’s the same little boy that we left with.”

With the Ministry of Natural Resources’ fire season officially over as of Oct. 31, the numbers show the West Fire Region had a much more quiet season than in recent years.
The region saw a total of 218 fires, consuming 1,214.8 hectares—down considerably from 479 fires blackening 32,852 ha in 2007.
Since April 1, the Fort Frances District saw a total of just 24 fires, consuming 31.2 ha. This was lower than in 2007, when 94 fires charred 39 ha, which, in turn, was far less than the 191 blazes reported here in 2006.

Rainy River District products will be getting the chance to shine when they’re showcased at the annual Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto next month.
“Rainy River Future Development Corp. has taken seven different producers’ products and we’ve packaged them into these lovely gift boxes and then we’re taking them to the Royal Winter Fair to sell,” explained Jeannette Cawston, rural agriculture co-ordinator for the RRFDC.

Competition amongst local buyers kept calf prices strong at the Rainy River Cattlemen’s Association’s final sale on Saturday in Stratton.
“All the calves sold well. They looked good,” enthused RRCA president Ken McKinnon.
Calf prices were running five to 10 cents higher than other sales in the west, with the highest price going to a pen of Black Angus steers that sold for $1.305/pound.
Quality and lack of stress were the cited as reasons local producers were willing to pay more for the “fresh-off-the-farm” calves.

As it turns out, last Saturday’s sale won’t be the final one at the Stratton sales barn in 2008.
The Rainy River Hereford Association is presenting the “Golden Opportunity ’O8 Sale” this coming Saturday (Nov 1). The barn will open at 11 a.m., with the sale starting at 1 p.m.
The sale will feature 22 head from seven Hereford breeders across the district: 10 bred cows, seven bred heifers, three heifer calves, one bull calf prospect, and one long yearling bull.
Jack Lewis, an old friend of the RRHA from Crystal City, Man., will be the auctioneer.

Kids looking for something fun to do on their day off school on Monday (Oct. 27) need look no further than the Fort Frances Museum, which will be hosting a “Halloween Camp.”
Running from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., children aged five-12 are encouraged to drop by and, for a fee of $10, participate in a mix of art activities and games related mainly to Hallowe’en, with some superheroes thrown in (tying in to the comic book exhibit that opened there last week).
Children also are encouraged to wear a costume.