Non Profit Housing Project ready for Kenora

More details about a housing project in Kenora will be released today.

The Aamikkowiish Non-Profit Housing Corporation will be holding a sod turning ceremony at the Neechee Friendship center this morning.

A total of 17 new housing units are being built for aboriginal families.

The Executive Director of the Ontario Aborigianl Housing Service will also be on hand for the groundbreaking.

The ceremony is scheduled to start at 10:00.

Rain helps fire crews in Northwest

A short-lived reprieve for fire fighters in northwestern Ontario.

Wide-spread cloud and rain help keep the number of new forest fire starts down yesterday.

Only four new blazes were reported in the region, but that's on top of the 103 that are still burning.

Smoke from the fires in the far north remains the biggest challenge for fire crews and aircraft battling the blazes.

Rickford and Clement meet with local evacuees

FedNor Minister Tony Clement says the forest fire situation is a very serious and he is asking the Province to take the initiative and ask for help.

Clement and Kenora MP Greg Rickford met with firefighters and evacuees in Dryden this morning.

Clement says the Federal Government is doing everything it can.

In terms of emergency assitance relief, its up to the Province to ask for Federal support, and Clement says he's hoping they do it "sooner rather than later".

Evacuations Continue from the Far North

More than 3,000 residents of northwestern Ontario have now been evacuated from their homes as forest fires continue to rage through parts of the province.

Mike Morton of Emergency Management Ontario says so far Kenora has not been asked to welcome any evacuees.

Residents of Cat Lake, Sandy Lake, Keewaywin, Wunnamin Lake and Kingfisher Lake have been evacuated to Moosenee, Arthur and as far away as Ottawa.

Youth Charged in Morson Break-ins

Four youth face charges connection with a rash of break-ins in the Morson area of Lake of the Woods.

OPP say a number of cabins at a tourist resort and several homes were broke into over the weekend with damages estimated to be over one-hundred thousand dollars.

The four accused will now appear in Fort Frances court next month on break and enter and possession of stolen property charges

New Confederation College President on Tour

The new president of Confederation College has kicked off his first visit to the regional campuses.

Jim Madder is meeting with staff at the Lake of the Woods Campus in Kenora this week.

He says he wants to strengthen the partnerships the College now enjoys.

Madder says the visit also gave him a better understanding of the issues and opportunities facing the Campus.

Kenora Man fined for Illegally Killing a deer

A Kenora man has been fined three thousand dollars for illegally hunting Deer.

The Ministry of Natural Resources say they arrested a man last November after he had killed a deer on private property on the Essex Road.

MNR Conservation officers conducted an investigation and determined the deer had been killed at night.

Marcel Brousseau was fined for hunting at night and possessing an illegally killed deer.

Brown now officially City's CAO

Karen Brown is now officially Kenora's Chief Administrative Officer.

Brown has been on the job as the city's top civil servant since August 1st of last year, but her probation period has just been completed.

Kenora Mayor Dave Canfield says three members of city council did a performance review and it was agreed that Brown has been doing a good job as the city's administrator.

Brown replaced long time CAO Bill Presentanz last summer.

Four weather records set

It was a record setting day across northwestern Ontario.

A number of communities across the region set temperature records.

In Kenora, the thermometer hit 33.1 degrees, breaking a 71 year old record.

The previous high for July 19th was 30.6.

Red Lake was the hot spot in northwestern Ontario, with the temperature topping

out at 35.2, smashing the previous record by three degrees.

Discovery Center almost ready to open

Tourism Kenora is getting ready to move into its new digs.

This week is moving week.

Tourism Development Officer, Heather Paterson says the old tourism office on Highway 17 east has been closed down

as the city prepares to open the new Discovery Center on Cameron Bay.

That facility is scheduled to officially supposed to open its doors on Friday morning to the public.

The grand opening is expected to take place sometime in September.

Health Unit Issues Smoke Advisory

With all the smoke this week caused by forest fires burning in the far north, the Northwest Health Unit has come out with an advisory for local residents.

The Health Unit says the young, the elderly, pregnant women, people with heart or lung problems, and people doing strenuous exercise are at the greatest risk.

If the smokey conditions prevail, the Health Unit suggests local residents stay indoors, and remain inactive and keep their windows and doors closed.

If you begin to feel unwell, you should contact your health care provider.

Conditions in Red Lake, Thunder Bay and Dryden are said to be very bad today.

Clement to meet with Fire Evacuees

FedNor Minister Tony Clement is in Dryden this morning to meet with volunteers, firefighters and evacuees affected by wildfires raging in the area.

Clement will be joined by Kenora MP and Parliamentary Secretary for Aboriginal Affairs Greg Rickford.

The two will be at the Dryden Airport at 10 o'clock.

Burning Permits in the City Suspended

The hot dry conditions are causing concern for Kenora's Fire and Emergency Services.

It's forced officials to suspend all burning permits within the city citing unusually dry conditions.

The burning ban won't be lifted until the situation improves.

Premier urges residents to be careful with fire

Forest fires in northwestern Ontario have forced evacuations in several communities.

Premier Dalton McGuinty is urging those venturing into Ontario forests to be careful.

 More than 115 forest fires are raging across northwestern Ontario, and thousands of residents are in immediate danger from the growing flames and dense smoke.

Communities Looking for Help with Evacuees

Forest fires in northwestern Ontario have communities scrambling

to find accommodation for thousands of people who may have to be evacuated.

Thunder Bay wants Queen's Park to get involved in the evacuation and help with the temporary housing needed for up to 7-thousand evacuees.

Timmins and Sudbury have agreed to take in evacuees.

Some have already gone to Wawa, Sioux Lookout, Kapuskasing, Matachewan and Greenstone.

NAN Urges Governments to Commit more resources to Evacuations

Nishnawbe-Aski Nation Grand Chief Stan Beardy is asking the Provincial and Federal Governments to commit all available emergency resources to help First Nations threatened by forest fires.

Beardy wants Ottawa to ensure that enough aircraft are available to evacuate the communities at a moment's notice.

More than 115 forest fires are raging across Northwestern Ontario, and Beardy says thousands of residents are in immediate danger from the growing flames and dense smoke.

As many as 200 residents of Keewaywin First Nation were evacuated to Winnipeg on Monday evening after 197 residents were evacuated Sunday.

76-residents of Cat Lake First Nation have been evacuated to Dryden and 170 residents of North Spirit Lake First Nation have been evacuated to Greenstone.

About 750 residents of Sandy Lake First Nation have been evacuated to Thunder Bay, and 230 residents of Kingfisher Lake First Nation are on standby for evacuation.

A total of 46-hundred people have already been evacuated and more are expected in the coming days.

Beady is also asking the Province to declare a state of emergency so that all necessary resources can be directed to protect the health and safety of the residents of the effected communities.

OPP searching for Suspect in Airport Road Assault

The OPP are searching for a suspect in connection to an assault that took on a trail just off the Airport Road.

Police say the incident took place just before 7:00 last night on the hydro highline trail near Tetroe Road.

A woman was walking her dog when a man ran out of the bush and allegedly assaulted her.

The woman ran out of the bush and managed to flag down a motorist.

The OPP were contacted and they brought out their Emergency Response Team and a K-9 unit in their search for the suspect.

He is described as a First Nations man, tall, with a muscular build wearing dark shorts.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Kenora Detachment of the OPP.

Temperature Records could fall today

It could be a record-breaking day, weather-wise.

Its going to be another scorcher for Kenora and parts of northwestern Ontario.

Bill Laidlaw from Signal Weather Services says the temperature isn't the only thing local residents will have to deal with.

He says with the humidex is could feel like 40 celcius. 

The thermometer is expected to peak at 33 this afternoon.

The record for July 19th is 30.6.

Power Out in Pickle Lake Again

Pickle Lake residents are once again dealing with a power outage.

Red Lake Fire number 84 near Ear Falls has damaged power lines which has left 629-Hydro One customers in the dark.

Hydro One says power might not be restored until Friday.

The Ministry of Natural Resources says up to 6-kilometres of line have been affected.

Pickle Lake dealt with a lengthy power outage last week before power was restored for a brief period of time.

Ignace Woman faces Animal Cruelty Charges

An Ignace woman is facing not one, but three animal cruelty charges.

Earlier this month, the OPP say a large Bullmastiff managed to escape and killed a smaller dog.

The owner Tamela Inkster was initially charged with two counts under the Dog Owners Liablity Act.

11 days later, the OSPCA contacted Ignace OPP in relation to another complaint of animal cruelty.

Police were led back to Inkster who was then charged with Animal Cruelty under the criminal code and will appear in court on August 30.