300 Hydro One Customers Still in the Dark

Still about 300 Hydro One customers with out power today.

A violent thunderstorm that blew through the area Tuesday night knocked out electricity to about three thousand homes to the north and west of the city.

This will be the third straight day without electricity for customers in the Ingolf area.

Hydro One expects power will be restored by 4:00 this afternoon.

Fire Season Heating Up

A fairly busy week for MNR fire crews in the region.

Another four wild fires reported yesterday, bringing this week's total to
17.

Most of the new blazes have been caused by lightning.

In the meantime, the MNR says its continuing to monitor a couple of fires
on Lake of the Woods.

One has been burning for a couple of weeks in the area between Ferrier and
Whiteout Islands, while the other is located near French Narrows.

The MNR says the fires are being allowed to burn themselves out as part of
their Lake of the Woods Response Plan.

Ride for Memories Hits the Road Tomorrow

A great event supporting a great cause is coming up this weekend!

The Alzheimer Society of Kenora-Rainy River holding its Annual Ride for Memories this Saturday.

Acting Executive Director Rossana Tomashowski says it always grabs tons of interest from folks all-over.

The ride starts in Dryden, Kenora and Fort Frances, and finishes up in Dryden with a steak dinner.

Rotary Readies for Lobsterfest

Break out the lobster bibs.

The Kenora Rotary Club is hosting the 18th annual Lobsterfest tomorrow tonight.

Rotary member Mark Duggan says it's going to be a great night.

Lobsterfest gets underway at 5:00 under the Whitecap Pavilion.

Richards Prepares for Olympic Orientation Camp

The Olympic Men's hockey orientation camp begins this weekend in Calgary.

Kenora's Mike Richards is one of 47 NHL players invited to attend.

Richards says because there is no on-ice training, it will be basically an
orientation session.

This is Richards second Olympic orientation camp, after winning gold with
the Canadian Men's Hockey team in Vancouver in 2010.

Fires on Lake of the Woods no threat

The Ministry of Natural Resources is monitoring one new fire and a previously active fire on Lake of the Woods. 

One is located near Ferrier and Whiteout Island and the other is in the mouth of French Narrows.  The fires are being managed and do not pose a threat to people or property.  The MNR urges safety and reminds people to stay clear of the islands.  

OPP Searching for Escapee

The OPP are on the lookout for a prisoner who escaped custody at the Kenora
Court House.

Police say Tuesday morning shortly after 11:00, 53 year old Harvey Smith from the Whitedog First nation managed to get away from the Water Street lock-up.

He is described as being six feet tall, wearing a black t shirt, jeans, glasses and blue and white jail issued shoes.

A warrant has been issued for his arrest on a charge of escaping lawful custody.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to contact the Kenora Detachment of the OPP or Crimestoppers.

OPP Confirm Fatality In Lakeview Drive Accident

A post-mortem exam will take place today on a 48 year old man who died yesterday while driving along Lakeview Drive.

Robert Chisel of Kenora was the lone occupant of the vehicle, that went
off the road and ended up in Cameron Bay just after 4:00.

Police and emergency service personnel spent several hours at the scene
trying to get the driver out of the vehicle and pulling the SUV out of the water.

The lone occupant of the vehicle was initially described as unresponsive and passed away later at Lake of the Woods District Hospital.

Lakeview Drive was either closed or partially closed yesterday evening while recovery efforts were carried out.

Lakeview Drive Accident Under Investigation

The OPP are continuing their investigation of a single vehicle accident
on Lakeview Drive.

Yesterday afternoon shortly after 4:00 a vehicle drove off the road and
into Cameron Bay.

At the time, the driver was described as unresponsive, but no other details about the incident have been released.

The road was closed or partially closed for several hours while police and emergency crews worked to get the vehicle removed from the water.

Power Still Off for Hundreds of Hydro One Customers

Its taking longer than expected to restore power to homes affected by a thunderstorm Tuesday night.

Hydro One says about 11 hundred customers are still without electricity this morning, and it could be this evening before the lights can be turned back on.

Most of the outages are in the McKenzie Portage Road, Washagamis Bay and Clearwater Bay areas.

Hydro One says it could be 10:00 tonight before power is fully restored.

Watershed Board Looking For Advisory Board members

Wanted:  volunteers to sit on a number of advisory groups for the
International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board.

The new board held an open house in Kenora yesterday.

Dennis Brown is co-chair and says they are looking not only for ordinary
citizans, but also representitives from industry to help them out.

Brown says they are looking for representives from forestry, mining, recreation
and hydro.

Teachers Get Crash Course in Using IPads in the Classroom

Technology has come a long way in the classroom.

A number of teachers with the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board are at New Prospect School in Dryden, learning how to integrate iPad capabilities in their lesson plans.

Susan Watt is one of the instructors, and says the opportunities are endless.

Watt says how teachers use iPads in the classroom versus their personal lives is very different.

Lac Seul and Goldcorp Sign Agreement

A collaboration agreement has been signed between the Lac Seul First Nation and Goldcorp.

Chief Clifford Bull says there are a lot of things in the agreement with respect to revenue sharing, job opportunities and contracting provisions.

Bull says the agreement will define the long-term benefits for the First Nation, as well as the future of mining developments in the Red Lake area.

He says the agreement will include the sharing of resources, as outlined by their Treaty.

Forest Fire Activity Starting to Pick Up

Six new fires have sparked in Northwestern Ontario.

The Ministry of Natural Resources is reporting them in the Dryden, Sioux Lookout, Kenora, Thunder Bay and Nipigon Districts.

Majority of them were lightning caused, but there were a few human caused ones as well.

In addition, a number of the fires required air and ground attack as they posed a threat to people and property, and they are now under control.

The fire hazard is currently "moderate" and is expected to reach high by this weekend.

Energy Funding Now Available for Small and Aboriginal Communities

The Province is promoting conservation and clean energy in smaller sized and Aboriginal communities.

The new Municipal Energy Plans and Aboriginal Community Energy Plans will allow the communities to assess its energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, and consider the impact of future growth and options.

Small and medium sized as well as Aboriginal communities will be eligible for up to 90-thousand-dollars to develop a plan, while remote First Nations can receive up to 95-thousand.

Police on Accident Scene near Cameron Bay

Kenora OPP are on the scene of an accident on the Cameron Bay bridge.

Lakeview Drive is close between Keewatin and Parson Street and police are diverting traffic through Norman. 

We have reports that a vehicle left the roadway and entered the water in Cameron Bay.

The OPP do have a boat searching the Area. 

We will have more details as they are released. 

Power Outage Update

Over 3,000 customers remain without power this afternoon.

Last night's storm knocked out power to customers in the areas of Redditt, the Dalles, McKenzie Portage Road, Clearwater Bay, Washagamis Bay, Rat Portage, Ingolf and to the east at Hawk Lake.

Hydro One says crews are working to restore power but now says that it won;t be until 10:00.

The original hope was to have the work done by 4:00

Canfield Pleased with Government Response to the North

Some positives signs for Northwestern Ontario.

Mayor Dave Canfield is at the Association of Municipalities Ontario meeting in Ottawa and says the government is starting to focus on the region.

Canfield says the 5 members of city council at the meeting were able to meet with seven provincial cabinet ministers during the meeting.

As president of NOMA he was also in on meetings with seven other ministers and  Conservative leader Tim Hudak.

The AMO Conference wraps up today.

Rickford Supports Parliamentary Re-Set

Kenora MP Greg Rickford is calling it a smart move.

His comment is in regards to Prime Minister Stephen Harper asking the Governor General to prorogue the parliament until October.

Rickford says he feels confident that their best interests will be right there as the government transitions into a new parliamentary agenda.

He adds that he will continue to push the mining and forestry sectors once the government has transitioned into its new parliamentary agenda.

Kenora Sets Weather Record

A record breaking day weather-wise in Kenora.

One of the weather stations at the Kenora Airport hit 32.2 degrees
yesterday, smashing the previous high for August 20th.

The previous high was 30.6 set back in 1976.

Dryden was the hot spot in the region, reaching 32.5 yesterday.