Police Locate Body of Missing Woman

The OPP say they have found the body of a woman reported missing from the Rideout area of town.

Rosella Digirolamo was last seen last Friday, leaving her home on Mikado Avenue.

Yesterday, members of the Northwest Emergency Response Unit located her body in the bush off Miller's Rapids Road.

At this point, the OPP say they do not know the cause of death.

A post-mortem exam will be conducted at Lake of the Woods Hospital later today.

Services Board Hires New Emergency Services Manager

The Kenora District Services Board has hired a new manager for Emergency Services.

Andrew Tickner started his duties on Monday.

He takes over from Peter Marshall, who resigned last month.

Tickner was the former manager of the land ambulence bases in Sioux Lookout, Ignace and Pickle Lake.

In his new duties, he will be responsible for land ambulence services across the whole of the Kenora District.

High Gas Prices Could Impact Summer Tourism

The high price of gas is going to impact Northwestern Ontario's tourism industry.

Doug Reynolds is the executive director of Northern Ontario's Tourist Outfitters and says it's going to cost more to run area tourist camps.

Reynolds adds it's also going to cost more for Americans to drive here for fishing trips.

Economic Development Commission Presents First Quarter Report

Kenora's economy is off life support and is showing signs of recovery.

The Lake of the Woods Economic Development Commission presented its quarterly report to council this week.

Chair of the commission, Dennis Wallace says sees a great future for the former Abitibi lands.

Wallace says the new owners of the Abitibi property are hoping to fill up the site within three to five years with industrial based businesses.

City non union staff to get wage increase

Non-Union staff with the City of Kenora will be getting a raise this year.

Kenora City council is planning to approve a 2.7 percent wage increase for 2011 at its next open meeting.

The City's human resources manager, Sharon McDowall says the increase is less than unionized workers in the city, who will get a three percent increase this year.

Some non-union workers are eligible for a move on the salary grid this year, but that's considered a performance based increase.

Public School Board launches new wedbsite

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board is out with a new and improved website.

Communications Manager Sheena Valley says the site is the result of a lot of time and labour.

Valley says they tried to organize the website from a parent and community perspective.

The website can be locate at : http://www.kpdsb.on.ca/

Beaver Brae Soccer Teams find the win column

Beaver Brae's soccer teams finally found the win column. In fact the Broncos made it a clean sweep over the competition yesterday.

The Beaver Brae boys blanked Dryden in the morning game 3-0, and then shut out Fort Frances 2-0.

In girls action, the Broncos doubled up the Eagles 4-2, and followed that up with a 3-1 over the Muskies.

Farmer's Market to Stay on Harborfront this summer

Despite construction on the Kenora Harborfront, it looks as if the Farmer's Market is going to stay put this summer.

The City of Kenora is recommending allowing parking on the south side of Lakeview Drive on Wednesday's only, which is market day.

Councillor Sharon Smith says its one way of increasing parking in the Harbortown area.

There had been talk of moving the farmer's market to the Kenora Curling Club this year.

CIP Taking Shape for Abitibi Lands

The City of Kenora is putting the finishing touches on a Community Improvement Plan for the former Abitibi lands.

The city recently recieved approval to go ahead with the C.I.P., but the actual details are still being worked out.

Economic Development Officer, Jennifer Findlay says they are looking at a combination of tax breaks for new development and grants for businesses willing to locate on the property.

Findlay says they have ruled out any sort of loan program for the C.I.P.

A public meeting is scheduled to take place in the next month or so to get some feedback on the proposals.

Union Gas Lobbies for One Call System

Municipalities across northwestern Ontario are being asked to support a single call number to help locate buried utilities, such as natural gas, telecommunications, and sewer and water.

Union Gas made a presentation to council yesterday asking the city to support the one call system.

Luke Skaarup says too often homeowners or contractors fail to dial before they dig.

Skaarup says the provincial government is willing to move forward with legislation on a one call system, but only if they can sign up a majority of municipalities in Ontario first.

Province Says No to gas price regulation

Ontario's energy minister says there's not much he can do about soaring gasoline prices.

The cost is around 136 a litre in Kenora and as high as 145.8 in Sioux Lookout.

But Energy Minister Brad Duguid says there's little he can do to help.

Duguid says even if the government removed the harmonized sales tax from gasoline, the fuel companies will simply fill that space and prices would stay the same.

OPP Searching for Missing Rideout Woman

The OPP say they are searching for a person reported missing from the Rideout area of town.

Rosella Digirolomo was last seen on Thursday, May 5th.

Police say she had been seen leaving her residence on Mikado Avenue.

She has not been seen or heard from since.

Anyone who may have had contact with her is asked to contact the Kenora Detachment of the OPP.

Registered Nurses Call for Improved Health Care in the North

The President of the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario is calling on all three parties to unveil a specialized health care plan for Northern and Rural Ontario.

Speaking in Dryden on Monday, David McNeil stressed this area faces significant challenges related to an aging population and access to care.

McNeil also lobbyied the Province to move forward with their mandate of hiring 9-thousand additional nurses.

Northwestern Ontario offers flood aid to Manitoba

Northwestern Ontario is lending a helping hand to flood ravaged Manitoba.

Thunder Bay's HMCS Griffon is sending 5 members and two inflatable boats.

Lieutenant Commander John Bell says they'll be helping to evacuate residents and bring in supplies.

The group left Tuesday but more personnel are expected to be sent within the next 24 to 48 hours.

Council Ready to Move Ahead with Common Ground

The long-dormant Common Ground Initiative on Tunnel Island may soon wake out of hibernation.

Kenora City council is trying to get the ball rolling again, agreeing to waive the need for a dispute resolution process in the By-Laws of Common Ground.

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield says it didn't make sense to continue to hold up the process any longer.

The Common Ground Initiative had been on hold for the past three years because the City of Kenora couldn't agree with its first nation partners on a dispute resolution process.

Canfield says now that issue has been resolved, he's hoping all sides can get together and pass By-Law #1.

Police Arrest Agressive Driver

A short temper has ended up costing a 50 year old Welland man.

Kenora OPP stopped a vehicle on Highway 17 on the weekend for a traffic violation.

Police say the driver became aggressive towards the officer causing a stuggle on the Highway.

An off-duty Treaty 3 officer witnessed the altercation and assisted the officer in apprehending the accused.

Police say Wallace Buss has been charged with assault with intent to resist arrest.

Youth Arrested in Evergreen Break-In

The OPP say they have arrested seven male youth in connection to a break-in at Evergreen School.

Police say the school was broken into Friday evening.

The culprits made off with a safe containing an undisclosed amount of money.

The OPP say the suspects are between the ages of 13 and 17 and will appear in

Kenora Court on June 11th.

They will face charges of break, enter and theft and possession of stolen property.

Police say a portion of the stolen cash has also been recovered.

Youth Charged with Arson in Beaver Brae Blaze

The OPP say they have charged a 14 year old youth in connection to a fire up at Beaver Brae Secondary School last week.

Police say fires had been set in two bathrooms, and the school had to be evacuated as a result.

Classes were also cancelled for the day to allow the smoke to be  properly ventilated and to allow officers to investigate the incident.

A male suspect is due to appear in Kenora Court next month on arson charges.

Hampton Attacks government over Missing Youth

The NDP is attacking the Liberal Governments inaction over the disappearance of 7-First Nation High School students in Thunder Bay.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton brought the issue up in Monday's Question Period.

Hampton is pushing for increased attention to the conditions of First Nations youth living off-reserve.

Fraser Institute Rates Local High Schools

Not a great report card for local secondary schools from the Fraser Institute.

Its released annual survey of high schools across the province, and only two from northwestern Ontario finished in the top 200.

Thomas Aquinas placed 181 out of 727 schools rated.

It had a rating of 7.2 out of ten, which was up from 6.8 last year.

The other top scoring school in this region was Atikokan at 161 overall.

Beaver Brae finished in that lower end of the scale with a score of 3.8 out of ten.

It was rated 655th, down from 588 last year.