Friday, May 9, 2014

NorWOSSA Soccer Action Underway


A couple of close games this morning at Thomas Aquinas.

Beaver Brae battled the Saints in boys and girls soccer action.

The elements kept scoring down in the first game of the day as
the Bronco boys played to a 0-0 draw with T.A. in a driving rain.

In the second game of the day, Thomas Aquinas blanked Beaver
Brae 1-0.

The round-robin exhibition series will wrap up at 4:30 tomorrow afternoon with the Saints boys taking on Dryden.

KDSB Offers Funding for Non-Profit Housing

Some social housing units in the Kenora District are getting a facelift

The Services Board has approved an extra 30 thousand dollars in funding to carry out the upgrades.

Director of Finance and Asset Management Corrine Owen says they originally set aside 310-thousand  dollars for capital work, but stresses more was needed to ensure tenant safety.

Aamikkowish Non Profit Housing in Kenora will get 15 thousand dollars to replace a failed furnace and remove water damaged/mouldy drywall.

Kenora Non Profit Housing is also getting 90 thousand dollars for various upgrades.



Fire Fighters Applaud New Cancer Regulations

Kenora's Fire and Emergency Services Department is applauding a decision by the
provincial government to expand cancer coverage for fire fighters.

The regulation change was made last week just before the provincial election was
called.

Fire Chief Warren Brinkman says cancer is just one of their on-the-job hazards.

The province is adding breast, testicular and multiple melanoma to the list of cancers
fire fighters can get coverage for immediately.

Prostate, lung and skin cancers will be phased in by 2017.

Red Cross Concerned About New Osnaburgh

New Osnaburgh First Nation remains in a state of emergency as the community has difficulty dealing with a February 13th fatal fire.

A mother, her two young daughters and her nephew perished in the blaze.

A team from the Canadian Red Cross is in the community this week to assess the situation and Spokesperson Tracey Browne says this is a groundbreaking visit.

Browne says the ultimate goal is developing a plan to improve the quality of life in New Osnaburgh and determining what services various agencies should be offering.

Aboriginal Leaders Continue To Discuss First Nation Education

First Nations leaders are in Thunder Bay this week to discuss the First Nations Education Act.

NAN leaders, as well as members from the Chiefs of Ontario continue to express their opposition to the piece of legislation.

Bill C-33 was introduced on April 10th by the federal government, but has remained on hold since the resignation of National Chief Shaun Atleo.

Fort Coming To Grips With Resolute Closure

The town of Fort Frances says its ready to move ahead without the existence of its major employer for the past 100 years.

Resolute Forest Products announced Wednesday it will permanently shutdown its pulp and paper mill.

Mayor Roy Avis says it has lifted a cloud of uncertainty that existed for months.

Avis says the focus now will be on initiatives that help offset the economic loss.

National Day of Honor

The Royal Canadian Legion is perplexed about why the federal government gave them so little time to prepare commemoration ceremonies across the region for today’s National Day of Honour.

The day is to mark the end of Canada’s mission in Afghanistan, however little notice was given.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty says several branches didn't have time to put something together.

No ceremony is planned locally, though residents are encourage to take two minutes of silence at 12:30 to honor our soldiers who died in the Afghan mission.

Sioux Lookout OPP Make Trafficking Arrest

A tip from someone has resulted in a bust for Provincial Police in Sioux Lookout.

Officers received information about a man travelling through the community who was believed to be carrying a large amount of cash.

Police nabbed the inidividual and found nearly 18-thousand dollars worth of what is believed to be drug money in his possession.

The accused was also in possession of a controlled substance.

OPP say 38-year-old Dean Bluecoat of Thunder Bay faces two charges.

Mother's Day Road Race Set to Go

Another edition of the mother's day road race is ready to go.

The annual 5 and 10 kilometre event goes Sunday at the Whitecap Pavilion.

Jennifer Findlay says the proceeds are going to the Kenora and Lake of the Woods Regional Community Foundation.

There will also be a fundraising pasta supper tomorrow night at Borelli's.

For registration details visit the Kenora Borealis Page here.

Muskies Ready To Make Their Home on Main

A community project.

That's how Irene McQuaig with the Lake of the Woods Arts Community feels about the Muskies on main project.

LOWAC gave a sneak peek of some the Muskies during an event on Wednesday.

They will be put for display on Main Street June 27th.

Team HNO Loses First Game at Gold Cup

Hockey Northwestern Ontario dropped its opener at the OHL Gold Cup in Kitchener.

The regional under 16 team fell to Hockey Eastern Ontario 4-2 yesterday.

Kevin O'Flaherty is the lone Kenora player on the squad.

They will try to rebound this morning at 8 o'clock against the team from the Greater Toronto Area.

NorWOSSA Soccer Season Gets Underway Today

The late spring means there won't be any high school soccer tournaments this year, but local teams will still get
a pre-season tune-up.

Both Beaver Brae and Thomas Aquinas boys and girls soccer teams will be involved in a series of games at the T.A. field today and tomorrow.

Action gets underway with the Saints hosting the Broncos in boys soccer at 9:00 Friday morning and the girls will do battle at 10:30.

Two teams from Winnipeg and the Dryden Eagles are also taking part in the two-day exhibition series.