Fire on Highway 17 East Inside Kenora

 A vacant build on Highway 17 East has gone up in flames.

OPP say a call was received around 11:40 Saturday night to the building between A&W and Dingwall Ford.

A&W owner Randy Nickle says he was surprised to hear of the fire and  what caused it to burn so hot.

Other spectators pointed to an open door on the backside if building hinting that someone may have been inside.

Soeaking with the OPP there are no details as to what caused the fire and there is no injuries reported.

By 1:00 firefighters had contained the blaze inside the building.

More details to follow.

Annual Mothers Day Race Goes This Sunday

The annual mothers day 5k and 10k charity road race takes to the streets this Sunday.

Jennifer Findlay says participants will not have to collect sponsors as all the proceeds raised will be from registration costs.

Youth registration is $25 while adult registration is $35.

Registration is available at www.kenoraborealis.com/

The race takes place at 10:00 on Sunday morning from the Whitecap Pavilion.

Registration will begin at 8:00.

Tourism Program Extended another Year

American Tourists with a minor conviction will get a one time entry to Canada once again this year.

This week Kenora MP Greg Rickford announced the extension of the Tourism Facilitation Action Plan that allows a one time entry into the country.

Rickford says border guards are given very specific rules to ensure public safety.

Rickford stressed that the program is being extended and that anyone who has entered once under the program will not be allowed entry again.

Manitou Gold Continues Drilling Program

Manitou Gold continues its exploration southeast of Kenora.

It's released the latest results of drilling in its Elora property.

President Todd Keast says the exploration continues to demonstrate indications of a potentially large gold bearing deposit.

More drilling is expected once ice from lakes is gone.

Hope and the City Tomorrow Night

A major fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society tonight.

Hope and the City has been sold out for months now.

Nicole Burton is one of the organizers and says this is a ladies
only event.

Last year Hope and the City raised about 25 thousand dollars for
the Cancer Society.

Drug Drop-Off Tomorrow

It's a chance to prevent prescription drug abuse.

The OPP will be participating in prescription drug drop off day tomorrow.

Constable Ronni Grosenick says the program will take away an option for kids to find the drugs.

Grosenick says the drop off will be a drive thru set-up at the detachment by Wal-Mart from 10 to 3.

Former Kenora Resident to Head up SIJHL Expansion Team

The Superior International Junior Hockey League has approved a franchise for Ear Falls-Red Lake.

The team will be known as the Eagles and will begin play at the Ear Falls Arena this upcoming season.

Kevin Kahoot has been named head coach and general manager and says its a great opportunity.

The organization's executive is expected to be finalized in the coming days.

Budget Pressures Easing At MNR?

There's still challenges, but Ontario's Natural Resources Minister says the provincial budget is relieving some of the pressures his Ministry is facing.

Natural Resources spending is up slightly over last year.

David Orazietti says it may help ease somewhat the notion of having to close MNR offices.

Orazietti is hopeful the NDP will support the budget.

Water Levels Starting to Rebound

Campowners on Lake of the Woods are concerned about low water levels
this spring.

The Lake of the Woods Control Board attended this week's Campowners
Association meeting this week in Winnipeg.

Rick Cousins from the Control Board says things are starting to turn around.

Cousins says most of the lake remains covered in ice, and it could take another couple of weeks before it eventually melts.

Students Take Part in Emergency Preparedness

30 local high school students are
getting a crash course in emergency preparedness tonight.

As part of emergency preparedness week the students are taking part in an overnight evacuation drill.

Firefighter Earl Bichon says the drill will cover every step of an evacuation.

Bichon says the students will also get presentations from different services about what their roles are during an emergency situation.

Wunnumin Lake Grieves over Fatal Fire

The Wunnumin Lake First Nation is devastated following a housefire that took the lives of three females yesterday.

Chief Rod Winnepetonga says the community is shocked and distraught over the tragedy that killed a one-year-old, a six-year-old, and a 21-year-old, who was the aunt of the two children.

He adds that a member of the First Nation Council tried to save them, but was overcome by smoke and flown to hospital in Thunder Bay.

He was released this morning.

A crisis team is in the community, which has a population of just over 600, and the cause of the blaze is under investigation by the Ontario Fire Marshal.

Identity Of Bank Robber Remains A Mystery 40 Years Later

Its a mystery worthy of the TV series"Cold Case".

After 40 years, the identity of a bank robber who blew himself
up in downtown Kenora remains a mystery.

Former Kenora Police Chief Dan Jorgensen says they did have one
possible suspect they investigated 10 years ago, but he turned out to
be alive and well and living in the south of Frances.

Jorgensen says they did try to use DNA evidence to trace the suspect,
but to no avail.

Memorandum Signed to Transfer Ownership of ELA

It's a great day for all supporters of the Experimental Lakes Area.

After over a year of fighting the government a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed today between the government and the International Institute for Sustainable Development.

Kenora MP Greg Rickford says the agreement was months in the making.

Rickford adds that the agreement includes operational support throughout the summer during the transition period to the IISD and that the IISD will continue negotiations with the Ontario government.

Dryden Man Charged for Wielding Axe

A Dryden man's quest has resulted in some trouble with the law.

City Police were contacted on Monday regarding a man, who appeared to be drunk, wandering around
Wilson's Trailer Park carrying a long handled axe.

Police arrived, and say that the man told officers he was looking for someone and was " going to chop them up into little bits".

As a result, police have charged 24-year-old Richard Halverson with uttering threats to cause bodily harm.

T3P Employees Vote in Favour of Unionization

An almost unanimous vote by the Treaty Three Police Service.

Public Service Alliance of Canada Regional Vice President Sharon DeSousa says 62 members voted yes to union protection by PSAC and only two voted against.

DeSousa says the fight continues regarding what jurisdiction the service will fall under.

She says they want to fall under provincial jurisdiction, not federal.

DeSousa says a number of issues will be resolved once the jurisdictional challenge has been settled.

Government Plans to Look at Flooded Communities

Kenora MP Greg Rickford says the federal government is focused right now on helping First Nations repair damage caused by flooding.

MPP Gilles Bisson is calling on both levels of government to start looking at moving some communities in the far north to higher ground.

Rickford admits it is an issue that should be looked at.

He notes moving some communities would be part of a long term plan.

More Questions on ELA

More discussions are continuing about the future of the Experimental Lakes Area.

In the legislature Kenora Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell asked the government why scientists were not allowed back into the ELA.

Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Laurel Broten says the governmental is still working on a deal to take over the facility.

Broten says the province does understand the urgency surrounding the ELA and is working as fast as it can to re-open the facility.

Three Killed in Wunnumin Lake House Fire

Tragedy in the remote northern community of Wunnumin Lake First Nation.

Three people are dead following a house fire early yesterday morning.

All three were females and aged 1, 6 and 21.

The cause of the fire is not known at this time.

Officials say the community of roughly 600-people is devastated.

Crisis teams from surrounding communities have been sent to Wunnumin Lake.

The First Nation is located 360-kilometres northeast of Sioux Lookout.

Forest Fire Season Heats up in Kenora District

What a difference a week makes.

After a slow start to the forest fire season, the Kenora District has seen a rash of blazes over the past couple of days.

Fire information officer Debbie McLean says they've responded to five blazes in the past two days, all of the which have been human caused.

McLean says a fire about 10 kilometers from the Kenora Airport is listed as being held today, after it grew to over six hectares yesterday.

Taxes Going Up in Sioux Narrows/Nestor Falls

Its going to cost more to pay your property taxes in Sioux Narrows/Nestor
Falls this year.

The town council approved a 3 percent increase in the mill rate in 2013.

Mayor Bill Thompson says they wanted to to be able to put more money into
reserves this year.

Thompson says the mill rate also reflects the increased cost of paying for
the Kenora District Services Board.