Police Continue to Investigate Break Ins

Police are continuing to investigate 3 break and enters in the Kenora Area.

The first incident is from back in late December when a battery charger and welder were stolen from Moncrief Forest Products.

OPP are also looking for information to solve a break in to a garage in Lakeside and a Main Street Office building on January 12th.

Anyone with information can call the OPP or Crimestoppers .

Truck Driver Charged in Near Miss On Highway 11

Nipigon OPP say they have identified a man believed to be involved in a near head on collision on Highway 17 in Greenstone early January.

A driver of a south bound tractor trailer was trying to pass a snowplow and nearly hit an oncoming tractor trailer.

The incident was caught on video and quickly went viral, with more than 1.6 million views.

A 31-year old man from Milton, Ontario has charges pending against him.

Chamber of Commerce Hosts Pre-Budget Consultation

High hydro costs are the biggest issue facing local businesses.

That's what Tory Finance Critic Vic Fedeli heard in a pre-budget consultation
in Kenora today.

Fedeli adds that he's not surprised the provincial Ombudsman has decided to
investigate customer complaints against Hydro One.

Fedeli adds that getting rid of the Feed-In Tarriff Program and the Green Energy Act, would immediately help reduce hydro rates in the province.

73rd KDMA Conference Opens in Pickle Lake

Municipal leaders from across the region are in Pickle Lake for the start of the 73rd Kenora District Municipal Association Annual Conference.

"Pioneering Opportunities" is the theme for the three day gathering which starts tonight.

KDMA President and Pickle Lake Mayor Roy Hoffman says a number of speakers will be in attendance.

He says the focus will be on three main issues, mining, tourism and forestry.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell will also address the delegates.

New Democrat M.P.'s Touring Ring of Fire

The NDP will have several members of Parliament including Thunder Bay-Rainy River's John Rafferty touring the Ring of Fire throughout the day today.

Rafferty says MP's from across the country will be visiting regions key to the projects development.

Some of the communities being toured include Koper Lake and Fort Hope as well as a flight over both the north and south corridor of the Ring of Fire.

MP's will also be live tweeting during the tour at #NDPRoF.

LHIN's Review Underway

A Provincial Government hearing is reviewing regional concerns into the Local Health Integration Network.

At it's Thunder Bay hearings yesterday, Jules Tupker with the Northwest  Health Alliance says they would like to see improved communications with the health authority.

The committee is currently holding hearings into many of the province's health authority's.

Nearly a dozen presentations were made to the province's Standing Committee on Social Policy yesterday
morning.

CN Strike Averted

A potential strike by CN Rail workers has been avoided.

A tentative deal between the company and the Teamsters union  was reached yesterday.

No details won't be released until the 3-thousand conductors and yard workers have had a chance to vote on the deal.

The workers were prepared to walk off the job as early as this weekend.

The federal government says a work stoppage would have had damaging effects the economy and were prepared to intervene if necessary.

Goldcorp and Osisko Heading to Court

Goldcorp is denying allegations it breached any confidentially agreement it had with Osisko Mining.

A Quebec court has set March 3 to the 5 to hear the matter.

Osisko alleges Goldcorp misused confidential information in making its 2-point-6 billion dollar take-over bid last month.

The offer was to expire February 19, but Goldcorp has now giving Osisko's shareholders until March 10 to consider.

Sneak Peek Offered At New Kenora Sportsplex

The Kenora Sportsplex opens tommorow.

Recreation Program Coordinator Megan Derouard says the newly renovated Jaffray Mellick Arena is a one of a kind facility in the region.

The facility year took over a year to complete including multiple grant applications.

An Ontario Trillium Foundation grant funded the installation of the turf.

The Sportsplex will be holding an open house today starting at 4:00.

Saints Boys Edge Dryden

The Thomas Aquinas Saints basically locked at least a second or third place finish in the NorWOSSA league standings with a big 3-2 win over the Dryden Eagles in Boys High School Hockey.

The Saints stormed out of the gate with goals from Connor Keith, Mac Alcock and Dan Bishop in the first and second periods.

T.A. was able to withstand a furious comeback from the Eagles to hold on to the victory.

Ryan Landon was the difference with 34-saves.

The Saints are now temporarily in first place in the NorWOSSA league standings,  6-points up on the fourth place Eagles and 2-points up on the Beaver Brae Broncos and Muskies.

Thistles Lose Close One At Home

The Kenora Triple "a" Midget Thistles have fallen back to the .500 mark with
just three games left to play in the regular season.

The Thistles lost their final home game last night 3-2 to the Eastman Selects.

Ben Hendrickson and Nick Prouty had two point nights with a goal and an
assist each.

The Thistles hit the road this weekend with three games in three days
starting tomorrow night in Souris against the Southwest Cougars.

Paul White Named Outstanding Principal

The principal of Thomas Aquinas has been named of Canada's top principals.

Paul White will be receiving The Learning Partnership's Outstanding Principal Award.

White says it's quite the honor, as only 40 people across the country are presented with the award.

Phylis Eikre, the Director of Education at the Kenora Catholic District School Board, says the staff came together to nominate White.

He will be heading to Toronto on February 25th for the awards ceremony.

Two Kenora Athletes Heading to Special Olympics

Two bowlers from Kenora will be hitting the national stage this summer.

Brittany Morris and Shane Legrow will represent team Ontario at the 2014 Special Olympic Summer Games.

Coordinator Vicky Hawkins says the two are already working with the provincial coaches.

The competition begins July 8th in Vancouver.

Second Person Dies In Crash Near Steinbach

A second person has died as a result of injuries sustained in a single vehicle accident on the Trans-Canad Highway near Steinbach.

The RCMP say the 73 year old female driver passed away yesterday.

On Monday morning around 9:30 a vehicle rolled over in the meridian between the east and westbound lanes.

A 59 year old man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police say they are not releasing the names of the deceased.

Bret Michaels to Headline Harbourfest Sunday Night

You can expect to be "up all night" at Harbourfest this year.

Hair metal group Slaughter will be opening up the Sunday night concert.

Director of entertainment Dave Blake says they will be opening for Bret
Michael of Poison fame.

Tickets will go on-sale at noon on Friday.

Blake says they are still working hard to fill their Friday night concert with
a country act.

Fedeli to Meet With Chamber of Commerce

Pre-budget consultations have by-passed Kenora this year, but you can
still have your say about what should or should not be in the next
provincial budget.

A member of the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs will be in Kenora this week.

Vic Fedeli will be holding a pre-budget meeting at the Kenora and District Chamber of Commerce Offices this Thursday morning.

Fedeli is on a tour of the region and will also be making a stop in Dryden tonight for a Conservative Party reception.

MNR Conducting Winter Moose Survey

The Ministry of Natural Resources is conducting aerial surveys of moose herds in 9 wildlife management units in Northwestern Ontario this winter.

The surveys will help the MNR determine the population and how it will impact the distribution of hunting tags.

Spokesperson Jolanta Kowalski has the current statistics.

Kowalski says a number of factors are used to determine what management units will be monitored including the time from the last survey as well as the estimated population condition.

IJC Announces Research Co-Chairs for Lake of the Woods

Two new co-chairs have been named to lead the International Lake of the Woods Basin Water Quality Plan of Study team.

The Canadian co-chair is Dr. Paul Pilon, who has served as a liaison with the Lake of the Woods Control Board and Watershed Task Force.

Mark Brigham has been named the American co-chair.

The study team was put together after a 2012 International Joint Commission recommendation to develop a Water Quality plan of Study.

They will provide the federal government with a final report this fall on Nutrient Enrichment and algae blooms, invasive species, and ground water contamination.

Volunteers Being Sought For Triathlon

The 10th annual Kenora Borealis Triathlon Duathlon is looking for volunteers.

Race co-director Deb Weedon says they need eight lead volunteers in addition to the dozens for the actual race day.

Weedon says some of the volunteer position include the transition areas, and food service.

The Triathlon takes over Rabbit lake on July 20th.

Ben Johnson Wraps Up Visit to Dryden

A chance of a lifetime for several young Dryden athletes.

Former Canadian Track star Ben Johnson has wrapped up his visit to Dryden to train the High School track team as well as others.

Johnson says the kids responded well to his training regime.

Johnson also developed a yearly training program for coach Mike Wood.