CJRL News

Northwest OPP Release Long Weekend Stats

2013-05-23T10:32:00.001-05:00

Provincial Police are out with its statistics from the May Long Weekend.

Sergeant Shelley Garr says in the Northwest Region, they laid 281 speeding charges, 4 charges of distracted driving and issued 27 seat belt charges.

In one incident, a motorcyclist was arrested for impaired driving after
he fell off is bike while driving around the Round About in Kenora.

Police says the biker had been using drugs.

Garr says that fortunately there were no serious incidents in this region.

Good Turn Out for Event Center Meeting

2013-05-23T07:41:00.002-05:00

More than just a second ice surface for the Kenora Rec. Center.

That was the thrust of a public meeting last night staged by the
Event Center Committee.

A number of ideas were thrown around to improve the Kenora Rec. Center.

Mike Dietsch is the co-chair of the committee and says the suggestions
presented last night will help them develop a concept they eventually will
take to city council.

Dietsch says their goal is to have a concept the can take to council in August of 2014.

Councillor Votes Against Resolution on Contraband Tobacco

2013-05-23T07:28:00.000-05:00

Education over enforcement.

City council this week voted to stronger penalties against those caught producing and selling contraband tobacco.

Councillor Sharon Smith voted against the resolution calling for more education on the topic.

Some of the actions that council voted on include higher fines and giving more authority to seize products and impound vehicles.

Smith says there are a number of aboriginal communities looking to create a sustainable business by producing raw tobacco.

Smith says the government needs to start talking to these communities.

Hudak Proposes More Help with Ring of Fire

2013-05-23T07:26:00.000-05:00

Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak believes the government is not taking advantage of the Ring of Fire.

Speaking with northern media recently, Hudak says the area can make Ontario just as financially strong as other provinces.

Hudak says he would put a cabinet minister in charge of the Ring of Fire who had have more authority over job and wealth creation in the province.

He adds that he will also work to create transit infrastructure.

Hudak suggests that Ontario needs a premier who will champion the project at Queen's Park.

OPP Launch New Recruitment Initiative

2013-05-23T07:23:00.000-05:00

The Ontario Provincial Police are launching a recruitment campaign in northwestern Ontario.

Constable Erin Huckell says it's called the "Northern Policing Experience", and runs from May 25th to 26th.

Huckell says travel and accommodations for anyone wanting take part will be taken care of.

PARO Receives Funding for Programs in NWO

2013-05-23T07:21:00.002-05:00

The Ontario Trillium Foundation is giving just over 352-thousand dollars to PARO Centre for Women's Enterprise.

PARO Executive Director Rosalind Lockyer says the three year grant will be used to provide training for would be young entrepreneurs in Northwestern Ontario.

Lockyer says the money will go along way with covering the costs of salaries, training opportunities and producing materials for their training programs.

Beaver Brae Earns Top 10 Finish in Provincial Envirothon

2013-05-23T07:20:00.001-05:00

A group of students from Beaver Brae has a chance to attend the International Envirothon championships.

The high school's Envirothon team finished in the top ten in Ontario after two weeks
of competition.

Envirothon includes an on-line test that looks at a number of issues including
Aquatics, Forestry, Soils, and Wildlife.

The next stage of the competition includes an interview with a trip to Montana
on the line for the International Envirothon in August.

Broncos Soccer Teams Split Against Muskies

2013-05-22T16:08:00.001-05:00

A great showing this afternoon for the Beaver Brae soccer teams.

After a pair of morning wins against the Eagles the Broncos split there games against the Muskies.

The Broncos boys started the scoring and had a 2-2 tie at half, but Fort Frances would score in the second half for a 3-2 victory.

The girls played to a 1-0 victory.

With the win, Beaver Brae's girls team finished first in their division and will now get a bye into
the gold medal game.

The next games for the Broncos team will be the NORWOSSA playoffs in Dryden next Wednesday.

Meanwhile, St. Joseph's from Dryden took the Intermediate Catholic Schools Championship
yesterday.

St. Joseph's beat Thomas Aquinas Red 1-0 on penalty kicks.

Broncos start the Day With A Pair of Wins

2013-05-22T11:48:00.001-05:00

A pair of wins for Beaver Brae's soccer teams this morning at the Tom Nabb Soccer Complex.

The Bronco boys scored early and often en route to a 6-3 win over the Dryden Eagles.

Kodai Kuroda led the offense with a three goal game.

Meanwhile, the Beaver Brae girls saved their best for last, scoring twice in
the final five minutes to earn a 2-1 win over the Eagles.

Beaver Brae is back in action this afternoon at 2:00 against Fort Frances.

The NorWOSSA Double A playoffs will take place in Dryden next Wednesday.

Hockey for Health Gets Kudos from Council

2013-05-22T07:55:00.001-05:00

City Council is showing it's appreciation to the organizer of the Hockey for Health Tournament.

Yesterday, council presented Dean Caron and his family with a certificate of appreciation for their work in creating the annual tournament.

Caron says there are a lot more people to thank for building the event.

Mayor Dave Canfield says the tournament has created a lasting legacy towards helping to community.

Black Sturgeon Property Owners Lobby Council

2013-05-22T07:52:00.000-05:00

The Black Sturgeon Lake Property Owners Association is upset with City Council.

Council has voted against a moratorium to prevent future developments on the lake.

Association President Dan Olscamp says the decision goes against talks with Mayor Dave Canfield regarding a halt in water testing.

However, Olscamp didn't leave council defeated.

The city did confirm the 2014 budget will include water testing on Black Sturgeon.

Local Liberals Pleased with NDP Budget Support

2013-05-22T07:28:00.002-05:00

Reactions are starting to come in regarding the N-D-P support for the budget.

Kenora Rainy River Liberal candidate Anthony Leek says he was very happy with the announcement.

Leek says the budget will benefit the entire province.

Leek says he is happy the province will not be going to the polls this spring and that he will stay on as the Liberal candidate for the riding.

Resolute Blamed for Demise of Boreal Agreement

2013-05-22T07:27:00.000-05:00

A three year campaign to protect the boreal forest has broken down.

Environmental groups are blaming Resolute Forest Products for the failure of the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement.

Tim Graham from the Ivey Foundation says they put five million dollars
into the effort to protect the boreal forest in the region.

The environmental groups say instead of protecting more boreal forest in northwestern Ontario, Resolute Forest Products has been expanding its use of local woodlands.

OPP Marine Unit Busy Over Long Weekend

2013-05-22T07:25:00.001-05:00

Some wild weather over the May Long Weekend posed problems for boaters.

The OPP Marine Unit says its was called out a couple of times to help rescue people who found themselves stranded on local lakes.

On Monday afternoon, two 21 year old men were canoing on Stewart Lake when they were swamped.

The managed to make it to shore, and police say they were able to locate them safe and sound.

In a separate incident, a boat was stranded out in Bigstone Bay on Lake of the Woods due to high winds and large waves.

The OPP says they were able to remove the five people on Board and safely get them off the reef.

High School Soccer This Morning

2013-05-22T07:24:00.000-05:00

The NorWOSSA double "a" soccer season is quickly drawing to a close.

The final regular season games will be taking place at the Tom Nabb Soccer

Complex today. Beaver Brae's boys and girls teams will be in actin at 9:00 this morning against Dryden, and then will be back on the pitch at 2:00 against Fort Frances.

The NorWOSSA play-offs will take place next week in Dryden.

Four Arrested in Weekend Police Chase in Vermillion Bay

2013-05-21T10:44:00.002-05:00

The OPP say four teenagers are in custody following a brief police chase in the Vermilion Bay area.

Police say they noticed a truck with Manitoba license plates stopped at the Machin Medical clinic early Saturday morning.

Officers attempted to speak with the driver, but the accused took off, resulting in a brief chase.

OPP called off the pursuit due to public safety concerns but located the vehicle a short time later after it was involved in a collision.

The teens fled into the woods but were eventually arrested.

Two of the teens are men and two are women and all hail from Saskatchewan.

They face multiple charges.

Norman Fire Causes Damage to Duplex

2013-05-21T08:25:00.001-05:00

No injuries reported as a result of an early morning fire in the Norman Area.

Kenora's Fire and Emergency Service Department was called out at 12:44 this morning to a building on Kay Street West.

The fire was reported in the lower unit of a duplex.

The blaze caused extensive smoke and heat damage to both units.

Fire fighters spent about three hours at the scene and will be back later today to try and determine the cause.

Chipman Street Still Blocked Off

2013-05-21T08:21:00.002-05:00

You may need to find a detour driving through downtown Kenora today.

A section of Chipman Street remains blocked off after a roof overhang at the former Kenwood Hotel fell down onto the sidewalk and street in front of the building.

The parking area south of the Hotel has also been blocked off as a
precaution.

A contractor is working to stabilize the building and remove some material from the overhang.

Event Center Committee Looking for Feedback

2013-05-21T08:20:00.000-05:00

It's time for you to offer your opinion on the expansion of the Rec Center.

Event Center Committee chair Chris Van Wallenghem says they are holding a public meeting this Wednesday.

Van Wallenghem says the meeting is aimed at getting as much public input as possible.

He adds the Event Center expansion doesn't have the be limited to a second ice surface.

The meeting gets underway at 7:00 on the ice surface at the Rec Center..

Municipality Trying to Save Caliper Lake

2013-05-21T08:17:00.000-05:00

It wasn't a great long weekend weather-wise.

But it was an even worse long weekend if you wanted to go camping
at Caliper Lake Provincial Park.

The park was closed last year by the province, and Mayor Bill Thompson of Sioux Narrows/Nestor Falls says they are continuing the fight to re-open the park.

He says though that they want the MNR to transfer the land over to the municipality first.

Thompson says the longer the park is closed, the less likely it will ever re-open again.

Province Gives Green Light to Rainy River Resources

2013-05-21T07:27:00.000-05:00

The Ministry of the Environment has decided to go ahead with the Terms of Reference for the Rainy River Gold Project.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell brought the issue up in the legislature, stating that the government was delaying the development of this project.

However, Campbell says she is pleased that the government has come through, and it will benefit the region.

Campbell says the Minister of Northern Development and Mines Michael Gravelle was also pushing the government to accept the terms.

Heavy Rains Cause Evacuation near Thunder Bay

2013-05-21T07:26:00.000-05:00

Fort William First Nation near Thunder Bay has declared a state
of emergency.

It says homes in the community have been hit by flooding while
roads are washed out due to heavy rains.

About 170 residents who've had to leave their homes were being
put up in a local hotel.

Chief Georjann Morriseau says there are numerous road closures in
the community due to washouts.

Alzheimer Society Launches Penny Drive

2013-05-21T07:23:00.000-05:00

Don't throw out your old pennies just yet.

The Alzheimers Society of Kenora and Rainy River is conducting a
penny drive once again this spring.

Ashton Faulds says any funds raised will go towards local programs.

Faulds says their goal is to collect three thousand pounds of pennies
this year.

No Water Service for Coney Island

2013-05-17T11:03:00.002-05:00

Some disappointment for Coney Island residents.

The City of Kenora says the summer water service will not be ready for this weekend.

The Operations Department says due to a late spring, crews have found sections of water line still in a frozen state.

The water also has to be tested before it can be used by the public.

The city says the summer water line should be in service by May 24th.

OPP Vow to Be Out in Force this Long Weekend

2013-05-17T07:27:00.000-05:00

The Ontario Provincial Police want to make sure everyone stays safe this Victoria Day Weekend.

Sergeant Shelley Garr with the Northwest Region says this year's theme is "Take Charge Of Your Own Safety".

Garr says the public is the first line of defense against any tragedy.

She says officers will be out looking for distracted and aggressive drivers, impaired drivers and those not wearing their seat belts.