Winter Road Maitenance Contractors Fined

The state of area highways and winter road maintenance continues to be a dominant story in our area.

The Ministry of Transportation says it has penalized maintenance contractors clearing provincial highways in northwestern Ontario for not meeting winter maintenance standards.

Transfield Services in our area is one of three highway maintenance companies fined.

The other two are in the Thunder Bay region.

An MTO Spokesperson says it can't reveal how much the penalties amount to, because it's a contractual matter.

However, the MTO has described them as "significant financial consequences."

Two Men Arrested on Drug Charges

The OPP says two Kenora Men face drug charges following an search of a Matheson Street residence.

The Street Crimes Unit, the Organized Crime Unit and the Kenora Drug Enforcement Unit exercised a search warrant last week.

Two men were arrested while leaving the building.

Police say they had more than 70 hydromorphone pills on them with a street value of about 16 hundred dollars.

22 year old Jory Smith and 22 year old Allen Pencoff have been charged with trafficking in a controlled drug.

Beaver Brae wins Junior KIT

Beaver Brae won the battle of Kenora at the Junior KIT basketball tournament.

The Broncos and Thomas Aquinas advanced to the A-Side final Saturday afternoon, with Beaver Brae coming out on top.

The Broncos edged the Saints 43-31 at the Beaver Brae Gym.

St. John's Ravenscourt from Winnipeg trounced Atikokan 29-6 in the battle for third place.

Dryden got by Queen Elizabeth from Sioux Lookout 57-41 in the 5th place game.

Parliament Resumes Sitting Today

Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford and other Members of Parliament return to their seats today as the winter-spring session begins.

Its expected to be a scene-setter for next year's federal election.

The main government theme of the winter sitting is the 2014 budget, which could be early, perhaps coming down within a few weeks.

It will prepare the ground for the election.

There is only one goal the budget must achieve: to be balanced in time for the Conservatives' election campaign.

Red Lake Man Faces Drug Charges

A 20 year old Red Lake man faces drug charges following a bust in that
community.

The Ontario Provincial Police Red Lake Detachment, Red Lake Crime Unit, Northwest Region Emergency Response Team and the Kenora Drug Enforcement Unit executed a search warrant at a residence in Red Lake last Wednesday.

Shortly before midnight the officers entered the residence and seized a quantity of cocaine, marij
uana, cash and an illegal firearm inside.

As of result of the investigation Ryan Brigden has been charged with 2 counts of Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime, Unauthorized Possession of a firearm and Possession of a Prohibited Weapon.

IISD Close To Finalizing Transfer of ELA

Experiments could be taking place at the Experimental Lakes Area in 2014.

Matt McCandless is the ELA Project Manager with the International Institute for Sustainable Development and says the transfer of the facility is almost complete.

McCandless notes the Government of Ontario is also working on proposed regulatory changes regarding experiments at the ELA.

He says the changes should be in place for 2014 research season.

Canfield To Attend Prospectors Conference

The City of Kenora wants to put more of a focus on the mining industry.

City Council has approved a resolution allowing Mayor Dave Canfield to attend the annual Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada conference in Toronto at the beginning of March.

Canfield says this will be the first time the city has sent a representative to the convention, which is one of the largest mining shows in the world with over 35 thousand people attending
from 120 countries.

He says Red Lake has attended for years and suggests it's an excellent opportunity to further diversify the city's economy.

Canfield adds that he will be in Toronto already for the annual Good Roads Conference, so
the cost to attend will be minimal.

The Lake of the Woods Development Commission and LOWBIC are also planning to send
representatives to the mining conference.

Museum Expands Budget for 50th Anniversary

Lake of the Woods Museum is increasing it's budget this year, in part to
help celebrate it's 50th anniversary.

Curator, Lori Nelson says they have ambitious plans including a book of
Carl Linde photographs, and a major exhibit on World War One.

Overall though she says they are seeking only a minor increase from the
city.

Nelson says their 2014 budget will increase by about 76 thousand dollars, but most of that will be covered through revenues from their projects.

Twice As Many Summer Company Grants Available

The provincial government is doubling the number of grants available for the Summer Company program.

This year there is funding for six students to set up their own business in
the Kenora and Rainy River Districts.

Diane Schwartz-Williams from the Northwest Business Center says high school and post-secondary students are both eligible for the program.

Schwartz-Williams says you can apply to the Summer Company program on-line through the Northwest Business Center website.

Midget Thistles Win Once In Weekend Road Trip

A tough road trip for the Kenora Triple "a" Midget Thistles.

The Thistles won just one of three games played over the weekend in central Manitoba.

The Kenora Midgets split their two game series with the Interlake Lightning.

Yesterday the Lightning doubled up the Thistles 4-2 in Teulon.

The Thistles lone win of the weekend came Saturday night, as they edged
Interlake 3-2.

Ben Hendrickson led the offense with three goals in those two games.

Friday, the Kenora Midgets started their weekend road trip off with a 4-2 loss at the
hands of the Pembina Valley Hawks.

Senior Thistles Remain Undefeated

A real confidence booster for the Kenora Triple "a" senior Thistles.

The Thistles scored early and scored often in both games over the weekend
against the Lac Du Bonnet Blues.

Yesterday, the Senior squad trounced the Blues 10-0 at the Kenora Rec. Center.

That followed up on a 7-0 whitewash on Saturday night.

Things will get a little tougher for the Thistles in two weeks time, as they host
former Allen Cup Champs, the Southeast Prairie Thunder at the Rec. Center.

Bell Let's Talk Campaign Begins Tomorrow

Ride along with an Olympian.

That's the idea of an event taking place in Kenora as cyclist Clara Hughes rides across the country for Bell Let's Talk.

Recreation Manager Colleen Neil says the ride takes place in the Kenora Rec. Center
.

Hughes will be stopping in Kenora during her ride this summer.

Natural Gas Expected To Be Restored In Southern Manitoba by Tonight

Manitoba Hydro is hoping to restore natural gas to most of it's customers
south of Winnipeg by tonight.

A massive explosion early Saturday morning in Otterburne, has affected natural gas distribution to nine other communities.

The blast has affected about four thousand customers.

Schools in several communities are closed today due to that lack of heat.

The RCMP has wrapped up it's investigation of the explosion and says the
cause is not suspicious.

Another Windchill Warning In Effect

Just can't shake this polar vortex.

Another day, another windchill warning in effect.

Bill Laidlaw from Signal Weather Services says strong northwesterly winds are producing wind chills in the Kenora area as cold as -46 this morning.

The windchill warning is in effect across northwestern Ontario and southern Manitoba today and is expected to last until at least tomorrow afternoon.

The only highway closure reported this morning is Highway 1 west of Headingly to Portage La Prairie.