Discovery Center Broken Into

It didn't take long for the new Discovery Center on Lakeview Drive to become a target of thieves.

A day before the new tourism bureau was to open to the public, someone managed to break-in.

The OPP say on the evening of July 20th, someone gained access to the building and stole a lap-top computer.

Anyone with information about the break and enter is asked to contact the OPP or Crimestoppers.

MNR making headway on Fires in NWO

The Ministry of Natural Resources continues to try and gain the upper hand on several massive forest fires burning in the Far North.

The fires have resulted in the total evacuation of 4-First Nation communities and partial evacuation of 7-others.

Information Officer Owen Vaughan says they are greatful for the support of local communities.

Vaughan says the weather has helped firefighting efforts, but notes significan rain is still required.

OPP Investigate Downtown Assault

The OPP say one man has been arrested in connection to an assault in downtown Kenora.

On Saturday, police say they located the body of a 36 year old Rat Portage man in the alley behind Second Street South.

The victim had to be taken to Lake of the Woods District Hospital for treatment, and then was transported to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Center for treatment of a head injury.

His condition of the victim isn't known at this time.

Officers managed to arrest the suspect at the scene.

Rickford responds to Water Quality Report

Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford says he's actually encouraged by a report on water quality on first nation communities.

The federally-commissioned assessment shows that about 39 per cent of drinking-water systems in  First Nations communities are at high risk of being unsafe, while another 34 per cent are at moderate risk.

Rickford says the government takes the report seriously and has begun to address some of the problems.

Rickford says training people to operate treatment facilities is one of the big issues in terms of maintaining water quality, and says the government is actively working to tackle that problem.

Police Investigate Fatality on Poplar Hill

Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service is trying to determine whether or not the death of a 20-year-old man and the injuries to a 21-year-old man are related.

Police were dispatched to Poplar Hill First Nation, about 120-kilometres north of Red Lake, last Friday after a man was found on a road with serious injuries.

Police say Aaron Strang was transported to the community nursing station where he was pronounced dead.

The following day Jobby Strang of Poplar Hill drove himself to the nursing station seeking medical attention and he was transported to Winnipeg Hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

Police are looking for answers in this case.

Vermillion Bay youth charged in Connection to two Break In's

A Vermillion Bay youth has been arrested in connection to a couple of break-ins in that community.

The OPP say that between July 14th and 18th, the same residence was entered twice.

Following an investigation, police arrested a suspect.

He has been charged with break and enter and two counts of failing to comply with an undertaking.

He is due to appear in Dryden court in September.

Con College Raises money for Scholarships

Confederation College has managed to raise 15 thousand dollars for its students.

Organizers have tallied up the reciepts from a charity golf tournament held last week at the Kenora Golf and Country Club.

A total of 12 teams took part. 

The college says the money raised will go towards scholarships and bursaries for local students.

Red Cross looking for volunteers to help evacuees

The Red Cross says its still looking for volunteers to help out people who have been evacuated from their communities in northwestern Ontario.

Spokesperson Shanna Hansson says they have had pretty good support so far.

Hansson says that over the weekend, they had help from Kenora and other communities throughout the District.

Fire crews making progress

Fires continue to burn out of control in northwestern Ontario, but the Ministry of Natural Resources believes

it is making some progress.

There are 118 fires burning today, with 10 new blazes popping up on Sunday.

The MNR says while a couple of large fires continue to threaten remote communites in the region,

no new evacuations are planned.

Red Lake Fire 82 has burned to the edge of the community of Keewaywin, but so far crews have managed

to prevent any property loss.

Another fire of concern is Sioux Lookout #72, which is 159 thousand hectares in size and burning near the Musselwhite Mine.

Fire Crews have been working diligently from prevent any loss of property.

To date 36 hundred people have been evacuated, but there is talk that some members of the Cat Lake


First Nation may be able to start returning home later this week.

Province to look into evacuation complaints

Officials in Ontario are looking into whether families have been split up while being evacuated from communities threatened by forest fires raging in our area.

Deputy community safety minister Ian Davidson says the province has done its best to keep families together since evacuations started.

But he says the province is investigating unconfirmed reports that the evacuation process has separated members of some First Nations families from each other.

Officials say weather conditions are improving, and no further evacuations are currently planned.

Electricity back on in Pickle Lake

The power is back on in Pickle Lake and New Osnaburgh First Nation.

The lights were out for nearly 2-weeks as a forest fire near Ear Falls consumed some 18-power lines.

Hydro One was able to go on site late last week and fix the problem.

Hampton Seeking Help for Cat Lake Evacuees

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton is asking the McGuinty Government to help Cat Lake First Nation residents.

Hampton says it appears residents will be allowed to return home in the middle of this week but he notes the remote community is suffering from a severe food shortage.

The power has been out for nearly 2-weeks and Hampton says most food is now spoiled.

Hampton says most people make trips during the winter months by the ice road to get their food and stock it in the freezer.

He's asking the Province to ensure the community has food and other supplies when residents return home.

Walk for Good Life Ready to roll

A seven day 500 kilometre walk around the Kenora and Rainy River districts is set to go next month.

It will be the third year for the Walk for Good Life organized by the group Good Life for Young People.

C-E-O Teresa Hazel says its a journey of self discovery and accomplishment.

The event is open to anyone with registration made through the group's office or its website : http://www.goodlifeforyoungpeople.com/

Record Attendance For Coney Island Festival

The Coney Island Music Festival continues to grow.

This year, about 12 hundred people took in the one day event at Coney Beach.

The Third Maybe Annual Festival features seven acts over six hours yesterday.

Attendance has tripled over the past three years.

Tie for First at Canadian Bass Championships in Fort

For the first time in the history of the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship, there are co-winners.

Richard Rud and Jon Austin of International Falls and Thunder Bay's Glenn Leroux and Trevor Zimak avoided controversial tie-breaking methods to share the title after tying for the lead after three days of fishing.

Rud says both teams agreed to share the title.

Jeff Gustafson from Kenora and his partner John Peterson placed sixth overall, six and a half pounds back of the winners.

Team Symonds Wins Bronzeback

A couple of Keewatin anglers too top honors at the 5th Annual Friends and Family Bronzeback Classic.

Brad and Jayden Symonds came from behind to win the two day bass tournament on Lake of the Woods.

They weighed in 28.65 pounds of bass, beating out the day one leaders, Scott and Kyle Cook by just over a pound.

Steve Ellie and Tom Hefford placed third with a catch of 26.6 pounds.

Fisher tops Women's Field at Kenora Borealis Triathlon

Edie Fisher continues to be an ageless wonder.

Fisher was the top female finisher in the annual Kenora Borealis Triathlon/Duathlon at Garrow Park.

Competing in the 50-54 year old age group, Fisher finished the Olympic Course in a time of two hours and 26 minutes.

The top male was Chris Graham from the Tribalistic Team in a blazing time of two hours and seven minutes.

The top female racer in the Long Course Duathlon was Julie Whelan at two hours and 54 minutes.

Playaz Win Men's Soccer Tournament

The Playaz are the new kings of Kenora Soccer.

The Playaz won the Lake of the Woods mens soccer tournament over the weekend with a 2-0 win over Stonewall in the A-side Final Sunday afternoon at the Tom Nabb Soccer Complex.

McGuinty Says He won't Declare State of Emergency in NWO

Premier Dalton McGuinty says there's no need to declare a state of emergency to deal with forest fires that have driven thousands of people from their communities in northwestern Ontario.

McGuinty is in the region today to survey the damage and talk with fire personnel, volunteers and evacuees.

The premier says that the province is doing everything it can to support firefighters and evacuees.

McGuinty says that includes helping out with aircraft and providing financial support for the effort.

He'll also visit Thunder Bay later today.

Discovery Center opens its doors

The new discovery center on Lakeview Drive is getting rave reviews.

The center will act as the city's new tourism bureau and was opened to the public for the first time yesterday afternoon.

Dennis Wallace is chair of the Lake of the Woods Economic Development Commission and says they hope to be able to expand the number of services offered there.

The two million dollar facility is opening its doors to the public for the very first time today.