Police Investigate 2 Deaths in Northern First Nation

The North Caribou Lake Police Service have called in the Ontario provincial Police to help investigate 2 deaths in a Northern first nation.

Police say they were called on Saturday death regarding a disturbance at a residence on the North Caribou Lake First Nation.

Upon arrival police found a woman dead inside.

The next morning a man was found dead inside GMC pick up truck found a short distance from the community.

The identities of the deceased have not been released.

The OPP's North West Region Crime Unit, Forensic Identification Unit, and Sioux Lookout detachment are assisting in the investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122..

Jessica Lundy Wins NOVA Award

A Kenora business owner has been named one of Northwestern Ontario's top 20 under the age of 40.

Jessica Lundy was presented a NOVA award on Saturday.

She was the only recipient west of Thunder Bay.

Lundy is the president of Good Things, which is a meat processing and retail store on 1st Avenue South.

The winners were honored at the second annual Northwestern Ontario Visionary Awards Banquet in Thunder Bay.

Hope and the City Takes a Hiatus

One of the main fundraisers in the fight against cancer is taking a year off.

Hope and The City is a ladies night out to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society.

Organizers say they are taking a year off because there have already been so many fundraisers
in the city already this year, but plan to be back again in 2015.

Last year Hope and the City raised a record 48 thousand dollars.

Northwest Business Center Finds New Manager

There will be a new face soon at the Northwest Business Center.

Diane Schwartz-Williams will be stepping down at the end of this month
and the city has found her replacement.

Allyson Pele will begin her new duties as Manager on January 28th.

Schwartz-Williams says she she has enjoyed her time with the Business Center
but is looking forward to pursuing some other opportunities.  

Environmental Assessment for Two Gold Mines Being Sought

Public comment is being sought on two mining projects in the region.

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is gathering comment on separate reports identifying the environmental impacts and measures to mitigate them of Osisko Mining's Hammond Reef Gold project near Atikokan and New Gold's Rainy River project near Barwick.

Comment is due by the middle of February.

Second Street Prepares for Downtown Revitalization

Businesses along Second Street South are bracing themselves for phase three of downtown revitalization.

It's hoped construction work can begin this spring.

Mort Goss is chair of the Harbortown Business Improvement Zone and says while the disruption could hurt stores in the short term, there is a long term benefit.

Goss says they will be looking at some promotional ideas this year to encourage locals and visitors to
shop on downtown, despite the construction.

School Board Pleased With Transition At Beaver Brae

It was a move that raised some eyebrows and caused some concerns but most people at Beaver Brae High School in Kenora are praising the new grade 7 to 12 model introduced this year.

Principal Clinton Bruetsch says the kids love it.

Bruetsch adds teachers have embraced the initiative.

The program currently provides service to roughly 150 grade 7 and 8 students and the kids are located in a wing of the school which is restricted to grade 9 and 12 students.

MTO Addresses Winter Road Maintenance

A sign the Ministry of Transportation is starting to take concerns about the state of winter road maintenance seriously in the region.

Speaking to Rainy River District Municipal leaders gathered in Atikokan on the weekend, Regional Manager Ian Smith says they are looking at some changes to the classification of Highway 502 between Dryden and Fort Frances.

Smith says the contractor had been hit with fines for not properly maintaining the road, but  believes plowing done by the previous firm was done at a higher level than expected.

NOSM Looking For New Directors

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine looking for some new board members.

They need four people to join their Board of Directors in September of this year.

The deadline to apply to the board is February 17th.

Event Center Committee Set to Unveil Draft Plans Wednesday

Work continues on expanding the Kenora Rec.
Center.

This week the Event Center Committee is taking a couple key steps in the process.

On Tuesday, at the council open meeting, a conceptual design will be presented.

The committee is then set to hold a public consultation to gather feedback on Wednesday night at the Rec. Center.

The concept is expected to include a performing arts center and a second ice surface.

The meeting gets underway at 7:00 in the Rotary room.

Habitat Prepares to Build Duplex

Fundraising efforts are going well for the next Habitat for Humanity build in Kenora.

Spokesperson Lindsay Wenaas says they are about halfway to their goal.

Financial and and gift in kind donations are being accepted.

Wenaas says the committee is also holding a re-store day on may 24th.

Planning Underway for Winter Carnival

Plans are well underway for the annual Kenora Winter Carnival.

The carnival will be taking place during the first weekend of the spring break this year.

That's a week later than usual.

Crystal Stokes is the city's special events coordinator and says they've shied away in the past from holding the winter carnival during the spring break, worried that too many people leave town to go on holiday.

However, she says the flip-side of the coin is a lot of families do stay home and are looking for
activities for the children.

She adds that by holding the carnival a week later, they are hoping to take advantage of a little
warmer weather.

The winter carnival will take place on Kenora Harborfront March 7th, 8th and 9th.

Thistles Beat the .500 Blues

Back to back wins for the Kenora Triple "a" Midget Thistles.

The Thistles are now two games above .500 after two one goal victories
over the weekend against the Yellowhead Chiefs.

Saturday night, Brandon Stanley scored the game winner in overtime as the
Thistles nipped the Chiefs 2-1 in overtime.

Friday night, the Kenora Midgets got a third period goal from Joel Arsenault in a
3-2 win over Yellowhead.

Almost Perfect Weekend for Atom Canucks

Almost a perfect weekend for the Lake of the Woods Atom Canucks girls
hockey team.

The Canucks hosted a three team exhibition series.

The local Atoms blanked the Roblin Park Raiders 3-0 in their first game, and then doubled
up the Brandon Yellow Jackets 4-2.

That set the stage for a re-match against Brandon Sunday, which the Manitoba won 6-5 in a shoot out.