OPP rescue lost hunter
By Chris Marchand
A lost hunter may not have survived the night had it not been for the efforts of Emergency Response Team rescuers from the Dryden detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), this past week.
Dan Borglund, 42, of Michigan was hunting roughly 10 kilometers north of Vermilion Bay, Nov. 12, when he shot and wounded a deer around 9 a.m.
Leaving his jacket and most of his gear behind, Borglund proceeded to track the wounded animal and became lost.
Outfitter Chris Lavoie of Pine Acres Camp says Borglund was taking part in a 'semi-guided' hunting excursion and had disobeyed a camp rule in failing to report back to camp in the event he had taken an animal - whereupon local guides would assist him in tracking and field-dressing the animal.
"He took it upon himself to go after it right away without help," said Lavoie. "That's where he made a big mistake. We knew he was going to be very cold and wet."
When Borglund failed to check-in at camp as darkness fell, Lavoie says he contacted the OPP around 7 p.m.
Arriving on scene before 9 p.m., OPP Emergency Response Team members Const. Andrew Graver, Const. Dennis Desjardins and Canine Unit member Const. Jeff Hartley began a search at approximately 9:40 p.m. from Chaval Rd.
Firing three shots as a distress signal, OPP rescuers ascertained Borglund's direction as the lost hunter returned a signal shot of his own.
"It sounded really faint, very distant," said Lavoie. "And I don't know how he did it, but Jeff Hartley looked at his compass and said 'okay'. And they just took off into the bush in the middle of the night."
After a two-hour search in the dark, Borglund was found some 1.4 kilometers from the tree stand where he had shot the deer.
Nearly hypothermic and on the edge of shock, the man needed some assistance to make his way out of the woods.
Borglund was offered medical treatment but declined.
Lavoie says he is grateful to the rescuers for their efforts.
"Above all these guys need to be thanked for what they did," he said.
OPP Dryden detachment spokesperson Const. Dante Zerbinati says cold temperatures and few daylight hours leave little room for error for those operating in the woods this time of year.

"Hunters need to be prepared for the outdoors," said Zerbinati. "A compass, matches, warm clothing - dress for the weather and be prepared to spend a few more hours than you may originally have intended on."

Lutheran Church proceeding with expansion plans

By Chris Marchand
In a time of economic hardship for the community, one local Christian congregation is gathering its flock to boldly push ahead with ambitious plans for the future.
Members of Our Saviour Lutheran Church are committing $300,000 to the further expansion/renovation of their church, housed in the former Hillcrest School.
Pastor James Wood says the church's decision to move ahead is not unlike the many questions facing the community in a larger sense.
"It was a hard decision to make, given the local economics," said Wood. "Do we step forward in faith or do we live in fear that everything is going to collapse around us? If we do nothing but sit around and contemplate the worst, then sure enough, you'll get the worst."
The building has already seen significant renovations since the school was purchased from the Keewatin Patricia District School Board in January 2005.
At that time, a temporary worship space was constructed by knocking out a few walls between classrooms in the building's south end. The building's old boiler heating system was recently replaced with two high efficiency forced air furnace systems which helped cut the church's energy consumption by two-thirds.
Also helping in regards to energy efficiency and aesthetics - a peaked metal roof replaced the former flat roof, adding an attic space for better insulation.
The project ahead of them now is a big one - the conversion of the building's northern wing (currently used as a fellowship hall) into worship space that could eventually seat a congregation of 375. The current worship space can seat around 150 people.
That means knocking out the walls that separate the former classrooms from the hallway, beefing up the outside walls to 16 feet and adding another yet another peaked roof - this roofline running perpendicular to the rest of the building's north/south configuration.
A variety of community groups currently utilize the building for various functions and Woods says they hope to make the transition as painless as possible for everyone.
While contractors will most definitely be involved for the bigger jobs, Wood says they rely upon a strong and handy congregation who have been eager to be involved in the ongoing project. Volunteers from beyond the congregation are always more than welcome to join the effort.