Senior Thistles Win Renwick Cup

The Kenora Triple "A" Senior Thistles are heading back to the Allan Cup Championships.

The Thistles earned a 5-1 victory Saturday night to win the Renwick Cup Over the Brantford Blast in 2 straight games.

Captain Sean Hughes says a big difference in the series was the level of energy by his team.

Kyle Turgeon started the scoring in the first, before Mike Ruberto tried the game in the second period.

After that it was all Thistles with goals by Ryan Pearson, Sean McAslan, Tom Biondich, and Mike Garrow.

The Allan Cup begins on April 15th in Red Deer, Alberta.

OPA Offers Program for First Nations Communities

A first of its kind in the province.

The Ontario Power Authority and First Nations Engineering Services have announced the launch of the "saveONenergy Aboriginal Conservation Program".

Director of First Nations and Métis Relations with the OPA Hilary Thatcher explains the purpose.

Thatcher encourages First Nations all over Northwestern Ontario to apply for the program.

visit www.aboriginalenergy.ca/acp for more information.

MNR Prepared for Forest Fire Season

It's hard to believe but the forest fire season is officially underway.

Debbie Maclean of the Ministry of Natural Resources says there are no fires that are burning in the province right now because there's too much snow on the ground.

Last year at this time there were 14 fires recorded before the season even started.

Alzheimer Society Hands Out Touch Quilts

A large undertaking is underway at the Alzheimer Society of the Kenora and Rainy River Districts.

Executive Director Lynn Moffatt says they are using their touch quilt project to give out over 250 quilts to dementia patients.

Moffat says they just handed 42 quilts to patients at the Birchwood Terrace, but are still in need of over 200 more.

She adds the quilts are used to help ease anxiety and can help with sensory stimulation.

You can find out more information about the touch quilt project by calling the Alzheimer Society at 468-1516.

Police Confirm Death at Best Western

The Kenora O.P.P have confirmed the death of a male at the Best Western Lakeside Inn.

Police were called about a disturbance around 3:45 this morning, and upon arrival found a male lying on the sidewalk below a broken window on the 4th floor of the hotel.

The victim was transported to the Lake of the Woods District Hospital where he later died from his injuries.

The Police remain on the scene and are with holding the victims identity until next of kin can be notified.

Police on Scene at Best Western Lakeside Inn

Kenora OPP are on the scene of an accident at the Best Western Lakeside Inn.

Reports are that a death has occurred although police have not confirmed anything at this time

Police remain on the scene as the front sidewalk facing 1st Avenue South remains taped off.

We have calls in with the Kenora OPP detachment and will have updates as soon as more information is made available.

Mutual Respect Heading Into Renwick Cup

There is a lot of mutual respect between the Kenora Triple "A" Senior Thistles and the Brantford Blast heading into the Renwick Cup Finals.

Even though they have never played each other neither team is taking the other lightly.

Thistles team captain Sean Hughes says he expects some very talented competition.

Meanwhile, Kenora head coach John Tressor says that offense is Brantford's specialty.

The same level of respect towards the Thistles is being offered by Chad Spurr who is captain of the Blast, and played with a number of Kenora players while in Junior.

The Renwick Cup gets underway at the Thistles Arena tomorrow night at 7:00.

Games 2 and 3 are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday

The winner will advance to the national championship Allan Cup.

Council Selects Tedner for Bridge Project

The Company to repair the Winnipeg River West Branch Bridge has been selected.

At yesterday's special sitting of city council the tender by Innovative Civil Constructors was selected with a price tag of just over 4 million dollars.

Mayor Dave Canfield said it was good timing to select the company as they are working in the region on other projects and that has lowered the projected cost of 6 million.

Canfield says the city is taking a risk as they finalize funding by the province.

Canfield adds the funding they are applying for would cover up to 2 million dollars of the project and that they are working to receive more funding through other ministries.

KPDSB Happy With Extracurricular Announcement

It looks like kids in public elementary schools might be getting their extracurricular activities back.

Jack McMaster is the Director or Education at the Keewatin Patricia District School Board, and says their is no end to the benefit kids get from the activities.

However, McMaster does add that the choice to participate in the extracurricular activities, remains that of the individual teachers.

Record Prices on Canadian Fur's

Canada's fur industry is experiencing something it hasn't seen in a long time.

Furs are being sold off, in some cases, at record-breaking prices.

President of the Rainy River Fur Trappers Council Brian Love says that can only bode well for their future.

Love says increased interest in Canadian furs from the Pacific Rim countries is partly responsible for the high prices.

Minor Accident on Highway 71

Highway 71 near Nestor Falls is currently blocked following a minor single vehicle accident.

Constable Dave Cain with the Kenora O.P.P confirmed that a chip truck flipped over and is blocking traffic.

Cain says there are no injuries and that the scene should be cleared up to traffic by the end of the day.

O.P.P Charge Winnipeg Man for Tobacco

Kenora O.P.P have taken possession of over 4000 unmarked cigarettes and 6000 grams of tobacco.

Police say they pulled a vehicle over on Sunday evening on highway 17A where they found a man transporting the products.

As a result 48-year old Robert Parker from Winnipeg has been charged with possession of unmarked cigarettes and possession for the purpose of sale contrary to the Tobacco Taxes Act.

He will appear in Kenora Court on June 13th to answer to the charges.

ETFO Lifts Ban on Extracurriculars

The union representing Ontario's public elementary school teachers has joined the high school teachers' union in lifting a ban on voluntary or extracurricular activities.

Sam Hammond, the president of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario, announced late last night that he's lifting the ban in light of progress in ongoing labour talks with the government.

Premier Kathleen Wynne hopes teachers and support staff will return quickly to running after school activities and programs.

Dryden Receives Final DMTS Sale Price Tag

Not the numbers Dryden City Council wants to hear.

It was revealed last night that the city got just over 4-million dollars for the sale of Dryden Mobility.

Financial Advisor Paul Heayn says that's in comparison to the 12-million they LOST last year.

Heayn says the city received about 4.3 million dollars for DMTS, and that they made about 388-thousand dollars last year from it.

Baird says Federal Budget Benefits the North

Regional Minister John Baird is defending his government's budget and says its good news for the North.

The Foreign Affairs Minister says they'll be providing skilled trades training that will benefit the region's economy.

Baird is downplaying FedNor's budget being cut by 10 percent.

O.P.P ID Body Found at Norman Dam

Kenora O.P.P have identified the body that was found at the intake to the Norman Dam earlier this month.

Constable Dave Cain says they identified the victim with DNA evidence and a missing person report from Vancouver.

Cain says it was a collaborative effort by O.P.P and the Vancouver City Police in order to identify the body.

Foul play was not suspected in the death after the post-mortem was conducted at the Lake of the Woods District Hospital.

Brantford Ready to Face Senior Thistles

With the Renwick Cup finals this weekend the Brantford Blast a looking to keep on a roll against the hometown Kenora Triple "A" Senior Thistles.

Blast team captain Chad Spurr says his team has hit there stride during the playoffs and are getting scoring from all 3 lines.

Spurr says he played a few players from the Thistles while in junior and is expecting a very hard fought series.

Game one goes Friday night at 7:00 inside the Thistle Arena

City to Award Tender on Bridge Revitalization

Kenora City Council has called a special council meeting for tomorrow afternoon.

The purpose of the meeting is to select a tender for repair work on the Winnipeg River West Branch Bridge.

The city has been lobbying the provincial government for a number of months to help fund the project, and says they had positive talks with Infrastructure Minister Glen Murray at the Good Roads Conference last month.

The cost estimates for the work are in the range of 6 million dollars.

Pre-Budget Meetings Coming to Thunder Bay

There will be pre-budget consultations held in northwestern Ontario, with a session recently announced for Thunder Bay April 3rd.

Thunder Bay Superior North MPP Michael Gravelle says it was crucial for the north to have a chance to voice their thoughts on the upcoming budget.

The Liberals say they are considering holding video or tele-conferences so that area communities can also take part.

Kenora O.P.P offer Facebook Advice to Parents

Protecting your children by learning the uses of Facebook.

That is a goal of Constable Dave Cain and tonight's information session of the social media site being held by the Kenora O.P.P.

Constable Cain is asking anyone interested come down to the free information session with any questions they have.

The session is tonight between 7:00 and 8:30 at the public library.