OPP are investigating a collision on Highway 17 between Dryden and Ignace.
A collision between a semi-tractor trailor unit and a pick-up about 3 kilometers west of
Baskett Lake closed the Trans-Canada down for several hours yesterday.
When fire and rescue crews arrived at the scene, they found the tractor unit rolled over in the ditch, and the trailer partially across one lane of the highway.
The driver was removed from the vehicle with unspecified injuries.
The second vehicle involved in the head-on collision was a half ton truck that was cut in half on impact.
The driver was rescued from the burning halfton and transported to Dryden Regional Health Center.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Municipal Insurance tender approved
municipal insurance policy.
Council held a special meeting Tuesday to approve insurance coverage for the next
year, starting July 1st.
The Standard came in with a price of 303 thousand dollars this year.
That's down slightly from last year's rate, which came in at 308 thousand
dollars.
Body located in Rainy Lake
the weekend has been found.
The Underwater Search and Recovery Unit located the body of Clayton Windigo, no far from
where he disappeared on Sunday night.
Windigo had been diving off the Bears Pass Bridge with friends, just off Highway 11.
He entered the water around 8:30 Sunday night and failed to re-surface.
His body was pulled out of the water around 11:00 yesterday morning.
Keewatin Hosts Canada Day
Canada Day Celebrations will be taking place tomorrow and all the events
this year will be in Keewatin.
Sharon Smith from the Keewatin B.I.Z. says they are excited to be hosting
July 1st celebrations tomorrow.
Events get underway starting at 9:00 tomorrow morning, culiminating with the
fireworks display at 10:00 over Portage Bay.
Organizers are reminding visitors that Ottawa Street will be closed to traffic
from 9:00 in the morning until 2:00.
Tourism Marketing working
Tourism Kenora says its pleased with the results of its latest marketing campaigns.
Two marketing campaigns have targeted the Winnipeg and southern Manitoba markets
over the past two months.
Tourism Development Officer, Heather Paterson says response to the campaigns has
been very positive.
The Escape to Ontario campaign was funded in part by the Ontario Tourism Marketing
Partnership, with Kenora acting as the lead.
The other campaign is called Choose Your Adventure and directs people to the
Stay In Kenora website.
Traffic Meetings
Something needs to be done to make Main Street South more pedestrian
friendly.
That seemed to be the prevailing feeling from a public meeting held this
morning on the downtown traffic design.
Maria Bagdonis from Young Drivers of Canada says there are definite
traffic issues with the Kenricia Corner.
Operations Manager Rick Perchuck says he's not keen to make changes to the
pedestrian cross-walks along Main Street, but suggests the left turn onto
1st Street South could be eliminated to move traffic more smoothly during
peak periods.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Missing Man in Rainy Lake
The OPP in Fort Frances are continuing their search for a man missing in the Bears Pass area of
Rainy River.
Police say a young man was diving with friends off a bridge on Highway #11 around 8:30 Sunday night,
when he failed to re-surface.
A marine patrol unit and other officers have been searching the area over the past couple of days, but have been unable to locate the missing man.
Other resources are being brought in today to help out with the search.
The name of the missing person has not yet been released by police.
Rainy River.
Police say a young man was diving with friends off a bridge on Highway #11 around 8:30 Sunday night,
when he failed to re-surface.
A marine patrol unit and other officers have been searching the area over the past couple of days, but have been unable to locate the missing man.
Other resources are being brought in today to help out with the search.
The name of the missing person has not yet been released by police.
Youth arrested for Vehicle Break-ins
The OPP say two 16 year old male suspects have been arrested in connection to a string
of vehicle break-ins.
Last week, the two youth were arrested after police responded to a report of someone
breaking into vehicles in the Donbrock Drive area.
After further investigation, it was determined the duo were responsible for a number of
vehicle break-ins over the past couple of months.
The OPP say they culprits targeted unlocked vehicles where valuables were out in
plain sight.
New Job at Separate School Board
The Kenora Catholic District School Board has added another person to its administrative
team.
The board recently appointed Mary Cunningham as its School Effectiveness Leader.
Acting Director of Education, Kevin Debnam says the province has provided funding for
the position and its up to each school board to decide how to use it.
Cunningham was the board's Curriculum Co-ordinator, and Debnam says they will now
post that job to find a replacement.
team.
The board recently appointed Mary Cunningham as its School Effectiveness Leader.
Acting Director of Education, Kevin Debnam says the province has provided funding for
the position and its up to each school board to decide how to use it.
Cunningham was the board's Curriculum Co-ordinator, and Debnam says they will now
post that job to find a replacement.
Special Council Meetings
First up is a public meeting to deal with the traffic alignment in downtown
Kenora.
Two sessions are scheduled to take place.
One at 8:00 and the other at 2:00.
Council wants feed back on the current traffic flow, and ideas that might reduce
vehicle backlogs.
Another meeting will take place at noon to award the city's insurance contract
for this year.
Rifle incident ends peacefully
A 15 was questioned by police after the area around Valleyview School
was surrounded by police.
The OPP were told that there was a man on the roof of the school with a gun around 2:30
Monday afternoon.
Local residents were notified of the situation and told to stay inside their homes.
A short time later the suspect came down off the roof and was approached by police.
He took officers into an area in the bush where three other rifles were hidden.
The OPP say the rifles were actualy turned out to be soft air guns, which are manufactured to look like
assault rifles.
Its believed the youth was playing war games with some friends in the area.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Leo Bernier Passes Away
He was called the Emperor of the North.
Legendary provincial politician Leo Bernier has passed away at the
age of 81.
Bernier represented the old Kenora riding from 1966 to 1987.
Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. Howard Hampton says Bernier will be fondly
remembered.
Bernier served as Minister of Northern Affairs and Minister of
Lands and Forests in the governments of Bill Davis and Frank Miller.
Weekend forest fires
Despite cool, rainy conditions over the weekend, MNR fire crews had to
battle a number of new wild fires in the region.
Most of the action has been in the far north in the Sioux Lookout and
Nipigon Districts.
One new fire is burning about five kilometers north of Muskrat Dam.
Its about 24 hectares in size and is not under control.
Fire crews were also notified about some day burning taking place
on Lake of the Woods.
While campfires are allowed during the day, brush and grass burning is
not.
The fire hazard is listed as low to moderate across much of the region,
but high in the far north.
Treaty Three upset at charges
Grand Council Treaty #3 says its disappointed that the OPP have filed charges
against a 39 year old Grassy Narrows woman following a confrontation with
police in downtown Kenora.
Helen Proulx was shot after she brandished a knife at an officer on June 7th.
Grand Chief Diane Kelly says the charges betray the spirit of discussions they
have been having with the OPP regarding the shooting incident.
Inspector Dave Lucas of the Kenora Detachment says he met with the Grand Chief
and the chief of Grassy Narrows, prior to the charges being laid.
Public school Principals and VP's get raise
Principals and vice-principals with the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board will be getting raises this year.
At a special board meeting this week, trustees approved wage increases in line with what unionized staff will get.
Superintendant of Business Dean Carrie says the salary increases are not included in the province's wage freeze legislation.
Carrie says the wage increases will amount to about three percent this year.
At a special board meeting this week, trustees approved wage increases in line with what unionized staff will get.
Superintendant of Business Dean Carrie says the salary increases are not included in the province's wage freeze legislation.
Carrie says the wage increases will amount to about three percent this year.
OPP respond to Treaty Three
concerns following the shooting of a 39 year old Grassy Narrows woman in
downtown Kenora earlier this month.
Inspector Dave Lucas of the Kenora Detachment says he met with both the chief of
Grassy Narrows and the Grand Chief of Treaty Three last week.
The shooting of Helen Proulx is still under investigation by the SIU.
She was charged last week with assaulting a police officer, uttering
threats and possessing a weapon dangerous to the public.
Roads open after wash outs
Two roads in the Kenora area that were washed out over the weekend are are open
to traffic this morning.
Highway 525 to Whitedog was closed part of yesterday due to a washout about two
kilometers north of the Minaki Highway.
Its now listed at open.
Highway 671 to Grassy Narrows is also open after being washed out
about 58 kilometers north of the Kenora By-Pass.
to traffic this morning.
Highway 525 to Whitedog was closed part of yesterday due to a washout about two
kilometers north of the Minaki Highway.
Its now listed at open.
Highway 671 to Grassy Narrows is also open after being washed out
about 58 kilometers north of the Kenora By-Pass.
NOSM Strat Plan Released
The Northern Ontario School of Medicine has a vision for the next five years. Officials have taken the wraps off the new strategic plan.
Dean Dr. Roger Strasser says that the priorities include enhancing the schools education program and research plans
Dr. Strasser believes the goals are achievable.
Public School Board Plans Budget Review
The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board is planning to do a complete
review of its finances this fall.
That in the wake of a 1.5 million dollar deficit in this year's budget.
Superintendant of Finance, Dean Carrie says they can't afford to rack up
deficits each year, so they need to find ways of reducing costs.
Carrie says they were able to cover their red ink this year by taking from
from reserves, but that's not sustainable in the long term.
review of its finances this fall.
That in the wake of a 1.5 million dollar deficit in this year's budget.
Superintendant of Finance, Dean Carrie says they can't afford to rack up
deficits each year, so they need to find ways of reducing costs.
Carrie says they were able to cover their red ink this year by taking from
from reserves, but that's not sustainable in the long term.
Friday, June 25, 2010
All-Day Kindergarten popular at St. Louis
The Kenora Catholic District School Board says its had good response
to its all-day junior and senior Kindergarten classes at St. Louis school.
The all-day classes will begin in the fall, and acting director of education,
Kevin Debnam says they will have a full complement of students in the
program.
42 kids have been signed up for junior and senior kindergarten classes.
He adds that they will also be working with a third party to provide before
and after class supervision.
City offers free land for Ambulence Base
With both the City of Kenora and the Kenora District Services Board divided on a suitable location for a new Land Ambulance Base, Kenora Council has offered free property on Barsky's Hill.
In a letter to the KDSB, Mayor Len Compton offers property located in the 14th Street North and Mellick Avenue area, at no cost to the Board.
The Board has formed a Task Force to work with the City on the proposed site.
However, some Unincorporated members are concerned with some of the wording in the letter.
Compton writes the property may provide a unique opportunity for an integrated emergency service delivery model in the future.
One member stressed the KDSB is not looking to integrate emergency services.
Battle over Land Ambulence Base Continues
The Political battle between the Kenora District Services Board and the City of Kenora over the location of a new land ambulance base continues.
Frustrations peaked once again at the Annual Board meeting in Dryden Thursday as a motion was presented to members.
The motion went into great detail how efforts to acquire property in the City have been met with resistence and opposition at every opportunity and that the Board should look outside the City to build.
Bill Blower moved the motion and admits it was the build-up of 10-years of frustration.
Kenora Councilor Rory McMillan says the City has been more then open to suggestions and notes they have their own concerns.
McMillan says Council wants to see a central location for the base, given that 64-percent of their high priority calls are in Town.
The resolution was defeated by the Board.
Timmins Hunter Fined
A Timmins Ontario man has been banned from hunting for one year for shooting a deer on private property.
Sylvain Gravel was charged last year after admitting to shooting the deer to a Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officer who was investigating a complaint of a hunter trespassing on private land near Split Rock Rock in Sifton township, northeast of Fort Frances.
Gravel was also fined three-thousand dollars.
Sylvain Gravel was charged last year after admitting to shooting the deer to a Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officer who was investigating a complaint of a hunter trespassing on private land near Split Rock Rock in Sifton township, northeast of Fort Frances.
Gravel was also fined three-thousand dollars.
Police release name of North Spirit Lake man
The name of the North Spirit Lake First Nation man who died a week after being taken into Red Lake OPP custody has been released.
The Special Investigations Unit says 41-year-old Dalius Kakekagumick passed away at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre on Monday.
The Unit has so far identified one officer and eightwitnesses as part of its investigation.
The SIU has not said why Kakekagumick was taken into custody, or the cause of death.
Hampton opposes SuperCorp
Kenora-Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton is not impressed with what he calls is the latest McGuinty Government "scheme".
The Liberals are looking at selling portions of Hydro One, Ontario Power Generation, Ontario Lottery and the Liquor Control Board to raise money.
Hampton says Ontario residents have seen this movie before.
The NDP member calls it a pre-election bribe, using taxpayer dollars.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Safe Grad ready to roll
Graduation ceremonies for both Beaver Brae and Thomas Aquinas students will take place
this evening.
Following the individual ceremonies, all the graduates are invited to the Kenora Rec. Center for
the 10th annual Safe Grad celebrations.
Warren Brinkman is chair of Safe Grad and says they are keeping their 10th anniversary plans
under wraps right now.
Brinkman says graduates from Wabaseemung, Grassy Narrows and Whitefish Bay have also
been invited to attend the Safe Grad celebrations.
Events will be going on all night long at the Rec. Center.
Catholic School Board approves Budget
Both local school boards are planning to run deficits in the upcoming school year.
The Kenora Catholic District School Board approved its 2010/2011 budget last night.
It includes a 56 thousand dollar shortfall.
Erica Baily is the finance manager for the separate school board and says transportation
costs are the main reason behind this years deficit.
Total spending for the Catholic School Board next year will be about 19 million dollars.
Earlier this week, the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board announced it would also
be operating with a 1.5 million dollar deficit in the next school year.
OPP lay charges against Grassy Narrows woman
A 39 year old Grassy Narrows Woman faces four charges stemming from an incident
over two weeks ago in downtown Kenora that resulted in her being shot by police.
The OPP say that Helen Proulx is charged with assault with a weapon, assaulting
police, uttering death threats and possessing a weapon dangerous to the public peace.
OPP seargant Shelley Garr says its unclear when Proulx will be able to face the
charges in court because she's still recovering from her injuries in hospital.
Proulx was shot by an OPP officer on June 7th on 1st Street South.
The incident is also under investigation by the Special Investigations Unit.
Rickford reflects on last session of Parliament
Members of Parliament are on their Summer break and the MP for Kenora believes a lot was accomplished during the recent session.
Greg Rickford says it took some time, but everyone learned to get along in the end.
Rickford notes key Legislation related to free trade, immigration, employment insurance and parole eligibility all passed in the House of Commons.
Smoke gets in your Eyes
A shift in the wind direction has brought with it an unpleasant air mass to the region.
Late yesterday afternoon, smoke from fires burning in northern Manitoba
started wafting into northwestern Ontario.
Both the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Kenora Fire Department have
received calls from local residents wondering where the smoke was coming from.
About 40 fire rangers from northwestern Ontario are in northern Manitoba battling
wild fires there.
The fire situation in this region remains very quiet.
Just one new blaze was reported yesterday in the Thunder Bay District.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Whitedog resident tasered
Treaty Three Police say they had to use a taser in order to de-fuse a domestic situation on the Wabaseemung First Nation.
Police were called out just before midnight on June 18th to a home on Whitedog.
Officers say they witnessed man holding a weapon to a woman's neck.
They entered the house and told the man to drop his weapon.
He refused and as a result, the suspect was tasered.
He was taken into custody without injury.
32 year old William Boyd has been charged with assault with a weapon,
possession of a weapon, uttering threats and forcible confinement.
He's due to appear in Kenora Court later this morning.
Children's Aid Merge proposed
Two northwestern Ontario children's aid agencies are awaiting provincial approval to merge as one.The proposal would see Kenora-Patricia Child and Family Services and Family and Children Services Rainy River become one agency in April 2011.
Rainy River board chair Bob McGreevy feels the move would be serve the region.
McGreevy says the province is supportive of the concept in principal, but has asked for more information before giving its blessing to the merger.
Farmer's Market Back
There will be 65 vendors under the big tent each Wednesday during the summer.
Buck Matiowski is the city's special events co-ordinator and says they have been working
to get more artisan's involved in the market.
The farmer's market opens at 9:30 this morning and will run until about 2:30 this
afternoon.
It will run on the Harborfront until the middle of October.
Chiefs of Ontario meet near Fort Frances
The top aboriginal leaders in Ontario have gathered on the Couchiching First Nation near Fort Frances
for their annual meeting.
Grand Chief of Treaty #3, Diane Kelly says she's looking forward to hearing the discussion around
revenue sharing.
The three day Chiefs of Ontario Conference will wrap up tomorrow.
Falcon Lake Accident
Five people were taken to hospital following a head-on collision on Highway #1 near Falcon Lake.
The accident took place yesterday afternoon shortly after 3:00 on the two-lane portion of
the roadway.
The RCMP say a westbound vehicle crossed the center line and crashed into an eastbound car.
Police say three people were in the westbound Chevy Malibu and two people were a Pontiac G-6.
They were taken to Lake of the Woods District Hospital and St. Anne Hospital in Manitoba for
treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
The Trans-Canada at Falcon Lake was closed for about two hours as a result of the collision.
The accident took place yesterday afternoon shortly after 3:00 on the two-lane portion of
the roadway.
The RCMP say a westbound vehicle crossed the center line and crashed into an eastbound car.
Police say three people were in the westbound Chevy Malibu and two people were a Pontiac G-6.
They were taken to Lake of the Woods District Hospital and St. Anne Hospital in Manitoba for
treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
The Trans-Canada at Falcon Lake was closed for about two hours as a result of the collision.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
OPP charge impaired boater
The OPP says a 19 year old Kenora man has been charged with impaired driving
after the boat he was driving overturned on Lake of the Woods.
Police were called out around 2:00 Sunday morning, after getting a report that
a boat had flipped over on the south side of Treaty Island.
When emergency service personnel arrived on the scene, they discovered five people
had been in the boat, but all made it to shore.
The OPP say further investigation showed the driver of the boat had been drinking
and also faces a number of charges under the Canada Shipping Act.
He's due to appear in Kenora Court at the end of July to answer the charges.
after the boat he was driving overturned on Lake of the Woods.
Police were called out around 2:00 Sunday morning, after getting a report that
a boat had flipped over on the south side of Treaty Island.
When emergency service personnel arrived on the scene, they discovered five people
had been in the boat, but all made it to shore.
The OPP say further investigation showed the driver of the boat had been drinking
and also faces a number of charges under the Canada Shipping Act.
He's due to appear in Kenora Court at the end of July to answer the charges.
Public School Board Enrolment expected to decline
Enrolment is expected to decline in the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board once again this fall.
The board is projecting almost 300 fewer students for the 2010/2011 school year.
Superintendant of Business, Dean Carrie says that will have an impact on their
bottom line next year.
The school board expects enrolment will be just over five thousand students in
September, down from the current level of 53 hundred.
No Monopoly space for Kenora
Do not pass go and do not collect 200 dollars.
The City of Kenora has failed in its bid to earn a place on the newest
Canadian Edition of Monopoly.
Hasbro announced the 22 communities that will get a spot on the newly designed board.
In the wild card race, Kenora was beaten out by Beauceville, Quebec.
The only community from northern Ontario on the board is North Bay.
Keewatin-Patricia School Board expects to run a deficit
For the first time ever, the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board is planning to
run a deficit to operate its schools across the region this year.
Trustees approved the 2010/2011 budget at a special meeting last night and
it calls for a deficit of about 1.5 million dollars.
Superintendant of Finance Dean Carrie says there are a number of reasons why they
will be operating in the red this year, but the biggest cause is special education programs.
Carrie says they will be able to cover off their deficit through money they have
in reserve funds.
He adds that the Ministry of Education has approved their deficit spending estimates
for the next school year.
SIU investigates Red Lake fatality
The Ontario Special Investigations Unit has been called in to investigate
fatality involving a 41 year old man from the North Spirit Lake First Nation.
The SIU says the man was picked up by the OPP from the Red Lake Detachment
last Monday.
Later in the day he had to be taken to the hospital in Red Lake and then was
transferred to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Center.
Yesterday, the man died.
The SIU says four of its investigators are being sent to Red Lake to look
into the incident.
The SIU is called in any time someone dies while in police custody.
Eye Van Offers new programs this summer
There will be a new service offered when the Canadian National Institute for the Blind brings its Eye Van to northwestern Ontario next month.
Executive Director Monique Pilkington says people will able to screened for diabetes.
Pilkington says the service will be offered as a drop-in one when the Eye Van rolls through Kenora
the first week of August.
Rafferty on end of session
Thunder Bay-Rainy River M-P John Rafferty says the recent session of Parliament was filled with plenty of highs and lows.
M-P's began their 12-week summer break on Friday.
Rafferty says a positive for him was the approval of his private members bill on workers pensions to the committee level.
Rainy River Resources aquires more property
Rainy River Resources is purchasing more property south of Kenora.
The company is paying out 100-thousand dollars and 50-thousand shares for a patented claim covering 160 acres from an unnamed owner.
Rainy River Resources is conducting gold exploration in the area of Black Hawk, 25 kilometres north of Barwick.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Huge hunting fine
An Iowa man has been handed a large fine for illegally obtaining Ontario hunting and fishing licences.
Stephen Grupe pled guilty fined 10 thousand dollars to having a void outdoors card, making false statements on an application and illegal hunting.
The Ministry of Natural Resources says Grupe bought a hunting and fishing camp on Wabauskang
Lake back in 2004, but his primary residence was still in Iowa.
He managed to purchase an Ontario resident Outdoor card and hunting and fishing licences
over the next four years.
The MNR says he saved over three thousand dollars during that period.
Union Gas rates going down
Good news for people who heat their home with natural gas.
The Ontario Energy Board has approved changes to the natural gas
commodity price that Union Gas Limited will charge its customers
effective July 1st.
Union gas says the average customer in northwestern Ontario will
pay about 32 dollars less a year.
The change is due to a decrease in what Union forecasts it will
have to pay for natural gas.
Summer Officially here
Does it feel any warmer yet?
Summer officially arrived in northwestern Ontario earlier this morning
The first day of the new season began at 6:28 this morning.
Environment Canada's long range forecast for the summer calls for both
above normal temperatures and above normal precipitation in this
region.
Summer officially arrived in northwestern Ontario earlier this morning
The first day of the new season began at 6:28 this morning.
Environment Canada's long range forecast for the summer calls for both
above normal temperatures and above normal precipitation in this
region.
Busy weekend for fire crews
A busy couple of days for Ministry of Natural Resources fire crews in northwestern Ontario.
Friday's windy weather resulted in more than 16 small wildfires in the region.
The MNR says the blazes were caused by trees falling onto hydro lines.
All of the fires were small and most were located in the Fort Frances and
Dryden Districts.
Fire Ranger Crews have also been dispatched over the weekend to
northern Manitoba to help battle wild fires there.
Friday's windy weather resulted in more than 16 small wildfires in the region.
The MNR says the blazes were caused by trees falling onto hydro lines.
All of the fires were small and most were located in the Fort Frances and
Dryden Districts.
Fire Ranger Crews have also been dispatched over the weekend to
northern Manitoba to help battle wild fires there.
Hospital using new technology
Lake of the Woods District Hospital says its made great strides in diagnosing
patients with infectious diseases.
The hospital is one of the few in the province that now has molecular genetics
testing equipment.
Dr. Kerry McDonald is the hospital's chief of staff and says they can isolate
certain infectious diseases in a matter of hours, rather than days.
McDonald says in the past a patient could spend up to 72 hours in isolation
before they could determine if they had any infectious diseases.
The new technology allows them to diagnose any problems within two hours.
Confederation College Graduation tonight
A big week for local students.
Graduation ceremonies will be taking place on three fronts over the next
four days.
This afternoon, graduating students from the Confederation College Campus
in Kenora will be holding their 2010 convocation.
The ceremonies will start at 4:30 at Pope John Paul the Second School.
On Thursday, both Beaver Brae and Thomas Aquinas will be holding their
graduation ceremonies for grade 12 students.
That will be followed by Safe Grad Celebrations at the Kenora Rec. Center.
Friday, June 18, 2010
More Fire Crews heading east
More fire crews from northwestern Ontario are heading east to battle wild fires
in Quebec.
On Friday, fire rangers from bases in Kenora, Dryden, Fort Frances, and Sioux Lookout were
dispatched to Val D'or.
Currently Ontario has 30- four person initial attack crews, four aircraft including two water
bombers and assorted support staff in Quebec.
Because of all the rain, there hasn't been any significant forest fire activity in northwestern
Ontario over the past few days.
in Quebec.
On Friday, fire rangers from bases in Kenora, Dryden, Fort Frances, and Sioux Lookout were
dispatched to Val D'or.
Currently Ontario has 30- four person initial attack crews, four aircraft including two water
bombers and assorted support staff in Quebec.
Because of all the rain, there hasn't been any significant forest fire activity in northwestern
Ontario over the past few days.
Traffic meeting next week
traffic design in downtown Kenora.
Public meetings will be held next Tuesday at City Hall after councillors
complained recently about everything from the length of the traffic lights to
left turns off of Main Street South and the pedestrian crossing.
The first meeting will take place at 8:00 in the morning in council chambers
followed by another session at 2:00.
People who can't attend the meetings can still submit their suggestions, in writing
to city hall by June 30th.
Hospital Wait Times Released
Lake of the Woods District Hospital still has some work to do in order to meet provincial targets for wait times.
In the most recent statistics released by the Ministry of Health, wait times in the emergency room were longer that the goal set by by the province.
For a minor medical condition, wait time in the Emergency room was
5.3 hours.
The provincial target is four hours.
For complicated conditions requiring more time for diagnosis, treatment
or hospital admission, the wait time was 9.6 hours.
The provincial goal is 8 hours.
HST exemptions for First Nations?
There are reports indicating continued point of sale HST exemption for Ontario's first nations will be
announced soon.
That's music to the ears of the Grand chief of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation.
Stan Beardy says treaty rights give his people PST exemption and having that continued with
the provincial portion of the HST is great for his people.
Beardy says the official annoucement is expected to come by Friday.
Machin Budget Passed
taxes this year.
Machin Town Council passed the 2010 budget this week and it includes a four
percent increase.
Mayor Garry Parkes says initially there were dealing with an 8 percent hike
in taxes, but were able to chisel that down.
Parkes says they had to cut a few things from their capital budget, including
extra road work this year.
Treaty Three Demands Action from OPP Commish
The commissioner of the OPP is being personally asked to address, what Treaty Three describes as social unrest, which is the result of the shooting of a 39 year old Grassy Narrows woman last week.
Grand Council Treaty #3 issued the challenge yesterday.
Grand Chief Diane Kelly says the OPP promised to provide bias-free policing in the City of Kenora when they took over from the Kenora Police Service last year, but suggests the shooting is not a good start.
Kelly is also asking Public Safety Minister Rick Bartolucci to involve the Treaty Three Police as a partner or oversight agency in the SIU investigation of the shooting.
She says first nations people don't trust a fair investigation will happen, and have the
Treaty Three Police involved will provide some reassurance.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
EQAO literacy test results
The Kenora Catholic District School Board is crowing about the most recent grade 10 literacy test results.
89 percent of Thomas Aquinas students who wrote the test were successful, which is a 14 percent improvement over last year, and 5 percent higher than the provincial average.
Assistant to the Director of Education, Murray Delorme says the results represent a lot of hard work and effort by their teachers, parents and the students.
Over at Beaver Brae, the results weren't as positive.
68 percent of students who wrote the test were successful, down from 72 percent
last year.
Beware of Blue Green Algae
The Northwestern Health Unit is warning local residents to be on the lookout for blue/green algae blooms this summer.
The toxicpoisonous algae has shown up in recent years in local lakes and rivers.
Health inspector, Brian Norris says the algae is recognizeable by the smell of fresh mown grass in newer blooms and rotting garbage in older blooms.
Side effects in humans can range from skin irritation to vomiting.
If you think you have come into contact with the algae you should contact your doctor.
MaxMillions winner in Kenora?
A Northwestern Ontario resident may be a million richer after buying a winning Lotto Max ticket. The five dollar ticket was purchased at a Kenora store.
The Maxmillions prize is one of twenty one-million dollar prizes associated with a bigger jackpot worth $50 million.
Kiriliuk said nobody has won the jackpot yet.
That means the $50-million jackpot is still up for grabs on Friday, along with an estimated 45 Maxmillions draws.
Human Remains still unidentified
Local police say they still don't know the identity of a woman whose body was
found near Miller's Rapids Road last year.
The human remains were found in a tent in a wooded area just off the D-2 one
year ago today.
The OPP say the woman was camping in the area no longer than a week before
her body was discovered.
She is described as a light-skinned female, between the ages of 26 and 50, about
5 feet 5 inches tall, about 110 pounds with shoulder length light brown hair.
She was wearing oval shaped eyeglasses with wire rims and three colored bead
necklaces.
Anyone who might have information as to her identity is asked to contact the OPP.
Parks, Beaches and Trails plans
That's the feeling of the Lake of the Woods Economic Development
Commission.
Conceptual plans have been presented for local beaches, trails and
parks to upgrade them.
The city's economic development officer Jennifer Findlay says they want
to get some feedback from local residents on their plans.
Plans have been unveiled for Anicinabe Park, Coney Island, Garrow Park,
Portage Bay and Beatty Park.
Movie Gallery Closing outlets
Its going to be a little harder to rent a movie this weekend in Kenora.
The Movie Gallery has announced its closing all of its stores in
northwestern Ontario.
The company has 181 outlets across the country and says it will be
liquidating the merchandise from its stores over the next few weeks.
The Movie Gallery Corporation says its being affected by internet downloads,
video rentals from cable providers and subscription-based male delivery services.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
American Hunters face hefty fine
Two American hunters face a huge fine for illegally hunting deer in the Kenora
area last fall.
Jamie Doucette and Jesse Caswell from Michigan have been fined a total of
over 11 thousand dollars for hunting deer at night.
The two were driving along Cynet Lake Road last Hallowe'en when a large
buck ran across the road in front of them.
One of the hunters turned the truck to point the headlights at the deer,
while the passenger got his rifle out to shoot at the buck out the side
window.
The shot missed its mark, but the gun discharged and the bullet ripped through the floor of the truck
as one of the hunters tried to put it back in its case.
Caswell and Doucette have also been banned from hunting in Ontario for three and six years
respectively.
area last fall.
Jamie Doucette and Jesse Caswell from Michigan have been fined a total of
over 11 thousand dollars for hunting deer at night.
The two were driving along Cynet Lake Road last Hallowe'en when a large
buck ran across the road in front of them.
One of the hunters turned the truck to point the headlights at the deer,
while the passenger got his rifle out to shoot at the buck out the side
window.
The shot missed its mark, but the gun discharged and the bullet ripped through the floor of the truck
as one of the hunters tried to put it back in its case.
Caswell and Doucette have also been banned from hunting in Ontario for three and six years
respectively.
Rickford defends FedNOR
Critics have said the Harper government is backing away from FedNor or has been mispending
funding.
But Keora M.P. Greg Rickford says the Harper government is still committed to the program.
Lakehead University, Confederation College and the Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund recently
benefitted from 1.1 million dollars in FedNOR funding.