Community Foundation to donate record amount in Granting Ceremony

The Kenora and Lake of the Woods Regional Community Foundation says it will be handing out

a record amount of money in its annual granting ceremony this evening.

Just over 100 thousand dollars will be presented to 30 different community groups.

There will be a number of first time grants made from specific funds, including the Keewatin Forever Endownment and a fund specifically targeted at the Lake of the Woods District Hospital.

The Granting ceremony will take place at the Best Western Lakeside Inn starting at 7:00.

Rickford Stuck in Ottawa for Back to Work Legislation debate

It looks as if Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford won't be getting back to the Kenora Riding this weekend.

Debate is still continuing in the House of Commons on a back to work bill for postal workers.

Rickford says he's disappointed the opposition is holding up the legislation.

The House of Commons was supposed to adjourn yesterday, but its now unclear when an actual vote on the back to work legislation will take place.

Enrolment expected to rise at Catholic School Board

The Kenora Catholic District School Board seems to be defying a provincial trend.

The separate school board is projecting an increase in its enrolment this fall.

Superintendant of Business Erica Baily says the student population could swell by 46 students in September.

She says the increased enrolment should result in a bit more money from the provincial government in student grants next year.

Ring of Fire Conference Wraps up

The Ring of Fire Coordinator is calling a two day conference on the chromite deposit in Thunder Bay a success.

Christine Kaszycki says it's designed to understand what infrastructure is needed for the mining project to proceed.

Prefered transportation methods and routes were discussed at the final day of the event.

Two Women plead guilty to Manslaughter in Death of Big Trout Woman

There will be no trial in the death of a Big Trout Lake woman in Thunder Bay in 2010.

That's because the 2-people originally charged with First Degree Murder have pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of Manslaughter.

Michelle Morris and Joanne Vivier will be sentenced on November 16th.

Catholic School Board completes a hiring spree

The Kenora Catholic District School Board has been in a hiring mode over the past month.

The separate school board has just filled a total of 12 full-time positions.

Phylis Eikre is the director of education and says the hirings are due to a number of issues.

Eikre says they have hired extra staff for the full-day kindergarten program at Pope John Paul.

New Osnaburgh being evacuated



(Photo courtesy of the MNR)



A raging wildfire in northern Ontario has prompted the Chief of the New Osnaburgh First Nation to order the evacuation of the entire community of more than 450 people.

About 150 residents are now in Geraldton, 195 in Sioux Lookout and 105 in Ignace.

The fire is burning 15 kilometres east of New Osnaburgh, and has grown to 300 square kilometres.

The Ministry of Natural Resources says the fire is not under control and crews are having trouble with shifting winds that are blowing smoke into the Pickle Lake, Sioux Lookout and Dryden areas.

Richards traded by the Flyers to Los Angeles

A shocking trade in the NHL.

The Philadelphia Flyers trade their captain and their leading scorer, while clearing some badly needed salary cap space. Captain

Mike Richards was sent to Los Angeles, while Jeff Carter goes to Columbus. Richards says he actually heard about the trade while surfing on his computer.

Among the commodities heading to Philadelphia is the eighth overall pick in today's draft. And, with the newfound cap space, the Flyers were able to sign goalie Ilya Bryzgalov to a nine-year contract.