Facilitator agrees with School Board's Decision to close Evergreen

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board followed its own policies when it decided to close Evergreen School.

That's the finding of a facilitator hired by the provincial government to look into the closure of the elementary school.

Joan Green was appointed by the Ministry of Education this past winter after parents at Evergreen complained about the process.

But in a report by the former head of the Education Quality and Accountability office, Green says the school board was thorough and compliant wih its school accommodation policy.

The board had initially decided to close Evergreen at the end of this school year, but has agreed to delay the closure for another year.

Snow in Pickle Lake?

While Southern Ontario perspired through a day of temperatures in the low-to mid-30s on Wednesday, Pickle Lake residents almost had to grab their snow shovels.

Mayor Roy Hoffman, who works at the airport weather station, says snow was falling at about 10 a.m.

Hoffman says the temperature was down to about 2 C,and big flakes were falling.

In other areas of the Northwest, people donned fall jackets to cut a biting wind and rain early in the day.

The forecast for today is a lot better with sunny skies and 18-degree temeratures.

CUPE Brings Health Care Tour to Kenora

The union representing health care workers is speaking out against overcrowding in local hospitals.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees has launched a tour of northwestern Ontario talking about some of the problems that are cropping up due to overcrowded conditions.

It says infections like C-difficile are the the result of too many patients and not enough beds.

CUPE is bringing its campaign to Kenora today.

Fire Hazard low in NWO

Despite the wet weather six forest fires remain active in Northwestern Ontario.

The most recent fire was sparked by lightning in the Sioux Lookout area.

The 2.5-hectare fire is being observed north of Wabakimi Provincial Park.

The fire isn't threatening any property.

5 of the fires currently burning are in the Thunder Bay-Nipigon District and don't pose any problem.

Canada Post to reduce delivery service

Expect to see less mail delivered to your doors.

Canada Post is trimming staff levels at mail sorting plants. And, starting next week, it's ordering letter carriers to deliver letters only three days a week - Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Spokesman Jon Hamilton says it's because mail volumes have dropped by half since last Thursday, when postal workers began a series of rotating strikes.

Rotating walkouts hit 13 communities today, including Thunder Bay and Hearst in Northwestern Ontario.

Farmer's Market returns June 22nd

Despite continued construction on the Kenora Harborfront, the Farmer's Market will be back in its usual place under the big tent this summer.

The Farmer's Market will start up the day after the first day of summer, June 22nd.

Buck Matiowski says they expect to have more vendors this year.

This year, the city has decided to allow parking along the south side of Lakeview Drive along the greenbelt, to increase the amount of parking available for the farmer's market.