OPP Remind Motorists to "Lock it or Lose it"

Yet another reminder to local motorists to lock up their vehicles when not in use.

The OPP say that over the weekend, they received a number of complaints from the Pump Avenue and Park Street areas of unlocked vehicles being entered.

In one incident, the keys were actually left in the ignition and the culprits decided to steal it.

Police say as the weather begins to warm up, they expect to see more of these types of incidents and vehicle owners are reminded to no only to lock their cars and trucks, but to keep valuables out of sight.

Blood Donor Clinic Starts Today

Its time once again to roll up you shirt sleeves and get ready to give the gift of life.

Canadian Blood Services will be holding a two-day blood donor clinic starting this afternoon.

Harvey Heather from Blood Services says this is one of their regularly scheduled clinics they hold in Kenora each year.

Today's clinic will start at 4:30 at Thomas Aquinas and will run until 9:00 tonight.

It will take place once again tomorrow from 9:30 to 12:30.

Election Campaign Enters Second Week

It was a busy weekend for the candidates in the Kenora Riding.

Both Conservative Candidate Greg Rickford and Liberal Candidate

Roger Valley officially opened their campaign offices.

Meanwhile, NDP Candidate Tania Cameron became the first person to

officially register to run in the Kenora Riding.

She filed her nomination papers at the Returning Office in Kenora

this past Saturday.

Economic Development Commission Holds the line on it Budget

Kenora's Economic Development Commission says it will not be seeking an increase in its budget from the city this year, despite increased costs.

Members of the Commission presented their budget request to council on Friday.

Chair of the commission, Dennis Wallace says they want to hire two extra  staff members to take on specific tasks.

Wallace says the two new positions will be on a one year contract basis and will be funded through reserves the Commission has accrued over the past couple of years.

Council continues to trim 2011 municipal budget

Kenora City Council is still trying to bring down an potential tax increase in

this year's budget.

Council spent all day Friday going through its operating budget line-by-line

looking for cost savings.

At the beginning of the day, Councillors started with a potential 3.28 percent

increase in taxes this year, but by the end of the budget meeting they had

trimmed the increase down to 1.7 percent.

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield says they want to keep any increases to a minimum,

because for many people, they've already experienced a tax increase this year

with the new Munipal Property Assessments.

Northern School of Medicine announces Lay-offs

A battle is brewing between the Northern Ontario School of Medicine and the Ontario Public Service Employees Union.

The school is eliminating 24 positions in order to balance the budget.

OPSEU Spokesperson Len Mason says they don't intend to take the lay-off notices lying down.

The layoffs affect staff members at campuses at Lakehead University and Laurentian University in Sudbury.

Canfield has mixed feelings on Provincial Budget

Last week's provincial budget doesn't have a lot that's going to help out municipalities across the region.

That's the feeling of Kenora mayor Dave Canfield.

Canfield says even though the government has promised to continue to upload social service costs, the city isn't seeing much benefit.

The City is continuing its budget deliberations, but there is still no time table for the release of the 2011 financial statement.

McMaster Disregards Fraser Report

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board is paying no attention to the latest report on student success from the right-wing think-tank Fraser Institute.

Director of Education Jack McMaster says the Institute has never stepped into a local classroom to witness what they are doing with teachers and students.

McMaster adds the Board has made it a priority to have more one-on-one instruction to improve literacy and numeracy results.

Drug Bust in North Spirit Lake

A 30-year-old woman faces charges after she tried to bring drugs into North Spirit Lake, about 200-kilometres north of Red Lake.

Nishnawbe-Aski Police seized more than 24-grams of marijuana and 3-and-a-half grams of cocaine.

Police say the street value of the drugs is estimated at over 24-hundred dollars.

Tobia Victoria Rae of North Spirit Lake has been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Internship program returns

Local students looking for a head start in their careers will be getting a helping hand from the Provincial Government.

The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund is once again helping local businesses provide paid internships to students across the Northwest.

Minister of Northern Development Michael Gravelle says the program is vital for keeping students in the North.

Gravelle says over 400-students are expected to take advantage in the program this year.