Kenora MP Announces FEDNOR Funding

Downtown Kenora is getting more financial support by FEDNOR.

Earlier today Kenora MP Greg Rickford announced 425 thousand dollars in funding towards 2 initiatives.

Rickford says $300,000 is being given to the Lake of the Wood Business Incentive Corporation to provide small and medium sized businesses capital support..

The second part of the announcement was $125,000 going towards the engineering and design costs of the phase 3 downtown revitalization project.

Coney Footbridge To Be Removed Wednesday

Local residents will have at least one more day to use the Coney Island
Footbridge.

The city had hoped to remove the bridge today, but due to mechanical
problems with their boats, the removal has been delayed until Wednesday.

This will be the latest the bridge has ever been removed.

The previous latest date the bridge was to be removed was May 14th.

Pinecrest Getting Ready to Install Sprinklers

Pinecrest Home for the Aged says its fully supports plans by the province to improve
fire safety at long term car homes.

Last week, the Minister of Long Term Care announced that all facilities would have to
have sprinkler systems installed within 11 years.

Pinecrest CAO Kevin Queen says they are currently working on a plan to fund and install
sprinklers.

Queen estimates it could cost about a million dollars to install a new sprinkler system
at Pinecrest.

Coronors Inquest Getting Closer

A coroners inquest into the tragic deaths of 7 First Nations teens in Thunder Bay is one step closer to reality.

The regional coroner has now set the date for a hearing on who will have the legal right to take part in the inquest proceedings.  

That hearing takes place in Thunder Bay on June 11th.

Health Unit Launches Phone Survey

The Northwestern Health Unit is launching a telephone survey to hear from local residents.

CEO Mark Perrault says a handful of people will be selected.

Perrault says the results will be available later this year, and will measure the success of the 2013-2016 Strategic Plan.

LCBO Workers Set Up Strike Headquarters

The threat of a strike by Liquor Control Board workers this weekend remains real.  

Union spokesperson Robert Lorkowski says the issue centres around the ever increasing use of part time workers.

Last night, local workers set up their strike headquarters in office space on Chipman Street in preparation for a possible job action.  

LCBO workers could hit the picket line as early as this Friday.

Changes Being Made to Council Meeting Schedule

Kenora City council is tweaking its meeting schedule for the summer months.

Starting today, the Committee of the Whole meeting will move to Tuesday mornings, from its usual time on Monday afternoons.

The Committee of the Whole will also include the Property and Planning
Meeting.

Next week, the open meeting of council will move to Tuesday's at noon.

The changes are being tried out this summer on a trial basis and will be
reviewed again in August.

Northern Mayors Talk to MPAC

The Northern Mayors Coalition holds a conference call with provincial officials today to discuss the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation's assessments on mills in the north.

Dryden Mayor Craig Nuttall says today's meeting is a great first step.

Nuttall says the MPAC ruling on the Domtar mill has crippled the community and is urging the province to intervene.

Police Investigating Fatality in Sandy Lake

Provincial Police are assisting the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service regarding a death in Sandy Lake First Nation.

NAPS officers responded to a call for medical assistance, and took a man to the nursing station where he was pronounced dead.

The name of the deceased is not available at this time, and a post mortem is being done at Lake of the Woods District Hospital in Kenora.

Anyone with information is asked to contact OPP.

Broncos Earn National Cheer Title

Beaver Brae's cheerleaders can add national champions to their resume.

Over the weekend, the Bronco Cheer Squad was in Niagara Falls for the 2013 National Cheer Evolution Championships.

Beaver Brae ended up winning the Small Senior Division, beating out seven other schools.

The Broncos picked up 81.13 points, which was almost two points ahead of their nearest rival.