Land Ambulence Base Gets the Go Ahead From KDSB

Work is finally progressing on the new Land Ambulance Base in Kenora.

The Kenora District Services Board has accepted a 2.836-million dollar tender from Jarnell Contracting for the construction of the base.

CAO Dan McNeill says he's relieved to see this project move forward.

However, the City of Kenora Planning Department has notified the KDSB that it won't be able to lease the existing parking spaces at the site, which may force the Board to construct its own parking lot at an estimated cost of 55-thousand dollars.

OPP Name Two Bridges After Fallen Officers

A fitting tribute to two police officers killed in the line of duty in Kenora.

Two bridges along the Kenora by-pass have officially named for Sergeant Tom Cooper and Constable Peter Sebborn.

OPP commissioner Chris Lewis was in Kenora yesterday for the ceremony and says this is something they've done several times in recent years.

Cooper was shot on the Grassy Narrows First Nation in 1991, while Sebborn was killed in a car crash while on duty in 1957.

A similar ceremony will take place this morning in Ear Falls.

Midget Thistles Open Regular Season at Home

The hockey season begins tonight for the Kenora Triple "a" midget Thistles.

The Thistles take on the Winnipeg Wild at the Kenora Rec. Center tonight.

Coach Doug Novak says they beat the Wild in a pre-season tournament, but says the regular season is a different matter.

Game time is 7:30 this evening at the Thistle Rink.

Broncos take on Lancers in WHSFL action

Beaver Brae's football team is looking to bounce back from its first loss of the season last week.

The Broncos are on the road today in Winnipeg, where they will take on Dakota Collegiate.

The Lancers are unbeaten so far this season with a 2-0 record.

Game time is 3:00.

Scientists Want Boreal Forest in NWO as UNESCO site

Scientists from around the world say a global treasure that straddles two Canadian provinces needs to be protected.

They say the forest along the Manitoba-Ontario boundary should be designated a UNESCO world heritage site.

The N-D-P has plans to build a hydro transmission line down the west side of Lake Winnipeg rather than disturb the forest on the east side.

The Conservatives argue that going down the east side would be cheaper and would not harm plans to turn the forest into a UNESCO site.

God's Lake Staying Mum on Eviction Notice

The president of God's Lake Resources says the company will release a statement Monday in regards to KI First Nation's eviction notice.

The Big Trout Lake First Nation says the company must cease all operations today and leave the area of Sherman Lake.

Ed Ludwig says the company won't comment until then.

All Candidates Forum in Stratton

Can the candidates seeking election in Kenora-Rainy River really promise to give the Riding a stronger voice at Queen's Park as they promise?

It was one of the questions posed at a debate in Stratton last night.

Liberal Candidate Anthony Leek says it comes to being able to convince southern Ontario of the north's potential.

Conservative Candidate Rod McKay says the Riding needs to have representation on the government side.

The NDP's Sarah Campbell says her party would form a committee who's main focus would be to ensure policies at Queens Park work for the north.

Final Day for Advance Polls

Today is the last day for those in Kenora, Dryden, Red Lake and Sioux Lookout to cast a ballot in advance polling in Kenora-Rainy River.

Returning offices will be open from 10 until 8 o'clock.

Voters should bring their photo ID and the Notice of Registration Card.

The Provincial election is next Thursday.

North Spirit School Opens

The Federal Government has opened a new school in North Spirit Lake.

The community of 400 is now home to a four classroom facility that accomodates 96 students from kindergarten to Grade 9.

It took over 14 million dollars to build the school.

Big Trout Lake Sends out Eviction Notice

The Big Trout Lake First Nation has given an eviction notice to God's Lake Resources.

The company has being doing some exploration work on the band's traditional land use area, against the community's wishes.

Band spokesperson John Cutfeet says God's Lake is basically tresspassing.

The company has been asked end its work in the Sherman Lake area  and all personnel are being told to leave today.

One more All-Candidates Forum this evening

Candidates in Kenora-Rainy River will get another chance to debate the issues tonight in the third all-candidates forum of the election campaign.

The Rainy River Federation of Agriculture hosts the event tonight in Stratton.

Last night, candidates attempted to sell themselves to Fort Frances voters at a mix and mingle hosted by the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce.

OPP Commish to Visit Kenora Today

The Commissioner of the OPP will be paying a special visit to Kenora today.

Chris Lewis will be in town to help name a couple of bridges on the Kenora by-pass.

The bridges will be named after officers who have died in the line of duty in the Kenora area.

The ceremony will take place at the Discovery Center starting at 5:00 this afternoon.

Another drug bust in Kenora

Another day, another drug bust.

A 36 year old Kenora man has been arrested after police executed a search warrant on a home on 2nd Avenue South.

The OPP's Organized Crime and Enforcement Unit as well as its

drug squad seized seized 40 grams of cocaine, 20 grams of marihuana, 436 Ecstacy pills, 45 hundred dollars in cash and other drug related paraphernalia.

Dino Papaioannou has been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of property obtained by crime.

He's due to appear in Kenora court in December.

2-1-1 Network Launched in the Kenora District

Information on thousands of services is now available across the Kenora District by simply dialing 2-1-1.

The 2-1-1 Northern Region launched the program at a Press Conference in Dryden Wednesday.

Executive Director Marie Klassen says the initiative was first launched in the Thunder Bay District in 2008.

Information on volunteer groups, food banks, homeless shelters, health care agencies and homework programs for teens is just an example of what is available by calling the free, confidential hotline.

NDP hoping for Gains in Northern Ontario

The NDP is hoping to not only hold the seats it has in northern Ontario, but win a couple of more next week.

Party Leader Andrea Horwath is doing her final push for votes and says they expect a good showing on October 6th.

Horwath is hoping to not only hold onto the Kenora-Rainy River Riding, but make gains in Thunder Bay as well.

Province to appeal Ruling in favour of Grassy Narrows

An Ontario Superior Court ruling on treaty rights for Grassy Narrows First Nation is being challenged.

The Federal and Provincial Governments and Abitibi-Consolidated are appealing that Grassy Narrows called a victory for their way of life.

The Kenora-area band had challenged the province's right to permit industrial logging on its traditional lands, saying it would interfere with its rights under a treaty signed with Ottawa.

It celebrated the court ruling, saying it set the stage for recognition and protection of Treaty 3 rights and, more importantly, would help protect the Anishinaabe way of life in Northwestern

Ontario.

Mediation Continues today in CCAC dispute

The Ontario Nursing Association continues to negotiate leading up to it's October 3rd strike deadline.

President Linda Haslam Stroud says her union represents employees of the Northwest Community Care Access Centre.

Today is the last day scheduled for mediated talks.

Police arrest Kenora man for Grow-Op

A 50 year old Kenora man faces drug charges after the OPP uncovered a grow-op just off Highway 71.

The Kenora Drug Unit teamed up with the OPP's Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau, and ERT team and the Rural Agricultural Crime team on Monday.

They executed a search warrant on a piece of property located in Kirkup Township.

Police say they seized 26 marijuana plants, 870 grams of dried marijuana, 800 grams of marijuana shake and other drug paraphenalia.

The drugs have a street value of about 44 thousand dollars.

Stan Denkiewicz has been charged with production of a controlled substance.

Health Units tracking bed bugs

Don't let the bed bugs bite!

That's what the Northwestern Health Unit is trying to prevent has it has received Provincial funds to study the rate of bed bug infestations in our area.

Health Promoter Valdine McEwen says they need the public's assistance.

A questionnaire on bed bugs can be found on the Health Unit's web site.

Candidates in Kenora-Rainy River get thumbs up from health group

The Heart and Stroke Foundation says health needs to become a bigger election issue.

The Foundation has talked to all the candidates in northwestern Ontario and says the main party's support their proposals to create a healthier population.

Wendy Savoy says there are serious health concerns in this region that need to be  addressed.

Savoy says their proposals include more food education, and more funding for physical education in the schools.