OPP Search for Missing Man near Morson

The OPP's Marine Unit is searching for a missing 68 year old man on Lake of the Woods.

Police say the man was reported missing on Saturday evenung after going out for a boat ride on Obabikon Bay.

When he failed to show back up at his camp, friends and family went looking for him.

His clothes were found on a rock and his boat was found floating in the water a short distance away.

Police believe his boat may have drifted away and he went swimming after it.

Bill Amason is from Summerfield, Florida, but is a seasonal resident of Morson.

The OPP's underwater search and recovery unit is en route to help out with the search.

Catholic School Board Gets a New Logo

The Kenora Catholic District School Board is updating its image.

The separate school board released its new logo to its staff today.

Director of Education Phylis Eikre says it was time for a bit of a make over.

Eikre says the board had a consulting firm help design the new logo.

New Northern Ontario Tourism Plan released

A consultant's report on the new Northern Ontario tourism plan is out.

Members of various tourism organizations are taking time to review the document.

Tourism representitives will be meeting for two days starting today in Sudbury.

Busters Featured on the Food Network

The Food Network is coming to Vermilion Bay.

Busters Barbeque is being featured on the show "You've Gotta Eat Here".

Filming begins on Thursday and the Restaurant will be closed.

However, the doors will open on Friday when patrons have an opportunity to be on-air.

The Busters Barbeque episode is scheduled to air in January.

OPP Seize Ecstasy Tablets in Traffic Stop

The OPP say they have taken over 40 thousand dollars in drugs off the streets in two separate busts on the Trans-Canada Highway in the Kenora area.

Last week, officers pulled over a westbound SUV at the intersection of the Redditt Road and the Kenora By-Pass.

Police say one of the men in the vehicle was in breach of a probation order.

Further investigation uncovered a quantity of marijuana and about one thousand ecstasy tablets.

The street value of the drugs is estimated at about 20 thousand dollars.

Two Winnipeg men have been charged with possession of ecstasy for the purpose of trafficking.

They appeared in Kenora Court last week.

OPP Seize Marijuana in Traffic Stop

The OPP say they have stopped a couple of shipments of drugs passing

through the Kenora area.

Late last week, officers stopped an eastbound transport on Highway 17 west.

While speaking with the driver, police noticed the smell of marijuana.

The driver was arrested and the vehicle was searched resulting in the seizure of a half a pound of marihuana and a large amount of Canadian currency with a total street value of approximately 20 thousand dollars.

51 year old Robert Steenson of British Columbia has been charged with possession of a narcotic for the purpose of trafficking, and possession of property obtained by crime.

Missing Anglers Located on Lac Seul

Two Illinois men are in fine health after getting lost on Lac Seul.

OPP were notified that the men had left Williams Lake Lodge to explore the lake.

The OPP Emergency Response Team and the Ministry of Natural Resources were dispatched.

The owner of the camp located the two men safe and unharmed.

OPP say the tourists were unable to locate the camp.

Summer Literacy Camp wraps up

It was a different kind of Summer Camp for kids in Kenora, Dryden, Sioux Lookout and Red Lake.

They have finished the Summer Literacy Camp.

Lisa Closs was one of the instructors and says the 4-week initiative is a fun and interactive approach to improve reading and writing skills.

Closs says the program is geared towards students going into Grades 2,3 and 4.

The program was introduced last year in Sioux Lookout and was expanded to Evergreen in Kenora this year.

Fires continue to burn across NWO

The Ministry of Natural Resources continues to make excellant progress on raging forest fires in Northwestern Ontario.

33 fires were declared out over the weekend.

175 personnel from five provinces and Minnesota remain in the region.

There were 11new forest fires reported yesterday.

A total of 57fires continue to burn.

Voting by Mail

For the first time in Ontario's history voters will get a chance to vote by mail. Chief Electoral Officer Greg Essensa says there will be 10 advanced voting days, 15 days of assited voting and the October 6th election day. Essensa says he thinks the changes will give voters more opportunities to choose when they want to vote.

First Nation Infrastructure

Ontario's First Nations need 8 billion dollars to close an infrastructure gap. That figure comes from the Ontario First Nation Technical Services Corporation. Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Angus Tolouse says living conditions are some times atrocious. The Ring of Fire will dominate tomorrow's discussion at the first nation technical service conference.

confederation college strike

The President of Confederation College Jim Madder says they're prepared for a potential strike by support staff. The local OPSEU union gave strike notice that if negotiations fail they'll walk out September 1st. Contract talks are continuing between OPSEU and the Province

Mustangs Reunion

The 1967 Lakewood Mustangs high school football team is reuniting this weekend in Kenora. The reunion began this morning with a golf outing and continues through saturday. Saturday's events include a presentation at Beaver Brae School to salute the current Beaver Brae Broncos, and in the  evening is an elvis show and 60's dance fundraiser. Proceeds from the nights events go towards purchasing new multi-purpose goal posts at Beaver Brae.

NOMA returns from London Ontario

Members of NOMA have returned from London from the annual conference of municipalities of Ontario.  The Members had the opportunity to meet with four provincial ministers to discuss a variety of topics. The need for expanded funding through the ontario municipal partnership fund and a new fund for roads and bridges were discussed as well as other topics. NOMA President Ron Nelson says the Conference was very positive. NOMA Represents the interests of Municipalities from Kenora and Rainy River in the west to Horsepayne in the east.

Nishnawbe Aski Nation Residential schools

Two First Nations schools in the Nishnawbe Aski Nation are now on a formal list of residential schools which makes former students eligible for government compensation. NAN Deputy Grand Chief Mike Metatawabin says it opens the door to more such claims. Metatawabin calls it a landmark ruling.

Green Party

Northwestern Ontario is being targeted by the Green party. Leader of the Green Party Mike Schreiner is touring the North and says his party's platform has what it takes to help the region. In the Kenora-Rainy River Riding, JoJo Holiday will be carry the Green Party Banner in the October 6th election.

Power Outage

Kenora Hydro is investigating a power outage that occured. Both Coney Island and the Lakeside area were without power as of 11:30 last night. Power was restored to the lakeside area at 1:30 this morning. Kenora Hydro says the cause is still under investigation but says it may have been due to high winds last night.

Journalists released

More than 30 international journalists have been freed from a Tripoli hotel where they had been held by armed men loyal to Moammar Gadhafi. CNN correspondent Matthew Chance tweeted that he and journalists left the hotel in a car. They had been held at gunpoint by two nervous Kalashnikov-wielding guards who refused to give up their posts despite rebel victories elsewhere in the city.

Jack Layton

A lone piper played as Mounties in red serge carried Jack Layton's casket into the foyer of the House of Commons this morning. Layton's widow, MP Olivia Chow, his two children and grand-daughter and other family members followed behind. The NDP leader will lie in state in Ottawa today and tomorrow. Already, crowds of people have gathered to pay their respects. Layton will lie in repose at Toronto City Hall on Friday and on Saturday morning before a state funeral Saturday afternoon.

West Nile Virus

A Burlington senior who died last week appears to have been infected with the West Nile virus carried by a mosquito. Halton Region's medical officer of health says it is the first human infection case this year. The identity of the woman, who was in her 70s, has not been released.  The Ontario public health laboratory completed a preliminary report but it is likely West Nile will be confirmed with further testing.