Friday, February 7, 2014

Winter Farmer's Market Returns to Discovery Center

No shortage of activities this weekend in the Kenora area.

In addition to winter carnivals in Redditt and Falcon Lake, the Winter Farmer's Market returns to the Discovery Center.

This is the second of four that are being planned.

Tomorrow's market is set to coincide with Valentine's Day.

The market will run from 10:00 to 2:30.

Midget Thistles Wrap Up Regular Season This Weekend

The Kenora Triple "A" Midgets wrap up the regular season this weekend.

The Thistles hit the road tonight to face the Southwest Cougars in Souris.

Tomorrow night the Kenora Midgets then head to Shoal Lake to face off with the Yellowhead Chiefs.

Sunday night marks the end of the season as the thistles then enter Portage La Prairie to play the Central Plains Capitals.

Senior Thistles Set to Host Southeast Prairie Thunder

A familiar face is back with the Kenora Triple "A" Senior Thistles as they hit the ice this weekend.

Goaltender Ryan Person has re-joined the Thistles.

Person played against Kenora earlier this year when he brought the Manitoba Pirates to town.

He'll share the net along with Tyler Gordon as the Southeast prairie Thunder come to town for a pair of games.

The first match up is tomorrow night at 7:00 with the rematch Sunday at 2:00 both at the Thistles Arena.

Dryden Chooses Kenora Ambulance and Fire Dispatch Service

Chalk another one up for the Kenora Central Ambulance & Fire Communications Center

Dryden Council  finally approved fire dispatching service to the Norman-based operation.

Wabigoon and Oxdrift fire will be contributing towards one third of the price.

Fire Chief Ken Kurz both fire halls really helped with the approval.

Kurz says the next step will be installing the equipment before March 31st.

Dryden council has approved a five year deal with the Kenora Ambulance and Fire Dispatch Center.

Gravelle Adds Voice to Winter Highway Maintenance Concerns

A member of Premier Wynne's cabinet is expressing his concern with the condition of highways in northwestern Ontario.

Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle says he doesn't feel winter road maintenance has been up to what it has been in the past and addressed his concerns to Transportation Minister Glen Murray last week.

Gravelle says if things don't improve, changes may have to be made.

He says the fact fines have been given out to contractors shows Murray is taking the issue very seriously.

Highway Safety Message Heads into Schools

High school drivers will be targeted by the OPP's Highway Safety and Education Committee.

They'd heading to area schools to talk about their winter driving initiatives.

Constable Anne McCoy says it includes a contest that encourages students to produce their own public service announcement, which will air on local Acadia Broadcasting radio stations including 89.5 The Lake.

The first of the presentations took place this week in Kenora high schools.

Other presentations are being made in Dryden and Fort Frances, Thunder Bay and Red Lake.

Winter Carnivals Take Place North and West of Town

A couple of annual traditions are back again this weekend.

The 40th Annual Beaver Days gets underway at the Whiteshell Community Centre starting this evening.

Organizer Marcie Woods says they have lots of new events, including snowmobile radar races.

She adds that they also have one of the biggest silent auctions in the region.

Tonight, the annual Redditt Winter Carnival also gets underway north of
Kenora.

It will feature a curling bonspiel, community supper tonight and the crowning
of the carnival queen.

Eagles Dominate Broncos On the Court and On the Ice

Not the way Beaver Brae wanted to finish the NorWOSSA regular season.

The Broncos were in Dryden to take on the Eagles in boys basketball and
girls volleyball and it was a clean sweep for the home teams.

The Beaver Brae junior and senior girls squads were swept in straight sets.

In boys basketball, the Eagles were finally able to solve the Bronco junior boys edging them 44-38.

Beaver Brae's senior boys dropped a 61-33 decision to Dryden.

The NorWOSSA Double "a" play-offs will take place next Thursday in Fort Frances.

Meanwhile, the Eagles continued their domination on the ice as well last night.

Dryden got by Beaver Brae's girls hockey team 5-2.

The Broncos next game is Tuesday at Red Lake.