OPP searching for Suspect in Airport Road Assault

The OPP are searching for a suspect in connection to an assault that took on a trail just off the Airport Road.

Police say the incident took place just before 7:00 last night on the hydro highline trail near Tetroe Road.

A woman was walking her dog when a man ran out of the bush and allegedly assaulted her.

The woman ran out of the bush and managed to flag down a motorist.

The OPP were contacted and they brought out their Emergency Response Team and a K-9 unit in their search for the suspect.

He is described as a First Nations man, tall, with a muscular build wearing dark shorts.

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

Temperature Records could fall today

It could be a record-breaking day, weather-wise.

Its going to be another scorcher for Kenora and parts of northwestern Ontario.

Bill Laidlaw from Signal Weather Services says the temperature isn't the only thing local residents will have to deal with.

He says with the humidex is could feel like 40 celcius. 

The thermometer is expected to peak at 33 this afternoon.

The record for July 19th is 30.6.

Power Out in Pickle Lake Again

Pickle Lake residents are once again dealing with a power outage.

Red Lake Fire number 84 near Ear Falls has damaged power lines which has left 629-Hydro One customers in the dark.

Hydro One says power might not be restored until Friday.

The Ministry of Natural Resources says up to 6-kilometres of line have been affected.

Pickle Lake dealt with a lengthy power outage last week before power was restored for a brief period of time.

Ignace Woman faces Animal Cruelty Charges

An Ignace woman is facing not one, but three animal cruelty charges.

Earlier this month, the OPP say a large Bullmastiff managed to escape and killed a smaller dog.

The owner Tamela Inkster was initially charged with two counts under the Dog Owners Liablity Act.

11 days later, the OSPCA contacted Ignace OPP in relation to another complaint of animal cruelty.

Police were led back to Inkster who was then charged with Animal Cruelty under the criminal code and will appear in court on August 30.

Library ready to move forward with Operational Review

The Kenora Public Library says its ready to proceed with an operational review.

Council last night approved the terms of reference for the review, which includes governance, internal staff structure, service delivery and a  financial review.

Councillor Rory McMillan says the terms of reference do address a number of concerns council has raised about the Library's debt and deficit this year.

The Library Board has agreed to find its own funding to pay for the operational review.

Forest Fire Situation Intensifies in the Northwest

The Ministry of Natural Resources continues to struggle to get the upper hand on several wildfires in the Northwest.

Information Officer Debbie MacLean says they have over 2-thousand firefighters involved in the fight.

Sioux Lookout Fire number 70 has grown to over 87-thousand hectares in size and is now burning 1-kilometre away from the Mussewhite Mine.

Firefighters continue to try and protect the mine site.

Musselwhite Mine Road and Highway 599 just north of Pickle Lake have been closed as a result.

More Evacuations due to Forest Fires

Nearly 400 people in northwestern Ontario have been evacuated by Canadian Forces personnel as forest fires threaten their communities.

The Forces says that 385 residents from Fort Hope and Sandy Lake have been flown out.

Members of the Fort Hope First Nation were evacuated Monday to Greenstone, using a Hercules from CFB Trenton.

People from Sandy Lake First Nation were airlifted on a Hercules to Winnipeg.

KACL Gets Green Light for Accessible Community Garden

The dream of a fully accessible community garden is now a bit closer to reality.

Kenora City Council has given its blessing to the project by allowing the Kenora Association for Community Living to use a road allowance in the Lakeside area to build the garden.

Lisa Gate-Villa has been spearheading the project and says plans for the garden are really coming together.

After meeting with city staff, council agreed to allow KACL to use the road allowance along 6th Street South and 3rd Avenue South for their community garden.

Ontario's Coronor's Office Looks at Pikangikum Suicides

The Ontario chief coroner's office is releasing some startling research on a rash of suicides on the Pikangikum First Nation.

Dr. Bert Lauwers, the deputy chief coroner for investigations in Ontario, says a unique feature of the Pikangikum suicides is that many happened in clusters.

Lauwers says a crisis intervention team should be put in place after a youth suicide to identify vulnerable children and provide them with immediate counselling.