Cameron Appointed to NDP National Council

She may not have won the last federal election the Kenora Riding, but NDP candidate Tania Cameron is still active in the party.

Cameron attended the party's national convention this past weekend in Vancover and was appointed to the NDP's national council.

Cameron was one of four delegates from Ontario selected to sit on the party's national council.

Museum Gets Honor from Ontario Historical Society

A big honor for Lake of the Woods Museum.

It has been presented the Museum Award of Excellence and Programming by the Ontario Historical Society.

The award was for the exhibit entitled, "We Were Taught Differently", which was a look at the residential school system in northwestern Ontario.

The honor was for creating an exceptional exhibit that dealt with a very diffult subject.

The exhibit been taken out on tour and has also been transformed into a book.

Kroppy Senior of the Year

Kenora City Council was in a giving mood last night, presenting three certificates to local residents and an employee.

A provincial senior of the year award was handed out to Len Kropiowski.

Kroppy says he's grateful for the honor, almost like winning the Stanley Cup.

Janet Findlay was also presented an award of merit from Life Saving Society, for helping out not one, but two people in distress, in two separate incidents on Lake of the Woods last year.

Strike at Ring of Fire in NWO

A number of people who have been working up in northwestern Ontario's so-called Ring of fire are on strike.

Employees of Cliffs Natural Resources are threatening a blockade at the company's Ring of Fire site.

About 2 dozen workers walked off the job on Friday.

Spokesperson Jesse Nadon says they were offered a package that would see them get paid less than fast food employees.

Nadon says they plan to stop they're replacements from going to work.

Separate School Board launches all day Kindergarten at PJP

The Kenora Catholic District School Board is going to be adding all-day kindergarten programs at Pope John Paul II School a full year ahead of schedule.

Full day junior and senior kindergarten programs were supposed to be introduced in 2012.

But Director of Education, Phylis Eikre says the board felt it important to start it up this fall.

Eikre says they already have three classes filled for all day JK and SK at Pope John Paul next year, and its possible they could add a fourth class if there is demand.

More Laptops for Public School Students

Every student and teacher in Grades 5 to 8 at three area Elementary Schools will have their own netbook laptop computer next school year.

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board has approved the plan for Dryden's Open Roads School, Sioux Mountain in Sioux Lookout and Lakewood School in Kenora.

Student Success Leader Scott Urquhart says the Board is confident that this investment will improve student engagement, achievement and success.

He adds that the Board is focused on making sure students have the skills they need to thrive in the 21st century.

CIP Approved for Abitibi Lands

Kenora City Council has passed the Community Improvement Plan for the Abitibi lands on 9th Street North, but not without some debate.

Councillor Louis Roussin says he's not comfortable giving out tax breaks, when businesses are going to be making a profit.

But councillor Sharon Smith defending the tax incentives, saying they need to do something positive to encourage industry to set up on the former mill property.

The tax incentives call for a phased in industrial tax rate of zero percent in the first year, with a 20 percent increase in taxes over the next five years.