Red Cross looking for volunteers to help evacuees

The Red Cross says its still looking for volunteers to help out people who have been evacuated from their communities in northwestern Ontario.

Spokesperson Shanna Hansson says they have had pretty good support so far.

Hansson says that over the weekend, they had help from Kenora and other communities throughout the District.

Fire crews making progress

Fires continue to burn out of control in northwestern Ontario, but the Ministry of Natural Resources believes

it is making some progress.

There are 118 fires burning today, with 10 new blazes popping up on Sunday.

The MNR says while a couple of large fires continue to threaten remote communites in the region,

no new evacuations are planned.

Red Lake Fire 82 has burned to the edge of the community of Keewaywin, but so far crews have managed

to prevent any property loss.

Another fire of concern is Sioux Lookout #72, which is 159 thousand hectares in size and burning near the Musselwhite Mine.

Fire Crews have been working diligently from prevent any loss of property.

To date 36 hundred people have been evacuated, but there is talk that some members of the Cat Lake


First Nation may be able to start returning home later this week.

Province to look into evacuation complaints

Officials in Ontario are looking into whether families have been split up while being evacuated from communities threatened by forest fires raging in our area.

Deputy community safety minister Ian Davidson says the province has done its best to keep families together since evacuations started.

But he says the province is investigating unconfirmed reports that the evacuation process has separated members of some First Nations families from each other.

Officials say weather conditions are improving, and no further evacuations are currently planned.

Electricity back on in Pickle Lake

The power is back on in Pickle Lake and New Osnaburgh First Nation.

The lights were out for nearly 2-weeks as a forest fire near Ear Falls consumed some 18-power lines.

Hydro One was able to go on site late last week and fix the problem.

Hampton Seeking Help for Cat Lake Evacuees

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton is asking the McGuinty Government to help Cat Lake First Nation residents.

Hampton says it appears residents will be allowed to return home in the middle of this week but he notes the remote community is suffering from a severe food shortage.

The power has been out for nearly 2-weeks and Hampton says most food is now spoiled.

Hampton says most people make trips during the winter months by the ice road to get their food and stock it in the freezer.

He's asking the Province to ensure the community has food and other supplies when residents return home.

Walk for Good Life Ready to roll

A seven day 500 kilometre walk around the Kenora and Rainy River districts is set to go next month.

It will be the third year for the Walk for Good Life organized by the group Good Life for Young People.

C-E-O Teresa Hazel says its a journey of self discovery and accomplishment.

The event is open to anyone with registration made through the group's office or its website : http://www.goodlifeforyoungpeople.com/

Record Attendance For Coney Island Festival

The Coney Island Music Festival continues to grow.

This year, about 12 hundred people took in the one day event at Coney Beach.

The Third Maybe Annual Festival features seven acts over six hours yesterday.

Attendance has tripled over the past three years.

Tie for First at Canadian Bass Championships in Fort

For the first time in the history of the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship, there are co-winners.

Richard Rud and Jon Austin of International Falls and Thunder Bay's Glenn Leroux and Trevor Zimak avoided controversial tie-breaking methods to share the title after tying for the lead after three days of fishing.

Rud says both teams agreed to share the title.

Jeff Gustafson from Kenora and his partner John Peterson placed sixth overall, six and a half pounds back of the winners.

Team Symonds Wins Bronzeback

A couple of Keewatin anglers too top honors at the 5th Annual Friends and Family Bronzeback Classic.

Brad and Jayden Symonds came from behind to win the two day bass tournament on Lake of the Woods.

They weighed in 28.65 pounds of bass, beating out the day one leaders, Scott and Kyle Cook by just over a pound.

Steve Ellie and Tom Hefford placed third with a catch of 26.6 pounds.

Fisher tops Women's Field at Kenora Borealis Triathlon

Edie Fisher continues to be an ageless wonder.

Fisher was the top female finisher in the annual Kenora Borealis Triathlon/Duathlon at Garrow Park.

Competing in the 50-54 year old age group, Fisher finished the Olympic Course in a time of two hours and 26 minutes.

The top male was Chris Graham from the Tribalistic Team in a blazing time of two hours and seven minutes.

The top female racer in the Long Course Duathlon was Julie Whelan at two hours and 54 minutes.

Playaz Win Men's Soccer Tournament

The Playaz are the new kings of Kenora Soccer.

The Playaz won the Lake of the Woods mens soccer tournament over the weekend with a 2-0 win over Stonewall in the A-side Final Sunday afternoon at the Tom Nabb Soccer Complex.