Shaw KBI Gears up for 25th Anniversary

After three days of fun on the Harborfront, Harborfest is getting ready to make way for the 25th annual Shaw KBI.

This year, things will kick off with a boat parade.

Kristie Cavenaugh is organizing the event and says they will be making their way through downtown Kenora early this evening.

The parade is scheduled to start at 6:00 this evening.

Fire Crews Heading Home

M.N.R. officials are letting fire crews from out of province head home after the forest fire sitation eased over the weekend.

The Ministry of Natural Resources say one new fire started on Sunday near Lake of the Woods near Kenora.

Out of province resources from Saskatchewan and New Brunswick were released from the Northwest Region assignment over the weekend.

Contract crews are also being released from fires. These resources provided support to the Northwest Region during the peak of fire activity.

Busy Long Weekend for the OPP in Kenora

The August Long Weekend proved to be a busy one for the Kenora OPP.

They arrested a number of people for drinking and driving offenses and are investigating one hit and run accident on Valley Drive.

Police were also called to a boat fire on Lake of the Woods near Devil's Gap.

A 1997, 22 foot Sea Ray caught fire around 2:00 Sunday afternoon.

Police say the two occupants were rescued by passing boaters, but their vessel was completely destroyed and sank to the bottom of the lake.

The OPP say they blocked that area of the lake off for about an hour as the boat burned.

Local Groups Applaud Lake Announcement's

Several groups which work on Lake of the Woods are pleased the federal government has finally announced its intentions for a water management plan.

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird made the announcement in Kenora over the weekend.

Todd Sellars from the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation says one of the key recommendations is the creation of a new board out of two existing entitities.

Plans are also in the works for a water quality summit for Lake of the Woods.

Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford expects that will take place sometime in the next year or so.

Harborfest a Box Office and Artistic Success

(Photo Courtesy Colleen Serban Photography)

Harborfest directors are basking in the glow of one of their best ever events.

There were three sold out evening concerts and huge crowds all weekend long on the Kenora Harborfront.

Entertainment Director Dave Blake says they also had rave reviews from the performers.

Blake says they will be hard pressed to improve on this year's entertainment line-up, they they will start that task in the next couple of weeks.

Health Unit Issues Blue-Green Algae Advisory

While local residents have been enjoying one of the warmer summers in recent years, it can come at a price.

The Northwestern Health Unit has issued an advisory about blue-green algae blooms on some of the shallower lakes in the area.

In particular, the Health Unit has singled out Sandy Lake in Pellatt Township.

Blue Green Algae can contain toxins that are harmful if swallowed, and can cause skin rashes.

The Health Unit says kids, pets and livestock should not swim in any water where you notice blue-green algae.

Campbell Continues to Fight Tourism Center Closures

It's not going to happen this year, but the fight to get the region's tourism centres re-opened isn't stopping.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell is again refuting Tourism Ministry's reasons behind closing the centres, including those Fort Frances and Rainy River.

Campbell says the government's now pointing to the use of GPS units.

Campbell admits its been frustrating, but isn't giving up hope the centres can be reopened next year.

Sandy Lake Residents Back Home

Residents of Sandy Lake, evacuated because of smoke near their community last week, are back home.

The Ministry of Natural Resources says fires that were a concern to the remote community remained quiet, allowing the 650 residents housed in hotels in Fort Frances and Thunder Bay to return.

Out of province crews from Saskatchewan and New Brunswick were also sent home with the forest fires threat diminishing due to rain and cooler temperatures.

TSB Investigates Sioux Lookout Plane Crash

Five people are coutning their blessings following a plane crash near Sioux Lookout over the weekend.

O.P.P. say a Slate Falls Airways plane with the pilot and four passengers were on a sight seeing tour whent eh plane crashed shortly after take-off from Pelican Lake.

Emergency Services, Slate Falls Airways and by-standers were on hand to get them to safety.

All five people suffered minor injuries and were taken to hospital and then released.

O.P.P. and the Transportation Safety Board are looking into what happened.

Sunset Country's Got an App For That

Travellers in Northwestern Ontario will have a new way to find out what's hot and happening.

Sunset Country Travel has developed a smart phone app to provide information on places to stay, where to eat, and things to do and see.

Sunset is aiming for a September launch, which will be available at I-Tunes and android apps.