Electricity Protest in Dryden This Afternoon

It's time to take back the power.

That's the name of a peaceful protest that's happening this afternoon in Dryden.

Organizer Denise Carruthers says the purpose of it is to demand an end to the high hydro prices in Northwestern Ontario.

The protest is from noon until 1:00 at the government building in Dryden.

Public School Board Wants to Close Graduation Gap

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board says it wants to close the graduation gap between aboriginal and non-aboriginal students.

For the first time, the public school board has separated the two statistics.

Scott Urquhart is the student success for the public school board and says there is about a 20 percent difference in grad rates.

Urquhart says about 75 percent of  their students graduate after four years, but for aboriginal students that figure drops to 55 percent.

Library and Museum Employees to Get a Pay Raise

Employees at the Kenora Public Library and the Lake of the Woods Museum will be getting pay raises this year.

City council has approved 1.7 percent increases for 2013.

The pay raise means the city will have to add over 11 thousand dollars to this year's budget.

The pay raises for the museum and library staff are the same as other unionized workers in the city this year.

The city says it will be funding the pay raises through the police cost savings.

The OPP billings have been below budget so far this year.

City Spending Under Control

With the year starting to wind down, it looks like the City of Kenora will be able to break even.

The September financial statements were released this week and councllor Rory McMillan says currently the city is on budget in most areas.

He says while user fees are down, the city expenses are on track.

He adds that rental of facilities like the Whitecap Pavilion and the Discovery Center are running ahead of target.

NDP Leader to Visit Kenora This Afternoon

Ontario's NDP leader is on a tour of northwestern Ontario today.

Andrea Horwath was in Thunder Bay yesterday and will be making
pit stops in Fort Frances and Kenora today.

Horwath will be meeting with party faithful at a supper meet at the
HoHo Restaurant
this evening.

She'll also be attending a meeting with tourism stakeholders this afternoon
at the Discovery Center.

Fort man Recovering from ATV Accident

A 20 year old Fort Frances man remains in Thunder Bay hospital in serious condition following an ATV accident Wednesday.

OPP says the man was driving the ATV on LaVallee Road North, about nine kilometers north of Highway 11, when he lost control, causing the vehicle to roll and come to rest in the ditch.

The man was not wearing a helmet at the time.

Bearskin Crash Survivor Issues Statement

A woman who survived the Bearskin Airlines crash in Red Lake has released a personal statement.

Obtained by the Winnipeg Regional Health Sciences Center, Julie Dayholos says " words cannot describe the overwhelming feeling of love and support that I have received over the past few days".

She goes on to say that her thoughts and prayers are with the families who lost loved ones.

Dayholos adds that she hopes everyone understands her need for privacy, as she focuses her energy on recovering.

Red Cross Now Accepting Donations for the Philippines

You can help support relief efforts in the Philippines.

Keri Rafter is the Disaster Management Community Services Coordinator with the Red Cross in northwestern Ontario says any help is appreciated.

Rafter says donations can be made at any one of their local offices across Northwestern Ontario.

The death toll this morning has been put at 36 hundred from the typhoon.