Thursday, April 12, 2012

Committee shoots down electronic sign board

Just say no to electronic signs.

That continues to be the mantra of the city's property and planning committee.

The committee is pulling the plug on an electronic reader board installed by the Kenora and District Chamber of Commerce to publicize the upcoming Home and Liesure Show.

The sign was located in front of a Park Street Business, but its just on the edge of the Harbortown Center, an area where electronic billboards are banned.

The committee also suggests its a potential distraction to motorists. 
Kenora Mayor Dave Canfield says the Home Show is a big event and he'd like the Chamber to find an alternative location for their electronic reader board.

Senior Thistles Prepare for the Allan Cup

The Kenora Senior Thistles are proudly displaying the Renwick Cup this week.

The Thistles won the Ontario Triple "a" senior championship this past weekend in Dundas.

Thistles Head Coach John Tresoor says the victory will give them a good springboard into the Allan Cup, which begins on Monday.

The Thistles will practice one more time tonight before leaving for Lloydminster, Saskatchewan Sunday morning for the Allan Cup.

Their first game will be Monday night against the host team from Lloydminister.

OPP in Fort Frances Searching for Safeway Gas Bar Robber

Ontario Provincial Police are looking for a suspect in an armed robbery in Fort Frances.

Police say someone held up the Safeway Gas Bar around 10:30 Tuesday night.

OPP say a man entered the store pointing a handgun and he demanded money from the teller.

The suspect receieved an undisclosed amount of cash and he fled the store.

He was wearing a white hooded jacket, blue jeans and white running shoes.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers or Fort Frances OPP.

Edmonton Man charged with Trafficking

A 31 year old Edmonton man faces drug charges after being pulled over on the Kenora By-Pass.

The OPP stopped a Ford pick-up truck near the intersection of the Jones Road on Tuesday.

The driver was found to be in possession of a quantity of drugs, including 1.3 pounds of marijuana and just over a half a pound of hashish.

The drugs have a street value of 18 thousand dollars.

Jason Nitsche has been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Policing costs down

Policing the city of Kenora is costing less than forecast.

For the second year in a row, the OPP is coming well under budget.

Inspector Dave Lucas says their actual budget in 2011 was 6.1 million dollars, less than the 6.6 million dollars than had initially been forecast. 

Lucas says over the past few years, they have been budgeting about 9 percent for overtime purposes, but this year, they'll drop that figure down to about  eight percent to get closer to their targeted budget figure.

Development Commission Ready to Move on Lakewood

The dream of a new adult education center is closer to reality.

The Lake of the Woods Economic Development Commission is working on plans to purchase Lakewood School after the public schooo board declared the facility suplus earlier this week.

Chair of the Training and Educatin Committee Geordie McEwan says there's already been a lot of interest expressed in the training center.

The commission now has 90 days to work up a bid for the property and will be working with the City of Kenora to initially help fund the purchase.

Rickford cheers the Demise of the Long Gun Registry

Local gun owners are not impacted by a court injunction in Quebec questioning the Federal Government's ability of destroying information contained in the long gun registry.

The registry has officially been abolished and Police no longer have the power to check the registry for any verification purposes.

Kenora MP Greg Rickford says he will be following the situation in Quebec closely.

Rickford stresses local residents no longer have to register their long guns.

Council asked to Support Muskies on Main

Forget Bears on Broadway. How about Muskies on Main.

That's the concept being promoted by the Lake of the Woods Arts Collective.

Irene McQuaig made her pitch to city council yesterday and says they hope to make a number of fish as a fundraiser.

McQuaig says the muskies would sell for about 15 hundred to two thousand dollars.

She estimates they would be able to raise about 25 thousand dollars for a local charity, which still has to be selected.

Richards has three point night in Playoff Opener

Mike Richards had a goal and two assists to lead the Los Angeles Kings to a surprise 4-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks in game one of their first round play-off series.

Richards says while it was nice to contribute, he believes the team can play better.

The series resumes Friday night in Vancover witht he Kings leading one game to none.

High School Badminton Players advance to NWOSSA

Kenora badminton stars claimed five gold medals at the NorWOSSA championships in Dryden yesterday.

Patrick Van Bellingham from Thomas Aquinas placed first in the boys seniors division, while Alexis Lesperance from Beaver Brae won the senior girls crown.

Tyler Neil took the junior boys title, while the Broncos junior boys tandem of Rogers and Smith won the junior boys double division.

In the junior mixed event, Beaver Brae's Iverson and Sparkman also won gold.

The top two finishers in each division now move on to the NWOSSA finals next week in Thunder Bay.