Monday, August 15, 2011

NDP to select their Candidate tonight

The last of four nomination meetings for the NDP in Kenora-Rainy River goes tonight in Fort Frances.

Sarah Campbell of Oxdrift and Robert Sinding of Kenora are vying to be the riding's candidate in this October's provincial election.

Tonight meeting at the Adventure Inn begins at 6 p-m.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is expected to be in attendance.

OPP Search For Missing Man on Shoal Lake

A search is continuing today for a missing 28 year old man on Shoal Lake.

The OPP's Emergency Rescue Team was called in after the Winnipeg man decided to go for a swim near Galt Island.

He had been staying with friends at a camp on the island.

When he failed to return later in the morning, a search of the island  and the shoreline was carried out.

The OPP were finally contacted around 2:00 yesterday afternoon, but officer were unable to locate the missing man.

City Invests in Solar Recycling Units

The City of Kenora is rolling out a new recycling device.

Solar Recycling units will soon start showing up in downtown Kenora.

Operations manager Rick Perchuck says they will be placing 16 units in the downtown area.

Perchuck says the units will cost about 100 thousand dollars, with the province picking up about half the cost.

District Services Board Warns of Budget Increases

Increased costs continues to haunt area Municipalities.

The Kenora District Services Board is out with its first draft of the 2012 budget, which shows an 800-thousand hike in the Municipal share.

CEO Dan McNeill says they are trying to find cost savings.

The first version calls for no increase in funding for repair and mainenance in the public housing and non-profit housing budget.

Busy weekend for fires in NWO

It was another busy weekend for firefighters in Northwestern Ontario.

There were 28-new confirmed fires Saturday and Sunday, with more expected.

There are over 2-thousand fire personnel dedicated to the fire fighting effort, with 454 people from Alberta, B.C., Nova Scotia, the Northwest Territories, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, the Yukon, Minnesota, Michigan and Parks Canada.

The Ministry of Natural Resources is also getting air support from Quebec and Minnesota.

The MNR says there is no end in site, with sunny skies and dry conditions forecast for this week.

Energy could become fall election issue

The Provincial Government's Renewable Energy program could be an election issue this fall.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says the government went down the wrong track.

Meanwhile, the Progressive Conservatives have promised if they're elected they will cancel the green energy feed in tariff program.

NAN Conference Starts Tomorrow

Ontario's Lieutenant Governor will be speaking at the Nishnawbe Aski Nation's chiefs conference this week.
It kicks off in Summer Beaver tomorrow, with housing, mining, and education being discussed.

David Onley will speak about his work with aboriginal youth literacy.

Bombardier Workers Return to Work

Its back to work for seven hundred Bombardier employees in Thunder Bay.

Union members voted in favour of the new 3 year contract Saturday. Local union president Dominic Pasqualino says the deal is a good compromise.

The contract includes improvements to wages and pensions along with a change in the work schedule from a 5 day week to 7 days.

Hovi Leads Rifles to First Victory of Season

A former member of Beaver Brae's football program is powering the offense of the Winnipeg Rifles Junior football team.

Martin Hovi rushed for 122 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns to lead the Rifles to a 41-34 victory over the Edmonton Huskies in their first game of the season yesterday.

Three former Broncos are suiting up for the Rifles this season, including Hovi, Aaron Koch and Ryan Van Bellingham.