Kenora Man charged for Robbery

An 18 year old Kenora man has been arrested following an incident Friday in the Minto area.

Police say they were called about a man with a weapon who had approached 2 people and demanded cash on Friday evening.

The OPP's investigation led to the arrest of Christian Sinlcair.

He has been charged with 2 counts of robbery and violence, uttering threats, and break and enter.

He will answer to the charges later this month.

Markets Take a Bite Out of KMTS Prosperity Trust Fund

Tough financial markets are having an impact on the KMTS Prosperity Trust Fund.

The most recent financial report from the city shows the trust has earned just 1.26 percent so far this year.

The city says it needs to generate at least three percent to generate 1.1 million dollars, which is their annual target to reduce property taxes.

Councillor Rod McKay says its fortunate the city is making three percent on loans made for renovations at the Paterson Medical clinic and the Kenora Fire Hall.

Mayor Dave Canfield says the stock markets seem to be turning around and is optimistic they will see some improvements in their investments.

Two Hospital Employees Gain Provincial Recognition

Two employees of Lake of the Woods District Hospital have earned themselves some provincial recognition.

Gene Clifford and Corrie Neufeld from the Central Ambulance Communication Center in Kenora have been given Exemplary Service awards for Emergency Medical Service.

Clifford recently retired after 36 years as a paramedic and an ambulance dispatcher, while Neufeld has been working for 30 years as a paramedic and the regional training co-ordinator for Lake of the Woods District Hospital.

Their awards were presented at a special dinner last night at the Discovery Center.

Government to Ban Flavoured Tobacco

Good news from the Flavour Gone campaign in northwestern Ontario.

There's word the Ontario government is going to introduce legislation banning the sale of candy-flavoured tobacco products to people under the age of 18.

The ban is aimed at products like cigarillos and chewing tobacco.

Flavoured tobacco is one of the few products that tobacco companies can still legally
market to kids.

TSB Takes Over Investigation of Red Lake Crash

The Transportation Safety Board has now recovered the cockpit voice recorder recovered from the wreckage of a Bearskin Airlines plane that crashed Sunday near in Red Lake.

Five people, including the two pilots were killed in the crash.

Spokesperson Peter Hildebrand says the plane hit the ground at a considerable speed and broke into several pieces.

Hildebrand says while the plane itself has had issues in the past but they didn't relate to the air worthiness of the airplane.

There are reports surfacing that the plane experienced engine problems during the flight.

Public School Board Offers Condolences in Wake of Red Lake Crash

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board says it will provide what ever support is needed to students in the Red Lake area.

Director of Education, Sean Monteith says the community as a whole has been shaken by the Bearskin crash that killed five people over the weekend.

While the victims names have not been released, he says they were parents or grand parents of kids in their Red Lake schools.

All three of the passengers killed on the plane were from Red Lake.

The two pilots were from Winnipeg.

Achilles Named VP at Beaver Brae

A familiar face at Beaver Brae is taking on new duties.

Lisa Achilles has been appointed as the secondary school's
new vice-principal.

Achilles was officially appointed to the position at the end of
September.

She replaces long-time vice principal Steve Grinrod, who has taken over the principal's duties at the school on the Onigaming First Nation near Nestor Falls.

Progress Report from Event Center Committee

Plans to expand the Kenora Rec. Center are continuing.

The Event Center Committee says it will hire Stantech and Nelson
Architecture to carry out the design work.

Chris Van Wallenghem is the co-chair and says they want to meet with
community groups to determine demand for a second ice rink.

Van Wallenghem says they will also meet with arts group to find out what their wish list
includes in any possible expansion of the Rec. Center.

He adds the conceptual plans will be unveiled at a public meeting sometime in the new year.

CN Rail Traffic Moving Again in Fort Frances

All appears back to normal in Fort Frances following a weekend train derailment in the community.  

CN Rail spokesperson Louis-Antoine Paquin says as of yesterday the track has been reopened, however the cause still remains a mystery

About 40 carloads of grain parted with the track late Sunday afternoon.

No one was injured, though the derailment has affected internet services to the community, after a fiber optic cable was severed.

Saints Boys Hockey Team Wins First Game of NorWOSSA Season

A couple of high scoring games to start the NorWOSSA boys hockey season.

The Thomas Aquinas Saints crushed the Queen Elizabeth Warriors 14-4 last night in Sioux Lookout.

Derian Caron led the offense with a seven point night, that included a pair of goals and five assists.

Justis Kennedy added six points, on two goals and four assists.

The Saints see their next action at home next Tuesday against Red Lake.

Meanwhile, in Dryden, the Eagles had their hands full with the Muskies, as Fort Frances
cruised to a 13-2 victory.

Pedestrian Dies After Accident in Downtown

The OPP say a Kenora woman has died after being struck by a car on Monday morning.

Police say the accident occurred around 10:00 on the corner of Matheson Street and First Street South.

Eye witnesses says a car struck 2 pedestrians as they were crossing the street heading towards the Kenora Legion.

79 year old Marlyn Lowes was transported to Winnipeg for treatment where she died of her injuries.

The other woman who was involved has since been released from the Lake of the Woods District Hospital.


The driver has been charged with Failure to yield to a Pedestrian.

Hospital Receives Funding for Bariatric Treatment Chairs

Sit back and relax.

The Lake of the Woods District Hospital is purchasing 2 lounger style bariatric treatment chairs for heavier set patients thanks to a 38-hundred dollar donation by the Northern Cancer Fund.

Manager of Chemotherapy Kathleen Fitzgerald says they are purchasing the chairs this week and hope to have them in use within 6 weeks time.

Fitzgerald says they hope to get funding for 2 more chairs next year.

Kenora's Newest Mayors for a Day Introduced

Dave Canfield has a couple of shadows today.

Kimberly Korobanick and Nicholas Philipow are mayors for the day winners from Beaver Brae and Thomas Aquinas.

Korobanik says she wants to see more affordable housing and build
some unity in the community.

Philipow says his winning essay focused on expanding Kenora's recycling programs.

Operations manager Rick Perchuck told the mayors for the day that the city is currently at work on a composting program.

Bearskin Officials Unsure of Cause of Red Lake Crash

The vice president of Bearskin Airlines is expressing his condolences to the family of the five people who died in Sunday's plane crash in Red Lake.

Cliff Friesen says the tragedy is a tough time for staff within the company

Friesen says while the exact cause of the crash isn't known, there have not been any mechanical problems with the type of plane that was involved, a Fairchild Metroliner.

The Transportation Safety Board is expected to release more information today about fatal plane
crash.

OPP Release More Details About Red Lake Crash Victims

The OPP say three of passengers on the Bearskin Airlines flight that crashed
Sunday evening were from Red Lake.

So far the names of the deceased have not been released.

Police say they are still waiting for positive identification.

The pilots were from Winnipeg and Mississauga.

Two residents of Winnipeg were the only people to escape from the wreckage.

OPP To Host Public Meeting Tomorrow Night

It's time to offer your opinions on how the OPP operate in the City of  Kenora.

Detachment Commander Inspector Dave Lucas says they will be holding public consultation meeting this week.

Lucas says it should be a good night to share information.

The consultation will help create the OPP's priorities for the next 3 years.

The meetings will take place in the Rotary Room at the Rec. Center tomorrow at 7:00.

OFAH Pushing for Return of Spring Bear Hunt

The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters is disappointed with the provinces new bear management committee.

Dr. Terry Quinney says the OFAH is lobbying the government to take action and re-instate the spring hunt.

Quinney says they are also asking citizens to voice their concerns.

He adds the province has lost out on around half a billion dollars of revenue since the hunt was cancelled in 1999.

Indoor Soccer Facility Set to Open in New Year

You should be able to start renting field time at the new indoor soccer complex in Kenora by the new year.

That's the timeline set out by the Lake of the Woods Soccer Association.

Jess Rheault is a spokesperson for the group and says while the artificial turf will be installed this month, they still don't have a hard date for their grand opening.

Rheault says they do have an agreement with the City of Kenora that the Recreation
Department will be able to do all the booking for the indoor soccer complex.

Cliffs Pleased with Plans for Development Corporation for Ring of Fire

It's welcome news for Cliffs Natural Resources.

Spokesperson Jennifer Mihalcin says the province's move to set up a development corporation for the Ring of Fire mining project is something the mining giant believes could help to encourage the venture to move forward.

The new corporation is designed to help achieve the goals of all parties involved in the Ring of Fire.

Details still have to be worked out, but Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle
says they are looking for interested companies to become partners in the new Developmen
t Corporation.

Hospital Gets Cancer Funding Today

Kenora, Dryden, Sioux Lookout and Red Lake are all receiving funds to help support cancer care in each of the hospitals.

The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Center
is spending today and tomorrow in each of the communities, announcing funding for new cancer care equipment.

Kenora's donation is being made this morning at Lake of the Woods District Hospital.

The Health Science Foundation will be funding a number of new bariatric treatment chairs
for chemo patients.