PC Candidate Unhappy With Bear Hunt Pilot Project

Another government stall tactic.

That the feeling of Kenora Rainy River PC Candidate Randy Nickle follow the governments announcement spring bear hunt pilot project in the Northeast.

Nickle says the government is missing out on a huge opportunity to supply a much needed economic boost for tourists camps, as well as help solve the nuisance bear problem.

He adds that the government should re-open the hunt across the province and allow local municipalities decided what actions to take.

The pilot project, which is only open to Ontario residents, will allow hunting in the areas of Thunder Bay, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins, and North Bay for the next 2 years.

Kenora OPP Work on 3 Year Strategy

Policing is taking on a new look in Kenora.

Yesterday, OPP Detachment Commander Dave Lucas held a public consultation.

Lucas says controlling situations is no longer about using hand cuffs and force, but instead partnering with community agencies and dissecting the root causes of crime.

He says that substance abuse is the leading cause of crime in the community.

Since 2010 when the Kenora OPP made their current strategy plan they have seen an annual decline in calls for service.

Councillor Suggests Need for Updated Emergency Plan

A rash of train derailments across Canada shows the need for a new Emergency Plan for the City of Kenora.

That's the feeling of councilor Sharon Smith.

Smith says more and more dangerous goods are being transported by rail, and that should be a cause for alarm for all municipalities.

Smith suggests the Emergency Plan should include evacuation routes out of the city, should any dangerous goods spill along the C.P. main line.

Dryden Hires New CAO

The search for a new Chief Administrative Officer in Dryden is over.

The City has hired Andre Larabie, effective November 18th.

Mayor Craig Nuttall says he was impressed with Larabie during the interview process.

Larabie was born in Ottawa and served as the Senior Administrative Officer for the Nunavut Territory for four years.

Public School Board Plans for Closer Relationship with Con College

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board says it plans to work more closely
with Confederation College in the future.

The board says there are opportunities, such as the potential construction of a new high school in Sioux Lookout, where they might be able to partner with the college.

Director of Education Sean Monteith says the partnership could include leasing classrooms at some of their more under-utilized schools.

Monteith says they've talked about leasing classroom space at their schools in Pickle Lake and Ignace,
which not only benefits the college, but potentially opens up more course opportunities for high school
students.

Busy Fall For Fort Frances Drug Team

A busy and successful couple of months for the OPP and the Fort Frances Community Drug Action team.

Four men, a woman and a youth were charged while officers seized quantities of prescription medications and marijuana in five separate drug investigations in September and October.

Constable Anne McCoy says the arrests highlight the drug problem in the area.

McCoy says many of the cases were cracked because of tips from the public.

Atikokan Hospital Employee Faces Charges

An Atikokan hospital employee is facing charges in connection with the theft of prescription medication from the hospital's pharmacy.

39-year-old Cynthia Carolyn King will appear in Atikokan Court December 12 on charges of theft and breach of trust.

The charges stem from an OPP investigation that began in April when hospital administration notified police of missing medication from the pharmacy.

Summer Air Show Posts Sizable Profit

This summer's Kenora Airshow was an unqualified success.

The numbers are just being finalized, but it looks as if the event
will turn a profit of just over 14 thousand dollars.

City council was told this week that proceeds from the event will be used
as seed money for future air shows, but will also go towards hosting other
special events, such as Canada Day.

Thousands of people took in the air show, which featured a performance by the Snow Birds, as well as other aerobatic airplanes in early July.

Gas Prices Drop Again

Today might be a good day to fill up.

The price at the pump has dropped yet again.

A liter of gas at most service stations in town has dropped by
two cents.

Unleaded is now going for 1.29.9 cents, down from 131.9 yesterday.

That's still about 7.5 cents a liter higher than the provincial average this morning.

Victims of Red Lake Crash Identified

The Town of Red Lake continues to mourn the loss of three residents killed in Sunday's Bearskin Airlines crash near their Airport.

Sources confirm that 64-year-old Sharon Taylor, 53-year-old Peter Struk and 53-year-old Anna Johannesson all died in the fiery crash.

Memorial services are planned for this weekend.

A service for Taylor will be held Friday at 2 o'clock at the Funeral Home.

The service for Johannesson is scheduled for Saturday at 1 at the same location.

A memorial service for Struk is slated for Sunday at 2 o'clock at the Royal Canadian Legion.

Two pilots, who are believed to be residents of Winnipeg, also died in the crash.

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.