Wayne Ficek is Kenora's Olympic Torch Bearer

It's the moment we've all been waiting for.

The Kenora Olympic Torch Relay Committee has unveiled the City's official torch bearer, and it's wheel chair curler Wayne Ficek.

Ficek says he's glad to see the Paralympics and Olympics being held back to back.

Ficek is with the Northern Ontario Wheel Chair Curling rink.

Kenora's Roxanne Derouard will be carrying the flame on January 4th from Thunder Bay to Kenora.

Environmental Health

The Canadian Environmental Law Association will be holding a forum in Kenora this week about how to create healthy communities.

Renee Griffin will be making the presentation at the Kenora Legal Clinic and says the session is open to everyone.

The presentation is called Healthy Homes and Communities, andwill take place Wednesday at the Legal Clinic in Market Squarestarting at 3:00.

OPP Cellphon Ban

It seems that people will talk on their cellphones while driving, whether its legal or not.

The Cellphone ban was put in place a month ago by the provincial government, and so far 87 people have been pulled over in northwestern Ontario for talking and driving.

The OPP say they have laid six charges and issued 81 warnings.

Police say the charges are laid when a warning isn't appropriate, such as unsafe driving behavior while using a cellphone.

Miracle Marathon Update

Despite tough economic times, Kenora residents continue to give generously.

The 19th annual Christmas Miracle Marathon was another huge successfor the Salvation Army.
Thousands of dollars in toys, non-perishable food items and cash wasdonated over the weekend.

Captain Debbie Gosse says its too soon to tell, but this may have beenone of their most successful Miracle Marathons.

Gosse says people who weren't able to donate at the Miracle Marathoncan still make an on-line donation on their "i-kettle" on the CJRL website.

Atikokan Crisis Centre New Name

The Atikokan Crisis Centre has come up with a new name.It will be known as the Rainy-River District Women's Shelter of Hope.

Executive Director Donna Kroocmo says the name was selected by the board out of several submissions.

She says it could be up to a year before they can incorporate the name because of the legal issues.

Pikangikum Help

An appeal for supplies for children and youth in Pikangikum First Nation has generated a strong response in the region.

Tikinagan Child and Family Services recently put out a plea for food andclothing for kids in the remote community.

Jacquee Loerzel says the response has been amazing.

Loerzell says they are looking for items like infant clothes and formula, diapers, hats, boots, mitts and other non-perishable food items

Multi Skills Centre

The Kenora Catholic District School Board is hoping that its Multi-Skills Center of Excellence will encourage more students to stay in school.

The Center was officially opened this week, and has a number of features, including a shop area, computer lab and lecture theatre.

Gary Schwartz is one of the teachers at Thomas Aquinas and says the building gives them the space to offer different types of programs.

Schwartz says they are able to offer not only co-op programs through theMulti-Skills Center, but also college level courses for students interested in the trades.

New Hospital

The board of Lake of the Woods District Hospital says someone is goingto have to champion the cause of a new hospital building, if they are ever going to get one built.

The board recently held a retreat, where the idea of a new hospital was revived.

Jim Clark is a long time member of the board and says while there is some interest in getting a new building, they need someone to lead the charge.

He also says they need a compelling vision for a new health care facility, one that can be not only sold to the local community, but also the provincial government.