Northwest Communities Flounder in Ultimate Fishing Town Contest

Northwestern Ontario communities have some work to do if they want to be declared Canada's Ultimate Fishing Town.

With 19 days left in the voting, only Ignace sits in the top ten.

Ignace has just over 18 hundred votes and sits in 9th.

Nestor Falls is a thousand votes back in 12th.

Kenora, Fort Frances and Sioux Narrows are all well back of the pack.

Voting ends on May 31st.

Winnipeg Man Arrested in Downtown Drug Bust

A 24 year old Winnipeg man has been arrested following a drug bust in downtown Kenora.

Last night around 11:30, the OPP Street Crimes Unit came across a suspect on Matheson Street who was believed to be involved in drug activity.

Police say they seized about 22 grams of cocaine.

Kevin Huber has been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of property obtained by crime and failing to comply with a probation order.

Broncos host weekend soccer Tournament

Local high school soccer teams will be strutting their stuff this weekend at the Tom Nabb Complex.

A two day tournament will start tomorrow and wrap up Sunday afternoon.

A total of seven boys teams and five girls teams are entered.

In addition to squads from Beaver Brae, Thomas Aquinas, Dryden and Fort Frances, out of town teams will also be coming from Winnipeg and Brandon.

This is the fifth year in a row Beaver Brae has hosted the boys tournament, but the first time girls teams have also been invited.

Gravelle Says the Northwest can still benefit from the Ring of Fire

Understanding the bigger picture, that's what Natural Resources Minister Michael Gravelle is asking from northwestern Ontario aboriginal and municipal leaders.

Gravelle says he understands local residents are disappointed in a decision by Cliffs Natural Resources to locate a billion dollar smelter near Sudbury.

But he is reminding people that this project is massive, there will be jobs and money coming into Northwestern Ontario.

Gravelle adds that the entire project is worth 3-point-3 Billion Dollars and is expected to create more than 9-hundred jobs, along with further secondary jobs associated with the Ring of Fire Development project.

Emergency Preparedness Expo this Weekend

Emergency Preparedness week in Kenora is going to be wrapping up with a special event at the Kenora Fire Hall.

The first ever Emergency Expo will take place tomorrow.

Fire Chief Warren Brinkman says they want local residents to know what kinds of support there is in the community in the case of an emergency.

The Emergency Service Expo will take place from 10:00 to 2:00 at the new fire hall on Barsky's Hill and will also feature a charity barbeque.

Campbell Supports Changes to the Endangered Species Act

The Endangered Species Act is going under the microscope at Queen's Park.

An amendment has been proposed to soften the species at risk legislation.

Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. Sarah Campbell supports the amendment saying the Act is causing more harm than good.

Campbell says the Act is so restrictive that it can put farmers and tourist outfitters out of work, if an endangered species is found on their property.

Local Consultants Launch new Company

A group of local consultants have teamed up to form a new company in Kenora.

Kenora Resource Consultants was formed earlier this year.

Kelli Saunders is one of the partners in the venture and says they hope to capitalize on some environmental and scientific research they hope will be carried out on Lake of the Woods through the International Joint Commission.

Saunders says their company is comprised of environmental consultants, GIS mapping specialists and  a fish and wildlife expert.

Mystery Shopper Scam Unveiled

Receiving money to become a mystery shopper?!

It sounds too good to be true and yes it is.

Provincial Police in Sioux Lookout are warning the public about fake cheques being sent to local residents to prospective shoppers.

The victim receives a cheque in the mail that appears to be legitimate and worth around 4-thousand dollars.

The victim is asked to complete a series of assignments to rate customer service at numerous retail outlets as well as security precautions taken by Western Union in relation to money transfers.

The scam is complete when the victim wires cash.

KDSB gets more funding for Social Housing

A pleasant surprise for the Kenora District Services Board.

The KDSB has been notified that it will receive an additional 156-thousand dollars over the next five years for housing.

Chief Administrative Officer Dan McNeill says they are pleased with the extra funding, but says

there is concern what will happen after the five years are up.

The money is provided jointly by the federal and provincial levels of government. 

NOMA Disappointed in Ring of Fire Decision

The President of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association is lending his voice to a decision by Cliffs Natural Resources to locate a their smelter in Sudbury.

NOMA President, Ron Nelson, says he is disappointed and that they supported bids to have it built anywhere west of Wawa.

Nelson says his organization will continue to pressure the government heavily in order to ensure they meet promises made associated with the Ring of Fire.

Harbortown Center Committee Continues to Meet

The Harbortown Committee will continue to meet regularly to deal with issues important to the downtown area of the city.

There had been some talk about disbanding the committee.

But chair Ralph Page feels they still have a role to play.

There had been concerns that there are too many committees in the City, and the that the Harbortown Committee's mandate overlaps with the Downtown BIZ.

Health Care Tour stops in Kenora next month

Kenora is one of the stops for an Ontario-wide tour talking about the future of Health Care.

The Ontario Health Coalition is putting on the meeting that will talk about the Provincial Government's plans to cut health care services.

The meeting is going to be held on Saturday, June 2nd at the Best Western Lakeside Inn.

Campbell Again Demanding Answers Over Tourism Center Closures

Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. Sarah Campbell is continuing to battle for our tourist information centers.

Campbell requested an adjournment debate last night to get more answers on the reasons for the closure of the tourist centers in Kenora, Rainy River and Fort Frances.

She says the government still hasn't adequately explained by the closures are necessary.

Parliamentary Assistant for Tourism Kim Craitor responded that the

Pigeon River Tourism Center south of Thunder Bay was kept open because it serves an important American Market.

NAN Raises Concern At Ring of Fire Announcement

Plenty of controversy in Wednesday's Ring of Fire announcement.

Nishnawbe-Aski Nation Grand Chief Terry Waboose approached Aboriginal Affairs Minister Kathleen Wynne following a media event in Thunder Bay.

Waboose accuses the Province and Cliffs Resources of talking behind closed doors.

Waboose is threatening to pull First Nation support from the project.

Wynne says they don't want that to happen.

Wynne says now that the business side of it has been agreed on, the next step is engaging First Nations.

Sioux Narrows/Nestor Falls Approves 2012 Budget

The Town of Sioux Narrows/Nestor Falls is trying to hold the line on taxes.

Once again this year, the town council has passed a budget with no increase in the mill rate.

However, Mayor Bill Thompson says that doesn't mean home owners in his community will be paying the same amount of taxes as last year.

Thompson says while municipal spending will increase less than two percent, the community will have to shell out more for policing and the Kenora District Services Board.

OPP Not Planning to change Bear Response

Provincial Police aren't making any immediate change to how they deal with nuisance bears.

The Ministry of Natural Resources did announce changes to its protocol, leaving police with the job of trapping and relocating bear in the near future.

Constable Anne McCoy says bear problems are still the responsibility of the MNR for now.

McCoy says the province's hotline is also still active for people to call to report nuisance bears.

Boobie Nights get ready to Bust Out

Another major fundraiser for a new digital mammography unit at Lake of the Woods District Hospital.

Boobie Nights is back once again this year.

Angela Kuchma is one of the organizers and says they hope a change in venue will help raise more money.

This year the fundraiser will take place under the new tent on the Kenora Harborfront, rather then

the Kenora Curling Club, where its been held the past two years. 

Tickets are now on sale for Boobie nights, which takes place on June 2nd.

Cops run for Cancer in Winnipeg

A total of 55 OPP personnel from northwestern Ontario are back from Winnipeg where they participated in the Cops for Cancer Half Marathon.

The OPP employees came from from Kenora, Dryden, Red Lake, Sioux Lookout, Thunder Bay and Fort Frances.

Another 15 volunteers from the local detachments also helped out at a water station along the marathon route.

The Cops for Cancer Half Marathon is organized each year by the Winnipeg Police Service.

RNAO CEO Visits Kenora

Nurses in Ontario are being underutilized in the health care system.

That's the feeling of the CEO of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario.

Doris Grinspun was in Kenora this morning and says a recent task force report suggests nurses can, and should provide more primary care services.

Grinspun says allowing nurses to carry out more duties, will save the health care system money, and provide better access to primary care for thousands of Ontarians.

Ignace Man faces Mishchief Charges

In Ignace man may have been having a good time, but transport drivers sure weren't smiling.

Provincial Police were called to a Highway 17 business in Ignace after a vehicle pulled in and started doing donuts.

OPP say several tractor trailers had their windshields damaged due to rocks being thrown up.

One transport had to remain out of service due to the damage.

22-year old Cory Jalbert faces two counts of mischief over five thousand dollars.