KCDSB Speaks Against Ideas For New System

Over half a million students could be effected if the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation gets their way.

The Kenora Catholic District School Board's director of Education Phyllis Eikre says the plan to move to a 2 board system has huge implications seeing as over 600,000 students attending Catholic education every day.

The OSSTF says the change would allow them to reinvest more money into the system.

Eikre disagrees stating that funding would still be based off the total number of students.

The OSSTF suggested a system based English and another in French in their education platform earlier this month.

Cold Weather Not Going Anywhere

The winter wonderland will continue for the region.

CJRL Meteorologist Bill Laidlaw says we won't see any change to the cold weather this weekend.

He notes today could see temperatures peak at minus 15 with just a hint of sun later in the day.

Laidlaw says we can expect cold temperatures to continue through Christmas.

City Approves Sewer and Water Hike

Sewer and water rates are on the rise.

City council has approved a 10 percent increase for next year.

Mayor Dave Canfield says the amount of aging infrastructure is the one big issue forcing the increase.

He says that the reserves need to be increased for when the city needs to make repairs.

Canfield noted that if consumption goes up in the next few years then they can put a stop to the hikes.

Mining Safety a Priority for Province

The provincial government is conducting a sweeping review of mining safety in the province.

Mines Minister Michael Gravelle says the review will include a wide range of areas including health and safety regulations and enforcement mechanisms,.

Gravelle says starting in early 2014, the province’s Chief Prevention Officer will lead an advisory group of industry, labour, and health and safety representatives to begin the sweeping review.

The review will get underway in the new year

Bronco Teams Wrap up 2013

Some redemption for Beaver Brae's Boys hockey team.

After losing the last match up with Thomas Aquinas the Broncos skated to a 5-1 victory last night against their cross town rivals.

Eastin Gauthier lead the way for the Broncos with 2 goals.

The win keeps Beaver Brae on top the NorWOSSA standings heading into the Christmas break.

However, it was not the same story for the Bronco court sports teams yesterday.

Beaver Brae was swept by Fort Frances at home to wrap up 2013.

In Basketball the senior boys lost 59-42 while the juniors dropped a 54-42 decision.

In girls volleyball both the senior and juniors lost in 3 straight sets to the Muskies.

Police Seize Illegal Cigarettes

The Kenora OPP have taken over $10,000 worth of illegal tobacco off the streets.

Yesterday afternoon police stopped a Dodge Caravan for speeding on Highway 17 West of the city.

OPP searched the vehicle and found 107 cartons of unmarked cigarettes.

As a result the 40 year old driver from Winnipeg has been charged with possession of unmarked cigarettes, and possessions for the purpose of sale contrary to the tobacco taxes act.

He will answer to the charges in March.

Drewry Drive Fire Update

Two people have been taken to hospital for treatment following a house fire in the Drewry Drive area.

Provincial Police confirm that a 13 year old boy has since been transported to the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg.

OPP also confirm the family pet died in the blaze.

Fire chief Warren Brinkman says at this point he says they don't know the cause of the fire, but their investigation will continue today.

Brinkman notes they are bringing in the Ontario Fire Marshall's office to assist.

The fire broke out in the living room area, but quick work from local fire crews kept the blaze from spreading to other rooms in the house.

Brinkman adds that there is extensive fire, smoke and water damage.

Sioux Lookout OPP Target Bootleggers

Some movement in the fight against bootleggers in Sioux Lookout.

Provincial Police have wrapped up a 6-month undercover operation with the arrest of three individuals.

76-year-old Robert Eby and 41-year-old Gilbert Belmore have been charged with 2-counts of unlawfully supplying liquor.

OPP say 30-year-old Christopher Singleton faces one charge.

All three are from Sioux Lookout and will appear in court at a later date.

OPP Release Name of Accident Victim Near Atikokan

Police have identified the vicitim of Tuesday's fatal collision on Highway 11 west of the city.

Dead is 76 year old Fredrick Munro of Atikokan.  

OPP says he was the driver of a car that collided with a commercial vehicle just east of Highway 633.

His passenger, a 71 year old woman from Atikokan is in the Thunder Bay Health Sciences Centre with serious injuries.  

The driver of the commercial truck, a 49 year old man from Thunder Bay, was not injured.

Health Officials In Thunder Bay Investigate Food Poisoning

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit is looking into possible food poisoning following a banquet at the Moose Hall on Fort William Road.

Officials say that about 54 people who were at the event on Friday became sick.  

They hope to contact as many of the 270 people that attended the event as possible, that includes people from Greenstone, Dryden, Kenora and even Hamilton.  

Meantime health officials say charges have been laid and until further notice, the Moose Hall can't serve food.

Saints Sweep Atikokan

Thomas Aquinas court sport teams are going out of 2013 on a high note.

The Saints went 8 and 0 in games Tuesday and Wednesday in their home gym.

Yesterday, T.A. Court sport team swept Atikokan.

The Saints senior girls volleyball squad won in three straight sets, while the Thomas Aquinas junior girls beat the Voyageurs three sets to one.

In boys basketball, the T.A. junior boys eked out a 32-31 win over Atikokan, while the Saints Senior boys earned a 32-21 victory.

Today, Beaver Brae's court sport teams play their final games before the Christmas break with
Fort Frances in town.

House Fire Extinguished on Drewry Drive

The epidemic of house fires in Kenora continues.

A blaze broke out to a home in the middle of Drewry Drive last
night shortly after 8:00.

Captain Fred Ralko from Kenora Fire and Emergency Services says
they were able to contain the fire to the room of origin.

It's believed the occupants were suffering from smoke inhalation, but
their condition isn't known.

The cause of the fire also hasn't been released yet.

Hospital Asks Visitors to Take Precaution

A spike in flu-like illness in the region has the Lake of the District Hospital on alert.

Lynn Ronnebeck is the Infection Control Professional and says they are concerned about visitors who may be feeling ill.

Ronnebeck says this time of year sees a spike in visitors and that anyone feeling sick can pass that along to the patients they are visiting.

She stresses that this is only a precaution and that no limitation on visitors have been put in place.

Northwest LHIN Receives Provincial Funding

The regional health authority is getting a financial boost to help it coordinate better seniors care.  

Thunder Bay MPP Bill Mauro announced  $4.4M in support for the Northwest LHIN.

The money will be used to support home care for more seniors.

Mauro hopes it will help to ease overcrowding at local hospitals.

Fourteen different agencies will be receiving the money including 4 in the Kenora District.

High Cost of Policing Continues

The high price of policing will continue next year.

Kenora city council has voted to extend the current OPP contract until a new billing model is created in 2015.

Mayor Dave Canfield says the new model isn't perfect but it will help bridge the price gap.

He says some communities are paying less then $100 for policing while we are paying over $900.

Canfield says that council will continue to lobby the government for the changes whether or not an election takes place in 2014.

All New Band Council Elected On Rat Portage

Wholesale changes on the Rat Portage First Nation.

A new chief and council was voted in in yesterday's band elections.

Councillor Chris Skead has been promoted to chief.

He won in a landslide over the incumbent, Ken Skead and challenger
Calvin Skead.

An all new band council has also been elected.

Don Big George, Tyler Cameron and Edward Skeid were elected from
the slate of 12 candidates.

A total of 224 votes were cast in the band election.

One Person Dead Following Accident on Highway 11

One man is dead and a women in is hospital with serious injuries following an accident on Highway 11.

OPP says both were a car that collided with a transport early yesterday afternoon near the junction of Highway 633, 30 kilometres east of Atikokan.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

The woman was transported to Atikokan General Hospital.

The driver of the transport was not hurt.

The accident closed the road for more than seven hours and was only fully reopened just a couple of hours ago.

City Supports Veteran's Affairs Offices

The minister of veteran affairs will be hearing more calls by more Northern Ontario communities.

Kenora city council has passed a resolution to lobby the Julian Fantino to keep the nine offices around the country open.

Councillor Ron Lunny says it`s important to stand up for the Thunder Bay office.

The resolution will also be passed along to the regions MP's Greg Rickford, John Rafferty, and Bruce Hyer.

The offices are slated to close at the end of January.

Health Unit Says It Wants To Battle Obesity

Fighting the battle of the bulge.

That's one of the biggest concerns of the Northwestern Health Unit
heading into 2014.

Dr. Jim Arthurs says tackling obesity is the number one health issue in the
region.

Arthurs says even getting off the couch and walking for a half hour a day can help
keep you healthier.

Dryden Council Agrees To Close Youth Center

An 11th hour attempt to save the Dryden Youth Center has failed.

Dryden town Council has officially closed the doors on the Youth Center.

Shayne MacKinnon made a passionate plea to save the facility.

Mayor Craig Nuttall held the deciding vote and says the City can no longer afford to run the Center
.