7 New Fires Start in Northwestern Ontario

The Kenora District is clear of any new forest fires.

Heather Pridham with the MNR says 7 new fires started in Northwestern Ontario yesterday.

She says a number of those fire have already been extinguished and the others are listed as held.

Pridham expects the fire hazard to jump to extreme throughout the region this week.

OPP Busy on Roadways During Long Weekend

The Canada Day long weekend kept Police busy in the region.

Sergeant Shelley Garr says they laid over 400 charges for driving infractions.

Garr says she is concerned about one number in particular.

She adds that they issued 362 speeding tickets over the long weekend alone in the Northwest.

Follow Your Dreams Winners Announced

A dream flight for 2.

The organizers of the air show have announced the winners of the Follow Your Dreams competition to fly with Super Dave Matheison during the show.

Tracy Wider announced the winners today as Wesley Penner and Elly Robertson.

The air show takes to the skies tomorrow.

Iacobucci Named Lead Negotiator for Ring of Fire

Former Supreme Court of Canada Justice Frank Iacobucci has been put in charge of negotiations surrounding the Ring of Fire in Northern Ontario.

The provincial government has appointed Iacobucci as lead negotiator in discussions with Chiefs of the Matawa Tribal Council.

The Council is represented by former interim Liberal leader Bob Rae.

Iacobucci says his main priorities include resource revenue sharing, social and economic support programs, regional infrastructure planning and development as well as environmental protection and monitoring.

The two negotiators are expected to work on a framework even though Cliffs Natural Resources has suspended operations at the Ring of Fire.

Thunder Bay Inquest Starting to Take Shape

The City of Thunder Bay is getting permission to speak at an inquest into the deaths of seven aboriginal youth.

City Lawyer Stephen Wojciechowski says they've been given the green light to speak at the inquest and they'll be using the time leading up to the inquest to prepare.

Other groups who received permission from Coroner Dr. David Eden include the Nishnawbe Aski Nation and the Police Services Board.

The inquest isn't expected to take place until the spring
of 2014.

Cancer Care Bus Hits the Road

The Regional Cancer Centre has a new bus that it will be taking around the northwest to screen for cancer.

Spokesperson Allison McMullen says it will be hitting the Trans Canada Highway starting next month

The cost for the one and a half million dollar bus was paid for through your provincial tax dollars.

 The bus will be heading to Dryden, Ear Falls and Red Lake starting July 15th.

Rickford Responds to Union Criticism

Kenora MP Greg Rickford says he had continued talks with constituents and labour groups before supporting Bill C-377.

Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union local rep Stephen Boon is upset with Rickford for backing the legislation, that would require transparency for labour organizations.

Rickford says Boon should have done his homework.

He says he had serious concerns about the legislation and managed to get some changes that his constituents asked for.

Rickford notes one union group he worked closely with was the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario.

He says changes to the Legislation were made and he believes the Bill represented the transparency that all union members and Canadians could accept.

KDSB Members to Get Pay Raise

A modest pay raise for the next members of the Kenora District Services Board.

The Board voted 7-3 in favour of a pay hike at its meeting yesterday in Dryden.

The Honoraria will be for travel, board meetings and committee meetings and will only be paid out to those who make a meeting in person.

The current stipend for members who attend a board meeting is 1-thousand dollars and that will go up to 2-thousand.

The KDSB stresses that the current rates are the lowest in Ontario and haven't been changed since 1999.

Sioux Lookout Mayor Dennis Leney, Kenora Councilor Louis Roussin and Lake of the Woods unincorporated member Irene Kember voted against the increase.

They stated the hike isn't needed, while Kember wanted video-conference attendance to count in receiving the honoraria.

The change is effective January 1st, 2015.

Eikre Given A 5 Year Contract Extension

The director of Education with the Kenora Catholic District School Board isn't planning
to retire anytime soon.

The separate school board has extended the contract of Phylis Eikre.

Eikre says she's looking forward to at least another five years at the helm.

Eikre has been the director of education since September 1st, 2008.

Accident Results in Drug Charges

The OPP say two people face drug charges following a single vehicle accident on Highway 17-A.

Police say early Friday morning a vehicle went off the road near Middle Lake.

During their investigation, officers discovered some items commonly used in drug use.

Further investigation uncovered a number of hydromorphone pills, with a street value of about five thosuand dollars.

The driver of the vehicle, 30 year old Sharon Pahpasay of Kenora and a passenger, Don Necanapanace Junior from Grassy Narrows have been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking.

A third person in the vehicle had to be taken to hospital for treatment of
non-threatening injuries.

MNR Says Smoke Coming From Manitoba

You might have noticed some hazy, smoky conditions in the area over the past couple of days.

The MNR says while there was very little fire activity in this region over the long weekend, smoke from fires burning in northern Manitoba and even the Northwest Territories has been drifting into the region.

The hot, dry conditions over the weekend has seen the fire hazard jump
to the high to extreme range right across northwestern Ontario.

Dryden VS. Fort in Kraft Celebration Tour

Its going to be the battle of Dryden versus Fort Frances in the
Kraft Celebration Tour.

The two northwestern Ontario towns will be squaring off for the right to earn 25 thousand dollars and a chance to host a segment of TSN's Sportscenter.

The public vote will take place on July 19th on which community will
host the Kraft Celebration Tour.

Morwood Wins Dryden Triathlon

A Kenora athlete took top honors at the Canada Day Triathlon in Dryden.

Dan Morwood crossed the finish line yesterday in just under 1-hour, ahead of Bob Shine and Cory Smith.

The Dryden Triathalon is a warm-up for some for the Kenora Borealis Multi-SportTriathlon which will take place this weekend at Garrow Park.

Lakeside Fire causes extensive damage

(Photo Courtesy of Mark Duggan)

The OPP and local fire officials are continuing to investigate a fire in the
Lakeside area of town.

The blaze broke out Sunday afternoon to a home on Robertson Street.

The garage unit attached to the home was completely destroyed and
the upper level of the house also sustained extensive fire damage.

Fire chief Warren Brinkman says they are still looking into the cause,
but suggest the blaze started in the garage area.

No one was injured in the blaze.