Northern Rendez Vous Starts Tonight

Some pretty sporty vehicles will be driving around town today.

The Northern Rendezvous will be making its ever appearance in Kenora starting this evening.

Tom Struthers is one of the organizers and says they will be featuring mainly British sports cars.

Struthers expects more than 100 vehicles will be in town for the Northern Rendez Vous with the feature being the MG.

Struthers says 2012 marks the 50th anniversary of the classic British roadster. 

Public School Board Approves 2012-2013 Budget

Just a slight increase in spending this year for the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board.

Trustees approved an 85.2 million dollar budget this week, which is an increase of about 500 thousand dollars from the year before.

Superintendant of Business Dean Carrie says the good news is that they expect their enrolments to start stabilizing after years of fairly significant declines.

The school board's funding is largely based on Student enrolment, and Carrie says their numbers will drop this year by about 60 students.

Council debates Harborfront Tent Capacity

A new document called the Harborfront Tent Users Guide is generating quite a bit of discussion at the council table.

Fire Chief Warren Brinkman says he drafted the policy after getting repeated questions about how many people the new tent can hold.

Mayor Dave Canfield suggests the new policy adds more red tape for people who want to rent the new tent.

But Brinkman says the information is based on the Ontario Fire Code and says if alcohol is

being served, no more than 1240 people should be under the tent.

He suggests that the standing room capacity is closer to 35 hundred, if no alcohol is being

served.

NOMA Applauds new Electricity Rate

The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association is giving its thumbs up to a new industrial electricity rate announced by the province this week.

The new rate will amount to about 5.5 cents per kilowatt hour.

Dave Canfield is the vice-president of NOMA and says that's a good start.

The new rate will take effect new year for large industries that plan to expand or to re-locate in Ontario.

Fire Fighter Recalls Sandy Lake Airplane Fire

A harrowing tale from a Sandy Lake firefighter involved in yesterday's blaze at the community airport.

Ringo Fiddler says a Wasaya Airways plane was destroyed.

Fiddler says flames were shooting as high as 40-feet into the air and full fuel tanks were about 25-feet away.

He says firefighters had to fight the flames about 50-feet away from the blaze.

Ivan the Eye Van Returns for a 40th year

An anniversary for the CNIB's Eye Van.

The medical mobile eye care unit is back on the road for its 40th year.

Executive Director Monique Pilkington says it's brought much needed services to northern Ontario.

The Eye Van reaches Kenora at the end of July and the first part of August.