New School Year Begins at Con College

A new school year is underway at the Confederation College Campus in Kenora.

Classes began this morning for about 100 students.

Laura Christie is the program director and says they are offering a number of full-time courses locally.

Christie says one of the new programs they are offering this year is called Aboriginal Community Advocacy.

In all, eight first year programs are on offer at the college.

Wild Fires Still Burning in NWO

Despite some shower activity this week, the Ministry of Natural Resources says new wild fires continue to pop up each day.

There was one new fire reported yesterday near the community of Fort Hope, plus two other holdover fires from the day before.

Two of the blazes were human-caused.

With warmer weather expected for the weekend, the MNR says the fire hazard will remain in the moderate to high range for the next few days.

Bronco Boys Finish 2nd in NorWOSSA Golf Tournament

The NorWOSSA golf season is officially underway.

Yesterday, both boys and girls high school teams teed off at the Eagles Landing golf course in Dryden.

Beaver Brae's boys team finished second overall, 26 shots back of the host Dryden squad.

Jed Rattai was the top Kenora golfer, shooting a 78, good enough for third place in the individual standings.

Thomas Aquinas had a fourth place finish.

Save ELA Gains Support

The Experimental Lakes Area east of Kenora is gaining worldwide support.

Scientists from Switzerland and the United States are expressing their deep concern in a new article published in a scientific journal.

Both explain that there is no other facility in the world that allows for the study of whole-lake ecosystems.

The ELA area consists of 58 lakes, and has been facing an ongoing battle with the federal government about a possible closure as early as next spring.

Campbell Lobbies for Funding for Volunteer Fire Fighters

The provincial government is being asked to provide better funding for volunteer fire departments.

Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. Sarah Campbell gave kudos to the Pellatt United Fire Fighters this week at Queen's Park.

She says the government needs to recognize their hard work with better financial support.

Campbell says volunteer fire departments not give up their own time, but have to fundraise just to buy personal safety equipment.

Northwest LHIN's Looking for Feedback

Time is running out to fill out a on-line survey about health care services in the region.

The Northwest Local Health Integration Network says the survey will be up on  its website until September 15th.

Executive Director Laura Kokochinski says they want a clearer idea of what services local residents want to see in the health care system.

Kokochinski says so far more than 700 people have filled out the survey, but they are looking for more feedback.

Rainy River Resources Bullish on local Gold Zone

Rainy River Resources believes its in the midst of Canada's newest gold district.

It's released a preliminary economic assessment last week.

Vice President of Environment Kyle Stanfield says everything is on target to start open pit mining in 2016.

The company also plans for underground operations starting by 2018.

Northwest Teacher Elected President of OTF

A northwestern Ontario teacher is the new president of the Ontario Teacher's Federation.

Terry Hamilton from Thunder Bay was elected as the 69th President last month during the Federation's annual meeting.

He says they are entering a time of great tension between teachers and the Ontario government.

Hamilton hopes to get Northwestern Ontario concerns to the table as well.

Broncos Open Football Season This Afternoon

The Winnipeg High School Football League regular opens today in Steinbach.

Beaver Brae travels down the Trans-Canada to face the Sabres this afternoon.

Broncos head coach Chris Penner says while they have a talented group this year, they don't have a big roster, which could be a problem.

Beaver Brae won its lone pre-season game last week downing Dryden 36-13.

Kick-off today is 5:00 at Steinbach Regional Secondary School.

Days Inn Ladies Slo-Pitch League Wraps Up tonight

The Neniska Crushers are the C-Side Champions in the Days Inn Ladies Slo-Pitch league.

The Crushers doubled up the Hoggettes 14-7 last night in game two of their best-of-three series, winning in two straight games.

The other two series will be going the distance.

Northern Harbor staved off elimination with a 14-13 win over Shoal Lake.

That series is tied at one game a piece, with the third and deciding game tonight at the Kenora Rec. Center.

Meanwhile, the Martinis also forced a third and deciding game in the B-side final with a 17-15 decision over the Wildfire.

New Northern Law School Now Accepting Applications

The deadline to apply for the first school year at the Northern Ontario Law School is quickly approaching.

Dean Lee Steuser says would be students have until November 1st.

The school will open in the fall of 2013.

He says they are also looking to hire six to eight professors for their first year of operation.

Campbell Opposes Northern Policy Institute

Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. Sarah Campbell continues to hammer away at the McGuinty Government's plan to create a Northern Institute.

In the Ontario Legislature yesterday, Campbell says the five million dollar institute is the last thing this region needs.

Campbell says the government should instead set up a Northern Committee of M.P.P.'s at Queen's Park to deal with issues important to this region.

Angler's Body Found in Remote Lake

A post mortem is scheduled today for a man who's body was found in a northwestern Ontario lake.

On Friday, Ontario Provincial Police were notified that a man who had been fishing with his grandson on Mojikit Lake, about 60km Northeast of Armstrong, had gone missing.

The two had been fishing when their boat tipped over after hitting a buoy upstream of a dam at the south end.

The son was able to make it to shore uninjured.

On Monday, police say they found the body of 76-yearold Matthew Dawd below the dam.

Kenora's Economic Development Strategies Applauded

Some provincial exposure for Kenora's Economic Development Strategies.

The city was one of seven communities featured in an Economic Development Case Study Handbook.

Economic Development Officer, Jennifer Findlay says Kenora was sited for a couple of best practices.

Findlay says major initiatives like downtown revitalization have also played a key role in Kenora's economic development strategy.

Driver Faces Marijuana Charges

Two people in two days.

On Saturday, Ontario Provincial Police in Kenora responded to a vehicle collision on Dalles Road, north of Kenora.

As a result, police have charged 26-year-old Fabian Blackhawk from Dalles First Nation with impaired driving.

On Sunday, police stopped a vehicle on highway 673.

As police were speaking to the driver, he drove away at a high speed and then fled the vehicle.

Police found the driver, and found marijuana plants and accessories inside the vehicle.

Police say 32-year-old Jason Methot of Three Hills, Alberta has been charged with impaired driving, flight from police and production of marijuana.

OPP Release Long Weekend Traffic Stats

Hundreds of motorists across northwestern Ontario might be feeling a little light in the pocketbook this week.

OPP nabbed more than 680 motorists for speeding over the Labour Day weekend across the region.

Constable Anne McCoy says it's just one of the offences officers are always looking for.

Ontario Provincial Police also laid 7 distracted driving charges, 53 seatbelt chargres and 11 for impaired driving.

Thunder Bay Police Looking at Bogus News Release

Thunder Bay Police are conducting an internal probe into a bizarre weekend incident that saw a bogus news release entitled "Fresh Breath Killer Captured".

The release dealt with the arrest of a 33 year old man in Kenora on Friday for second degree murder.

Deputy Police Chief Andy Hay says the release was connected with the murder investigation and was quickly retracted.

He calls it unfortunate.

Hay didn't say why the release may have been sent saying it's part of the investigation.

Public Meetings on Casinos this Month

Kenora City Council is gambling that local residents will want to have a say on whether a casino should ever be located in the city.

A couple of open houses will be held this month to get feedback.

Next Monday, a public information session will take place at the Kenora Rec. Center.

That will be followed by another public meeting on September 18th.

Kenora has been identified by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation as a potential site.

Council says it wants some feedback from the community before deciding whether it should submit a declaration of interest.

A Record Setting Labor Day in NWO

It was a record breaking Labour Day across northwestern Ontario.

The temperature reached 28.8 in Dryden, smashing the old record of 27.2 set in 1971.

Records were also set in Thunder Bay and Fort Frances.

Thunder Bay hit 30.3-degrees and Fort Frances 29.9.

Kenora hit 28.1 degrees yesterday, which was just shy of the record of 28.9 degrees.

Redditt Postal Outlet due to Close

Its the end of an era for a Redditt institution.

Canada Post says its closing down the Redditt postal outlet.

Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford says the crown corporation will still provide some postal service to the community.

Rickford says he was advised in the change in service earlier this month by Canada Post officials.