Friday, April 13, 2012

Canadian Forces Hit the Street this Weekend

Its not an army occupation, but there certainly will be a military presence in Kenora this weekend.

Members of the 116th Independant Field Battery will be conducting a march through the city tomorrow morning.

The 13 kilometer march will start at 9:00 at Rheault Bay landing on McKenzie Portage Road and make its way through Keewatin, down Lakeview Drive and end up at the Armories on 9th Street North.

The soldiers will be wearing Canadian Army Uniforms, rucksacks and unloaded service rifles.

The march is part of the ARmy's battle fitness test.

Participants will be walking along the side of the road so no traffic will not be affected.

Youth Council Trying to Get Drop-In off the ground

A new youth drop-in center in Kenora may not be a pipe-dream any longer.

The Kenora Youth Council is working to find a suitable location for the center.

Mitch Frenette is the Youth Mayor and says they have been offered a number of

locations, including space at the Kenora Rec. Center.

Frenette says its unlikely they'll get a youth center up and running by the time their term expires in June.

But as long as they are talking about the idea, he feels that's a good start.

Badminton and Swimming Competitions On Tap this Weekend

Badminton and swimming will take center stage this weekend in Kenora.

The Kenora Rockets Badminton Club is holding the 2012 Sangold Supersmash tournament tomorrow up at Beaver Brae.

Players from grade 7 to 12 from northwestern Ontario and Manitoba will be competing in their final event of the season.

Meanwhile, the Kenora Sharks Swim Club will be hosting its annual meet at the Kenora Wellness Center.

Heets begin this afternoon and will wrap up on Sunday.

Teams from Winnipeg and across northwestern Ontario are in the competition.

Extension Granted to Fix Up Municipal Wharves

The City of Kenora is being given a one year extension to use up funding to fix up a number of municipally owned docks and wharfs.

Ten years ago, the federal government provided 1.5 million dollars to fix up the infrastructure on the lake.

The work concluded last year with the refurbishment of the Matheson Street Wharf.

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield says there's still about two or three thousand dollars left in that account and now they have until March of next year to use up the funds

Council Worried about Growing Deer Population

A warmer than normal winter is expected to result in the deer population in the City of Kenora.

City Council is taking steps to try and deal with the problem.

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield says they've tightened up their Feeding of Wild Animals by-law to make it more enforcible.

Councillor Louis Roussin has suggested that a deer cull is in order to deal with the rampant deer population in the city.

Public School Board looks at Transitional Home for Northern Students

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board confirms it's working with the Northern Chiefs Council on estabilishing a transitional home and learning centrer.

The center would be located in the old Pinewood school in Dryden.

Director of Education Jack McMaster says the initiative is geared towards students who are making the jump to High School.

McMaster says the facility will allow aboriginal students to work on literacy and numeracy skills on-site, with an opportunity to enroll in some high school classes.

Fort Hunter Fined for Illegally Killing Moose

A Fort Frances area man has been fined 25-hundred dollars for illegal moose hunting.

Court heard that Myron Huber was hunting at the Turtle Tank cut, east of Mine Centre last October.

He shot a bull moose but he didn't have a seal.

An investigation found that a friend, who wasn't hunting at the time, met Huber and attached his seal to the animal.

Huber has been banned from hunting in Ontario for one year.

Northwestern Ontario's Only Immigration Office to Close

The Northwestern Ontario immigration office in Thunder Bay is closing it's doors next month.

The Public Service Alliance Union represents the two permanent and four part time workers at that office and Judith Monteith-Farrell says it will close to the public on May 31st.

Our immigration support will now come out of Toronto and Ottawa.

OPP Launch Spring Seatbelt Campaign this Weekend

Remember to buckle up!

The Ontario Provincial Police Spring Seatbelt campaign starts on Saturday and runs until Aprill 22nd.

OPP across Northwestern Ontario will be out in full force to ensure motorists are strapped in and child restraints are working properly.

The penalty for not buckling up is 240-dollars and 2-demerit points.

Gravelle Supports local Fire Ranger Crews

The Minister of Natural Resources says a visit to the Northwest Region Forest Fire Management Centre has re-inforced the importance of MNR fire crews.

Michael Gravelle toured the Regional base earlier this week and he admitted that no one is immune from Government belt-tightening.

However, Gravelle stressed that public safety is his top priority.

Gravelle says its shaping up to be a busy forest fire season, with over 40-fires already reported.