Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Morgan Offensive Player of the Week in the WHSFL

Beaver Brae's first loss in the Winnipeg High School Football League this season turned out to have a silver lining.

Broncos running back Scott Morgan has been named the offensive player of the week in the
Kas Vidruk Division.

Morgan had 171 yards rushing and a touchdown on 16 carries in Beaver Brae's 29-10 loss
to Kildonan East.

The Broncos are back in action tomorrow against the 3-0 Miles MacDonnell Buckeyes.

Another All-Candidates Forum Today

The third all-candidates forum in three days will be held this morning for those running in the October 25th municipal elections.

The Kenora Seniors Coalition will host its forum in the Rotary Room at the Kenora Rec. Center this morning starting at 10:00.

Last night, Kenora's Young Professionals group held its own forum in the same location.

Tomorrow, two of three mayoralty candidates, Andrew Poirier and Dave Canfield will be in the CJRL studios for an hour long phone in show.

MNR testing for Chronic Wasting Disease

The Mininistry of Natural Resources will be conducting a study in northwestern Ontario Wildlife

Management Units this fall to see if there is any sign of Chronic Wasting Disease among the deer population.

Tore Buchanan is a spokesperson for the MNR and says they are asking hunters in the region to bring deer heads into select locations for testing.

Depot locations have been set up in Kenora, Nestor Falls, Dryden, Emo and Fort Frances.

Deer heads will be accepted until the middle of December.

OPP investigate Murder on Fort Hope First Nation

OPP are investigating a murder in Fort Hope First Nation.

Police were called out to the community north of Sioux Lookout on Monday.

The deceased is 38 year old James Wasawa.

27 year old William Oskineegish is in custody, and has been charged with second degree murder, and breach of probation.

He'll be in Thunder Bay court on October 4th.

College Tour stops in Kenora

Confederation College is hitting the highway for a week long recruitment campaign.

Representatives will be touring area communities speaking to high school students about their programs.

Spokesperson Shari MacKenzie says its important to reach out to their cachement area.

Confederation College will be joined on the tour by 12 other post secondary schools.

The tour stops at Beaver Brae Secondary School today. 

NDP launch campaign against the HST on Hydro Bills

Ontario's New Democrats are launching a campaign to force the government to take the provincial portion of the H-S-T off hydro bills.

Speaking in the legislature, Kenora-Rainy River M-P-P Howard Hampton says seniors, especially, are struggling to pay their electricity bills.

The NDP has created a website and N-D-P Leader Andrea Horwath is planning to tour the province to promote the cause.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

OPP Accolade Awards

Three local police officers will be honored this afternoon with an OPP Accolade Award.

The Organized Crime Enforcement Team in the north is being given the Jim Potts Award for its work in aboriginal communities.

Detective Constables Gerald Aubin and Dean Hodges from the Kenora Detachment of the OPP and  Scott Phillips from the Treaty Three Police are members of the team.

The award is being presented at the OPP's headquarters in Orillia this afternoon.

Broncos win once in Home Opener

A breakthrough for Beaver Brae's Junior Girls basketball team.

The Broncos won their first game of the year, a 28-23 victory over Dryden yesterday in their home opener.

Beaver Brae's other court teams are still searching for their first wins of the year.

The Bronco senior girls dropped a 31-21 decision to the Eagles.

In volleyball action, the senior boys were beaten three games to one, while the junior boys lost in three straight sets to Dryden.
The Eagles are coming off a second place finish at the Kenora Invitational Senior Boys Volleyball tournament over the weekend.

The Thomas Aquinas senior boys beat Dryden in two straight sets in the A-side final.

Thunder Bay Murder Autopsy Results

An autopsy shows a 16-year-old who was killed in Thunder Bay died of multiple blunt force trauma injuries.

The female victim was found on the morning of September 21st lying near a walking path in a wooded area near the Thunder Bay Expressway.

Two females, aged 15 and 14, have been charged with second-degree murder.

The accused are both in custody and are to appear in youth court Thursday morning.

The victim had come to Thunder Bay from Sachigo Lake First Nation at the beginning of September.

Drowning on Berens Lake

The OPP say they have located the body of a man who went missing while boating on Berens Lake near the Pikangikum First Nation.

Community members and peace keepers from Pikangikum began their search last Thursday.

The OPP's Marine Unit was contacted and an initial search of the area
located the victims boat drifting near an island with a damaged motor.

An MNR helicopter, the OPP's Emergency Response Team and an underwater search and recovery unit were also brought in.

They finally located the body of 37 year old Michael Dunsford on Saturday.

Police believe Dunsford drowned on the evening of September 22nd on Berens Lake.

Candidates talk about Economic Development

Economic development, retention of our youth, and openess in municipal government.

Those were some of the key themes from last night's opening all-candidates forum sponsored by the Kenora and District Chamber of Commerce.

Sharon Smith is a Keewatin resident and says there are lots of opportunities out there

to improve the local economy.

Councillor Charito Drinkwalter says its important for the city to create a positive environment for not only business, but for local residents.

Councillor Dave McCann stressed that the city has to be fiscally responsible.

Rod McKay is the manager of the mothballed Kenora Forest Products Mill and says
leadership is going to be important if the city wants to move forward.

For her part, councillor Wendy Cuthbert re-iterated her stand, that council needs to
hold the line on property taxes.

The second of four candidate forums will take place this evening in the Kenora Rec. Center's
Rotary Room and is sponsored by the Kenora Young Professionals group.

Mayoralty Forum

If nothing else, an all-candidates forum held by the Kenora and District Chamber of Commerce

shows there's lots of interest in the upcoming municipal elections.

A standing room audience listened to two of three mayoralty candidates and all 13 candidates for council at the first of four forums scheduled this week.

Economic development was a common theme from all candidates last night.

Former Kenora mayor Dave Canfield believes there are still opportunities in the forest sector.

Former city councillor Andrew Poirier also stated that the local economy would be his main focus
if he wins the October 25th election.

Kenora city councillor Jim Parson was not in attendance. But he did send his regrets through
Chamber of Commerce president Andy Scribilo.

Parson's wife Patti passed away last week after a short battle with cancer.

Monday, September 27, 2010

News Owners for Minaki Lodge

The former Minaki Lodge property north of Kenora will soon have a new owner.

Bob Banman, a former member of the Manitoba Legislature and Steinbach developer, Bob Schinkel are teaming up to re-develop the property on the Winnipeg River.

Banman says they want to create several condo units in the buildings that were once used for hotel rooms.

Banman says they are still waiting for the courts to approve the sale.

Once that's complete, they will begin work with the Ontario government on a site plan for the Minaki Lodge property.

Kenora Golfers win NorWOSSA Silver Medals

Kenora high school golfers earned three medals at the NorWOSSA championships.

The season wrapped up last week in Fort Frances, with the Beaver Brae Boys team earning the silver medal.

Brent Arsenault from Beaver Brae also took silver in boys individual play.

Danielle Toth was a silver medal winner in the girls individual bracket.

Hampton speaks out against Far North Act

The Far North Act isn't going to improve relations between the provincial government and

local first nations.

That's the feeling of Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. Howard Hampton.

He say the legislation, which was passed last week really undermines the rights of
aboriginal communities in the far north.

The Nishinabe-Aski Nation says there could be protests over the Far North Act similar to the HST protest earlier this year.

Treaty Three meets with Children and Youth Services Minister

Grand Council Treaty #3 says its pleased with recent meetings with the minister of

Children and Youth services.

The provincial Native Child Welfare conference wrapped up yesterday in Fort Frances.

Grand Chief Diane Kelly says she had a chance to meet with the minister, Laurel Broten.

Broten also gave the key-note address to the agencies attending the three day conference.

Kelly says she is hopeful the new relationship with the ministry will produce meaningful results for children and youth within Treaty Three communities.

Nuclear Waste Storage Sites Sought in NWO

The Nuclear Waste Management Organization is combing the area looking for communities interested in information on a proposal to establish used nuclear fuel storage sites.

Ear Falls has started the process by initiating a feasibility study, while Ignace is looking for more details.

Spokesperson Michael Krizanc says people have plenty of questions.

Krizanc says this is a long term process and any community interested in getting information
can contact the Nuclear Waste Management Organization for details about the project.

Confederation College is seeking a new president

Confederation College's President is retiring.

Pat Lang has held the position for the last ten years and says she wants the new President to bring in change.

Lang will retire this summer in July.

A national search for a replacement will get underway as soon as possible.

DOKURA votes on October 25th

The District of Kenora Unincorporated Areas Ratepayers Association is looking for

a couple of representitives to sit on the Kenora District Services Board.

Elections in two areas will also be held on October 25th.

In Lake of the Woods North, Ingrid Parkes and Barry Baltessen are going to be
on the ballot.

Returning officer for the vote, Jack McKenzie says any registered property owner
in the Unincororated areas will be eligible to vote.

McKenzie says they will have polling stations set up around the region at community
halls and fire halls.

In the Oxdrift area, Sarah Campbell and Ray LeRay are the only two candidates running
for one seat on the District Services Board.

Busy Week for Municipal Candidates

Its going to be a make or break week for the candidates running in the municipal
elections.

There are five all-candidate forums scheduled this week over the next five days.

The first event is up tonight at the Minnis Hall of Super 8, where the Kenora and District Chamber of Commerce is hosting an all-candidates forum.

That will be followed by forum sponsored by Kenora's Young Business Professionals
tomorrow night, and a senior's forum Wednesday morning.

On Thursday, the mayoralty candidates will be on CJRL for a special hour-long talkback
show.