Cross Province Unicycle Tour Starts in Kenora next month

Kenora will be the starting point of a 26 hundred kilometre unicycle journey.

Derrick Ferguson will be cycling across Ontario on a tour to raise money for the Rick Hansen Foundation.

Derrick says a trip to Central America is what inspired him.

Ferguson will begin his journey in Kenora on May 6th.

Economic Development Commission Sets up New Committee for Lakewood

The Lake of the Woods Economic Development Commission has established a new committee to move the adult education concept for Lakewood School forward.

The public school board declared Lakewood Surplus last week and has sent out letters to interested parties asking for bids.

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield is on the new committee but says he's not sure what role the city will play in the development.

Local education groups will have first right of refusal on Lakewood, followed by the municipality, and then other government agencies.

Summit on Ring of Fire called a Success

Some are calling it an unprecidented meeting.

A weekend summit of First Nations and regional municipal leaders on the Ring of Fire produced a resolution supporting Exton in Greenstone as the site of the proposal chromite smelter.

Greenstone Mayor Ren Beaulieu says for the first time, a united front is emerging.

A total of five first nation communities also attended the summit. 

OPP Traffic Unit Stays Busy

The OPP are in the midst of a two week long seatbelt campaign, but officers have been busy charging drivers with a variety of other offenses.

Over the past couple of days, the OPP's Traffic Division has charged one motorist for driving while suspended.

Three other people were nailed for driving without a licence while another driver had his vehicle impounded for 45 days for prohibited driving.

The Spring seatbelt campaign will wrap up on April 22nd.

CCAC Launches Speak Up campaign

Area residents are being encouraged to "Speak Up" about the type of health care they want in the event they aren't able to communicate their wishes later on.

Marg Poling of the Northwest Community Care Access Centre says too many people aren't prepared.

Officials says the discussions should start early and often as situations in life changes

Two Common Ground Research Projects complete

A million dollar research fund is starting to bear fruit for Tunnel Island.

The first two research papers from the Common Ground Research Forum have been completed.

Teika Newton heads up the Forum and says they will be presenting the results of the research papers in June.

The research papers looked at the attitude of local residents towards Tunnel Island and the Common Ground initiative.

Alzheimer Society Launches Penny Drive

Call it Pennies from Heaven.

The Alzheimer Society of Kenora and Rainy River is launching a penny drive to raise funds for its programs locally.

Lynn Moffatt is executive director and says they will also be offering prizes to major contributors.

A number of containers have been set up at businesses across the city so people can drop off their pennies.

Thistles Back in Action Today at the Allan Cup

Two teams searching for their first win at the Allan Cup in Lloyminster will do battle this evening.

The Kenora Thistles will face the Stoney Plains Eagles tonight in a clash of 0-1 teams.

The Eagles lost their first game of the Allan Cup last night 3-2 to the host Lloydminster Border Kings.

Meanwhile, the Southeast Prairie Thunder have a perfect 2-0 record after beating up on Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland 5-2 last night.