Union Gas Extending Service to Red Lake

Welcome news for those living in Red Lake, Balmertown, Cochenour and Chukuni River!

Union Gas says construction is now underway on the second phase of an Union Gas pipeline.

Spokesperson Andrea Stass says the project will be a boost to the local economy.

Community open houses on the project will be held at the Cochenour Arena on June 27th and 28th as well as July 11th and 12th.

Weather Co-coperates for Track and Field Meet

The weather man has been co-operating with the annual Kenora elementary schools track and field meet at Lakewood.

A number of races took place this morning including the 60 meter dash, the 200 meter and 400 meter.

Students from grade four to grade six also competed in high jump and long jump during the one day competition.

Tomorrow, the junior divison track and field meet is scheduled to take place. 

Local Runners Compete in the Manitoba Marathon

A number of local runners made their annual trek to Winnipeg for the annual Manitoba Marathon on Father's Day.

Ben Gustafson recorded the only top 50 finish placing 46th in the full marathon in a time of three hours and 13 minutes and one second.

Diane Hanson was the top local female finisher placing 181st, in a time of three hours and 46 minutes.

A local team called the Boxer Puppies placed 15th in the Marathon team relay.

Museum Enters i-pad generation

Lake of the Woods Museum: There's an app for that!

The musuem has developed a mobile tour which will feature the use of i-pads.

Museum curator, Lori Nelson says the mobile tour can provide much more in depth information for their patrons.

The museum officially launched its i-pad tour over the weekend.

A total of 12 i-pads will be available at any given time for patrons to take

their tour. 

Flotilla Flash Mob for Fellowship Center

Kenora's first Main Street Flash mob was so popular, another flash mob is being planned on the water.

A flash flotilla is being planned for next weekend.

Nikki Spencer says the flotilla is going to be used as a fundraiser for the Fellowship Center.

Spencer says they have sponsorship forms available at the Fellowship Center on Water Street.

Rain Dampens Fire Hazard

The Ministry of Natural Resources is reporting 10 active fires in northwestern Ontario.

They say it was a quiet weekend with no new fires to report.

All 10 fires did receive rain on the weekend and aren't showing any signs of spreading.

The fire hazard remains low for the entire region.

So far this year, 197 fires have started, burning just over 14-hundred hectares.

Campbell Heads Back to Queen's Park this Week

M.P.P.'s are almost ready for their summer break, but there's still one item of business to clear up first.

The vote on the omnibus budget bill will take place on Wednesday.

Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. Sarah Campbell is defending some of the amendments the NDP have made to the budget at the committee level.

Premier Dalton McGuinty seems to have backed away on his hardline stance on the budget saying he would call and election if the opposition parties didn't drop some of their amendments.

McGuinty apparently sent an olive branch to NDP Leader Andrea Horwath yesterday, in the form of a letter, saying some of the budget items could be taken out and delayed until the fall for a vote.

Rabbit Lake Trail Officially Opens

Kenora's first fully accessible walking trail has been expanded.

The Rabbit Lake Trail was officially opened Friday and now extends from Garrow Park all the way to Nairn Avenue.

Councillor Sharon Smith sits on the Urban Trails Committee and says she like the idea behind the paved walkway.

Paving the Rabbit Lake Trail was made possible in part by the Trillium Foundation which provided over 70 thousand dollars towards the project.

Students from Thomas Aquinas also helped construct the trail bed.

Man Found Dead In Wabigoon

Provincial Police have released the name of the man found dead in Wabigoon.

Police have identified the victim as 51-year-old Stanley Shabaquay.

His body was found on the shore of Wabigoon Lake Thursday morning.

Police are investigating the cause.

Police Shut Down Atikokan Grow-Op

Three people have been arrested after OPP discovered a marijuana grow operation in a home in Atikokan last week.

Thursday's search of the Poplar Avenue residence led police to seizing over one hundred plants, a variety of equipment, over 500 grams of marijuana shake and other drug paraphernalia.

Another 218 grams of marijuana was found at second home.

Two men and a woman will appear on trafficking and production charges in Atikokan court next month.

Con College Planning to offer Mining Course

Confederation College is going to sign a memorandum with Northern College.

The partnership will allow Con College to start providing the necessary course training for people interested in the mining sector.

College President Jim Madder says the partnership makes sense.

The partnership agreement will be signed over the Summer.

Prism Added to Harborfest's Sunday night Concert

It won't be Armaggedon, but it will be A Night to Remember.

The Harborfest Committee has been forced to make some last minute changes to its Sunday night concert, after the Queen City Kids were forced to cancel their tour.

Instead, the Canadian band Prism will fill the void.

Entertainment Director Dave Blake says ticket sales have been brisk.

Blake adds that they've also shuffled their Friday night line-up, with April Wine moving up to the second slot behind Tom Cochrane, with Saga opening the evening's entertainment.

Kelly Seeking Leadership of AFN

The former Grand Chief of Treaty 3 is in the running for the top post with the Assembly of First Nations.

Diane Kelly has officially announced her candidacy for the Grand Chief position.

Kelly says it will now be a busy time on the road.

Kelly says there hasn't been a strong treaty voice over the past 4-years and notes she's ready to challenge the majority Government.

The vote will take place July 18th.

A total of eight names will be on the ballot, including incumbant Grand Chief, Shawn Atleo. 

Campbell Goes to Bat for the ELA

The Provincial government says its not prepared to see the

Experimental Lakes Area east of Kenora closed down without a fight.

In the Ontario Legislature today, Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. Sarah Campbell asked the Environment Minister to join the lobby effort to keep the outdoor laboratory open.

Environment Minister Jim Bradley says he's already joined with his provincial counterpart in Manitoba and written a letter urging the federal government to keep the ELA open.

Public School Board Expects Record Number of Retirements

A major overhaul at the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board.

The Board has recognized 36 staff who are retiring this year.

Director of Education Jack McMaster says they are losing a lot of knowledge.

McMaster also attributes the on-going dispute with teachers and the Province and possible changes to pensions.

Mixed Results at local schools for OSSLT

The Kenora Catholic District School Board is crowing about the results from the latest Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test for grade 10 students.

The separate school board had 87 percent of its students complete the test compared to the provincial average of 82 percent.

The results are encouraging for the Catholic School Board, which is featured in the EQAO's profiles of success stories.

Results were much lower at the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board with a completion rate of just 69 percent.

Share the Road this Sunday

If you're looking for something to do with your dad on father's day, how about a bike ride.

Safe Communities Kenora is officially launching Kenora's new bike lanes on Sunday.

Maria Bagdonis says its part of their campaign called "Share the Road".

The bike ride will begin at noon on Sunday from the Discovery Center and will make its way down to the new Harborfront Tent.

Northern Rendez Vous Starts Tonight

Some pretty sporty vehicles will be driving around town today.

The Northern Rendezvous will be making its ever appearance in Kenora starting this evening.

Tom Struthers is one of the organizers and says they will be featuring mainly British sports cars.

Struthers expects more than 100 vehicles will be in town for the Northern Rendez Vous with the feature being the MG.

Struthers says 2012 marks the 50th anniversary of the classic British roadster. 

Public School Board Approves 2012-2013 Budget

Just a slight increase in spending this year for the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board.

Trustees approved an 85.2 million dollar budget this week, which is an increase of about 500 thousand dollars from the year before.

Superintendant of Business Dean Carrie says the good news is that they expect their enrolments to start stabilizing after years of fairly significant declines.

The school board's funding is largely based on Student enrolment, and Carrie says their numbers will drop this year by about 60 students.

Council debates Harborfront Tent Capacity

A new document called the Harborfront Tent Users Guide is generating quite a bit of discussion at the council table.

Fire Chief Warren Brinkman says he drafted the policy after getting repeated questions about how many people the new tent can hold.

Mayor Dave Canfield suggests the new policy adds more red tape for people who want to rent the new tent.

But Brinkman says the information is based on the Ontario Fire Code and says if alcohol is

being served, no more than 1240 people should be under the tent.

He suggests that the standing room capacity is closer to 35 hundred, if no alcohol is being

served.