Health Unit Offices Still Recovering from "flood"

Things still aren't quite back to normal at the Northwestern Health Unit offices in Kenora.

A broken toilet flooded parts of the Health Unit's Wolsley Street location on Tunnel Island last weekend.

Medical officer of health, Dr. James Arthurs says they've had to rip up carpet and tear down drywall damaged by water.

Some files also sustained some water damage.

He adds that the front desk was hit hardest and calls are still be re-routed through their Market Square offices today.

Broncos Boys lose two over the weekend

Beaver Brae's boys hockey team is heading into the exam break on a two game losing skid.

The Broncos dropped a 4-3 decision to the Dryden Eagles last night at the Kenora Rec. Center and were beaten 5-1 Friday night in Fort Frances by the Muskies.

Beaver Brae doesn't play again until January 27th, when they travel to Dryden to face the Eagles.

The Broncos just have four games left in the regular season.

Fort Frances Wins Kenora Bantam Tournament

Fort Frances took top honors at the Kenora Double "a" Bantam Hockey tournament over the weekend.

The Canadians upended the Dryden Paper Kings in the A-Side final Sunday afternoon 5-3.

The host Kenora Double "a" Bantam Thistles earned the bronze medal.

Blood Donor Clinic Starts today

Canadian Blood Services is asking for your help

Adrienne Silver, Communications Specialist for Northwestern Ontario says the need blood is constant.

In the new year alone they'll be looking for atleast one hundred thousand new donors just to keep up with the high demand.

They're at St. Thomas Aquinas today and tomorrrow and looking to book over 140 appointments

The Blood Donor Clinic starts this evening at 4:30 and runs till 9:00, and then again tomorrow from

9:30 to 12:30.

Give the gift of life in 2012 - book your appointment - call 1888-2-donate

OFIA Complains about Environmental Commissioner

The Ontario Forest Industries Association continues to be engaged in war of words with the province's Environmental Commissioner.

Last week Gordon Miller complained about a lack of a plan to protect natural spaces and species at risk in Ontario.

Jamie Lim is the president of the OFIA and questions Miller's science.

Lim says Ontario has already recognized the importance of forestry to its Climate Change solution.

Dryden Youth Killed near Oxdrift

A 14 year old Dryden teen has been identified as the victim of an accident near Oxdrift over the weekend.

Tristen Wise was hit by a transport around 3:00 Saturday afternoon.

The OPP say the highway was closed for about four hours while Technical Traffic Investigators looked into the cause of the fatal collision.

The Driver of the semi was not injured and police say no charges are pending at this time.

Kenora Arena's

The City's Recreation Department has completed a facility review of its arenas.

The Jaffray Melick Arena had to be closed down this winter due to deficiencies, but the Keewatin Memorial Arena has passed with flying colours.

Recreation Services Manager, Colleen Neil says no major problems were uncovered
with the actual building.

Neil says one issue that needs to be addressed is a crack in the arena floor, but they
can include that in any future capital planning for the facility.

Kenora City Council 2012 Meeting

Kenora City Council holds its first open meeting of 2012 tonight.


One of the items that could to generate some debate is a resoultion on paving the shoulders of provincial highways.

The resolution comes from the Township of Carling and says paving the shoulders would create safer traffic conditions cyclists, pedestrians and motorists alike.

Operations manager Rick Perchuck says the only highway in the City of Kenora that would be affected is the Redditt Road, because all the other provincial highways in the city have paved shoulders.

Chair of the Operations Committee Rod McKay says while he's not opposed to the idea, he questions whether the provincial government should be pursuing such initiatives, especially when its facing a 16 billion dollar deficit this year.

Adult Education Center

The viability of a new adult education center in Kenora should be a little clearer by the end of this month.

The Lake of the Woods Economic Development Commission is expecting to receive a final business.

Geordie McEwan is the vice-chair of the commission and says they'll be presenting the
findings to all their partners.

McEwan says regardless of whether the public school board approves the use of Lakewood
or not, he believes an adult education center is going to be a viable project.

North Spirit Lake Plane Crash Update

The Transportation Safety Board has released some initial findings into a plane crash that killed four people in North Spirit Lake.

 Investigators have determined the landing gear of the Piper Navajo was down and the flaps partially extended at the time of the crash in Northwestern Ontario.

Investigators also found heavy fire damage in the fuselage and the right-wing area.

The team is planning to take a further look at the engines and propellers.

The pilot and three passengers died in the crash last Tuesday.

One man survived and is recovering in hospital.

Terrace Bay Pulp Mill

It's bad news for the Town of Terrace Bay.


After 3-months of downtime was announced just before Christmas; Buchanan has decided to sell the mill.

Mayor Mike King says he doesn't think the mill will be able to meet it's downtime deadline.

King is still hopeful they'll be able to find a buyer and the mill will continue to operate in the future.

Highway 17 Weekend Closure

OPP are expected to release the name of the young pedestrian killed in Saturday's collision on Highway 17.


Police say a pedestrian was struck by a transport near Glengoland Road around 3 o'clock.

The pedestrian was transported to Dryden Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The driver of the semi was not injured and no charges are expected to be laid.

The victim is said to be a young teen.