Friday, January 21, 2011

Countdown begins for 2011 Allan Cup

The Countdown has officially started for the 2011 Allan Cup Senior Men's

Hockey Championships in Kenora.

The puck will drop in 80 days.

Judy Bain is one of the local organizers of the event and says individual
tickets won't go on sale until the end of March, after ticket package sales
have wrapped up.

The Allan Cup will run from April 11th to the 16th, at the Kenora Rec. Center.

Warmer Weather on the Way!

It looks like there is an end in sight for our current cold snap.


By Sunday, the temperature should start to moderate.

Bill Laidlaw from Signal Weather Services says unfortunately
there is expected to be some snow accomanying the warmer weather.

Temperatures across northwestern Ontario have been unseasonably
cold, with the thermometer dipping to -44 in Fort Frances this morning.

Prescription Drugs an increasing problem for local police

Alcohol is still the drug of choice in Kenora, but that's slowly starting to

change.

Inspector Dave Lucas says they are seeing an increase in the trafficking
of prescription drugs in the community.

Lucas says the OPP Street Crimes Unit and Joint Force Drug Unit met with local pharmasists last month to discuss the problem.

He says another meeting is planned in the new year to look at strategies
for combatting the trafficking in prescription drugs.

This time they hope to involve local doctors as well.

Taxi Rates going down?

It's soon going to cost a bit less to hail a cab in Kenora. 
Taxi rates will be going down if city council approves the recommended rate
change. 
Eric Lovas from Co-Ot Taxi made a deputation to council this
week, recommending the rate drop.

Lovas says they want to get rid of the pennies on their meters,
which was added last July thanks to the HST.

Rickford says Tories don't want spring Election

The MP for Kenora is insisting that the Conservatives don't want a Federal election.

Greg Rickford says we are still emerging from a fragile economy and most Canadians don't want to head to the polls.

Rickford notes that his party has no intention of calling an election, despite a rise in popularity in the polls.

Rickford says the Government had a relatively productive session of Parliament this Fall and he would like to see that trend continue.

NOMA Supports Policing Resolution

The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association is supporting a resolution calling on

the provincial government to provide more funding for police services.

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield says the cost of policing locally has skyrocketed
and says they want the government to increase their grants under the Ontario Municipal Partnership
Fund.

The NOMA Board met last week in Thunder Bay to approve the new resolution.

MNR investigates illegal moose Kills

At least 20 moose in northern Ontario were illegally killed this past hunting

season.

The Ministry of Natural Resources is now actively investigating these incidents.

Ken Ukrainetz is a MNR conservation officer and says in most instances, the
moose are simply left to rot in the bush.

Two moose were illegally killed near Vermillion Bay, while another
incident under investigation took place near Ear Falls.

New Firearms Regulations coming

The Ministry of Natural Resources is looking to make it illegal to carry a loaded firearm along any road or right of way in the Kenora and Rainy River districts.


It's now illegal to shoot from a roadway.

John Dungavel of the Ministry's policy branch says public concerns about safety prompted the additional regulation.

Dungavel says the new rule could be in place this fall.

Saints lose to Warriors at Home

The Thomas Aquinas boys hockey team missed a chance to move up in the NorWOSSA

Single "a" standings.

The Saints were pummelled 9-3 by the Sioux Lookout Warriors last night at the Thistle
Rink.

The win moves Sioux Lookout into a tie in the standings with T.A. with just two games left to play in
the regular season.

The Saints are back in action on Saturday evening against Beaver Brae in an exhibition game
at the Rec. Center.