Leo Bernier Passes Away

He was called the Emperor of the North.

Legendary provincial politician Leo Bernier has passed away at the
age of 81.

Bernier represented the old Kenora riding from 1966 to 1987.

Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. Howard Hampton says Bernier will be fondly
remembered.

Bernier served as Minister of Northern Affairs and Minister of
Lands and Forests in the governments of Bill Davis and Frank Miller.

Weekend forest fires

Despite cool, rainy conditions over the weekend, MNR fire crews had to

battle a number of new wild fires in the region.

Most of the action has been in the far north in the Sioux Lookout and
Nipigon Districts.

One new fire is burning about five kilometers north of Muskrat Dam.

Its about 24 hectares in size and is not under control.

Fire crews were also notified about some day burning taking place
on Lake of the Woods.

While campfires are allowed during the day, brush and grass burning is
not.

The fire hazard is listed as low to moderate across much of the region,
but high in the far north.

Treaty Three upset at charges

Grand Council Treaty #3 says its disappointed that the OPP have filed charges

against a 39 year old Grassy Narrows woman following a confrontation with
police in downtown Kenora.

Helen Proulx was shot after she brandished a knife at an officer on June 7th.

Grand Chief Diane Kelly says the charges betray the spirit of discussions they
have been having with the OPP regarding the shooting incident.

Inspector Dave Lucas of the Kenora Detachment says he met with the Grand Chief
and the chief of Grassy Narrows, prior to the charges being laid.

Public school Principals and VP's get raise

Principals and vice-principals with the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board will be getting raises this year.


At a special board meeting this week, trustees approved wage increases in line with what unionized staff will get.

Superintendant of Business Dean Carrie says the salary increases are not included in the province's wage freeze legislation.

Carrie says the wage increases will amount to about three percent this year.

OPP respond to Treaty Three

The OPP say they have been meeting with local aboriginal leaders about their
concerns following the shooting of a 39 year old Grassy Narrows woman in
downtown Kenora earlier this month.

Inspector Dave Lucas of the Kenora Detachment says he met with both the chief of
Grassy Narrows and the Grand Chief of Treaty Three last week.

The shooting of Helen Proulx is still under investigation by the SIU.

She was charged last week with assaulting a police officer, uttering
threats and possessing a weapon dangerous to the public.

Roads open after wash outs

Two roads in the Kenora area that were washed out over the weekend are are open
to traffic this morning.

Highway 525 to Whitedog was closed part of yesterday due to a washout about two
kilometers north of the Minaki Highway.

Its now listed at open.

Highway 671 to Grassy Narrows is also open after being washed out
about 58 kilometers north of the Kenora By-Pass.

NOSM Strat Plan Released

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine has a vision for the next five years.

Officials have taken the wraps off the new strategic plan.

Dean Dr. Roger Strasser says that the priorities include enhancing the schools education program and research plans

Dr. Strasser believes the goals are achievable.

The medical school places eight second year students in Kenora each year as part of its training program. 

Public School Board Plans Budget Review

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board is planning to do a complete
review of its finances this fall.

That in the wake of a 1.5 million dollar deficit in this year's budget.

Superintendant of Finance, Dean Carrie says they can't afford to rack up
deficits each year, so they need to find ways of reducing costs.

Carrie says they were able to cover their red ink this year by taking from
from reserves, but that's not sustainable in the long term.

All-Day Kindergarten popular at St. Louis

The Kenora Catholic District School Board says its had good response

to its all-day junior and senior Kindergarten classes at St. Louis school.

The all-day classes will begin in the fall, and acting director of education,
Kevin Debnam says they will have a full complement of students in the
program.

42 kids have been signed up for junior and senior kindergarten classes.

He adds that they will also be working with a third party to provide before
and after class supervision.

City offers free land for Ambulence Base

With both the City of Kenora and the Kenora District Services Board divided on a suitable location for a new Land Ambulance Base, Kenora Council has offered free property on Barsky's Hill.


In a letter to the KDSB, Mayor Len Compton offers property located in the 14th Street North and Mellick Avenue area, at no cost to the Board.

The Board has formed a Task Force to work with the City on the proposed site.

However, some Unincorporated members are concerned with some of the wording in the letter.

Compton writes the property may provide a unique opportunity for an integrated emergency service delivery model in the future.

One member stressed the KDSB is not looking to integrate emergency services.

Battle over Land Ambulence Base Continues

The Political battle between the Kenora District Services Board and the City of Kenora over the location of a new land ambulance base continues.


Frustrations peaked once again at the Annual Board meeting in Dryden Thursday as a motion was presented to members.

The motion went into great detail how efforts to acquire property in the City have been met with resistence and opposition at every opportunity and that the Board should look outside the City to build.

Bill Blower moved the motion and admits it was the build-up of 10-years of frustration.

Kenora Councilor Rory McMillan says the City has been more then open to suggestions and notes they have their own concerns.

McMillan says Council wants to see a central location for the base, given that 64-percent of their high priority calls are in Town.

The resolution was defeated by the Board.

Timmins Hunter Fined

A Timmins Ontario man has been banned from hunting for one year for shooting a deer on private property.


Sylvain Gravel was charged last year after admitting to shooting the deer to a Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officer who was investigating a complaint of a hunter trespassing on private land near Split Rock Rock in Sifton township, northeast of Fort Frances.

Gravel was also fined three-thousand dollars.

Police release name of North Spirit Lake man

The name of the North Spirit Lake First Nation man who died a week after being taken into Red Lake OPP custody has been released.


The Special Investigations Unit says 41-year-old Dalius Kakekagumick passed away at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre on Monday.

The Unit has so far identified one officer and eightwitnesses as part of its investigation.

The SIU has not said why Kakekagumick was taken into custody, or the cause of death.

Hampton opposes SuperCorp

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton is not impressed with what he calls is the latest McGuinty Government "scheme".

The Liberals are looking at selling portions of Hydro One, Ontario Power Generation, Ontario Lottery and the Liquor Control Board to raise money.

Hampton says Ontario residents have seen this movie before.

The NDP member calls it a pre-election bribe, using taxpayer dollars.

Safe Grad ready to roll

Graduation ceremonies for both Beaver Brae and Thomas Aquinas students will take place

this evening.

Following the individual ceremonies, all the graduates are invited to the Kenora Rec. Center for
the 10th annual Safe Grad celebrations.

Warren Brinkman is chair of Safe Grad and says they are keeping their 10th anniversary plans
under wraps right now.

Brinkman says graduates from Wabaseemung, Grassy Narrows and Whitefish Bay have also
been invited to attend the Safe Grad celebrations.

Events will be going on all night long at the Rec. Center.

Catholic School Board approves Budget

Both local school boards are planning to run deficits in the upcoming school year.

The Kenora Catholic District School Board approved its 2010/2011 budget last night.

It includes a 56 thousand dollar shortfall.
Erica Baily is the finance manager for the separate school board and says transportation
costs are the main reason behind this years deficit.

Total spending for the Catholic School Board next year will be about 19 million dollars.

Earlier this week, the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board announced it would also
be operating with a 1.5 million dollar deficit in the next school year.

OPP lay charges against Grassy Narrows woman

A 39 year old Grassy Narrows Woman faces four charges stemming from an incident
over two weeks ago in downtown Kenora that resulted in her being shot by police.

The OPP say that Helen Proulx is charged with assault with a weapon, assaulting
police, uttering death threats and possessing a weapon dangerous to the public peace.

OPP seargant Shelley Garr says its unclear when Proulx will be able to face the
charges in court because she's still recovering from her injuries in hospital.

Proulx was shot by an OPP officer on June 7th on 1st Street South.

The incident is also under investigation by the Special Investigations Unit.

Rickford reflects on last session of Parliament

Members of Parliament are on their Summer break and the MP for Kenora believes a lot was accomplished during the recent session.

Greg Rickford says it took some time, but everyone learned to get along in the end.

Rickford notes key Legislation related to free trade, immigration, employment insurance and parole eligibility all passed in the House of Commons.

Smoke gets in your Eyes

A shift in the wind direction has brought with it an unpleasant air mass to the region.
Late yesterday afternoon, smoke from fires burning in northern Manitoba
started wafting into northwestern Ontario.

Both the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Kenora Fire Department have
received calls from local residents wondering where the smoke was coming from.

About 40 fire rangers from northwestern Ontario are in northern Manitoba battling
wild fires there.

The fire situation in this region remains very quiet.

Just one new blaze was reported yesterday in the Thunder Bay District.

Whitedog resident tasered

Treaty Three Police say they had to use a taser in order to de-fuse a domestic situation on the Wabaseemung First Nation.

Police were called out just before midnight on June 18th to a home on Whitedog.

Officers say they witnessed man holding a weapon to a woman's neck.

They entered the house and told the man to drop his weapon.

He refused and as a result, the suspect was tasered.

He was taken into custody without injury.

32 year old William Boyd has been charged with assault with a weapon,
possession of a weapon, uttering threats and forcible confinement.

He's due to appear in Kenora Court later this morning.