Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Impaired Driver crashes in downtown Kenora

An impaired driver has caused a fair bit of damage in downtown Kenora.


Early this morning, the OPP say a 2008 pick up truck hit a lamp post on Main Street South, went through a railing, down an embankment and into the parking lot of Scotiabank.

Police say the 18 year old driver and a 16 year old passenger walked away from the accident scene, but were picked up a short time later on the Kenora Harborfront.

Extensive damage was reported to the vehicle as well as property on Main Street.

18 year old Philip Reid of Winnipeg has been charged with impaired driving and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

The 16 year old youth has been charged with being intoxicated in a public place.

Pickle Lake Forest Fire Growing

A forest fire about 30-kilometres east of New Osnaburgh First Nation and Pickle Lake continues to grow.


The lightning caused fire is now 20-thousand hectares in size.

Smoke alerts in both communities have been issued and the fire hazard is extreme.

Crews are focusing on the west side of the fire and a mobile base camp has been set up to support firefighters.

11-fires continue to burn in Northwestern Ontario.

Local Contractor Fined by MNR

A local contractor has earned the wrath of the Ministry of Natural Resources.
Don Hagar has been fined three thousand dollars for illegally taking gravel from crown land.

The MNR says conservation officers received a complaint back in May about someone taking aggragate material to build a road.

Hagar admitted in court last week to illegally creating two aggregate pits on a forest access road off Father Moss Road in McGeorge Township.

He used the material to create a road to a nearby cottage.

While the cottage owner had a permit to build the road on crown land, Hagar was fined for illegally operating an aggrate pit.

Canfield has mixed feelings about Northern Growth Plan

Less talk about fixing the economy of northern Ontario and more action.


That's the sentiment of Kenora mayor Dave Canfield.

He attended the Think North summit last week in Thunder Bay and says this is the fourth major study on the region he's seen since he's been in office.

Canfield says the Northern Growth Plan has some good points, but it will only be seen as a success if it can help generate jobs for the region.

OPP still searching for driver involved in Marathon Hit and Run

If you are driving along Highway 17 you are asked to not pick up any hitchhikers.


OPP have issued the warning as they continue to search for a wanted man who struck a flagman on the Trans-Canada and left the scene on foot.

The incident occurred Monday morning west of Marathon.

OPP say the driver hit a 23-year-old worker and then collided with a rock cut before taking off.

The wanted individual has been identified as 23-year-old Ibrahim Sendagire of Edmonton.

The victim is from Marathon and he's in Thunder Bay Hospital with serious injuries.

Farmer's Market starts this morning

One of the favorite events of the summer for both local and seasonal starts up today.

The Farmer's Market begins its run on the Kenora Harborfront.

Buck Matiowski is helping to co-ordinate the Market and says they've added a few new wrinkles this year.

The farmer's market gets underway at 9:00 this morning and will run until about 2:00 in the afternoon.

MNR Conducts Blitz on Ear Falls area Lakes

The Ministry of Natural Resources has wrapped up a 2-day enforcement blitz in the Ear Falls area.


Conservation officers checked 390-people at 22-tourist camps on 4-lakes along the Highway 105 corridor.

Officials say 95-percent of those checked were following the rules.

The MNR did lay 11-charges and 11-warnings for over-limit of walleye and improperly packaged fish.

Open alcohol was also an issue.

Northwestern Ontario Immigration Portal expands

Want to move to Northwestern Ontario?

There's an app for that.

The Northwest Immigration website is now available in 15 languages and can be viewed on smart phones.

Spokesperson Rebecca Johnson says the site is garnering a lot of interest.

The website shows what jobs are available and what businesses are up for sale.