Thursday, June 28, 2012

Community Improvement Plan for Sioux Narrows

The Town of Sioux Narrows/Nestor Falls is borrowing a page from the City of Kenora's playbook.

A Community Improvement Plan has been launched this month to encourage businesses to fix up their faades along Highway 71.

Town planner, Jeff Port says they've identified a couple of areas for the work.

Port says business owners are eligible for up to 25 hundred dollars for facade improvement, 25 hundred dollars for landscaping and two thousand dollars for new signage.

Wallace Steps down from Development Commission

A changing of the guard at the Lake of the Woods Development Commission.

Long-time chair Dennis Wallace is stepping down after seven years at the helm.

Wallace says he's encouraged by the progress they've seen over the past five years especially.

At their Annual General Meeting last night, Wallace says 78 new jobs were created in the service industry alone last year in Kenora, and he finds that's encouraging.

Beardy Elected Ontario Regional Chief

The Nishnawbe-Aski Nation will be searching for a new Grand Chief.

Stan Beardy has been elected Regional Chief of the Chiefs of Ontario.

Beardy beat out Angus Toulouse in traditional voting at the 38th Annual All Ontario Chiefs Conference in Toronto yesterday.
Beardy received 59-votes, 6-more than the incumbent.

Via Rail Announces Service Cuts

The daily run east and west from Sioux Lookout isn't impacted by cuts at Via Rail.

Trip frequencies are being cut on some of the big routes, including the Montreal to Halifax route ``The Ocean'' which will be cut from six to three round trips per week.

In the West, ``The Canadian'' , a Toronto to Vancouver route, will be reduced from three to two round trips per week in the off-season.

There will also be a number reductions in southwestern Ontario.

Via Rail says it expects to cut 200 unionized jobs, or about 9-percent of its positions, as the government-owned passenger rail service deals with federal budget cuts.

Fire Hazard Starting to Rise Across the Northwest

The Ministry of Natural Resources is saying the forest fire rating could move to "Extreme" by the weekend.

Currently the rating is "High" across the entire northwest region.

Official says Fire Rangers from the Sioux Lookout Headquarters are investigating the possibility of two new fires in that region, but not been confirmed by personnel.

The MNR is urging the public to use caution with all outdoor fires.

One Person Hospitalized following Accident on Highway 71

The OPP are continuing to investigate a single vehicle accident on Highway 71 south of Kenora.

The crash took place yesterday afternoon around 2:00 near Bunny Lake.

Police say the lone occupant of the vehicle had to be taken to Lake of the Woods District Hospital for treatment of serious injuries.

The highway was closed for about two hours as a result of the collision.

Catholic School Board Hires a new Superintendant

A familiar name is moving over to the Kenora Catholic District School Board.

Judi Green has been hired to take over as Superintendant of Administrative Services.

She's replacing Erica Baily, who is taking a similar position with a school board in British Columbia.

Green is taking the job on a one year contract.

She had been the general manager of the Northwest Student Services Consortium.