Three People Looking for Homes After Willard Lake Blaze

Three local residents are hoping to rebuild their lives again after the fire this week at Willard Lake Resort.

Gidgit Hooper-Pemmican says 3 people were left homeless as a result of the fire.

Hooper-Pemmican says it's a tough situation as they were working their way out of homelessness.

She is asking landlords areas to come forward if any units are available.

Hooper-Pemmican also says the Salvation Army will help out with amenities once they have a place to stay.

Vacancy Rates in Kenora Dropping

Rental rates in the City of Kenora are starting to tighten up a bit.

The vacancy rate last year went down to 3.4 percent, down from 5.5 percent the year before.

Warren Philp from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation says those figures are pretty consistent with the province as a whole.

Philp says a vacancy rate of 3.4 percent is actually pretty good news for
anyone trying to find an apartment to rent in the city.

OPP Release Details on Atikokan Fatality

OPP say a new year's eve death in Atikokan was not suspicious.

The body of man was located in the 100 block of River Road around 9 AM on December 31..

Police has also identified him as being 32-year-old Ryan Keeash of Atikokan.

A post-mortem exam was conducted at Lake of the Woods District Hospital, but the cause of death has not been released.

OPP To Conduct Phone Survey

OPP will be soon finding out what the public thinks of them and the services they provide.

A private firm will be conducting a telephone survey on behalf of the OPP this month for the Ontario Provincial Police as part of a Community Satisfaction Survey.

Sergeant Pierre Chamberland says the information collected its important to the OPP.

Chamberland says no personal information will be collected during the survey.

Arthurs Reflects on Career with Health Unit

The retiring medical officer of health for the region is pleased with some
of the changes implemented in his five years at the helm.

Dr. Jim Arthurs is stepping down at the end of March.

He says one of the things he's most proud of is erasing some of the boundaries between the various programs they offer.

Arthurs says people who come in for programs such as Healthy Babies, or immunizations, can also get information about improving their eating habits, exercise and hygiene tips.

Beaver Brae Court Sport Teams Open 2014 With Single Win

Beaver Brae managed just one win in Dryden to open the 2014 portion of
the court sport season.

The Bronco Junior boys edged the Eagles 59-56 yesterday afternoon.

Beaver Brae's senior boys dropped a 64-44 decision to Dryden.

In girls volleyball action, the Bronco Senior and Junior teams lost in three straight sets.

Bronco Girls Lose to Eagles

It was a tough
start to the new year for the Bronco girls.

Beaver Brae dropped a 5-2 decision to Dryden yesterday afternoon at
the Rec. Center.

Hilary Moncrief and Rylee Smith scored for the Broncos in the loss.

Bronco Boys Win Big, Saints Lose Big

Beaver Brae's boys hockey team has started 2014 on a winning note.

The Broncos trounced the Sioux Lookout Warriors 10-3 last night at the
Kenora Rec. Center.

Eastin Gautier, Jed Rattai and Rhyse Mandamin led the way with two goals apiece.

The Broncos next action is this weekend as they head to Winkler for a tournament.

Meanwhile, the Thomas Aquinas boys hockey team was outmatched and outgunned in Fort Frances, as the Muskies upended the Saints 11-0 last
night.

Richards Left Off Men's Olympic Hockey Team Roster

Team Canada has named the 2014 men's Olympic hockey roster.

Headlining the team are Winnipeg's Jonothan Toews, along with Sidney Crosby, and Steven Stamkos.

A few players with northwestern Ontario heritage also got named to the roster including Patrick Sharp from Thunder Bay, and Duncan Keith who grow up in
Fort Frances.

Kenora's Mike Richards was left of the team after winning gold at the 2010 games in Vancovuer.

The goalies are Roberto Luongo, Mike Smith, and Carey Price.

The men's hockey tournament gets underway on February 12 and wraps up with the gold medal game on the 23rd.

Willard Lake Fire Under Investigation

Fire officials continue to investigate the cause of a major fire at Willard Lake Resort, between Kenora and Vermillion Bay.

Officials were called around 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon.

The flames spread from cabin to cabin as firefighters had to deal with limited water in battling the blaze.

Damage to the gas station and restaurant is unknown at this time.

No one was injured.

Man Charged With Vermillion Bay Auto Theft

An 18 year old Machin man faces theft charges in connection to
a stolen automobile.

The OPP say a car was stolen from a garage on Spruce Street in Vermillion Bay around 11:00 Saturday night.

Police say they located the vehicle in Dryden a short time later.

Krystie Skye has been charged with break and enter, theft over five thousand
dollars and possession of property obtained by crime.

Impaired Driving Charge Laid After Hit and Run

A 55 year old Kenora woman faces impaired driving charges following
a hit and run accident in the parking lot of the Kenora Shopper's Mall.

The OPP say there were contacted around 3:00 Sunday afternoon after
a vehicle struck another car, but then left the scene.

Officers managed to locate the suspect vehicle a short time later.

Police say the driver had been consuming alcohol and failed a roadside breath test.

Sandra Karambetsos also faces a charge of driving without a licence.

Mischief Complaint Issued After School Buses Unplugged

It should be a little smoother start to the morning for bus drivers at
First Student.

Yesterday morning, employees arrived to work at 5 in the morning only
to discover that 17 of their school buses had been unplugged overnight.

Despite the cold, the Northwest Student Services Consortium says they were able to boost the buses and get them started with only minor delays.

First Student has filed a mischief complaint with the OPP and says extra
security is being added.

Whiteshell Cottagers Shocked by Lease Increase

Cottage lease fees are going through the roof a provincial park just inside Manitoba.

Back tier cottagers in the Whiteshell Provincial Park will see a 250 percent increase over ten years, while lakefront owners will see a 750 percent hike.

Tom Walker with the cottage owners association says lease fees aren't the only concern.

Walker says lakefront properties will see increases over five thousand dollars between the two hikes.

Man Fined for Wielding Pellet Gun

A potentially dangerous scenario for Kenora OPP.

Last Friday night, police say a 55 year old man was issued a weapons charge after refusing to leave a downtown apartment.

OPP arrested Wayne Prokulevich and charged him with possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

He will answer attend a bail hearing Wednesday.

Couchiching Chief Passes Away

A long-serving northwestern Ontario First Nations chief has died.

Family members report Couchiching First Nation Chief Chuck McPherson died Sunday in his home.

McPherson was first elected chief between 1986 and 1988, returning to office in 1998.

No word yet on funeral arrangements.

NorWOSSA Season Resumes Today

The puck drops on the 2014 NorWOSSA hockey season today.

First off the Beaver Brae girls are at home against the Dryden Eagles.

game time is 4:00 at the Rec Centre.

The Bronco boys are also at home tonight.

They Welcome the Queen Elizabeth Warriors to the rec centre at 7:30.

Meanwhile the Thomas Aquinas Saints boys are on the road.

They are in Fort Frances to face off with the Muskies at 7:15.

The 2014 NorWOSSA double A court sport season gets underway today.

The Beaver Brae Bronco are on the road in Dryden to face the Eagles.

It's a start of a busy week for Beaver Brae.

The team also hits the road Thursday when they take on the Fort Frances Muskies.

Fire at Willard Lake

Fire crews continue to battle a major fire at the Willard Lake gas station and hotel on Highway 17, about 40-kilometres East of Kenora. 

The fire was reported around 3:00 this afternoon. 

There are reports of serious damage. 

No other details are available at this time.

Hunter Fined $2,000 by MNR

Careless hunting as landed a Northwestern Ontario man a 2 thousand dollar fine.

Conservation Officers say they received a complaint on November 2nd about a deer being shot on a Dryden area property without the owners consent.

Officers investigated the call and found that Clinton Catlin had shot a white tailed deer inside a yard after spotting it from the roadway.

Along with the fine, Catlin has been banned from hunting in the province for 1 year and must re-complete the Ontario Hunter Education Course.

His firearm was seized until the fine is paid.

H1N1 Virus on the Rise

A good reason to got the flu shot.

The Northwestern Health Unit has confirmed 16 cases of the H1N1 influenze strain this season.

Doctor Jim Arthurs is the medical officer of health says one stat is alarming to him.

He says of all the confirmed cases, none of the patients has received the flu vaccine this year.

Arthurs says flu shots are available at most pharmacies throughout the region.