NOCA Men's Playdowns Coming to Kenora

The 2015 Northern Ontario Curling Playdowns are coming to Kenora.

The Keewatin Curling Club was announced as the host yesterday.

President Hayley Smith says they will converting the Kenora Rec Centre for the event.

The conversion will see 4 curling sheets set up in the arena.

One of the main attractions will be the expected appearance of Brad Jacobs' Olympic gold medal team.

The Playdowns take to ice ice February 4th - 8th next year.

Valleyview Celebrates Earth Day

Earth Day Celebrations are taking place at Valleyview School.

Principal Jason McDonald says they are hosting an environmental fair in the gymnasium.

He says lots of topics are being dicussed with the students.

McDonald adds the public is invited to attend the fair between 5 and 7 tonight.

SNNF Raises Mill Rate One Percent

Residents of Sioux Narrows/Nestor Falls shouldn't have to dig much deeper to pay their  property tax bill this year.

The town has passed it's 2014 budget with a one percent increase.

Mayor Bill Thompson says most homeowners will actually see an overall decrease, once everything is factored in.

He says education taxes will be going down about three percent

Thompson says one of the other things they were able to do with their budget is put more money into reserves for future projects.

More Ministers Confirmed for NOMA

The Premier and four members of her cabinet are now confirmed for the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association Conference in Fort Frances.

Transportation Minister Glenn Murray, Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Bill Mauro, Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle and Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Zimmer wil answer questions from the region's municipal leaders during Friday's so-called Bearpit session.

Premier Kathleen Wynne will speak to delegates during a Thursday evening dinner.

The NOMA conference officially begins Wednesday evening.

Goldcorp Backs Away from Osisko Takeover

Goldcorp is giving up on its bid for Osisko Mining.

The mining company says it will not raise its offer of 3-point-6 billion dollars that expires tonight.

It decision come on the heel's of last week's announcement that Yamana Gold and Angico Eagle Mines are joining forces to acquire Osisko for 3-point-9 billion, creating a new company called New Osisko.

Canfield Cool To Municipality Taking Over Winter Road Maintenance

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield doesn't think many municipalities will jump at the chance of taking over winter road maintenance of provincial highways in the region.

It's an idea being floated by Transportation Minister Glenn Murray.

Canfield says municipalities know all too well the impact of provincial downloading.

Canfield says money given by the province often diminishes, forcing local taxpayers to pick up the tab to maintain the service.

Moose Tags At A Premium In Kenora WMU's

Local hunters hoping to bag a moose this year might have a tough time.

The MNR has reduced the number of tags for both bull and cow moose.

Overall, northwestern Ontario is looking at an 88 percent reduction.

In Kenora Wildlife Management Unit 7-B, there will only be 17 tags available down from 25 last year.

Just north of the city in Wildlife Management Unit 6, the number of tags has dropped to
just 21 this year, compared to 40 last year.

The MNR blames a declining moose population for the drastic reduction in tags.

Whitefish Bay to Participate in Treasury Gold EA

Treasury Metals continues environmental work on its Goliath Gold Mine project, about 20-kilometres east of Dryden.

Whitefish Bay has received 45-thousand dollars from the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency to participate in the environmental assessment.

The money will help the area First Nation community provide input on the draft plan as well as consult with mining and government officials.

Treasury Metals continues preliminary work on an open-pit and underground gold mine.

Once operational it could have ore production capacity of 25-hundred tonnes per day with an anticipated life of 10 to 12 years.

Jury Roll Issue Delays Another Trial In NWO

A murder trail in Thunder Bay that was supposed to start today is on hold.

22 year old Sheldon Wabason was supposed to go on trial for second degree murder in the 2011 death of 54 year old Robert Topping.

Wabason's lawyer Delmar Doucette says the judge in the case has stayed proceedings for one year.

Doucette says there aren't enough First Nations people represented on the local jury roll

Court Information Now Available On-Line

Need to know where and when you need to go to court?

A new online service now makes it easier for people to find out.

The website allows court users to search for basic information about next-day court appearances, including
the case number, names of the parties involved, and the time, location and reason for that appearance.

Before this information could only be accessed by calling or visiting the courthouse in person.

Bronco Boys Win Soccer Friendly

You may not guess it by looking at the ground, but the NorWOSSA soccer season is just around the corner.

Beaver Brae's boys squad was in Winnipeg recently for an exhibition game against Springs Christian High School and came away with  3-2 victory.

Joel Arsenault, Duncan McGillvray and Jackson Penner each scored for the Broncos.