Land Ambulence Base Gets the Go Ahead From KDSB

Work is finally progressing on the new Land Ambulance Base in Kenora.

The Kenora District Services Board has accepted a 2.836-million dollar tender from Jarnell Contracting for the construction of the base.

CAO Dan McNeill says he's relieved to see this project move forward.

However, the City of Kenora Planning Department has notified the KDSB that it won't be able to lease the existing parking spaces at the site, which may force the Board to construct its own parking lot at an estimated cost of 55-thousand dollars.

OPP Name Two Bridges After Fallen Officers

A fitting tribute to two police officers killed in the line of duty in Kenora.

Two bridges along the Kenora by-pass have officially named for Sergeant Tom Cooper and Constable Peter Sebborn.

OPP commissioner Chris Lewis was in Kenora yesterday for the ceremony and says this is something they've done several times in recent years.

Cooper was shot on the Grassy Narrows First Nation in 1991, while Sebborn was killed in a car crash while on duty in 1957.

A similar ceremony will take place this morning in Ear Falls.

Midget Thistles Open Regular Season at Home

The hockey season begins tonight for the Kenora Triple "a" midget Thistles.

The Thistles take on the Winnipeg Wild at the Kenora Rec. Center tonight.

Coach Doug Novak says they beat the Wild in a pre-season tournament, but says the regular season is a different matter.

Game time is 7:30 this evening at the Thistle Rink.

Broncos take on Lancers in WHSFL action

Beaver Brae's football team is looking to bounce back from its first loss of the season last week.

The Broncos are on the road today in Winnipeg, where they will take on Dakota Collegiate.

The Lancers are unbeaten so far this season with a 2-0 record.

Game time is 3:00.

Scientists Want Boreal Forest in NWO as UNESCO site

Scientists from around the world say a global treasure that straddles two Canadian provinces needs to be protected.

They say the forest along the Manitoba-Ontario boundary should be designated a UNESCO world heritage site.

The N-D-P has plans to build a hydro transmission line down the west side of Lake Winnipeg rather than disturb the forest on the east side.

The Conservatives argue that going down the east side would be cheaper and would not harm plans to turn the forest into a UNESCO site.

God's Lake Staying Mum on Eviction Notice

The president of God's Lake Resources says the company will release a statement Monday in regards to KI First Nation's eviction notice.

The Big Trout Lake First Nation says the company must cease all operations today and leave the area of Sherman Lake.

Ed Ludwig says the company won't comment until then.

All Candidates Forum in Stratton

Can the candidates seeking election in Kenora-Rainy River really promise to give the Riding a stronger voice at Queen's Park as they promise?

It was one of the questions posed at a debate in Stratton last night.

Liberal Candidate Anthony Leek says it comes to being able to convince southern Ontario of the north's potential.

Conservative Candidate Rod McKay says the Riding needs to have representation on the government side.

The NDP's Sarah Campbell says her party would form a committee who's main focus would be to ensure policies at Queens Park work for the north.

Final Day for Advance Polls

Today is the last day for those in Kenora, Dryden, Red Lake and Sioux Lookout to cast a ballot in advance polling in Kenora-Rainy River.

Returning offices will be open from 10 until 8 o'clock.

Voters should bring their photo ID and the Notice of Registration Card.

The Provincial election is next Thursday.

North Spirit School Opens

The Federal Government has opened a new school in North Spirit Lake.

The community of 400 is now home to a four classroom facility that accomodates 96 students from kindergarten to Grade 9.

It took over 14 million dollars to build the school.

Big Trout Lake Sends out Eviction Notice

The Big Trout Lake First Nation has given an eviction notice to God's Lake Resources.

The company has being doing some exploration work on the band's traditional land use area, against the community's wishes.

Band spokesperson John Cutfeet says God's Lake is basically tresspassing.

The company has been asked end its work in the Sherman Lake area  and all personnel are being told to leave today.

One more All-Candidates Forum this evening

Candidates in Kenora-Rainy River will get another chance to debate the issues tonight in the third all-candidates forum of the election campaign.

The Rainy River Federation of Agriculture hosts the event tonight in Stratton.

Last night, candidates attempted to sell themselves to Fort Frances voters at a mix and mingle hosted by the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce.

OPP Commish to Visit Kenora Today

The Commissioner of the OPP will be paying a special visit to Kenora today.

Chris Lewis will be in town to help name a couple of bridges on the Kenora by-pass.

The bridges will be named after officers who have died in the line of duty in the Kenora area.

The ceremony will take place at the Discovery Center starting at 5:00 this afternoon.

Another drug bust in Kenora

Another day, another drug bust.

A 36 year old Kenora man has been arrested after police executed a search warrant on a home on 2nd Avenue South.

The OPP's Organized Crime and Enforcement Unit as well as its

drug squad seized seized 40 grams of cocaine, 20 grams of marihuana, 436 Ecstacy pills, 45 hundred dollars in cash and other drug related paraphernalia.

Dino Papaioannou has been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of property obtained by crime.

He's due to appear in Kenora court in December.

2-1-1 Network Launched in the Kenora District

Information on thousands of services is now available across the Kenora District by simply dialing 2-1-1.

The 2-1-1 Northern Region launched the program at a Press Conference in Dryden Wednesday.

Executive Director Marie Klassen says the initiative was first launched in the Thunder Bay District in 2008.

Information on volunteer groups, food banks, homeless shelters, health care agencies and homework programs for teens is just an example of what is available by calling the free, confidential hotline.

NDP hoping for Gains in Northern Ontario

The NDP is hoping to not only hold the seats it has in northern Ontario, but win a couple of more next week.

Party Leader Andrea Horwath is doing her final push for votes and says they expect a good showing on October 6th.

Horwath is hoping to not only hold onto the Kenora-Rainy River Riding, but make gains in Thunder Bay as well.

Province to appeal Ruling in favour of Grassy Narrows

An Ontario Superior Court ruling on treaty rights for Grassy Narrows First Nation is being challenged.

The Federal and Provincial Governments and Abitibi-Consolidated are appealing that Grassy Narrows called a victory for their way of life.

The Kenora-area band had challenged the province's right to permit industrial logging on its traditional lands, saying it would interfere with its rights under a treaty signed with Ottawa.

It celebrated the court ruling, saying it set the stage for recognition and protection of Treaty 3 rights and, more importantly, would help protect the Anishinaabe way of life in Northwestern

Ontario.

Mediation Continues today in CCAC dispute

The Ontario Nursing Association continues to negotiate leading up to it's October 3rd strike deadline.

President Linda Haslam Stroud says her union represents employees of the Northwest Community Care Access Centre.

Today is the last day scheduled for mediated talks.

Police arrest Kenora man for Grow-Op

A 50 year old Kenora man faces drug charges after the OPP uncovered a grow-op just off Highway 71.

The Kenora Drug Unit teamed up with the OPP's Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau, and ERT team and the Rural Agricultural Crime team on Monday.

They executed a search warrant on a piece of property located in Kirkup Township.

Police say they seized 26 marijuana plants, 870 grams of dried marijuana, 800 grams of marijuana shake and other drug paraphenalia.

The drugs have a street value of about 44 thousand dollars.

Stan Denkiewicz has been charged with production of a controlled substance.

Health Units tracking bed bugs

Don't let the bed bugs bite!

That's what the Northwestern Health Unit is trying to prevent has it has received Provincial funds to study the rate of bed bug infestations in our area.

Health Promoter Valdine McEwen says they need the public's assistance.

A questionnaire on bed bugs can be found on the Health Unit's web site.

Candidates in Kenora-Rainy River get thumbs up from health group

The Heart and Stroke Foundation says health needs to become a bigger election issue.

The Foundation has talked to all the candidates in northwestern Ontario and says the main party's support their proposals to create a healthier population.

Wendy Savoy says there are serious health concerns in this region that need to be  addressed.

Savoy says their proposals include more food education, and more funding for physical education in the schools.

Big Trout Lake complains of more mining activity

Its like deja-vu all over again for the Big Trout Lake First Nation.

The band is upset that the mining company God's Lake Resources has started some exploration work in K.I.'s traditional land use area.

John Cutfeet is a spokesperson for the band and says the provincial government continues to ignore concerns.

Cutfeet says to add insult to injury, the exploration work is being done on an old burial site.

Nurses at the Northwest CCAC could hit the picket line next week

There could be pickets in front of Northwest Community Care Access Centre sites across northwestern Ontario next week.

The 88 members of the Ontario Nurses Association have joined with their counterparts at nine other CCAC's to support strike action October 3 to back contract demands.

The workers provide health and home care services to the seniors in their own home.

Mediated talks are planned for today and tomorrow.

Bronco Court teams lose on the road

Beaver Brae's court sport teams are still searching for their first wins of the year.

Yesterday the Broncos were in Fort Frances, but the Muskies were not good hosts, winning all four of the games played.

The closest contest was the senior girls basketball game, where Beaver Brae was edged 11-10.

In junior girls action, the Muskies prevailed 38-23 over the Broncos.

It was the same story in boys volleyball action, with Fort beating Beaver Brae's senior boys three sets to one, and then blanking the junior squad three games to none.

Tomorrow, the Broncos host Dryden.

Treaty Three Economic Conference Begins tonight

Municipal, first nation and business leaders are gathering in Kenora for a three day conference on the local economy.

Grand Council Treaty #3 is hosting the Area Economic Opportunities Conference starting tonight.

Issues such as tourism, mining, forestry and arts and culture are some of the topics up for discussion.

The conference is taking place at the Minis Hall at the Super 8.

OPP Investigate a Rash of Thefts

The OPP are investigating a number of mischief and theft complaints over the past few days.

In one incident, police say a couple of Yamaha scooters were stolen from a garage on 5th Avenue South.

One of the vehicles has since been recovered, but the OPP say they are still on the lookout for the other one, which is black and grey in color.

Other incidents under investigation include the theft of items from unlocked vehicles, damage to vehicles and also damage to election signs.

Beware of Concussions

Canada's Leading Expert in Concussions is hoping he leaves medical personal with more knowledge on the issue.

Brain Injury Services of Northern Ontario invited Dr. Charles Tator to speak at their conference.

Tator feels the general public need to learn more about the signs of a concussion.

Support Shown for Cross-Town Snowmobile Corridor

There seems to be considerable support for a cross-town snowmobile corridor through the City of Kenora.

About 50 people attended a public meeting last night on the proposed route.

Shawn Clifford is a spokesperson for the Sunset Trail Riders and says most of the comments they received back were positive.

The final day for comment on the Cross-town corridor is October 11th.

City council is expected to move the proposal forward at its next open meeting.

Fire season winding down in the Northwest

The fire season is slowly starting to wind down in northwestern Ontario.

There are still 38 blazes listed as active today.

Five are under control and two other are being held.

The other 31 are being observed, with no active fire activity noted.

In the meantime, fire crews are starting to pack up their gear, including hose lines and bring it back to their respective fire bases in the region.

With the recent warm weather, the fire hazard has climbed into the moderate range across the region.

Three Grassy and Wabaseemung Residents return from Japan

Three members of the Grassy Narrows and Wabaseemung First Nation have returned from a once in a lifetime trip to Japan.

Grassy Chief Simon Fobister was joined by two other people to visit Minnimata, which is a community devastated by mercury poisoning.

Fobister says there are a number of parallels between the the Japanese city and area first nations affected by mercury poisoning.

He says the big difference is that the Japanese have received much better compensation and are getting better medical treatment.

CCAC Strike Vote

Unionized employees with the Northwest Community Care Access Centre are taking a strike vote this week

The 88-members of the Ontario Nurse's Assocation are among those at ten C-C-A-C's across Ontario that could be in a strike position October 3.

Mediated talks are planned for this week.

Workload and wages are among the issues.

The Kenora Catholic District School Board

The Kenora Catholic District School Board says its seen an increase in enrolment this fall.

While the numbers won't be finalized for another month, director of Education Phylis Eikre says their numbers are up by about 60 students.

She says a large part of the increase is due to the addition of all-junior kindergarten classes at Pope John Paul.

Current enrolment at the separate school board is 15 hundred and 89 students.

Mill Auction

An auction of equipment from the former Atikokan Forest Products Mill is expected to go today.

A company had expressed interest in buying the mill, but was unable to secure a wood supply from the province.

The mill, which has been down for the past three years, was placed into receivership at the beginning of the year.

Debate

Party leaders will square off tonight for the first time in this campaign race. With the October 6th election looming, Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty, Tories' Tim Hudak and N-D-P's Andrea Horwath are prepping themselves for tonight’s televised debate. The 90 minute debate starts at 5:30 PM on CTV or at CTVNews.ca

Cigarette Packages

Ottawa has finally approved bold new labels for cigarette packages. Tobacco companies have until March to switch up the packs but feel the new campaign will have little effect.
The new labels will cover 75 per cent of cigarette packages outlining the risk of smoking. All cigarette packages will now include graphic pictures like that of a cancer-infected mouth, and of Barb Tarbox. She was an anti-smoking activist before dying of lung cancer at the age of 42.

Health advocates have praised the campaign, but were suspicious about the government's resolve to implement it.

NOACC wraps up fall meetings

The Northwestern Associated Chambers of Commerce has wrapped up its fall convention in Thunder Bay.

NOACC president Andy Scribilo says their goal is to get business leaders across the region more involved.

As part of the NOACC convention, Scribilo took part as one of the questioners in the northern leaders debate in Thunder Bay.

Police Investigate Cat Lake fatality

Nishnawbe-Aski Police are investigating a sudden death in Cat Lake First Nation, north of Sioux Lookout.

Police were assisting Sunday in the search for 83-year-old Charlie Gray who was overdue from a hunting trip.

Officers located Gray near his boat and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police don't suspect foul play.

An autopsy is scheduled for tomorrow at Lake of the Woods District Hospital.

Public meeting on Snowmobile Corridor tonight

Local residents will get a chance to comment on a new cross-town snowmobile corridor in the city.

An open house is being held this evening at the Operations building on Barsky's Hill.

The city has been working with the Sunset Trail Riders Snowmobile Club on an alterate route that will avoid residential areas, but will still connect the south side of the city to the north side.

The open house will run from 6:30 to 8:00 this evening.

Junior Saints win B-Side of KIVT

Dryden took top honors in the Kenora Invitational Junior Boys volleyball tournament over the weekend at the Beaver Brae and Thomas Aquinas gyms.

The Eagles won the A-Side final, getting by a Fort Frances split squad.

The other Muskies team lost to the Thomas Aquinas Saints in the B-side final Saturday afternoon.

T.A. won in two straight sets.

The Saints are back in action Wednesday when they travel to Whitefish Bay.

Drug bust in Fort Frances

Two residents of Fort Frances face several drug charges.

This after the OPP's Community Drug Action Team seized, from a home on Scott Street, last Thursday, nearly 7-pounds of marijuana, along with oxycodone and hydro-morphine.

Value of the drug seized is estimated at 65-thousand dollars.

33-year-old Kevin House and 27-year-old Laura Wickstrom will appear in court at the end of October.

SIU contacted about a weekend incident

The Ontario Special Investigations Unit has been contacted by the local OPP about an incident in downtown Kenora over the weekend.

Officers were contacted around 9:00 Saturday night to a Main Street South residence about an unwanted visitor.

When police arrived at the scene, there were met by an intoxicated male.

The 32 year old man was asked to leave, but subsequently fell down a flight of stairs.

He had to be transported to hospital by an ambulence.

The SIU must be contacted anytime someone is injured as a result of an encounter with police.

Two youth taken to hospital in ATV accident

Two 14 year old youth have been taken to hospital following a single vehicle accident involving an All Terrain Vehicle on the Kenora By-Pass.

The OPP say an ATV went off the side of the highway near the Airport Road Saturday night around 10:30 and drove into a guard rail.

Both the driver and the passenger were taken to Lake of the Woods District Hospital for treatment.

The passenger sustained only minor injuries and was released, while the driver was later transferred to the Health Sciences Center in Winnipeg with serious injuries.

The OPP's Technical Traffic Collision Unit is helping out with out with the investigation.

Northern Heritage Candidate on the Campaign Trail

The candidate for the Northern Ontario Heritage Party in the Kenora-Rainy River Riding admits its been a challenge to get her message out.

Charmaine Romaniuk entered the race, a couple of days into the election campaign.

She says that being a student at Lakehead University makes it difficult to canvass door-to-door.

Romaniuk is one of five candidates in the riding seeking to become the new M.P.P. on October 6th.

Keewatin-Patricia School District

A living document is in place to help students in the Keewatin-Patricia School District succeed.The Board has approved a new 3-point strategic plan for 2011-2012.

Director of Education Jack McMaster says the Board will use intervention strategies to help at-risk students and teachers will clearly establish expectations.

Racism

A research project, looking at relations between aboriginal and non-aboriginal people in the region, finds a persistence of racism and prejudice in the area.


Jeff Denis, an assistant professor at McMaster University, says part of the problem relates to an unwillingness to openly discuss the issue until a crisis arises.

Denis says he sees a need for ongoing education and dialogue starting at a grassroots level.

Habitat for Humanity

Safe, affordable and decent housing will soon be available in Kenora. October marks the start of the "Shingles" campaign, the first of many fundraisers for The Kenora Chapter of Habitat for Humanity


Co-Chair of the Fundraising Comimittee Thelma Wilkins-Page says donations are being accepted at most local businesses. All funds raised here in Kenora go directly into  building the first habitat home,in Spring of 2012.

Broncos lose to the Buckeyes

Beaver Brae's Football team has lost its first game of the year.

The Broncos were trounced 48-16 by the Miles MacDonnell Buckeyes Friday afternoon in their homecoming game.

Coach Chris Penner says the Buckeyes are pretty good football team.

Jared Davis had a pair of touchdowns for the Broncos and also had a 55 yard kick-off return and an interception.

Beaver Brae's next game is against Dakota Collegiate next Friday in Winnipeg.

Sioux Lookout Drug Bust

The Kenora Joint Forces Drug Unit has arrested a 30 year old Toronto man following a drug bust in the Town of Sioux Lookout.

The OPP say they seized 34 thousand dollars worth of oxycontin pills, cocaine and  45 hundred dollars in cash yesterday from a hotel room in the community.

Costy Dessource faces two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of property obtained by crime.

Residential School payment deadline passes

The head of the residential schools commission says some survivors are frustrated because they can't get papers needed to back up their claim.

Justice Murray Sinclair its because many government and church documents may have been destroyed.

The deadline was Monday for the so-called common experience payment which recognizes the impact of living at a residential school.

Sinclair says those who didn't file by the deadline are out of luck.

Northern Leaders Debate tackles Kenora's Bridges

Kenora's bridges are just one of the issues being discussed this morning in the northern leaders debate.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is promising to provide more infrastructure money to municipalities and upload social service costs.

Conservative leader Tim Hudak is promising more gas tax revenues for municipalities so they can fix up their aging infrastructure.

Premier Dalton McGuinty decided to skip the northern leaders debate and instead made a mental health funding announcement north of Toronto.

Hospital Unions Launch Hotline

Ontario's party leaders are being asked to address the shortage of acute care beds in local hospitals.

The Ontario Council of Hospital Unions says its concerned with the number of elderly who are forced to stay in hospital while waiting for a long term care bed to open up.

Local union spokesperson, Judy Bain says opening more beds is only part of the solution.

The Council has launched its own hotline so family members can report their own experiences with the health care system.