Council Set to Re-Appoint Non-Profit Housing Board Members

The fate of the non-profit housing boards in Keewatin and Kenora are still up in the air.

The terms of the board members is coming up for renewal and instead of appointing new members, the existing members are going to be asked to continue on for at least another year.

The city has been talking about merging the two non-profit housing agencies but both boards have been balking at the suggestion.

Kenora City Council will be voting on the recommendation at tomorrow's open meeting.

Soccer Association Seeks Volunteers for Work Party

The former Jaffray Melick Arena is slowly being transformed into an indoor soccer complex.

The transformation will continue today as the rink boards in the arena are removed.

Heather Kasprick from the Lake of the Woods Soccer Association says the work is progressing mostly with the help of local volunteers.

Kasprick says they are looking for more volunteers to help out with the removal of the rink boards this
week.

A work party will take place Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 4:00 to 9:00.

Cordless screwdrivers, work gloves and pry bars are also needed.

Search Continues for Missing Red Lake Man

The search is continuing today for a missing 22 year old Red Lake man on the English River.

The OPP Marine Units from Red Lake and Ear Falls are being assisted by a police helicopter today.

Police say two men were out duck hunting last Wednesday evening, when they fell out of the boat they were in.

One man managed to make it to shore and spent in the night in the bush before being rescued the next day
by a group of fishermen.

Health Unit Losing It's MOH

The Northwestern Health Unit is losing its Medical Officer of Health.

Dr. James Arthurs will be retiring next March.

Dr. Arthurs came to the Health Unit in 2009, after working in the U.S. as a family and emergency room physician and Medical Director.

The Board of Health has already started the recruitment process.

Board Chair Julie Roy says Dr. Arthurs is leaving their programs strong and thriving.

Rickford Readies for Throne Speech

A new session of Parliament will begin in another month.

Last week, Prime Minister Stephen Harper officially asked the Governor General
to prorogue the House of Commons until October 16th.

Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford says in the meantime, the Conservative Caucus will be working on the new agenda for the fall session.

Rickford says the government will also start work soon on the spring budget and working on a consultation schedule.

Parking Concerns Raised At Medical Clinic

Parking continues to be a sore point on Tunnel Island.

The Kenora Medical Clinic is asking city council to approve a crackdown on people who park illegally in the tow away zone in front of their building.

The city has been reluctant to ticket people who park illegally, because the medical clinic is private property and doesn't belong to the municipality.

Council is suggesting that a tow away zone be set up in front of the clinic, and will also request that its by-law enforcement officers, ticket anyone who parks in the fire lane.

More Issues for Ring of Fire

The latest snag in the Ring of Fire mining development isn't worrying Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle.

A government commission ruled against Cliffs Natural Resource's road proposal for the area.  

The Gravelle says he doesn't consider it a deal-breaker for Cliffs Natural Resources.

Gravelle says the provincial government and his ministry also remain committed to working with all companies to move the project forward

OTF Info Session this Month

Charities and Not-For-Profit groups can learn about the Ontario Trillium Foundation this month.

The foundation is holding an information session in Kenora on September 25th.

Spokesperson Loida Igancio says you can register online at:

otfinfosessionkenora.eventbrite.ca or contact Loida Ignacio lignacio@otf.ca or 1-800-263-2887.

Quiet Forest Fire Season in NWO

A relatively quiet fire season in northwestern Ontario.

Updated statistics from the Ministry of Natural Resources shows the
number of fires was about half the number as last year.

At this time in 2012, there were 617 fires, compared to jus t 347 this year.

The amount of forest land burned is also a lot less.

Last year  94 thousand hectares of forest went up in flames, compared to
just over 41 thousand this year.

No new fires were reported over the weekend in this region.

Kelly and Joseph Win Crow Lake Bass Classic

The Dan's did it.

The team of Dan Kelly and Dan Joseph took top honors at the Crow Lake Bass Classic in Nestor Falls over the weekend.

The tandem reeled in almost 31 pounds of fish over the two-day tournament collecting the first place prize of about 44 hundred dollars.

Thatcher Haggberg and Jim Ducharme finished in second.

Bronco JV Squad Wins First Ever Game

A new football program is starting up at Beaver Brae.

The Bronco Junior Varsity program features students from Grades 7 and 8, and the team earned its first ever win this weekend.

Beaver Brae blanked the Dryden Falcons 32-0 Saturday afternoon at Pete Fair Memorial Field.

The next game for the Bronco JV squad is this Saturday in Fort Frances.

OPP Search For Missing Hunter in Ear Falls

A Provincial Police Dive Team will arrive in Ear Falls this afternoon to search for a missing man.

Police say two men were duck hunting in a boat on English River Wednesday night when both of the men lost their balance and fell into the water.

One of the men was able to make it to shore and take shelter in the bush for the night.

The man was able to flag down a group of fishermen the next day.

Police aren't releasing the name and age of the missing man.

reports say that the young man is from Red Lake.

Terry Fox Run Goes this Sunday

The Terry Fox Run turns 33 years old this year.

The annual fundraiser for cancer research takes place this
Sunday starting at Valleyview School.

Laurine Goertzen is one of the organizers and says there are different ways to participate, including cycling, jogging, walking, or rollerblading.

You can still register the morning of the run at Valleyview School from 9:00 until noon.

Muskies On Main Ready for Launch in 2014

Move over Bears on Broadway...Muskies on Main are coming to town.

Lake of the Woods Arts Collective has been working on the project for
a couple of years now.

Irene McQuaig says they consider this a regional art project not only for LOWAC, but other non-profit groups as well.

McQuaig says they plan to display the muskies in the Harbortown Center from June to September of 2014.

Man Arrested Following Vehicle Break-in

A 19 year old Kenora man faces theft charges after a vehicle was broken into
in the Lakeside area.

The OPP say they received a call around 4:00 yesterday morning, that someone was trying to get into a car parked in their driveway.

When officers arrived at the scene, they found the culprit located on a
short distance away.

Brandon Banning has been charged with theft under five thousand dollars.

He's due to make a first court appearance on October 18th.

OPP Investigate Threat in Fort Frances

OPP continue to try to find out who tried to extort money out of a Fort Frances financial institution.

The Northern Lights Credit Union was closed yesterday after a bag was found at its back door.

OPP Constable Anne McCoy says it also came with a threatening note.

McCoy says the note also indicated of consequences to other businesses and schools if the demand wasn't meant.

That prompted police to ask schools to implement a "hold and secure" positions which required them to lock all doors and closely monitor those entering while police investigated.

Brinkman Supports Ban on Flying Lanterns

Kenora's fire chief says he supports a wholesale ban on the sale of flying lanterns in the city.

Warren Brinkman has submitted a report to council recommending a ban.

He says even though there haven't been many fires started by devices, he feels they are still a fire hazard.

Brinkman says if council doesn't decide to ban the flying lanterns, the Ontario Association of
Fire Chiefs is preparing it's own resolution to pass onto the provincial government.

NOSM Hires New Research Chair

There's a new Research Chair at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.

Dr. Sheldon Tobe is the new Heart and Stroke Foundation Chair in Aboriginal and Rural Health.

Dean Roger Strasser says he'll be working in remote rural First Nation communities.

The new position is funded by the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Provincial Government.

Campbell Launches Campaign Against Energy Retailers

Door to door energy retailers and their electricity contracts are being discussed at Queens Park.

Kenora Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell raised the issue in Question Period this week and said more needs to be done to protect people who sign pricey deals.

Minister of Consumer Services Tracy MacCharles says they're working to address the problem.

Campbell says she's heard of deceased residents being signed up for the contracts and wants legislation that would prevent it from happening.

City Hoping For Funding For Coney Docking

The City of Kenora is hoping to land some government funding to help re-build the docks on Coney Island.

Council this week agreed to apply for some infrastructure funding.

Councillor Sharon Smith says upgrading the docks has been identified as a priority on the Beaches, Parks and Trails report released by the city a couple of years ago.

The city is prepared to commit up to 100 thousand dollars towards the  project and hopes to get matching funds from the provincial and federal levels of government.