Northwest MP Demands Better Treatment for Veterans

With Remembrance Day just weeks away, comes a disappointing report from Canada's Auditor General.

The report shows that war veterans in the country still don't get the information they need to get back into civilian life or the benefits they're entitled.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty calls it deplorable and says it should be a concern here because the only Veteran Affairs office in northwestern Ontario has been closed down due to budget cuts.

Rafferty suggests the Harper government needs to start treating our nation's veteran's with more respect.

Handi-Transit to Hold the Line on Spending

Kenora's Handi-Transit System says its new bus is helping it save money.

Handi-Transit says it will not have to seek an increase from the city in 2013.

Jackie McAllister is a spokesperson for the transit service and says as long as there are no changes in legislation, they should be able to hold the line on their spending.

They are requesting just over 81 thousand dollars again in 2013.

McCallister says the only fly in the ointment would be changes to Ontario's Accessibility Legislation, but they don't know if that will affect their service at this point.

Animal Rights Group Opposes Urban Deer Hunt

An animal rights group is urging the City of Kenora to find non-lethal ways of dealing with the growing urban deer population.

The bow hunt for deer within city limits began a couple of weeks ago.

But Barry McKay from Born Free USA says there are ways of scaring deer off, without killing them.

McKay also suggests homeowners grow plants that deer don't like to feed on, or install deer proof fences.

Impaired Driving Charges on the Rise

The message about not drinking and driving doesn't seem to have sunk in yet.

The Kenora Detachment of the OPP say they charged two more people with impaired driving offenses this past weekend.

That's seven in the past week, and 77 so far this year.

The local police say they had only 82 drunk driving charges all of 2011, and are on pace to shatter that number with two months left in 2012.

Library Review Overdue

The Kenora Public Library is still working on a final report to City Council about an operational review conducted over the past 12 months.

The review was requested by council due to on-going deficits at the Library.

Erin Roussin is the head Librarian and says they are still putting the report together.

A group called Libraries in Transition met with local user groups and library staff last year to look at ways of improving services and potentially cutting costs.

Motorists Upset with Gas Price Disparity

Some local residents are upset about the wide variation in gas prices across the region.

The price in Kenora remains at 135.9 a litre, which is 24 cents more than other areas in the Northwest.

According to gasbuddy.com Dryden is at 132.9, Vermillion Bay is at 126.9, Prawda is set at 119.9, and some places in Thunder Bay are under a dollar 15.

NorWOSSA Season Winding Down

The NorWOSSA regular season is quickly coming to an end.

Both Thomas Aquinas and Beaver Brae court sport teams will play their final games of the regular season this week.

This morning, the Ignace Falcons are in town to take on the Saints at T.A.

Thomas Aquinas wraps up the regular on Thursday with Whitefish Bay coming to town for volleyball action.

The Broncos wrap up their regular season schedule on Thursday on the road against Fort Frances.

Broncos to face Neelin in WHSFL Semis

It will be a battle between two of the two running attacks in the Winnipeg High School Football League.

Beaver Brae has been matched-up against the Neelin Spartans in the semi-finals of the Currie Division.

The Broncos will take on the Spartans Wednesday night at the East Side Stadium.

The Broncos Dylan Pykerman is the second leading rusher in the division, while the Spartans had the top running back in the league.

The last time these two teams matched up, Neelin held on for a 10-4 win over the Broncos on a snow-covered Pete Fair Memorial Field. 

The winner of the game will advance to the final on November 8th at Canad-Inns Stadium.

More Events for White Cap Pavillion in 2013

The Kenora Harborfront is expected to be a very busy place once again next year.

The Lake of the Woods Economic Development Commission says bookings are already up.

Don Denver is chair of the commission and says they already have 30 events pre-booked for 2013.

Denver adds that revenue generate through the rental of the WhiteCap Pavillion have exceeded their expectations.

Body of Missing Man Found on Rainy Lake

Police have located the body of a missing boater from the Stanjikoming First Nation near Fort Frances.

Rainy River Provincial Police and Treaty Three Police were notified on Thursday that 43-year-old John Cochrane failed to return home after a boating trip.

Police say that Cochrane's body was found in an area on Rainy Lake and that foul play is not suspected.

A post-mortem is scheduled for today.

NOMA Hoping to Grill Liberal Leadership Candidates

The President of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association is looking at the positives surrounding the  resignation of Premier Dalton McGuinty.

Ron Nelson says this now provides a window of opportunity.

Nelson says they will grill the candidates on everything impacting the north including mining, tourism and the forestry sector.

One More Forest Fire for MNR

Its seems unlikely given all the recent snow and precipitation, but forest fires continue to pop up in northwestern Ontario.

The Ministry of Natural Resources has confirmed one new fire in the Sioux Lookout District.

It was reported last week in the Cat Lake area, and is being monitored.

There are still four active fires in the Northwest region, including two perscribed burns in the Kenora and Sioux Lookout Districts.

Cliffs Holds works on EA on Ring of Fire Project

Cliffs Natural Resources is working on it's environmental assessment for it's Ring of Fire project.

Spokesperson Jason Aagenes says they are in the early stages of the EA process.

The mining company hopes to submit their completed assessment to the Provincial and Federal Government in 2013.

Dryden Finalizes Sales of Mobility network

The sale Dryden Mobility has finally been closed with Tbaytel.

Dryden city manager Joe van Koeverden says they will start work on moving customer accounts today.

He adds letters are being mailed out to residents.

Some people will be mailed new sim cards that they can put in their phones, but some people will have to go to a Tbaytel counter to have their phone switched over.

Van Koeverden says it will take a couple months to get everyone switched over and the process should be complete by mid-December.

Traffic Moving Near Wawa on Trans-Canada

Traffic is flowing again on the Trans-Canada Highway through Wawa.

Provincial police say two lanes have been reopened after flooding caused by heavy rain washed out chunks of the highway last week.

Wawa Mayor Linda Nowicki says the remaining lanes should be open by Wednesday.

Junior Saints Win Pumpkin Smash in Dryden

A good weekend for the Thomas Aquinas Junior Boys volleyball team. 

The Saints were in Dryden for the Annual Pumpkin Smash Tournament and came away with the gold medal. 

T.A. finished the round-robin in first place in its pool, and won their quarter-final and semi-final games Saturday. 

In the gold medal game the Saints defeated Atikokan in two straight sets. 

Midget Thistles Win one of three weekend games

The Kenora Triple "A" Midget Thistles continue to play .500 hockey.

Over the Weekend, the Thistles earned one victory on home ice, while losing

twice. Yesterday, the Thistles dropped a 2-1 decision to the Winnipeg Wild.

Their lone win of the weekend came Saturday night in a 3-2 shootout victory over

the Pembina Valley Hawks. On Friday night for Pink the Rink, the Kenora Midgets were doubled up 6-3 by the Hawks. The Thistles now sport a record of five wins, five losses and an overtime loss.

It'a A Dogs Life Wall Ball Tournament

Wall ball is no longer a games to play in elementary.

Lakewood school is the site for a Wall Ball tournament in support of It's A Dog's Life.

Chris Jones is on of the organizers and says the idea came from a joke during a meeting.

The tournament is on November 3rd.

Visit adogslife.cc for more information and to sign up a team.

Mather-Walls Haunted House

A huanted house will be open tonight and tomorrow.

Beaver Brae drama teacher Heather Newman says almost all the work is being done by students.

Newman adds the proceeds from the open house go towards the upkeep of the Mather-Walls house.

You can visit the haunted house friday and saturday evening between 6 and 9.

Drive Away Hunger Campaign

BDO is celebrating the success of their Drive Away Hunger campaign.

Committee chair Colleen Sinclair says they surpassed this years local donation goal raising a total of 15,928 pounds.

Sinclair adds BDO also surpassed their goal nationally raising 462,000 pounds.