Kenora's Fire and Emergency Services Department has been dealing with a rash of brush fires over the past couple of weeks.
The most recent blaze took place Tuesday afternoon behind Thomas Aquinas School.
Fire Chief Warren Brinkman says the fire burned about an acre of bush immediatley south of the Rowing Club on Rabbit Lake.
He says there was a lot of deadfall in the area and the fire burned very quickly.
Local firefighters were able to put a hose around the blaze and bring it under control in less than an hour.
Brinkman believes the fire was likely started by kids hanging around the area.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Power Outages
High winds this afternoon are causing some problems for Hydro One customers in the Kenora area.
About one thousand customers in areas east of the city have been without electricity since
3:15.
Areas affected are Grassy Narrows, Jaffray and Melick, Haycock, and Pettypiece.
Hydro One says crews have been dispatched to restore power.
Electricity is expected to be back on for most customers by 6:00.
About one thousand customers in areas east of the city have been without electricity since
3:15.
Areas affected are Grassy Narrows, Jaffray and Melick, Haycock, and Pettypiece.
Hydro One says crews have been dispatched to restore power.
Electricity is expected to be back on for most customers by 6:00.
KPS Disbandment Costs finalized
The total cost to disband the Kenora Police Service will come in at about 2.4 million dollars.
That figure was provided to Kenora City Council yesterday.
The costs include severance for employees of the municipal police service, legal expenses, overtime training costs, and building expenses for renovating the old KPS building.
Finance and Administration Manager, Karen Brown says they will be able to bring down the final disbandment expense by recovering some costs elsewhere.
The final bill for the city will amount to 1.7 million dollars.
That figure was provided to Kenora City Council yesterday.
The costs include severance for employees of the municipal police service, legal expenses, overtime training costs, and building expenses for renovating the old KPS building.
Finance and Administration Manager, Karen Brown says they will be able to bring down the final disbandment expense by recovering some costs elsewhere.
The final bill for the city will amount to 1.7 million dollars.
Municipal Paving Contract
Its going to cost the city about a million dollars less than expected to resurface Highway 17 east and west in Kenora.
The City is planning to award a 5.2 million dollars contract next week for the Municipal Road Works Tender.
Operations Manager Rick Perchuck is hoping they can use the extra funds from the federal-provincial infrastructure program to do more paving this year.
In addition to resurfacing Highway 17 east this year, the city also plans to re-pave parts of Matheson Street South and 1st Avenue South.
The City is planning to award a 5.2 million dollars contract next week for the Municipal Road Works Tender.
Operations Manager Rick Perchuck is hoping they can use the extra funds from the federal-provincial infrastructure program to do more paving this year.
In addition to resurfacing Highway 17 east this year, the city also plans to re-pave parts of Matheson Street South and 1st Avenue South.
Stabbing fatality
A 45 year old man from the Onigaming First Nation is dead following a stabbing incident.
Treaty Three Police say they were called to a residence in the community last Thursday night.
There was a stabbing reported and when officers arrived at the scene, they discovered the body of deceased male victim.
The OPP's Criminal Investigations Branch has been called in to help out with the homicide investigation.
A post-mortem was carried out on Saturday at Lake of the Woods District Hospital, but the name of the victim has not been released.
Treaty Three Police say they were called to a residence in the community last Thursday night.
There was a stabbing reported and when officers arrived at the scene, they discovered the body of deceased male victim.
The OPP's Criminal Investigations Branch has been called in to help out with the homicide investigation.
A post-mortem was carried out on Saturday at Lake of the Woods District Hospital, but the name of the victim has not been released.
Child Porn Charges laid
A Toronto man has been charged after allegedly taking a computer full of child pornography to a Winnipeg shop to be fixed.
The 34-year-old was working in Kenora last October when he had trouble with his desktop computer and took it to Winnipeg to be repaired.
The technician called police and investigators allegedly uncovered more than 200 pornographic images of young children.
Eric John Maillard is charged with two counts of possession of child pornography and one count of accessing child pornography.
He is expected in court in May in Winnipeg.
The 34-year-old was working in Kenora last October when he had trouble with his desktop computer and took it to Winnipeg to be repaired.
The technician called police and investigators allegedly uncovered more than 200 pornographic images of young children.
Eric John Maillard is charged with two counts of possession of child pornography and one count of accessing child pornography.
He is expected in court in May in Winnipeg.
LHIN's releases Strat Plan
The Northwest Local Health Integration Network has unveiled its vision for health care in the region.
The Integrated Health Strategic Plan was presented to theLake of the Woods Hospital Board last week.
Laura Kokochinski is the interim CEO of the LHIN's and saysthey conducted an extensive consultation earlier this year.
The three year plan will also focus on reducing wait timesin Emergency rooms and improving access to healthcare in communities across the region.
The Integrated Health Strategic Plan was presented to theLake of the Woods Hospital Board last week.
Laura Kokochinski is the interim CEO of the LHIN's and saysthey conducted an extensive consultation earlier this year.
The three year plan will also focus on reducing wait timesin Emergency rooms and improving access to healthcare in communities across the region.
Money for winter roads
The federal government is providing finacial support to Northern Ontario First Nation communities.
A total of 3.8 million dollars will be distributed due to warm spring temperatures forcing early winter-road closures.
Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford says these winter roads are vital for transportation of goods and services.
The money will be directed at battling the high costs of fuel transportation.
A total of 3.8 million dollars will be distributed due to warm spring temperatures forcing early winter-road closures.
Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford says these winter roads are vital for transportation of goods and services.
The money will be directed at battling the high costs of fuel transportation.
Crimestoppers numbers up
CrimeStoppers of Northwestern Ontario and Northern Minnesota is showing some impressive numbers in the first three months of 2010
Coordinator of the program, Doug Anderson says there's been large increases in tips received, cases cleared and rewards issued over last year.
Anderson says continued media support and initiatives such as an improved website and a new facebook page are helping increase the organizations public profile.
Coordinator of the program, Doug Anderson says there's been large increases in tips received, cases cleared and rewards issued over last year.
Anderson says continued media support and initiatives such as an improved website and a new facebook page are helping increase the organizations public profile.
Green Power Projects for the Region
A company called Xeneca Power Corporation was one of the big winners in last weeks green energy announcement by the provincial government.
The company is going ahead with 19 hydro projects in northern Ontario and is planning five others in the northwest.
Mark Holmes is a spokesperson for the company and says they are planning to develop relatively small hydro stations in the region.
Holmes says they are hoping to be able to move ahead in the next couple of years on hydro projects on Ball Lake near Grassy Narrows, Wabigoon Falls and Quibell.
The company is going ahead with 19 hydro projects in northern Ontario and is planning five others in the northwest.
Mark Holmes is a spokesperson for the company and says they are planning to develop relatively small hydro stations in the region.
Holmes says they are hoping to be able to move ahead in the next couple of years on hydro projects on Ball Lake near Grassy Narrows, Wabigoon Falls and Quibell.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Contraband Cigarettes
A coalition of health groups is calling on the province to domore to prevent kids from smoking contraband cigarettes.
The Ontario Campaign for Action on Tobacco says more than 60-thousand young people who already smoke are puffing contrabandcigarettes.
Director of the campaign, Michael Perley says contraband cigarettes are typically made by First Nations and are sold in clear plastic bags containing 200 cigarettes.
The coalition is calling for more police to clamp down on contraband smokes and for health warnings to be printed on all cigarettes.
The Ontario Campaign for Action on Tobacco says more than 60-thousand young people who already smoke are puffing contrabandcigarettes.
Director of the campaign, Michael Perley says contraband cigarettes are typically made by First Nations and are sold in clear plastic bags containing 200 cigarettes.
The coalition is calling for more police to clamp down on contraband smokes and for health warnings to be printed on all cigarettes.
Common Ground
Local storytellers will be putting a unique twist on local history this weekend.
A Sharing of our stories will be taking place at the Best Western Lakeside Inn from 9 until 3:30.
Barb Manson is one of the organizers and says they're pleased with the wide variety of stories they will be presenting.
There will be a total of ten storytellers on hand Saturday, with a cocktail closing reception at the Lake of the Woods Museum.
A Sharing of our stories will be taking place at the Best Western Lakeside Inn from 9 until 3:30.
Barb Manson is one of the organizers and says they're pleased with the wide variety of stories they will be presenting.
There will be a total of ten storytellers on hand Saturday, with a cocktail closing reception at the Lake of the Woods Museum.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Investigation into downtown fatality closed
The investigation into the sudden death of a Kenora man in late March has been effectively closed.
A spokeswoman for the Ontario Provincial Police said the exact cause of death has not been determined but foul play is not suspected.
Constable Heidi Britton said the investigation is completed and no charges are expected.
The body of the man was found in the morning of March 26 in his room in an apartment block on Matheson Street South.
Police have not released the dead man’s name.
There were rumors that the man had the victim of a beating but Britton says that wasn’t the case.
The OPP say an autopsy was performed but there was no cause of death determined.
Officials are still waiting results of toxicology tests.
A spokeswoman for the Ontario Provincial Police said the exact cause of death has not been determined but foul play is not suspected.
Constable Heidi Britton said the investigation is completed and no charges are expected.
The body of the man was found in the morning of March 26 in his room in an apartment block on Matheson Street South.
Police have not released the dead man’s name.
There were rumors that the man had the victim of a beating but Britton says that wasn’t the case.
The OPP say an autopsy was performed but there was no cause of death determined.
Officials are still waiting results of toxicology tests.
Green Energy Projects for Kenora area
The Ontario government has announced another round of green energy projects in the province.
The 184 projects are worth about eight billion dollars and Infrastructure Minister Brad Duguid says they represent about 20-thousand jobs.
Three of the energy contracts are in the Kenora District, including a two thousand kilowatt bio-mass project in the City of Kenora and a hydro generating station Above Ball Lake near Grassy Narrows.
The 184 projects are worth about eight billion dollars and Infrastructure Minister Brad Duguid says they represent about 20-thousand jobs.
Three of the energy contracts are in the Kenora District, including a two thousand kilowatt bio-mass project in the City of Kenora and a hydro generating station Above Ball Lake near Grassy Narrows.
Curb Contraband Cigarettes
A coalition of health groups is calling on the province to do more to prevent kids from smoking contraband cigarettes.
The Ontario Campaign for Action on Tobacco says more than 60-thousand young people who already smoke are puffing contraband cigarettes.
Director of the campaign, Michael Perley says contraband cigarettes are typically made by First Nations and are sold in clear plastic bags containing 200 cigarettes.
The coalition is calling for more police to clamp down on contraband smokes and for health warnings to be printed on all cigarettes.
The Ontario Campaign for Action on Tobacco says more than 60-thousand young people who already smoke are puffing contraband cigarettes.
Director of the campaign, Michael Perley says contraband cigarettes are typically made by First Nations and are sold in clear plastic bags containing 200 cigarettes.
The coalition is calling for more police to clamp down on contraband smokes and for health warnings to be printed on all cigarettes.
Record warm March
March 2010 is going down in history as the driest ever in the Kenora area.
Not a significant amount of snow was recorded for the first time ever.
And Geoff Coulson of Environment Canada says combined with warmer than usual temperatures, snow levels diminished by the middle of the month.
The average temperature for the month came in at 0.6 Celsius, breaking a 10 year old record high by a full degree.
Not a significant amount of snow was recorded for the first time ever.
And Geoff Coulson of Environment Canada says combined with warmer than usual temperatures, snow levels diminished by the middle of the month.
The average temperature for the month came in at 0.6 Celsius, breaking a 10 year old record high by a full degree.
Sioux Narrows lotto winner
A Sioux Narrows resident is happy he said 'yes' to Encore when he purchased his Lotto Max ticket back in February.
Because of this extra one-dollar decision for Encore, Tyler Cole Marquis won 100 thousand dollars.
The self-employed contractor and new father plans to pay off his mortgage.
Because of this extra one-dollar decision for Encore, Tyler Cole Marquis won 100 thousand dollars.
The self-employed contractor and new father plans to pay off his mortgage.
Busy fire season so far
It's the busiest times of the year for fire crews across Northern Ontario.
Fire information officer Debbie MacLean says 15 forest fires were reported in March alone.
Fire crews, aircrafts and water bombers are currently conducting spring training.
Fire information officer Debbie MacLean says 15 forest fires were reported in March alone.
Fire crews, aircrafts and water bombers are currently conducting spring training.
Deadline for forest land passes
The deadline to place bids for 11 million cubic metres of Ontario Forest has come and gone.
The forest allocation competition started last November and there were a number of proposals put forward.
Forestry Minister Michael Gravelle says most of the bids came from companies in the North.
Gravelle says some of the bids came from smaller companies focused on the value added side of the industry.
The forest allocation competition started last November and there were a number of proposals put forward.
Forestry Minister Michael Gravelle says most of the bids came from companies in the North.
Gravelle says some of the bids came from smaller companies focused on the value added side of the industry.
Brown looking forward to CAO's job
Kenora's next Chief Administrative Officer says she's looking forward to her new duties.
Karen Brown will be taking over from Bill Presentanz starting August 1st.
She says one of the big challenges is turning the city's financial situation around.
Brown says she'll start working with Presentanz starting June 1st to familiarize herself with the job, and start winding down her work in the finance department.
Karen Brown will be taking over from Bill Presentanz starting August 1st.
She says one of the big challenges is turning the city's financial situation around.
Brown says she'll start working with Presentanz starting June 1st to familiarize herself with the job, and start winding down her work in the finance department.
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