Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Northwest MP Demands Better Treatment for Veterans

With Remembrance Day just weeks away, comes a disappointing report from Canada's Auditor General.

The report shows that war veterans in the country still don't get the information they need to get back into civilian life or the benefits they're entitled.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty calls it deplorable and says it should be a concern here because the only Veteran Affairs office in northwestern Ontario has been closed down due to budget cuts.

Rafferty suggests the Harper government needs to start treating our nation's veteran's with more respect.

Handi-Transit to Hold the Line on Spending

Kenora's Handi-Transit System says its new bus is helping it save money.

Handi-Transit says it will not have to seek an increase from the city in 2013.

Jackie McAllister is a spokesperson for the transit service and says as long as there are no changes in legislation, they should be able to hold the line on their spending.

They are requesting just over 81 thousand dollars again in 2013.

McCallister says the only fly in the ointment would be changes to Ontario's Accessibility Legislation, but they don't know if that will affect their service at this point.

Animal Rights Group Opposes Urban Deer Hunt

An animal rights group is urging the City of Kenora to find non-lethal ways of dealing with the growing urban deer population.

The bow hunt for deer within city limits began a couple of weeks ago.

But Barry McKay from Born Free USA says there are ways of scaring deer off, without killing them.

McKay also suggests homeowners grow plants that deer don't like to feed on, or install deer proof fences.

Impaired Driving Charges on the Rise

The message about not drinking and driving doesn't seem to have sunk in yet.

The Kenora Detachment of the OPP say they charged two more people with impaired driving offenses this past weekend.

That's seven in the past week, and 77 so far this year.

The local police say they had only 82 drunk driving charges all of 2011, and are on pace to shatter that number with two months left in 2012.

Library Review Overdue

The Kenora Public Library is still working on a final report to City Council about an operational review conducted over the past 12 months.

The review was requested by council due to on-going deficits at the Library.

Erin Roussin is the head Librarian and says they are still putting the report together.

A group called Libraries in Transition met with local user groups and library staff last year to look at ways of improving services and potentially cutting costs.

Motorists Upset with Gas Price Disparity

Some local residents are upset about the wide variation in gas prices across the region.

The price in Kenora remains at 135.9 a litre, which is 24 cents more than other areas in the Northwest.

According to gasbuddy.com Dryden is at 132.9, Vermillion Bay is at 126.9, Prawda is set at 119.9, and some places in Thunder Bay are under a dollar 15.

NorWOSSA Season Winding Down

The NorWOSSA regular season is quickly coming to an end.

Both Thomas Aquinas and Beaver Brae court sport teams will play their final games of the regular season this week.

This morning, the Ignace Falcons are in town to take on the Saints at T.A.

Thomas Aquinas wraps up the regular on Thursday with Whitefish Bay coming to town for volleyball action.

The Broncos wrap up their regular season schedule on Thursday on the road against Fort Frances.