UFO Sighting?

(Photo courtesy of Sandra Allan)

Some residents of northwestern Ontario are talking about a strange object that has appeared over the night sky over the past couple of days.

Sandra Allan of Fort Frances, who took photographs, says it hovered for nearly half an hour last night before it disappear.

Some residents on the Shoal Lake and Rat Portage First Nations have reported seeing the UFO as well over the past few nights. 

Hampton Pans Provincial Budget

The provincial budget isn't getting good reviews from the opposition at  Queen's Park.

Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. Howard Hampton claims yesterday's fiscal plan is a pre-election budget for Southern Ontario.

He believes the budget does more harm than good for northern Ontario.

Hampton says the budget forges ahead with the controversial forest tenure reform plan.

Provincial Budget Gets Mixed Reviews

The Minister of Northern Development is standing by his Government's Provincial budget.

Michael Gravelle admits there wasn't specific money set aside for the Region but notes there were projects that were mentioned.

Randy Hillier, the Progressive Conservative Critic for Northern Affairs says the budget is 300-pages of nothing for Northern Ontario.

Hillier points out the only announcement was one that was already made; 10-million dollars extra for the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund.

Two mergers of child care agencies in NWO near completion

Not one, but two mergers will be finalized this week involving local child care agencies.

The Lake of the Woods Child Development Center will be joining forces with the Patricia Center for Children and Youth out of Dryden.

The new agency will be called "Firefly".

The other merger will see the Kenora-Patricia Child and Family Services amalgamate with Rainy River Family Services.

Both amalgamations will take effect on April 1st.

Kenora-Patricia Child and Family Services is holding a meeting Thursday afternoon to update staff and the media about the merger.

Council supports proposed changes to building code

Kenora City Council is supporting proposed changes to the Ontario building code that

would allow the use of wood in the construction multi-story buildings.

The province is looking at allowing the use of wood in constructing buildings up to six stories high.

Council has passed a resolution saying such changes to the building code would support the forest industry in northern Ontario and increase opportunities to use wood in building projects.

Mayor Dave Canfield says some countries in Europe allow wood in buildings as high as 10 stories.

The resolutions urges the government to include the changes in the 2012 Ontario Building Code.

Daffodil Days here again

The Canadian Cancer Society 'Daffodil Sales' campaign kicks-off Thursday across Northwestern Ontario.

Fundraising Coordinator Margaret Saville says they are offering a new twist this year.

The fundraisinig campaign helps off-set transportation costs for patients requiring treatment.

Last year, the Society assisted 336-cancer patients from this area.

Fire Department to get another truck

Kenora's Fire Department is going to be getting a new piece of equipment.

An aerial ladder truck is being purchased second-hand from the Oakville Fire Department.

The total cost of the purchase is expected to be about 80 thousand dollars.

Fire chief Warren Brinkman says that includes the cost of having the truck shipped to Kenora, and a retrofit of the truck, including the installation  of new tires on the vehicle.