Monday, February 8, 2010

Municipal Budget set for today

Kenora residents should find later today much more they will have to pay in property taxes.

The 2010 municipal budget is going to be presented to council this afternoon at a special meeting starting at 3:00.

In addition to the municipal budget, new rates for sewer and water are also expected to be set.

While there should only be a modest increase in property taxes this year, sewer and water rates are scheduled to rise by about five percent this year.

The municipal budget is ready for passage almost three months earlier than normal.

Monopoly Wildcard Race


The race is on, and here comes Kenora in the backstretch.

The next round of voting for one of two wildcard spots on the Canadian Edition of the Monopoly board starts today.

A rally and voting station was set up at the Kenora Recreation Centre this morning where a special guest made some opening comments.

Kenora Mayor Len Compton played the role of Mr. Monopoly.

To vote log onto http://www.monopolyvote.ca/

Alzheimer Society Looks for Members

The Alzheimer Society of Kenora-Rainy River continues its search for more members.

The group is striving for 300 members.

Executive Director Margaret Schoenville says members can have a say in the direction of the organization.

Schoenville says a membership of 300 will also give the group three votes into the decisions at the provincial level.

Kenora By-Pass Open again

Highway 17A is open to traffic once again following an accident yesterday near the Meadows Lake bridge.

There were no injuries but the highway was closed for over 5 hours due to the size and number of vehicles involved.

The Kenora OPP are reminding the motoring public to drive safely on area roads after fresh snowfall and during slippery conditions.

Highway Safety Northwest

Highways across northwestern Ontario are safer today than they were two years ago.

That's according to statistics released by the OPP.

Constable Shelley Garr says since 2007, they have seen a dramatic decrease in the number of accidents, fatalities and injuries on local roads.

The OPP says its traffic safety program, which has been cracking down on unsafe and aggressive drivers is paying dividends right across the province.

Hospital Survey

The Lake of the Woods Hospital continues to gather community input.

The hospital board has embarked on a 2010 community engagement questionnaire.

Board Member Betty Anderson says they want to hear from hospital users.

Members of the hospital board have been meeting with a variety of community groups for over 3 years now and continue to do so into the coming months.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Hospital Board and Foundation Members

There will be a new face on the Lake of the Woods Hospital Foundation Board.

The Hospital board nominated both Nicole Brown and Claudette Edie at its monthly meeting last night.

Edie has been a member of the hospital foundation before.

The openings became available after several directors steped down.

Meanwhile, Reed Thompson resigned from the hospital board and provided a letter of resignation to the hospital board last night.

Lake of the Woods Hospital Surplus

The Lake of the Woods Hospital is reporting a small surplus.

Vice President of Corporate Services Cindy Gasparini revealed last night the hospital is sitting on a 436-thousand dollar surplus.

Gasparini says they're going to be using some of that money to deal with renovations they've put off.

Gasparini says there is only 3 months left in their fiscal year and are confident they'll end the year with a small surplus.

KDMA Continues in Ear Falls

The speed limit on area highways, lack of rest stops, and tourism areas will dominate discussion at this weekend's Kenora District Muncipal Association conference.

The regional meeting is being held in Ear Falls this year, and President Garry Parkes says driving conditions and the speed limit is one of the main resolutions up for debate.

Resolutions and the Executive election will take place on the final day of KDMA.

Meanwhile, Kenora is sending its newest city councillor to the Kenora District Municipal Association conference.

Parson adds he's looking forward to mingling with fellow municipal councillors.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

OPP Olympic Security

The Winter Olympics in Vancouver get under way next week, and there will be a Kenora presence at the games.

In addition to having Mike Richards on the National Men'sHockey team, three members of the Kenora Detachment ofthe OPP will be in attendance.

The three officers are part of a contigent of 150 OPPofficers providing security at the games.

Constables Heidi Britton, Peloso and Karen Rustigewill be working at different venues in and around Vancouver and Whistler over the next three weeks.

Sioux Lookout Charges

3-people have been charged and police are looking for a fourth stemming from 4-separate incidents in Sioux Lookout over the past 24-hours.

OPP were called to a local hotel to deal with an intoxicated man in the lobby.Police charged 37-year-old Christopher Mezzetay of Cat Lake First Nation with failing to comply with an undertaking.

The accused remains in custody.

Earlier in the day, another intoxicated male was arrested at a local business for breach of probation.

OPP say the third case relates to a domestic dispute and an 18-year-old man faces 1-count of assault.

The unsolved case involves a 19-year-old Sioux Lookout woman who is now wanted for not complying with her release conditions.No other names have been released.

Sioux Lookout Charges

3-people have been charged and police are looking for a fourth stemming from 4-separate incidents in Sioux Lookout over the past 24-hours.

OPP were called to a local hotel to deal with an intoxicated man in the lobby.Police charged 37-year-old Christopher Mezzetay of Cat Lake First Nation with failing to comply with an undertaking.

The accused remains in custody.

Earlier in the day, another intoxicated male was arrested at a local business for breach of probation.

OPP say the third case relates to a domestic dispute and an 18-year-old man faces 1-count of assault.

The unsolved case involves a 19-year-old Sioux Lookout woman who is now wanted for not complying with her release conditions.No other names have been released.

Accident Charges

A 27 year old Kenora man faces charges following a single motor vehicle accident.

On Monday afternoon, the OPP say they attended a collision onLakeview Drive.

Officer noticed that a hydro pole had been knocked down and there was debris on the roadway.

Kenora Hydro was called in to deal with the downed powerline and the road was closed for a short period of time.

The driver was taken to Lake of the Woods District Hospitalfor treatment of minor injuries and later released.

He has been charged with carelesss driving, failing to weara seatbelt and driving with an expired permit.

Traffic Stats

A downward trend in the number of major traffic incidents in Northwestern Ontario last year.

The OPP have released the year-end statistics for 2009.Police investigated 14-fatal collisions, down from 24 in 2007.3,183 crashes were reported last year, a drop of 350 from the year prior.

516 of the collisions last year resulted in personal injuries, compared to 653 two years ago.

KDMA Starts Today

The Kenora District Municipal Association is holding its annual general meeting this weekend in Ear Falls.

Deputy Mayor Tracey Simon says they were looking forward to the Minister of Natural Resources visiting, but notes that's changed.

Other guest speakers include Kenora MP Greg Rickford, Kenora Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton, and representatives from the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines.

KDMA officially gets underway with a meet and greet tonight and runs until Saturday.

Hampton Election

Count Howard Hampton in.

Hampton told municipal leaders attending the Rainy River District Municipal Association conference he'll be seeking another term in next year's provincial election.

Hampton has been the riding's representative to Toronto since 1987.

Rickford on Forest Industry

A new report on the future of the forest industry in Canada is getting kudos from the M.P. from the Kenora Riding.

Greg Rickford says he agrees with a number of recommendations contained in the study by the Forest Products Industry Association of Canada.

The report suggests new bio-fuel and bio-product industries be built around existing mills to diversify their production and create morejobs.

Local Sports

In court sports, the Beaver Brae Bronco's hosted the Dryden Eagles.

The Senior Girls Volleyball team lost in 3 sets, and the Juniors lost in 4 sets.

On the basketball court, the Junior boys lost 57 to 48, while the Seniors beat the Eagles 34 to 22.

In high school hockey action...

The Beaver Brae Bronco Boys team beat the Eagles 4 to 3.

Meanwhile, the Bronco Girls lost to the Eagles 4 to 1.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Kenora Transit Survey

The Kenora Transit Authority will be conducting a survey of itsriders in the weeks ahead.

A questionaire has been developed which asked passengerswhat they like about the service and what they don't like.

The commission says the goal of the survey is to increaseridership and reach out to potential users.

A city employee will be on the bus late this week or earlynext week to conduct the survey.

Once the results are compiled, a report will be submittedto the Transit Authority for review.

Rainy River Resources Update

There's a lot more work ahead for Rainy River Resources in its search for gold in Richardson township, northwest of Emo.

Speaking to delegates attending the Rainy River Municipal Association meeting , vice-president Garet MacDonald says about 30 per cent of the area has been explored.

MacDonald says the company will release its latest resource estimate by the end of this month.