Forest Fire Season Quickly Wrapping Up

The forest fire season doesn't officially close until October 31st, but things are winding down for the Ministry of Natural Resources.

The fire hazard is low and the MNR is starting to prepare for the off-season.

Northwestern Ontario has seen 664-fires, burning a total of nearly 99-thousand hectares of land.

That's a far cry from last fire season when the MNR reported 908-fires, covering 629-thousand hectares.

The MNR is still asking the public to be careful with outdoor fires.

New Funding For Tourism Website

The next step for tourism in Northwestern Ontario.

Kenora MP Greg Rickford announced that FedNor is providing over $160,000 in funding for a new mobile and internet project for the region.

Rickford says it's aimed for people who are on the go.

The online and mobile tourism tool is expected to be up and running by December.

KDSB to Come up With Homelessness Plan

The Kenora District Services Board is being told to come up with a homelessness plan.

The directive comes from the Provincial Government and must be completed by January 2014.

Diane Apland is the Director of Integrated Social Services for the KDSB and says work will begin in 2013.

Apland says they haven't received any specific information on what needs to be addressed in the plan.

Orihel Continues Campaign to Save ELA

It doesn't appear the Harper government is about to budge on the decision to end the Experimental Lakes

Area program near Kenora. Speaking in Thunder Bay, Diane Orihel from Winnipeg said it's frustrating for other scientists like her to make sense of the move.

Orihel is on a mission to save the ELA program.

The outdoor lab east of Kenora is slated to close at the end of March, 2013.

OMA Supports Changes to the Mining Act

The Ontario Mining Association is giving a cautious thumbs up to the revised Mining Act.

Changes were approved last week by the provincial government.

Chris Hodgson is President of the OMA and says it will affect junior mining companies the most.

Hodgson says the changes to the mining act will allow map-staking, meaning prospectors won't have to be on the ground to file their claims.

Missing Hunter Found Near Ignace

Provincial Police have located a missing hunter near Ignace.

Officers were notified at 11pm on Wednesday of a missing hunter on 325 Road in unorganized Township.

78-year-old Arthur Eastman from Arkona had been seperated from his group after walking into a wooded area.

The Emergency Responce Team, OPP Canine Unit and Ministry of Natural Resources search and rescue were able to find Eastman unharmed.

 

This is the second missing hunter reported this week.

 

On Wednesday morning, a hunter was reported lost in the Dryden area, but was found by his hunting party before a full-fledged search was started by the OPP. 

Working Smart Workshops Proving Popular

Lots of interest in the Working Smart Workshops for Blackberry and i-phone users in the region.

The workshops are taking place next week and some are already sold out, while others are filling up fast.

Diane Schwartz-Williams from the Northwest Business Center says they still have room for their Blackberry workshops in Kenora, Dryden and Sioux Lookout next week, while Red Lake has some room for its i-phone session.

The Kenora workshop takes place on Monday and costs 40 dollars.

Broncos Lose Defensive Battle Against Neelin

A tough loss for Beaver Brae's Football Team.

The Broncos dropped a 10-4 decision to the Neelin Spartans from Brandon Thursday afternoon at a snow-covered Pete Fair Memorial Field.

The big play of the game was a 98 yard interception return in the first five minutes by Neelin.

Coach Chris Penner says that was really the turning point in a very defensive struggle.

Braiden Leischow scored all the Bronco points on a field goal and a missed field goal.

Beaver Brae wraps up the regular season on Monday at home in a make up game against the St. Norbert Celtics.