Friday, June 17, 2011

Law Enforcement Torch Run today

Special Olympics programs will get a big boost today.

The Annual Law Enforcement Torch Run will take place this morning starting at Lake of the Woods District Hospital.

The OPP, staff from the Kenora Jail and the local Ministry of Natural Resources office will be all be taking part in the run.

The run will start at 11:00 and wrap up at the Kenora Jail, where at fundraising barbeque will take place at 11:30.

Earthroots Apologizes

The environmental group Earthroots is offering an apology to Weyerhaeuser.

Earlier this week. Earthroots claimed that the I-Level Timberstrand mill in Kenora used formaldehyde in the production of its engineered lumber.

Weyerhaeuser disputed the report and Earthroots has now sent out a release apologizing for its error.

The environmental group says formaldehyde is used in the manufacture of some i-Level products but admits the Kenora mill uses a different kind of resin.

Earthroots says it is double-checking all the facts in the report to ensure their accuracy.

Greenpeace Critical of Ontario's Forest Policies

Greenpeace Canada says Ontario's Liberal government has mismanaged public forests and failed to protect habitat for the threatened woodland caribou.

Greenpeace spokeswoman Catharine Grant says she's not optimistic the Tories or New Democrats would be any better at managing the forests.

 Greenpeace says there's been very little improvement in forestry sector prosperity, despite what it calls massive subsidies from the province.

Public School Board bringing back Summer School

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board is bringing back the concept of summer school.

This year, a number of summer learning opportunities will be introduced at high schools in Kenora, Dryden, Sioux Lookout and Red Lake.

Sean Monteith is a superintendant of education with the public school board and says the program is really targeted at students at risk.

Some of the offerings include a summer co-op program, credit recovery, and a Reach Ahead program for grade eight students heading into grade nine in the fall.

Police Investigating Break-In to Camp on Lake of the Woods

The OPP are investigating a break and enter to a camp on Lake of the Woods.

Police say the break-in took place either this past Tuesday or Wednesday at a cottage on St. Helena Island.

A number of items were stolen, including a DeWalt cordless drill, a couple of rain suits, a Toshiba lap-top, a digital camera and some alcohol.

Police say the owners discovered the break-in after returning to their camp.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Kenora Detachment of the OPP.

Minister Gives Update on Northern Policy Institute

The Northern Policy Institute is taking shape.

The think tank will help create economic development initiatives for the region.

Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry Michael Gravelle says they've created the mandate of the institute.

Gravelle says the NPI's location should be announced by the end of the summer.

Keewatin-Patricia Enrolment Expected to Decline

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board expects enrolment to drop by 1.5 percent in the next school year.

Superintendant of Business Dean Carrie says the decline in enrolment is having a definite impact on their finances.

Carrie says while secondary numbers remain fairly stable, elementary enrolment is expected to drop another 4.1 percent next year.