Monday, June 9, 2014

OPP Make Arrest Following Break ins

Kenora OPP are getting the upper hand on the rash of break and enters in the community.

Police say a suspect has been arrested in relation to 2 cases.

18 year old Donovan Perrault of the Dalles First Nation has been charged with 2 counts of break and enter.

The charge stems from an investigation into break ins on May 30th and 31st in the Airport Road and Rabbit Lake areas.

He will answer to the charges in Kenora court next month.

Spring Feast Today on Tunnel Island

Looking for someplace different to eat lunch today.

How about Tunnel Island.

The annual Spring feast is scheduled to take place today.

Food will be served about noon.

This is the 13th spring feast sponsored by the Tunnel Island Partners.

Local School Board Getting Ready to Pass Budgets

Local school boards are crunching the numbers these days.

Most boards in the region will be passing their 2014/2015 budgets later this month.

Dean Carrie is the Superintendant of Business with the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board
and says the news is mostly good for them.

Carrie says they will have roughly 1.88 million dollars more to spend this year than last year.

The public school board will bring down it's budget on Tuesday.

City Announces Another Detour Today

As if there aren't enough detours in town already.

The City of Kenora has announced another road closure.

This time in the Valley Drive area.

Starting today, Valley Drive at Hillside Crescent will be closed due to
some sewer and water work taking place in the area.

The street will be shut down until at least June 30th.

The city says traffic will be re-routed around the construction zone.

Environment Canada Offers CanWarn This Week

Environment Canada is looking for a few more eyes in the sky in northwestern Ontario.

The weather forecasting agency is offering a program called CanWarn in Kenora next week.

Severe Weather Specialist Geoff Coulson says they are offering the course to emergency service personnel as well as civilians.

Coulson says there will be two training sessions on June 12th at 1:00 and 7:00 at the Red Cross Office in Keewatin.

Bike Ride for Children's Wish Foundation Stops In Kenora

An Edmonton man is cycling for wishes.

70-year-old Art Brochu is biking across Canada in support of the Children's Wish Foundation.

During a stop in Kenora this weekend, Brochu explained the reasoning behind the trip.

He started the venture in Port Hardy, B.C. in May and plans to end it St. John's, Newfoundland.

Funeral Services for Three Slain Mounties Tomorrow

A regimental funeral will be held tomorrow for the three fallen officers in last week's mass shooting in Moncton.

Constable Dave Ross, Constable Fabrice Gevaudan and Constable Douglas Larche were all gunned down by 24-year old Justin Bourque.

A parade of RCMP employees and law enforcement officials from across the country will be taking place before the funeral, which will be held at the Moncton Coliseum.

OPP Investigating Two More Break-Ins

An advisory from the OPP to lock you home and vehicles.

That after two more break-ins were reported late last week.

Police say they had reports of break and enters in Keewatin and
the south side of town last Thursday.

In both incidents, nothing seemed to be stolen.

The OPP's Forensic Identification Unit and Scene of Crimes Unit continue
to investigate the rash of break-ins.

Clara's Big Ride Arrives Next Week

Looking to end the stigma around mental health.

That's the big message as Kenora prepares to welcome Olympic Champion Clara Hughes to town.

Sue Portengen helped organized the event as part of Bell Let's Talk and says the community can easily get involved.

Hughes will be arriving in the evening of Monday June 16th at the Whitecap Pavilion.

Copperfin Receives Marketing Award

Some bragging rights for Copperfin Credit Union.

Marketing Manager Kayla Renaud says the recently were given an Achievement in Marketing Excellence award.

Renaud says she was excited to accept the honor.

She notes the campaign chosen was last year when Copperfin merged with Superior Credit Union from Thunder Bay.

Garbage Bins Get A Makeover

A chance to have your art display throughout the community.

Tourism Development Officer Heather Gropp says they are bringing back the garbage bin beautification program.

Gropp says any interested artists can contact Kenora Tourism.

Those selected to paint the bins will receive a five hundred dollar honorarium.

She notes the brand new bins are being provided by Johnson Waste Management.

OPSEU To Hold Rallies At Northern Jails Today

All nine Northern Ontario Correctional facilities are holding information rallies today.

They feel their employer is prematurely preparing for a strike.

OPSEU spokesperson Mike Lundy says they've seen their employer start building strike shacks for managers to live in, in the event of a labour disruption.

Lundy says it's dumb founding and they want to spread the word that this is happening at Northern facilities.

Locally, OPSEU will be holding a rally at the old Tourist Information site beside the Kenora Jail at 11:30 this morning followed by a charity barbeque.

Student Vote Prepares for Provincial Election

It's not just the adults who are head to the polls this week in the Ontario election.

Students at more than 20 schools across the Kenora-Rainy River Riding will be holding votes as part of the Student Vote program.

Spokesperson Conor Holash says its helps young people take a greater interest in the electoral process.

In 2011, the Ontario students voted for a an NDP minority government while NDP's Sarah Campbell got the nod from students in her riding.