Editorials

If the truth be known, the Rainy River District School Board is surprised--and disappointed--over the relative lack of feedback on its proposed expansion of J.W. Walker School here while closing Alexander MacKenzie and Alberton Central schools.

Grade 10 students in the Rainy River District School Board had the highest failure rate (41 percent) in Northwestern Ontario on the provincial literacy test taken last fall. And there’s word those at Fort Frances High School fared even worse than that compared to their counterparts in Rainy River and Atikokan.

There was a special atmosphere at La Place Rendez-Vous on Sunday night as people from across the district gathered in support of the fourth-annual Community Benefit Dinner.

Arguably the biggest Minnesota Viking fan in Fort Frances, my father-in-law, who shall remain nameless to spare him from having to admit in public that a Dallas Cowboy fan is, in fact, his son-in-law, could barely sit still from his prime vantage point on the couch--Viking cap firmly planted on his head.

John McTaggart could not have summed it up better here Monday morning as he joined Jim Krag and Wayne Woods to announce the “Care Close to Home” fundraising campaign had topped its $3.5-million goal. In just over six months, to boot.

Economic development dominated the all-candidates’ forum here prior to the municipal election in November, and it’s clear from Mayor Glenn Witherspoon’s annual New Year’s outlook that it will continue to be the buzzword in 2001.

From the green timber swamps of southwestern Ontario to the tidal estuaries of the maritimes, a new field guide is being used by landowners across Eastern Canada.

Riverside Foundation’s “Care Close to Home” campaign was the official charity of choice during the 2000 Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship and with events such as Buy-a-Band-aid to Support Care Close to Home and a Cream Pie throw with local celebrities, the three days netted over $2,500.00

Twice this summer the community has come together to show the rest of North America that not only is the Rainy River district a great place to live, but a great place to come and visit.

The Ontario government is providing $8 million a year for 30 new child and adolescent mental health beds to help children and teenagers at five Toronto hospitals, Health and Long-Term Care minister Elizabeth Witmer announced last week.