Friday, October 2, 2009

NWHU FLU

The Northwestern Health Unit says its continuing to work on plans for the upcoming flu season.

Staff are meeting this week in part to get ready for what's expected to be a busy flu season.

Dr. Jim Arthurs is the acting medical officer of health and says while plans are important, they also have to be flexible.

Arthurs adds that he's not planning any widespread immunization program for the schools this fall, even though people aged 5-20 are thought to be the most at risk for the swine flu.

Post Office Makeover

The federal building in Kenora is getting a makeover.

The federal government is going to spend 330 thousand dollars to refurbish the red brick structure.

Work will include upgrades to the washrooms, new carpetsand repairs to the crawl space
foundation walls.

The upgrades are scheduled to be complete by March of 2010.

The funding comes from the government's Economic Action Plan.

September Weather

It was a September to remember for most communities innorthwestern Ontario.

Environment Canada says temperatures averaged aboutsix degrees above normal.

Geoff Coulson is a climatologist and says surprisingly,there was still a fair bit of rainfall in Kenora last month.

Coulson says Kenora, Sioux Lookout, Dryden, Red Lake and Pickle Lake actually set records for the warmest September onrecord.

Ignace Hunting Fine

Three Ignace hunters have been fined a total of 900 dollars for illegally camping on crown land.

The Ministry of Natural Resources says the trio had set up camp sites in three separate locations in the fall of 2008 and winter of 2009.

The camps had been used during moose hunting season and left up all winter long.

The hunters were fined for unauthorized use of crown land.

Pickle Lake Death

The Special Investigations Unit says the results are inconclusive into a police-shooting death of a Peterborough man in Northwestern Ontario.

The agency examined the death of Levi Schaeffer, who was killed on June 24th near Pickle Lake.

Despite the inconclusive results, the S-I-U found no basis for criminal charges against the unidentified O-P-P officer.

The S-I-U says notes made by police officers after the incident were not independent, nor written in a timely manner.

First Nation Health Care

Lake of the Woods Hospital and area first nations could be teaming up in the near future.

The hospital board discussed possible partnerships between the hospital and first nation when it comes to building a new facility.

Board Member Anita Cameron says the first nations community wants to provide input.

Cameron notes the hospital needs to talk to more than just the first nation's chief and council, and should talk to other first nation organizations as well.

Take Back The Night

Two women's organizations will be banding together to raise awareness of gender violence.

Women's Place Kenora will be teaming up with the aboriginal women's group Sister's In Spirit to offer Take Back the Night on Saturday.

Women's Place Spokesperson Erica Olson says the event gets underway at 4pm.

In the Kenora, Dryden and Fort Frances area there have been 30 women reported missing, or murdered.