Northern Ontario Shut out of Worst Roads

Northern Ontario has been shut out of the top 10 worst roads in the province.

CAA has just wrapped up its annual Worst Roads contest, and all of the top nominated roads were either in Toronto or southern Ontario.

Spokesperson for the contest, Kory Kennedy says regardless of where the roads are, they are hoping the upper levels of government are listening when it comes to road maintenance.

Dufferin Street in Toronto topped the list this year.

Scribilo Vows to Take NOACC to Queen's Park

The local president of the Kenora and District Chamber of Commerce is back at the helm of the Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce.

Andy Scribilo was re-elected this past weekend at the spring meeting of NOACC in Sioux Lookout.

Scribilo says one of his main goals is to get a delegation together next year to take to Queen's Park.

Scribilo says they will try to set up as many meetings as they can with provincial cabinet ministers next year.

FedNor Trying to Streamline Application Process

Its now easier and more convenient to get a loan from FedNor.

That's according to Director General Aime DiMatteo.

He says they've spent the past year streamlining the application process.

DiMatteo says staff at FedNor are also trying to get confirmation letters out to potential applicants much quicker than in the past.

OPP Stepping up Enforcement of Bar Bouncers

A warning to bar owners across Northwestern Ontario.

The Ontario Provincial Police is promising to step up enforcement on new rules concerning bouncers and security personnel.

Rick LePage says most establishments aren't abiding by the regulations.

LePage says bouncers and security personnel at licensed establishments must be certified and registered.

NorWOSSA Single A Season Resumes today

The NorWOSSA Single "a" soccer season resumes today.

Thomas Aquinas boys and girls teams are also bussing to Sioux Lookout for a couple of league games. 

These games will help seed the teams for the NorWOSSA finals, scheduled for the end of the month.

The NorWOSSA Double "a" season officially gets underway next Wednesday in Fort Frances, with
Beaver Brae's boys and girls teams both in action.

Miisun continues to Grow

A local first nations owned resource company is slowly starting to grow.

Miisun Integrated Resource Management has the Sustainable Forest Licence for the Kenora Forest, which includes harvesting, seeding and planning.

Shannon Rawn is the general manager of Miisun and says they have also started to branch out into other areas of resource management.

Rawn says they started off with just two employees three years ago, but now they are up to nine.

Hope in the City a big financial success

Another big payday for the Canadian Cancer Society.

Hope in the City raised almost 23 thousand dollars this past week.

The red carpet event is into its second year and organizers says they are already starting to think about next year.

The next major fundraiser for the Cancer Society is the Relay for Life on June 8th at Lakewood School.

Richards Scores Early to Lead Kings to Victory

The Los Angeles Kings made it five straight playoff wins on the road.

The Kings overwhelmed St. Louis in the opening period in a 5-2 victory, to take a two-games-to-nothing lead in the Western

Conference semifinal. Mike Richards set the tone scoring 31 seconds in.

Richards says the eighth-seeded Kings are making the most of their playoff opportunities.

The Kenora hockey product finished the night with one goal and an assist.

Drug Abuse Task Force Celebrates One Year of Service

Kenora's Substance Abuse and Mental Health Task Force is celebrating its first year as a committee.

The Task Force has put together information for its first annual report.

Michelle Ott is one of the members and says one of the things they were able to accomplish this year was a survey of local parents.

She says they asked them what their biggest concerns were for their children.

Ott says they also asked the parents what they would like for their top three supports to deal with these issues

and that included a list of list of community resources, workshops and a website they could turn to for more information.

Plans for Northern Policy Institute appear to be on Hold

Plans to establish a Northern Policy Institute in Ontario are still on track.

The presidents of Lakehead University and Laurentian presented their proposal for the Institute to the government nine months ago.

Parliamentary Assistant for Northern Development and Mines, Bill Mauro says the actual implementation of the Institute is still being worked out.

The provincial government announced five million dollars to fund the Northern Policy Institute two years ago, and municipal policiticians are wondering where it is.

OPP Investigate Theft of Snowmachine

Someone must be thinking ahead to next winter.

The OPP are investigating the theft of a snowmobile from a garage on the Oldford Road in Pellatt Township.

Police say someone kicked in a door to the garage and stole a a white 2009 Artic Cat 800 "Crossfire".

The theft took place sometime in the past two weeks.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the OPP or Crimestoppers.

Changes made to proposal for Regional Development Agency

Some concern is being raised about a new Regional Economic Development agency for Northwestern Ontario.

The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association says its not prepared to increase its levy to municipalities to support the REDA.

Ian Angus has been championing the cause and says they have decided to scale back their proposed budget for the agency.

Angus says they are also proposing just a 11 member board for the Economic Development Agency, comprised of four aboriginal reprentitives, four from each of the municipal organizations in the region, and three board members selected at large.

Parents Consults on Changes at Beaver Brae

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board is starting to consult local parents about what they think about the idea of adding grades seven and eight to Beaver Brae Secondary School.

The first of two public consultations took place last night at Beaver Brae.

Parents were also given a chance to tour the school prior to the meeting.

The next chance for input into the proposed changes is on May 14th.

Future of Winston Motel up in the Air

The mayor of Pickle Lake is hoping the Winston Motel is re-built.

Last month, a large section of the motel burned down.

Roy Hoffman says they still don't know what's going to happen, but he's optimistic.

While several of the motel rooms were undamaged, the water supply to the building was destroyed in the fire, which started in the kitchen area.

The blaze also gutted the bar and caused extensive water and smoke damage to some connecting rooms.

The Winston was one of just two motels in the community.

Broncos bow out in the Consolation Final of Winnipeg Soccer Tournament

Some positives for Beaver Brae boys soccer team.

The Broncos were in Winnipeg this weekend for the St. John Ravenscourt Tournament.

Beaver Brae lost out in the Consolation final after a 2-1 loss to River East.

Jordan Spencer scored the Broncos lone goal of the game, his fourth of the tournament.

Beaver Brae finished with a record of one win, two losses and a shootout loss.

The NorWOSSA double "a" regular season starts on Wednesday.

NOMA Passes 23 Resolutions

Delegates from the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association are giving the Provincial Government a list of things they'd like to see changed.

They passed 23 resolutions that will be sent to the Province; including providing payments in lieu of municipal land tax and reversing the decision to close the Travel Information Centres in Kenora, Rainy River and Fort Frances.

NOMA members also approved a resolution in support of construction and operation of a ferrochrome processing facility in Exton in the Greenstone District.

Four Arrested in Pickle Lake Bust

Four Pickle Lake residents have been arrested following a drug bust.

Ontario Provincial Police, RCMP and Thunder Bay Police executed five search warrants in Pickle Lake.

Police seized 564 oxycodone pills and nearly eight thousand dollars cash as well as drug paraphernalia and 2-firearms.

Police say 63 year-old James Marino faces 11 charges including trafficking, possession of stolen property and unlawful storage of firearms.

72 year old David Lockwood, 22 year old Albert Shingebis and 50 year old Ida Crane each face three charges.

Gold Exploration Explodes in Northwestern Ontario

As many as eight new gold mines could open in the Kenora Mining District in the next four years.

That's according to MNR Geologist Andreas Lichtblau.

He says Coventry Resources is getting close to opening a new mine in the Cameron Lake area southeast of Kenora.

Lichtblau says as many as three new gold projects could start up in Red Lake in the next couple of years, two in the Dryden area and two in the Rainy River District.

Campbell Defends Abstaining on Budget Vote

Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. Sarah Campbell is defending her decision to abstain from voting on the provincial budget this week.

Campbell addressed delegates at the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association Convention yesterday and says there just wasn't any support for another election.

Campbell suggests Ontario is better off with a minority government, as long as all the party's try to work together.

Sturgeon Fishery Rebounding on Lake of the Woods

There's some good new regarding the Sturgeon fishery in Lake of the Woods and Rainy River.

Fisheries officials in Ontario and Minnesota says short-term goals established several years ago have been reached.

Tom Mosindy of the Ministry of Natural Resources says there's still work to do.

Mosindy says they now have males as old as 30 years and females at least 50.