OPP Out in Force for Gate Night

The OPP are hoping for another quiet gate night in Kenora.

Over the past few years, there have been fewer mischief complaints on the night before Hallowe'en.

Constable Dave Cain says police will continue to have an increased presence on the streets Sunday and

Monday nights. 
Cain says they will be assisted once again by Citizans on Patrol  on Gate Night and Hallowe'en.

Holiday Train to Stop in Kenora this December

What has 14-rail cars, hundreds of thousands of festive lights and a travelling stage for performers?

If you answered the Canadian Pacific 'Holiday Train', you are correct.

Area residents will be able to see the festive locomotive on December 2nd and 3rd.

C.P. spokesperson Kevin Hrysak says Valdy and Tracey Brown are the featured performers this year.

The Holiday Train collects food and money for area Food Banks.

Library Launches Operational Review

An operational review of the Kenora Public Library is starting up.

Next week, consultants will be meeting with local residents to get their feedback about the services the Library provides.

Erin Roussin is the Head Librarian and says the consultants will be available all next week to gather input.

There will also be two public meetings with the consultants next week.

One on Wednesday night at the Kenora Library and the other Thursday afternoon at the Keewatin Branch.

Forest Fires still burning near end of Official Fire Season

The forest fire season officially comes to an end on Monday, but there will likely be fires still burning across the Northwest.

Eight lightning caused fires are still active inside Quetico Provincial Park.

Jennifer Young of the Ministry of Natural Resources says the fires are being monitored and none are posing any threat.

Young says a fire management plan for the park allows fires to burn in certain areas to help regenerate the forest.

Rafferty brings back Private Members Bill

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty has brought back a private members bill aimed at protecting workers severance when companies enter bankruptcy protection.

It's a similar bill that died on the order table in the last Parliament.

First reading took place in the House of Commons Thursday.

Campbell Officially Sworn in As Kenora-Rainy River MPP

It's now official

Sarah Campbell was sworn-in to office yesterday morning as the MPP for Kenora-Rainy River riding.

Campbell admits there's still a lot of learning yet to take place.

Campbell says the legislature could resume as early as November 14, although no official word has been given by the Liberals.

Alzheimer Society Takes a Coffee Break

The coffee's on at the Alzheimer Society's office in Kenora.

The annual Coffee Break campaign is in full swing.

Executive Director Lynn Moffatt says they are looking for potential hosts to contact them.

Moffatt says funds raised through the coffee donations will be used to support the one thousand Alzheimer Patients in the Kenora-Rainy River area.

Hefty Hunting Fine levied

They didn't learn their lesson the first time, now two Ontario hunters are 10 thousand dollars poorer.

Conservation officers were contacted after two hunters were seen killing a deer on private property in the Rainy River District last November.

The two men were fined a total of six thousand dollars.

The same two men also pled guilty to hunting on private property back in April.

In that instance, they were fined 45 hundred dollars.

Tim Gould from Chelmsford has been banned from hunting for two years, while Dan Wheldon isn't allowed to hunt in Ontario for four years.

OPP release summer crime stats

The OPP says its overtime costs tend to be higher in the summer.

The Kenora Detachment recently released its monthly statistics for August and September.

There were about 125 more calls for service in August compared to last month.

That also resulted in a big increase in overtime.

There was a total of 423 hours of O.T. in August, compared to 248 in September.

Events like Harborfest have a lot to do with the increase in the number of calls for service and overtime.

Kenora to take part in Doors Open again in 2012

The doors will be open to heritage homes and buildings in Kenora once again in 2012.

Heritage Kenora has agreed to host the weekend event again next year.

The city recently approved a budget for Heritage Kenora, which included funding to carry out Doors Open.

No date has been set for the Kenora event, but its expected to take place next September.

High Schoool Hockey season opens this weekend

Ten teams are playing in the 26th Annual Dryden High School Boys Hockey Tournament.

Play started  this morning at 9 o'clock.

Both the Beaver Brae Broncos and Thomas Aquinas Saints are in action today. 
Teams from Winnipeg, Red Lake and Fort Frances are in the field for the two day Tournament.

The finals will take place Saturday evening.