Local Postal Workers Locked Out!

Members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers in Kenora are on the picket line today.

Pickets were set up after Canada Post decided to lock-out its employees.

Chuck Cadger is the local union respresentive and says they are willing to fight to maintain the wages and benefits they have.

The head of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, Denis Lemelin held a press conference this morning and is calling the lockout a completely unacceptable situation.

City Daycare Rates going Up

Its soon going to cost more to send your kid to a city-run daycare facility.

The city is looking at imposing a dollar a day increase at the Castle of Learning Daycare Center starting next week.

The daycare rate will go up to 31 dollars a day.

Recreational Services manager, Colleen Neil says there's still lots of demand for the service and says they are full.

Police Continue to Investigate Fatal Accident on Highway 17

Police still haven't released the names of the young family who perished in a fatal collision near Upsala.

OPP Staff Sergeant Dan Peters says the family died after there vehicle crossed the centre line on Highway 17 and hit a transport head on Sunday evening.

Peters says once the bodies are identified the names will be released.

Public School Board approves Budget

Declining enrolment is starting to cut into the budget of the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board.

This year, the public school board is projecting a shortfall of 1.5 million dollars in the 2011/2012 school year.

Superintendant of Business Dean Carrie says they hope to be able to balance their books within three years.

The overall budget for the school board is 84.7 million dollars, which is

down almost two million dollars from last year.

Community Improvement Plan Coming together for Abitibi Lands

A number of tax incentives are being promised to companies which decided to locate on the former Abitibi property in Kenora.

Details of a community improvement plan were unveiled this morning at a public meeting.

Councillor Ron Lunny says they will also be providing incentives to fix up the buildings on the mill site.

Lunny says tax incentives include no taxes after the first year of setting up shop on the mill property on 9th Street North.

There will be a five year phase-in of the industrial taxes.

First Nations Get Funding for Training

The Provincial Government is doling out millions of dollars to Northwestern Ontario communities.


Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle says 8.6 million dollars is being put towards training programs for first nations.

Shoal Lake #39 First Nation has been promised 566 thousand dollars of that funding, while the Bimose Tribal Council will be getting 540 thousand.

Gravelle says they're also putting 16.6 million dollars towards cell service upgrades in the far north.

Beach Boys Headline Harborfront Tonight

The first major event of the summer season gets underway this evening in Kenora when the Beach Boys come to town.

Over 15 hundred people are expected to crowd under the big tent on the Harborfront.

Kenora's Tourism Development Officer Heather Paterson says parking could be at premium.

Tonight's concert is scheduled to get underway at 7:30 this evening.

Library Seeking more money from the City

Kenora Public Library is warning of service cuts if it doesn't get an increase in funding from the City of Kenora.

The Library Board made a deputation to council yesterday, asking for a hike in their 2011 budget.

Marg Curtis-Poirier is the chair of the library board and says even though they did receive a 33 thousand dollar increase in their budget this year, it will still leave them with a lot of red ink.

The library presented three proposals to council, one of which included  the closure of the Keewatin Branch of the library, if there was no increase in funding.

Weyerhaeuser Questions Earthroots Report

Weyerhaueser is questioning the accuracy of a report from an environmental group which raises concerns about the operations of the ILevel Timberstrand Mill in Kenora.

Earthroots claims formaldehyde-based resins are used in the manufacturing process.

Formaldehyde was listed last week by the U.S. government as a cancer causing agent.

But spokesperson for the company, Wayne Roznowsky says contrary to the claims in the Earthroots report, formaldehyde is not used to produce timberstrand.

Roznowsky admits they do have air emissions that contain formaldehyde, but says those are naturally produced while wood fiber is drying.

Think North Summit Opens Today

The Think North Summit will open today with an infrastructure and training announcement.

Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle says the summit is the next stage of the province's Northern Growth Plan

The summitt will focus on the future of Northern Ontario's economy.

Kenora Mayor Dave Canfield is in attendance.

Body of Missing Angler Found on Lake of the Woods

The body of a missing american angler has been found on Lake of the Woods.

The OPP's Marine Unit located the body of 69 year old Richard Herman on the shore of the lake in the Morson area on Sunday.

Herman, from Peoria, Illinois went missing three weeks ago, when he was fishing in a 16 foot boat, with 73 year old James Wealther.

The body of Wealther was found on May 24th.

Three People Dead in Accident near Upsala

Three people are dead following a two vehicle collision on the Trans-Canada Highway near Upsala.

The OPP say the accident took place last night around 6:10 when a semi tractor trailor unit and another vehicle collided just east of the community.

Police say a man, a woman and a child in the vehicle were killed, while the driver of the transport was not injured.

So far the names of the deceased have not been released.

Forest Fire Hazard High in NWO

The forest fire hazard has jumped to high across Northwestern Ontario.

6-new fires were reported yesterday, three in the Thunder Bay District.

All of the new starts are classed as out or under control, with the exception of one on an island in Wabakimi Provincial Park.

The small fire is burning near an outpost camp, but the Ministry of Natural Resources has kept the flames away from the camp.

The MNR stresses that all campfires must be attended and put dead out before leaving.

Relay for Life Raises 88 Thousand Dollars

A big weekend for the Canadian Cancer Society in Kenora.

The annual Relay for Life took in over 88 thousand dollars unofficially.

A final tally is expected to be available later today.

The total topped last year's figures.

The top team was the Graychums, which collected just over eight thousand dollars, followed by Scotiabank at 79 hundred.

A record number of luminaries were also sold, with 800 set up around the track at Lakewood Field Friday night.

Two Feather Gets More Provincial Funding

The Province is investing 3.6-million dollars in the Two Feathers Forest Products project.


The funding will allow 240-people in Dryden receive training this year that will prepare them for forestry sector jobs.

The project will provide both apprenticeship training and on-the-job technical training for prepare them for jobs in the Two Feathers initiative or other forestry jobs.

Wabigoon Lake First Nation, Wood Tech Group in Finland, Seven Generations Institute and Confederation College are involved in the project.

Operation Corridor Launches Tuesday morning

Transport drivers will have to be extra attentive on the road as Operation Corridor is about to be rolled out.

The 24-hour blitz starts Tuesday morning at 6 o'clock.

Sergeant Shelley Garr is the OPP Northwest Region Spokesperson and says a number of groups are involved in the intiiative.

Garr says they will also be watching for seatbelt infractions and distracted drivers.

OPP Investigate Fatal Accident near Upsala

OPP are on scene investigating a fatal 2-vehicle collision on Highway 17, just east of Upsala.

Emergency crews were dispatched just after 6 o'clock last night.

OPP say an eastbound vehicle collided head on with a westbound transport.

The Trans-Canada is open to one lane of traffic.

Police will only say that the driver of the tractor trailer was not injured.

Con College releases Environmental Plan

Confederation College is launching a five year environmental action plan.

Con College president Pat Lang says they've already started several "green" initiatives.

The action plan includes promoting the use of public transportation, cutting down on e-waste and recycling.

The environmental plan was released on Friday. 

Cystic Fibrosis Fundraiser Cleans Up

The 8th annual CARSTAR fundraising car wash is taking place tomorrow in Kenora.

Spokesperson Jackynn Tregunno says they are raising money for Cystic Fibrosis Canada.

The event is from 10 until 2 o'clock at Crystal Clean Carwash on

Railway Street. 

Harborfront Ready for Special Event Season

Kenora is gearing up for another summer of special events.

The big tent is now up on the Harborfront in preparations for the Beach Boys concert next Wednesday.

The first event of the season under the tent takes place tomorrow with the Swingin' Seniors.

People will be coming in from Fort Frances, Vermillion Bay and Sioux Lookout for the event.

The opening ceremonies will take place at 10:45 Saturday morning and things will wrap up at 4:00.