More Snow On The Way

Another blast of winter this week.

Not one, but two snow storms are expected to blow through the region.

Bill Laidlaw from Signal Weather Services says the first one will be coming
through this afternoon.

Laidlaw says while this system will produce only a couple of centimeters of white stuff, a second one will be blowing in on Thursday, carrying a lot more snow with it.

OPP Forecasting Lower Costs For Some Municipalities

OPP are releasing some figures on what will be charged to municipalities policed by the provincial service.

Beginning in 2015, policing costs will be based on a 260-dollar per household charge plus calls per service.

Inspector Steve Shouldice of the Rainy River Detachment says municipalities, like Kenora and Red Lake, now paying over 900-dollars per household will see some savings.

He adds that other smaller municipalities like Lake of the Woods, which currently pays 61 dollars per household, will face higher costs.

Shouldice says costs will also be based on 96 different types of calls, instead of the 400 now used.

KDMA Passes Five Resolutions

Municipal Property Assessments, power, and winter road maintenance.

Those were just some of the issues addressed by delegates at the annual
Kenora District Municipal Association Conference in Pickle Lake.

Dave Canfield is president of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association and believes KDMA still has an important role to play in the region.

In all, delegates passed five resolutions that will be forwarded to the next
NOMA confererence at the end of April.

The next KDMA conference will be held in Ignace.  

Thunder Bay Challenges Province on BioMass Conversion Project

Just call it a bio-mess ...The political battle continues between Thunder Bay and the province's energy minister over the amount of biomass that will be needed to fuel the Thunder Bay Generating Station.

Thunder Bay Mayor Keith Hobbs says both sides remain far apart on how much advanced biomass will be needed once the station is converted

Hobbs says if there is no change in the government's position the city will make the problem an election issue.

The province is in the process of converting the coal plant to biomass.

The Northwest Energy Coalition is renewing demands that the plant be converted to natural gas
by 2016.

NAN Leaders Disappointed With New School Funding

The Nishnawbe Aski Nation says 1.9-billion dollars in federal funding to support first nations control over education is disappointing.

Grand Chief Harvey Yesno says the investment does not immediately address the chronic shortage in education funding in NAN First Nations, especially in remote communities.

Yesno says the only way to remedy the problem is an immediate and substantial investments in schools and education programming across NAN territory.

He notes the funding doesn't take effect this fiscal year and the 500-million over 7-years for education
infrastructure spread across all First Nations across Canada doesn't meet the current 12-year backlog in school construction in NAN alone.

Campbell Gathering Feedback For Provincial Budget

Expect to see the provincial budget released much sooner then it was last year.

That's what Kenora Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell is saying as the process is moving along nicely.

Campbell has been out and about gathering feedback from residents.

She notes that her number one priority is the cost of living.

Dryden High Set to Follow Beaver Brae's Lead

Could Dryden High School be following the lead of Beaver Brae High School?!

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board is considering changing DHS to a Grade 7 to 12 school.

The model has been a huge success in Kenora according to Board officials.

Public consultations to discuss the matter are being held February 18th and 26th at the High School library.

Thunder Bay Symphony Comes to King George

A crash course in classical music.

That's what students at King George will be getting this week.

The Thunder Bay Symphony will be playing a concert this Thursday
morning for students and parents.

The school is using the concert as a bit of a fundraiser for it's breakfast
program.

Parents who attend are being asked to bring a box of healthy cereal or oatmeal as their admission fee.

NorWOSSA Single "a" Playoffs Begin Today in Red Lake

Red Lake High School is playing host site for the NorWossa Single-A championships over the next two days.

Play starts today and wraps up tomorrow.

The Junior Girls Volleyball Semi-Final opens play at noon, with the Senior Girls following at 2 o'clock.

The Junior Boys Basketball Semi starts at 4, with the Senior Boys game at 6 o'clock.