Council seeks funding for Library

Kenora City Council is seeking more funding for the Kenora Public Library from the provincial government.

The Federation of Ontairo Public Libraries has submitted a funding proposal to the Ministry of Tourism and Culture.

Councillor Rory McMillan says annual grants for libraries haven't increased since 1989.

In the meantime, libraries have been relying increasingly on municipal funding to support their operations.

The proposed funding model would provide a consistant per capita rate plus additional supplements for rural and northern libraries.

American Anglers Fined for illegal Ice Fishing on Lake of the Woods

An ice fishing trip on Lake of the Woods has ended up costing two American men a good chunk of money.

The Minnestoa residents were stopped by Conservation Officers on Mica Point last March.

Robert Cook has been fined 14-hundred dollars for having 7-walleye over the legal limit and 800-dollars for having 4-walleye over the limit on a separate day.

Glenn Ostlund has been ordered to pay 1-grand for fishing without a licence and having 4-walleye in his possession.

Both men were also fined 500-dollars each for importing live minnows into Ontario for bait.

Advance Polls Open Tomorrow

Advance polling for the Federal Election will be held this Friday, Saturday and Monday.

You can cast your vote each day from noon until 8 o'clock.

Gerry Ouellette is the Kenora Riding Returning Officer and he says advance polls have been busy in the past.

Elections Canada is expecting a heavy turnout according to Ouellette.

OPP Report a decrease in Crime in the Kenora Area

The OPP say they have seen a decrease in most criminal activity in the Kenora area in the past year, except in a couple of specific categories.

Inspector Dave Lucas says crimes against property is down as is mischief, but the number of assault complaints has remained fairly steady.

Lucas released his annual report to the Police Services Board this morning and believes they are making progress.

Lucas says this year they will be focussing on crimes which are the result of drug abuse.

That includes violent crime and theft under five thousand dollars.

Hunter Fined for Shooting deer on the Kenora By-Pass

A Michigan man has found out the hard way its not wise to shoot a deer from across a Highway.

Court heard that the man was traveling east on the Trans-Canada Highway near Kenora last November when he saw a deer on the south side of 17A.

Paul Witter stopped on the north side of the road and shot the deer.

Witter has ben fined 3-thousand dollars for shooting across a roadway and possessing illegally killed wildlife.

Layton Rallies party faithful in Thunder Bay

Jack Layton says the rest of the Country needs to follow Thunder Bay's lead and elect NDP MPs.

That was the rallying cry of the New Democrat leader at last night's town hall that drew around 400 people.

Layton answered several questions about the region's economy and says the NDP would create a forestry strategy.

Layton says it was the Conservatives blocked the kinds of initiatives that would help the Northwest.

Northwest CCAC signs contract with its nurses

Wages remain an issue for nurses with the Northwest Community Care Access Centre.

The members of the Ontario Nurses Association recently accepted a new contract, but President Linda Haslam-Stroud says salaries aren't where they should be.

Haslam-Stroud says the new deal does follow some wage scales of another northern C-C-A-C.

Benton Resources picks up mining claim in the Kenora area

Another mining company has taken an interest in a gold deposit in the Kenora area.

Benton Resources says it has acquired 100 percent of the  Abernethy Gold project, located about 10 kilometers southwest of town.

The property currently has nine claims that were once owned by Hudson Bay Exploration and Development.

The company says recent forestry logging operations have opened access to several areas near the claims, providing good infrastructure.

Benton says it is planning to start up work on the project as soon as conditions permit.

Couchiching man faces child porn charges

A Couchiching First Nations man is facing child pornography charges.

35-year-old Eric Morrisseau was arrested this week after an on-line undercover child pornography investigation by police led them to a home on the reserve.

Police seized four computers, an external hard drive, discs and printed material, containing images of child sexual abuse.

Morriseau made a first appearance yesterday on charges making Child Pornography, possessing child pornography, making available Child Pornography and accessing Child Pornography.