Swimming Sharks Draw Winner Named

The winner has been announced for the Kenora Swimming Sharks draw.

This years winner is Kathy Beckingham from Keewatin.

The Funds raised by the draw directly support for Sharks program.

Shoal Lake Bands to Block Highway 17

Members of the Shoal Lake 39 and 40 first nations are planning to stop traffic on Highway 17 tomorrow afternoon.

The blockade will be held on Highway 17 at Shoal Lake Road near the Manitoba border.

The planned time frame for the blockade is tomorrow afternoon from 1 until 4.

Kenora Launches Updated Website

It just got easier to navigate the city of Kenora over the internet.

Deputy Clerk Heather Kasprick says the city launched it updated website this week which included some keys changes.

The changes include easier navigation, more tourism information , and features the new city tourism logo.

you can visit the site at www.kenora.ca.

Council Puts Fire Bill on Hold

The bill for a forest fire started in the City of Kenora last September has
come in at over 32 thousand dollars.

But city council is balking at paying it.

Council debated the issue at length yesterday.

Councillor Sharon Smith was one of the few who felt the city should pay up.

But mayor Dave Canfield says much of the property that was burned was
actually crown land, and doesn't think the MNR took that into consideration
when it submitted the bill.

Council has decided to put the matter on hold for the time being.

Murder Trial Continues

A number of police officers have taken the stand so far at the second degree murder trial of
Kenneth Ivall and Angela Duchesne.

Yesterday, Constable Miranda Duggan was on the stand.

She testified about the night Ed Wilson was killed on the train tracks in Norman.

She was having coffee with fellow officers at the Tim Horton's on Lakeview Drive when
Duchesne came into the restaurant.

Duggan says she observed Duchesne going into the women's washroom.

A while later Duggan went in and noticed some red spots on the floor in one of the bathroom stalls
and also near the sink.

She says she didn't seal the bathroom off until they notice more of a blood-like substance on a
trail behind the Tim Horton's.

The trial continues today at the Kenora Court House.

Liberals Gear Up for Leadership Convention

Provincial Liberals from Kenora-Rainy River are happy with the response to first-ballot voting held on the weekend in advance of the upcoming leadership convention next week.

President of the Riding Association Anthony Leek says turnout to the vote was good, considering a storm stopped some from taking part.

Fourteen people from the riding will travel to Toronto next week to participate in the convention, including Leek, who is the former Liberal Candidate in the riding and vice-president of the Liberals Northern Executive Council.

Delegate selection took place in Dryden this past Saturday.

UNESCO Designation for Boreal Forest In NWO Moving Forward

Northwestern Ontario's Pikangikum First Nation is among those
involved in a plan to co-manage a vast tract of northern boreal
forest as a United Nations world heritage site.

Manitoba is awaiting final touches by two First Nations before
moving ahead with a bid for the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization designation for the region.

The process is supported by the Ontario and Manitoba governments
and Ottawa.

The area covers 43 thousand square kilometres and is the largest
tract of boreal forest in North America to be recognized as jointly
controlled with aboriginal people.

MP Concerned About Lakes in Northern Ontario

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty says all Canadians should take interest in the environmental issues raised by the Idle No More movement.

Rafferty says the changes made to the Navigable Waters Protection Act, contained in Bill C-45 will have a detrimental effect on many.

Only a few lakes in Northwestern Ontario will be protected that include Rainy Lake, Rainy River and Lake of the Woods.

However the act does not protect the water systems leading into the lakes.

O.P.P Searching for Missing Teeenager

Kenora O.P.P are asking for public assistance in locating a missing 15 year old girl.

Chantel Cameron from the White Dog First Nation was said to be in Edmonton when she was last heard from on January 1st.

Police says at that time she was trying to get back to the community of White Dog.

Cameron is described as being 5 feet 5 inches tall with long dark hair and is 7 months pregnant.

Anyone with information is asked to call their local police service.

CUPE Reaches Deal with Public School Board

In spite of recent labor unrest with the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board, at least one union has settled on a new two year contract.

Educational Support staff with the public school board has ratified a new agreement.

CUPE local 1939 says the deal addresses a number of issues important to them including protecting services through better job security, better sick leave support, and protection of pension contributions.

Union president Jim Favreau says despite the agreement, the union still has a number of concerns
with the provincial government's Bill 115.

Province Begins Appeal Against Grassy Decision

The provincial government is launching its appeal today of an Ontario
Superior Court ruling in favour of the Grassy Narrows First Nation.

Last August the court ruled the government does not have the right
to unilaterally take away treaty rights and allow clear cut logging and mining activity in its traditional land use area.

The province is arguing that it has exclusive jurisdiction over all public lands and forests.

The government of Canada and Resolute Forest Products are also appealing the decision, while Goldcorp and other first nations have asked to be interveners.

Public School Board Hopes to Resume Extracurricular Activities

A sign that extra-curricular activities might make a comeback in 2013.

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board is reassessing its decision to
suspend after school programs.

Director of Education Jack McMaster says they met with teachers last week
to discuss the issue.

McMaster adds that they are communicating with other school boards in
order to align their actions in regards to extra-curricular.

Rickford Feeling Positive Following Meeting With Aboriginal Leaders

The meeting may be over but changes are just about to begin.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper met with First Nations Leaders in Ottawa on Friday evening, where they discussed eight priorities to build on their relationship.

Kenora MP Greg Rickford was in attendance and says he will take what was said back to his riding.

Rickford says Harper and National Chief Shawn Atelo will both meet with their constituents in the coming weeks to determine the next steps.

Shoal Lake #40 Seeks Federal Support

The Chief of the Shoal lake #40 First Nation was also in Ottawa last week.

Irwin Redsky handed a letter to prime minister Stephen Harper asking the
federal government to honor its historical agreement on Shoal Lake.

The letter is in response to the City of Winnipeg seeking an expedited
decision from the International Joint Commission about selling water
it draws from Shoal Lake.

Winnipeg is asking the federal government to support its request.

Chief Redsky accuses Winnipeg of doing a political end-around instead of
sitting down with the band to work out the dispute.

Northwestern Ontario Digs Out from Winter Storm

The Ministry of Transportation is reporting a number of area roads throughout the region as being snow covered or at least partially covered with slushy and or icy conditions.

A Winter storm caused several of the region's highways to be closed over the weekend with the last major Highway between Dryden and Sistonen's Corner near Thunder Bay, re-opened early yesterday morning.

Sergeant John Haley with the O.P.P. says traffic may be slowed or stopped as crews work to remove a number of vehicles that went into the ditch.

Haley says all of the highways in the area are open but some are still listing icy road conditions.

Local Girls Hockey Teams Continue to Excel

Local girls hockey teams continue to excel.

Beaver Brae's girls squad was called into action this weekend to face the Assinaboine College Cougars
from Brandon after Confederation College had to back out of its two game weekend series due to the
weather.

The Broncos ended up winning both games, skating to a 2-0 win on Saturday, and coming back for
a 3-2 win on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Lake of the Woods Chaos took top honors a a PeeWee hockey tournament in
Dryden over the weekend.

The Chaos beat the Lakewood Tire Eagles from Fort Frances 4-1 in the A-side final yesterday.

The Kenora girls finished the tournament with a 3-1 record.  The lone loss coming at the hands of
the Eagles in the Round robin.

First Blood Donor Clinic of 2013

It's in you to give.

Canadian Blood Services will be holding their first clinic of the year in the city on Monday January 14th.

Harvey Heater from Canadian Blood Services says the need for donors continues to rise.

The first clinics run from 4 until 9 on Monday evening and 9:30 until 12:30 Tuesday morning at St. Thomas High School.

You can book your appointment by calling 1-888-2-DONATE (1-888-236-6283)

Highway 17 Closed at Highway 71 Junction

O.P.P have closed sections of highway 17 east of Kenora due to a collision near Percy Lake.

Constable Ronni Grosenick says the Eastbound lane is closed at the Highway 71 Junction and the Westbound lane is closed from Vermillion Bay.

Grosenick adds that more closures may happen as a winter storm crosses the region tonight.

O.P.P are advising against travel on any area highway.

Highway 71 Re-opened

Highway 71 from the Highway 17 junction to Sioux Narrows was re-opened early this afternoon.

The highway had been closed due to slippery road conditions and 2 tractor trailer units getting stuck.

The semi trailers have since been cleared.

However O.P.P are advising against travelling on area highways as a winter storm rolls into the area bringing heavy snow, ice pellets, and freezing rain.

Rickford Looking Forward to Today's Meeting

Kenora MP Greg Rickord is looking forward to this afternoon's meeting between aboriginal leaders, the Prime Minister and other government officials.

Rickford says he continues to work closely with area First Nations on addressing their concerns.
and feels most communities are making some headway.


Rickford will be in attendance at the meeting along with Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan.

He says open dialogue continues to be key for the Federal Government.


The meeting comes at a time when tensions are starting to flare between the government and First Nations.