Forest fire in Whiteshell Park

A fire in the Whiteshell was brought under control quickly, but it still prompted an evacuation of a campground and cottagers.

A Manitoba Conservation officer spotted the spotted the fire yesterday morning, which was about one-third of a hectare.

Crews were quickly in the air with water bombers, a helicopter and other support aircraft to douse the flames, and they had it under control within a few hours.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Tourism Kenora Bringing Blue Rodeo To Town

Hard on the heels of another successful Harborfest, local tourism officials have decided to stage another musical extravaganza.

Tourism Kenora says it will be bringing Blue Rodeo into town to open up the new Harborfront Tent.

Tourism Development Officer for the city, Heather Paterson says they wanted to do something special to christen the new tent.

Blue Rodeo played to a sell out crowd at Harborfest two years ago.

Tickets will go on sale this Friday at 10:00 on-line at kenora.ca

More evacuees waiting to return home

About one thousand residents forced from their homes by forest fires still haven't received the all-clear to return.


The Ministry of Natural Resources says there were 35 new fires in the Northwest over the long weekend, raising the number of active fires to 125 that have burned 575,000 hectares.

More than 2-thousand firefighters, including 586 from out of province, are fighting the blazes backed by about 100 aircraft.

Good Turn Out for 20th Harborfest

Harborfest officials say they are pleased with the turn-out for the 20th annual party in downtown Kenora.

While just one of the three nights sold out, the annual event is expected to break even.

Dave Blake is one of the directors and says Friday night was a record setting night.

Blake adds they also sold 11 hundred tickets for Saturday night's concert with Doc Walker, which was one of the best outings for country night in a couple of years.

Power back on after early morning outage

A rude wake-up for some residents of Kenora.

The power was out for Kenora Hydro customers in Lakeside for about an hour and a half this morning.

Electricity was cut around 4:30 after a thunderstorm blew through the city.

Hydro was finally restored around 6:00 this morning.

The reason for the outage is still being looked into.

Hampton Decides to Retire

A change in heart from Howard Hampton.

The NDP member has announced that he won't seek re-election in the Kenora-Rainy River Riding this fall.

Hampton says the time to step aside is right.

Hampton was first elected in 1987 and served as Cabinet Minister in the NDP Government from 1990-1995 as Attorney General and then Minister of Natural Resources.

He was elected NDP leader in 1996 and stayed on until March 2009.

Two arrested in Big Trout Lake Break In

Two people have been arrested following a Sioux Lookout OPP and Big Trout Lake Police investigation.

Police were looking into a break and enter at the Tasona Store last Friday in Big Trout Lake.

Officers searched a home and found 3-firearms, a television and other property.

Police say 24-year-old Jamie Childforever faces counts of break and enter, possession of property obtained by crime and breach of probation.

26-year-old Diane Shoomin has been charged with possession of property obtained by crime.

Plans to Twin the Trans-Canada West of Kenora back on Track

Plans appear to be back on track to get the Trans Canada Highway between Kenora and the Manitoba border four-laned.

Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle says there have been delays but it appears some challenges are being overcome.

Gravelle can't say when work will start.