By Amanda Roy
Summer reporter

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) will make special presentations at schools across the district this fall thanks to funding from the Rainy River Substance Abuse Prevention Team and Rainy River Valley Safety Coalition, in conjunction with the Ontario Chiefs of Police Association.
Each presentation will be geared to the age of the audience.
For instance, a multi-media assembly with proven anti-impaired driving messages will be shown to high school-aged students.

By Ken Johnston
Rainy River Record

It took a group of concerned parents to realize that there is a huge missing link in the addition counselling and treatment system in the Rainy River District.
Parents Against Illicit Narcotics (PAIN) formed in the past year and in February of this year pulled together experts from across the district to talk about what services are available for adults and are lacking for kids.

By Heather Ogilvie
Fort Frances Times Ltd.

Given the rising illicit narcotic and prescription drug use in Rainy River District, a small group of parents and community members have come together with a petition to act on the problem by establishing youth addiction services and increased drug enforcement in the area.
The petition is being circulated throughout the district until the end of August, which all residents are being encouraged to sign. It then will be presented to government officials in the hope they will take action.

By Heather Ogilvie

Emo council expressed encouragement of local substance abuse prevention initiatives during its regular meeting last week after having attended a talk on the issue back on May 31.
“I was telling people how good it was . . . the boys did a heck of a job,” Coun. Ken Fisher said about the presentation, which was made by three young men from Winnipeg who were recovering from drug addictions.

Fort Frances Times Ltd
By Melanie Béchard

The fish were biting Saturday for the annual “Fishing for Futures” event put on by the local OPP.
“It was excellent,” said Cst. Dereck McLean. “All the teams caught fish.”
One team alone caught 51 fish, he noted.
About 25 children, aged 11 and 12, spent the day on Rainy Lake with 18 officers, cadets, auxiliary members, and retired officers who volunteered their time—and their boats—to take them fishing.
“I can’t say enough about the officers,” Cst. McLean said.

Melanie Béchard photo
Tristian Spilchuk, left, and Matt Vandrunen enjoyed a barbecue at Kiwans Sunny Cove Camp after spending the day on the lake with local OPP officers in the annual “Fishing for Futures.” Some 25 kids—all recent grads of the D.A.R.E. program—and 18 officers participated in the event. Each child received a T-shirt, fishing rod, and tackle.

Fort Frances Times Ltd
By Heather Ogilvie

Three recovering drug addicts from Winnipeg spent two days in the district last week speaking to teenagers, parents, and community members about drug addictions and the path to sobriety.
Sponsored by the Rainy River District Substance Abuse Prevention Team, the trio told their personal stories in Emo, Fort Frances, Couchiching, and Atikokan.
“They touched 1,500-1,600 people,” noted SAPT co-ordinator Hugh Dennis. “They related so well to both the parents and young people.

Heather Ogilvie photo
Recovering drug addicts Dave Harms, left, Brenden O’Rourke, and Roland Vandal spoke to parents and teenagers at the Couchiching Hall on Friday afternoon about durg abuse. The Winnipeg trio was brought in by the Rainy River District Substance Abuse Prevention Team and they also spoke at the Fort Frances High School and in Atikokan and Emo.

Press release
The Rainy River District Substance Abuse Prevention Team, in conjunction with the Emo rec council and the Township of Emo, have invited three speakers to do a presentation tomorrow (May 31) at 7 p.m. at the Emo/La Vallee Community Centre.
Roland Vandal, 35, is an ex-gang member who has been sober for five years. His addictions and lifestyle took him to the point of insanity and death.
He lost everything when he bottomed out, but with the help of a couple of “12 Step” fellowships and treatment, he has transformed himself into a brand new person.

Atikokan Progress
by Mike McKinnon
A drug enforcement officer and a recovering drug addict brought “the truth about drug use” to AHS students in a frank, hard-hitting presentation Friday, April 20.
Brian Brattengeier, a detective staff sergeant with the OPP and a 20-year veteran with the force, and Don Young, a former addict, enforcer and dealer - and now head of the Superior Points harm reduction program - were the messengers.