This past Tuesday Dryden welcomed back, for the fourth time, Country Blend. The band performed an energetic and exciting show featuring covers by country legends such as Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline.

The group is composed of five members from Manitoba and the United States. Dianne Lodge and Evelyn Ramage, cousins of Neil Young, sang beautifully and enchanted us all; a favorite in-particular was their performance of Lorette Lynn’s “Coal Miner’s Daughter”. Gordon “Crazy Fingers” Lindquist was likely the most entertaining body of the evening, enticing roars of laughter and impressing everyone with his truly, crazy fingers. Cyn Lodge, drummer and the group’s manager, and Henry Martens, the group’s lead guitarist, also performed wonderfully and kept everyone entertained in-between songs with jokes and stories from their tour bus.

The show is arranged as a tribute to the legends of country, and they do a fantastic job paying this tribute. “It’s all about the good old country music” said Henry Martens “the music that tells us a story, that we can all relate to; it’s all about the music we love”.

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Doesn't this look nice? You can still have fun this upcoming May Long Weekend just be responsible. Photo by Chris Marchand.

Story by Lindsey Enns

In a news release issued this morning, the Dryden detachment wants you to know that they will be stepping up enforcement to ensure that everyone has a safe upcoming May Long Weekend.

Officers will be strictly enforcing the Liquor License Act at local bars and restaurants, the Highway Traffic Act to ensure that everyone is driving to the conditions and keeping within the spend limit as well as the Off Road Vehicles Act to keep off our area highways and waterways.

The OPP will also be patrolling any and all unorganized campsites in the area, especially those that have been a cause for concern in the past.

The last couple of May Long Weekends have ended in complaints regarding off road vehicles, cottage break and enters and personal injuries due to the consumption of alcohol. The OPP is hoping that this May Long will end differently.

The OPP would like to remind campers and outdoor enthusiasts to have a safe and happy long weekend. If you plan on drinking, please drink responsibly.

Pictured above are grade five students from Open Roads School, Mason Desautels, Sam Brunton, Cale Oberg and Dawson Mackie. All of them participated in the sports camp last summer and are looking forward to it again this year.

A multi sports camp to help students stay active during the summer is being held for a second year in a row following a successful first year. Conor Doherty, the organizer of the sports camp says that he is doing it again this year because there is nothing like it in Dryden.

“I remember going to sports camps when I was younger and I always had fun.”

But to Doherty it’s not just a sports camp.

“It gives kids something active to do in a day and age where computers and video games take up most of their time.”

The sports camp is being held June 25-29 and July 2-6 and there are 60 spots available per week. Members from the community will come and teach tennis, football, track and field and yoga. You can reserve your spot by contacting Doherty via email at conor.doherty@kpdsb.on.ca.

This Friday Dryden will be covered in pink on behalf of Pink Day, the anti-bullying campaign and students from local schools are hoping that the community will get involved and show their support.

“Kids get bullied at each one of our schools so we need to start teaching them that accepting everyone’s differences is important especially as demographics in our community are always changing,” Patty Lyle, Keewatin Patricia District School Board student counselor said. “We want to celebrate that we are all unique in our own way and it’s okay to be different.”

The idea behind Pink Day began in Nova Scotia after two students encouraged their peers to wear pink to school to help another peer who was being bullied for wearing a pink shirt. As a way of showing their support, students from the Dryden High School will be sipping on pink lemonade, snacking on pink popcorn, painting pink fingernails while wearing pink. Lyle hopes that getting the students involved will help teach them a valuable life lesson.

“We want students to learn that they shouldn’t jump to conclusions based on what people look like on the outside but instead get to know them on the inside.”

Lyle says that if you are being bullied that you should talk to someone you trust and that resources are always available at their school.

“They need to speak up because no one should be treated unfairly and bullies need to be stopped.”

Students at New Prospect School will also be painting pink fingernails for $2 and will be donating the proceeds. Students from Open Roads School will be decorating their classroom doors with quotes of acceptance, making signs and going on a walk. Grade seven student Elisha Morrissette is on the school’s planning committee and knows all too well about the effects of bullying.

“It’s not easy to ignore but if you can you should do your best to ignore it,” Morrissette said. “It’s best just to walk away from it and find a group of friends to help cheer you up.”

For more information about Pink Day and how you can show your support you can visit dayofpink.org.

Linnea Salte belts it out last night at Dryden Full Gospel Church.

Story and photos by Lindsey Enns 

Singer and songwriter Linnea Salte performed at the Dryden Full Gospel Church last night, but not before spending the afternoon around town.

Some of her Tweets yesterday read, “Walking on Dryden’s Suspension Bridge,” and “Playing mini golf in Dryden. Excited for tonight’s concert.”

On Twitter, she describes her sound as being a mixture of Kelly Clarkson with the artistic pop of Feist, Sara Bareilles and Coldplay. Her description couldn’t be more accurate. Her powerhouse voice and soulful melodies had the crowd on their feet for most of the show.

“You can stand on your feet if you like but you might be standing for a long time,” she told the crowd midway though her set.

On her website, linneasalte.com, she says that being surrounded by musical talent all of her life is what lead her to where she is now, singing her way across North America. Her father, Arlen Salte, sold over ¼ of million albums and owned an independent record label. She started playing the piano at the age of three and incorporated lots of that into her show last night.

Salte calls on the audience for a little help during one of her songs. Keith McEwan and his daughter Emma McEwan.

After lending her vocal talent to over ten albums, she decided that she wanted to reach more people with her music so she started recording her own solo album entitled, Pocket Full of Posies.

“I want the songs that I write to challenge and excite people. For me, music is just a doorway to see my world changed,” she said about her music on her website.

“This album is very vulnerable. I write about what is at the core of my heart.”

Photo by Chris Marchand

By Lindsey Enns 

So it’s almost that time of year again.

This week the OPP will be reviewing a few of the summer activities that we all like to part take in order to ensure that everybody has a safe and enjoyable summer.

Whether you are boating, riding quads, cycling, rollerblading or swimming, the OPP would like to make sure that you are doing your best to keep yourself and those around you out of harms way.

In a press releases being issued this week, the OPP has been outlining some useful information in regards to outdoor activities.

For instance, when walking to and from school, they suggest using sidewalks, if there aren’t any be sure to walk facing traffic flow. Children should not talk to strangers if approached and tell a parent or teacher immediately.

While skateboarding or roller-skating be sure to respect others and share sidewalks. Don’t skateboard or rollerblade in the middle of the road and helmets are always a safe bet.

When driving through school zones, be alert of activities and the children in the area and remember that fines are increased in these areas. Children should be cautious around motorists as well when playing near roadways. Most importantly, expect the unexpected and be aware of school buses.

In regards to quads and off road vehicles operated on roadways, the OPP wants you to know that you they must be operated on the shoulder of the highway without passing any other vehicle. Speed limit should be keep to 20 kph where highway speed is 50 kph or less and 50 kph where the speed limit is anywhere over 50 kph. Off road vehicles are not to be operated in construction zones, on closed highways, on highway 17 or 17a or within a Provincial Park unless the driver has be given permission by park staff. The driver must always be wearing a helmet, have a minimum G2 license, valid registration and insurance. Even if the off road vehicle can hold to passengers, only one is permitted.

These are just a few tips to help you have a safe and enjoyable summer!

Devon MacKinnon Ottertail, NOSM students Megan Baldwin and Patrick Legault and Bernadette Wabange in front of the Eagle Lake Health Centre last week.

Photo and story By Lindsey Enns

For the first time, Eagle Lake First Nation is hosting two first year Northern Ontario School of Medicine students, Patrick Legault and Megan Baldwin, as part of a culturally enriching experience.

“It is beneficial for us to understand where people come from both on a cultural and social level so that in the future we can provide everyone with better care,” Legault said.

The two students have only been in Eagle Lake for a couple of days but have had already had met people in the community.

“We have been welcomed with opened arms and we really already feel like part of the family,” Legault said.

Baldwin says that she is looking forward to getting to know more about the people in this community.

“People here seem very eager to get to know us and where we come from, so far it’s been a really good experience.”

This four-week internship is embedded in their curriculum and is a requirement for graduation. There are 64 students in their class and in pairs the students are spending time in different rural areas across Ontario.

“We have been able to shadow people that provide services to the community in regards to health, family and addiction services,” Baldwin said. “We are also becoming more aware of the gaps in these services.”

These students will spend the next couple of weeks learning more about this First Nations community and gaining a better understanding of their culture and beliefs.

“We can learn as much as we can in a classroom but this placement is necessary for us to really grasp that concept,” Baldwin said.

The students spent two weeks preparing in class for what they may experience during their internship. Legault said the best piece of advice he was given was just to have an open mind.

“I grew up in a small town but it wasn’t as isolated as we are here.”

Baldwin grew up in Kenora but so far has appreciated the slower pace that comes with living in a rural community.

“So far the people here are very open and we have been able to share candid conversations.”

In regards to her future plans, Baldwin hopes to return to her hometown after graduation and practice psychiatry.

“It’s a long way down the road but this experience has sparked some ideas of working in smaller community.”

Legault hopes to stay in northern Ontario and apply what he has learned here to other small communities while practicing family medicine.

“Being here will allow us to gain a better understanding of First Nation cultures and beliefs.”

The Eagle Lake Health Centre has enjoyed having these interns so much that they signed a yearlong contract with NOSM.

“We are looking forward to exposing more students to our community and we definitely are hoping to keep this going,” Devon MacKinnon Ottertail, economic development and community planning coordinator said.

Over the next couple of weeks the students will help with planning a sweat lodge for youth, take part in a full moon ceremony, go owl calling, play nutrition bingo and learn more about diabetic prevention methods. Legault has even taken it upon himself to learn the language.

“I am trying to learn at least one new word a day.”

But of course with internships like this, safety is always a concern.

“We want to ensure that they are well taken care,” Bernadette Wabange, health director at Eagle Lake Health Centre said.

But Legault ensures her that they are being looked after.

“Our neighbours have told us that they are keeping an eye out for us and want to help keep us safe,” Legault said.

At the end of their four-week placement the students will do a presentation in front of the community showcasing what they’ve learned and to give positive and negative feedback about the community, something that Wabange is looking forward to.

“We want to be able to improve our services and help build a healthier community.”

When they get back to class, the students will do another presentation in front of their colleagues so that they can reflect and share their own personal experiences.

“The best part will be hearing what everyone else’s experiences were like because everyone’s experience will be so different,” Baldwin said.

Principal of Full Gospel Christian Academy, Linda Robillard, holding her granddaughter Emily Robillard, Keith McEwan with daughter Emma, Tamara Hoover and winner of best costume Louis Melanson.

Photos and story by Lindsey Enns

Families and friends gathered at the Dryden Full Gospel Church last Saturday evening for a Hawaiian themed coffee house fundraiser for the Full Gospel Christian Academy. Equipped with a tiki bar serving soft drinks and a wide range of treats, those two attended took in an evening full of entertainment including several singing performances. Prizes were handed out for best Hawaiian attire (pictured above) and there was also a limbo contest. Admission was free but an offering was taken on behalf of the school. The church was decked out with all sorts of Hawaiian decor including sea shells and a large screen projecting images of Hawaii. But the most memorable part of the evening was when students from Full Gospel Christian Academy helped principal Linda Robillard really get into the theme by helping her dress up.

Principal of Full Gospel Christian Academy, Linda Robillard, gets a little help from her students getting into the Hawaiian theme Saturday night.

2012 Dryden Leadership Team pictured from left to right: Brenda Schmucker, Carmelle Noiseux, Jennifer MacNeil, Mihaela Leutschaft, Reagan Breeze and Susan Lappage

By Lindsey Enns 

Hundreds of giant pumpkins might soon be calling Dryden home. Today marks the official launch of the Be Green Grow Orange Earth Day awareness campaign set forth by the 2012 Leadership Dryden team.

“We aren’t getting anything out of this. Once we launch today it’s up to the community to continue this initiative,” Reagan Breeze said.

Today the team will be handing out pamphlets across the city, which include useful information about going green and public links to local resources that can help. Attached to these pamphlets is a small package of Atlantic giant pumpkin seeds that can grow up to 1818.5 lbs and inside one of the seed packages is a prize coupon. There are two seeds per pack and nearly 1,446 seeds in total are being handed out.

“This initiative is fun, entertaining and it brings people together while recognizing Earth Day, something that we can’t talk about enough.” Susan Lappage said.

This year, the Leadership Team tried to keep the project locally focused and something that the community would be able to manage on their own.

“We see the problems surrounding the environment as a big thing, but it’s the little projects like these that matter,” Jennifer MacNeil said.

Normally the team consists of 12 members, but this year the team only has six. They started planning for this day two months ago and are looking forward to seeing how the community reacts and if they will stay involved and participate. So far all of the feedback from local businesses, schools and churches has been positive.

“We are hoping that people in the community will want to grow these pumpkins on their own without our help,” Lappage said.

For more information you can visit their Facebook page, Gro Orange or call Reagan Breeze directly at 223-1176.

By Chris Marchand