Student Taken to Hospital Following School Bus Collision

Icy road conditions are believed to be partly responsible for an accident this morning involving a school bus.

The Northwest Student Services Consortium confirms bus KN-13 was involved in a collision with another vehicle on Austin Lake Road this morning just before 8:00.

Other than the bus driver, there was only one other person on board at the time, and the parents took the
student to Lake of the Woods District Hospital as a precaution.

The driver of the school bus was not injured, though both vehicles did sustain some damage.

City Talking to Province About Funding to Repair Broke Water Lines

The provincial government is being asked to provide some financial assistance to the City of Kenora as it deals with an epidemic of broke water lines.

Mayor Dave Canfield says he's met with government officials in recent weeks asking for help.

He's had discussions about the situation with the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Linda Jeffrey,  and says she's been very supportive so far.

The city is worried that it might have to eat into it's capital budget to repair broke water lines if it can't get any additional financial assistance from the federal or provincial levels of government.

Worst Roads Voting Begins Today

Just in time for pot hole season.

The Canadian Automobile Association is once again launching it's
Worst Roads campaign.

Over the next four weeks, Ontario motorists are invited to vote online
for roads or city streets in most need of repair.

You can log onto worstroads.ca to nominate a road in our area.

Health Unit Warns of Stomach Virus

The Northwestern Health Unit says they've noticed a steady increase in a stomach
virus across the region.

Manager of Infectious Diseases Donna Stanley says if you do catch the bug, the best thing to do is keep yourself well-hydrated and drink lots of water.

Stanley notes that if you are sick to avoid day cares, hospitals, and care homes until you have gone 24 hours with no symptoms.

Stanley adds it's important to constantly wash your hands throughout the day to prevent the spread of
any bugs.

Energy East Consultations Today

 Your chance to weigh in on the Energy East Pipeline project.

The first of seven community discussion forums will take place in
Kenora tonight.

The Ontario Energy Board is looking for feedback on the proposed
pipeline, which will take crude oil from Alberta and send it to eastern Canada.

The session will take place starting at 6:30 tonight at the Best Western Lakeside
Inn.

There will also be a similar session for First Nation and Metis this afternoon.

The only other forum in northwestern Ontario will take place tomorrow night in Thunder Bay.

OPP Provide Late-Season Reminder for Sledders

 With the cold weather staying with us, there are still pretty good conditions for
snowmachining.

That's why the Kenora OPP are reminding sledders of the regulations when out and about.

Constable Ronni Grosenick says not everyone can operate the machines.

Grosenick adds it's illegal to operate a snow machine on private property without the owners consent.

Ontario Liberals Election-Ready

The provincial Liberals are ready.

Party faithful gathered in Toronto for the party's annual meeting with Premier Kathleen helping to rally them in anticipation of an upcoming election.

Local candidate Anthony Leek says it was an important meeting to get all the candidates on the same page.

Leek says members of the Liberal's northern Caucus also met where he relinquished his position as regional vice-president to focus on his candidacy.

OPP Seize More Drugs On Highway 17

A traffic stop near the Ontario Manitoba border has landed a BC man in police custody.

Police say they stopped 44 year Kevin Tinker was stopped Friday morning for suspicious driving.

Police inspected the car and found 4.5 grams of marijuana and a large amount of cash.

As a result Tinker was charged with possession of cannabis and possession of property obtained by crime.

He will answer to the charges in Kenora court this morning.