City Updates Frozen Water lines

The city's operations manager is asking for patience.

That's the plea by Rick Perchuck as crews work around the clock to thaw frozen water lines.

Perchuck says all the issues have occurred because frost levels are well below the city's water infrastructure and leaves pipes susceptible to freezing.

He notes they have received over 300 calls this winter and that 89 homes are on the wait list to have lines unthawed.

Kenora MP Hosts Passport Clinic

If you're travelling out of country you'll want to stop here first.

Kenora MP Greg Rickford is holding a passport clinic in the city today.

Rickford says the clinic is a one stop shop to re-new a passport or if you're starting from scratch.

The clinic runs from 12 to 6 at the Kenora Legion.

Watershed Forum Underway

Focusing on water quality in the region.

That's the goal as the 11th Annual International Rainy lake of the Woods Watershed Forum gets underway in Intentional Falls today.

Todd Sellers is one of the organizers and says he's looking forward to a presentation calling for multi-jurisdictional action on invasive species.

Other topic being discussed over the next 2 days include Nutrients, Climate Change, and groundwater contamination.

Kenora Contractor Fined

A Kenora contractor is 5 thousand dollars lighter in the pocket.

Michael Klassen was issued the fine for illegally building a garage on a property in Clearwater Bay last March.

In court the MNR said the garage was built without permits and that it violated the Public Lands Act to protect water quality and trout populations in the lake.

It's the second time Klassen has been fined for violating the act.

In April last year he built a cottage without a permit.

Family Re-calls Fire in Waldhof

A major house fire in Waldhof is impacting the family that owns Kokom's Banock Shack in Dryden.

Owners, Josie Racicot and Bruce Dowswell, as well as, their daughter Kayla and grand-daughter Kaizly were able to escape only with what they were wearing.

The Sunday morning blaze destroyed the home within a half hour recalls sister-in-law Tammy Hourie.

The Machin Fire Service are investigating and at this point the cause is unknown.

Health Coalltion Pushes Against Privitization

The Ontario Health Coalition wants to bring people to the ballot box next month.

It plans to hold a voluntary referendum April 5 as part of a campaign denouncing the privatization of hospital services.

Executive Director Natalie Mehra says they are in the process of getting organized in northwestern Ontario.

Mehra says if certain medical procedures are shift from hospitals to private clinics, patients in northern Ontario would likely be forced to travel out of town more often for access.