OPP Investigate 2 Break Ins

2 more break and enters in the city of Kenora.

OPP say that 2 residences in the North End were broken into yesterday afternoon between 1:30 and 9.

Police say an unknown number of suspects made off with tools, money, and firearms.

An investigation into these break ins and another in Nestor Falls on Sunday is continuing.

Anyone with information is asked to call the OPP of Crimestoppers.

Council Accepts Event Center Report

Kenora city council has received an interim report on a proposed Event Center and expansion of the Kenora Rec. Center.

The report was compiled by Stantec Engineering and Nelson Architects and is based on information presented at a public meeting last month.

Mayor Dave Canfield stresses that they have not made any commit
ment to build anything and council has only agreed to accept the report.

The 25 million dollar project includes a second ice surface at the Rec. Center and a final report
is expected to be presented to council by the end of August.

OPP Investigate Nestor Falls Break In

Kenora OPP are investigating another break and enter.

Police say on Sunday they received a call that a business in Nestor Falls was broken into.

An unknown number of suspects made off with some small items and some cash.

OPP say the incident occurred between Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon.

Anyone with information can call the OPP or Crimestoppers.

Rickford Applauds Conservative Budget

Minister of State Greg Rickford says the 2014 Federal budget is all about fiscal responsibility.

The Kenora MP says the main goal of the fiscal document is to balance the books for 2015.

Rickford says one of the highlights for our area is a pledge to extend or improve high-speed internet access.

The Conservative Government is projecting a 6.4-billion dollar surplus in 2015-2016.

KDSB Looking To Sell Off Housing Units

The Kenora District Services Board says it will eventually have to build at
least 30 new social housing units in the region.

The KDSB is planning to sell of at least 30 older units in smaller communities like Minaki and Dinorwick.

Dan McNeil is the Chief Administrative Officer and says their challenge now is to find partners willing to help out.

McNeil says under provincial legislation they are required to maintain the same number of social housing units.

He says they want to sell off units where there is very little demand and build
in areas where they have significant waiting lists.

Council Seeking Better Returns From KMTS Prosperity Trust Fund

Kenora City council is looking for ways of maximizing returns from the KMTS Prosperity Trust Fund.

Council was told yesterday that the trust will fall short of making the 1.1 million dollars targeted by the city to offset taxes each year.

Lauren D'Argis is the city's Corporate Services Manager and says even though they will come up short this year, the fund has over-performed in the past, so they will be able to use that money to make up the shortfall.

In the meantime, Councillor Louis Roussin says he wants to find out if the city can loosen the
purse strings on the Prosperity Trust to find some more profitable investments.

Right now under provincial regulations the trust restricted to very safe, but very low return investments.

Tent Caterpillar Numbers Expected To Rise This Spring

A seven year nuisance could make an appearance in the region this year.

Provincial Entomologist Taylor Scarr says the Forest Tent Caterpillar, also commonly called army worms, will see expanding numbers in Northwestern Ontario.

Scarr says they can't predict exactly where the outbreaks will occur.

He notes if the outbreak doesn't occur this year it will happen in 2015.

Bronco Court Sport Teams Swept In Season Finale

Not the way Beaver Brae wants to go into the NorWOSSA double "a"
play-offs.

The Broncos lost all five games played against the Muskies in their final
regular season games in boys basketball and girls volleyball.

The  Beaver Brae junior girls ended up playing a double header, but lost
both, including a make-up game from earlier in the season.

The play-offs will begin tomorrow in Fort Frances with all four Broncos squads playing in the semi-finals.

Saints Advance to Three NorWOSSA Title Games Today

The finals are all set in the NorWOSSA Single "a" play-offs.

Thomas Aquinas has qualified three teams for today's gold medal
games.

The Saints Junior girls volleyball team advance with a three sets to one
win over Ignace in semi-final action yesterday.

T.A. will now take on Rainy River.

The Owls senior girls will also face Thomas Aquinas in the Senior girls final.

In boys basketball, the Saints Senior boys was the lone team not to advance
after dropping a 66-58 decision in double overtime to Queen Elizabeth High School.

The junior boys final will see T.A. take on Rainy River.

Broncos and Saints Girls Hockey Teams Post Wins on the Road

A busy night in NorWOSSA hockey action.

A good night for Beaver Brae girls hockey team, but not so much for the
Bronco boys.

The Bronco girls topped Red Lake 5-3 last night.

Rylee Smith scored a pair of goals in the win.

Meanwhile, the Bronco boys were doubled up 8-4 by Fort Frances.

The Broncos are also back in action tomorrow against the Saints in an afternoon matinee at the Rec. Center.
The Thomas Aquinas girls hockey team also won on the road taking a 4-3 decision against Sioux Lookout.

The Saints will face off against the Broncos tomorrow night at the Kenora Rec. Center in their final home game of the regular season.

More Snow On The Way

Another blast of winter this week.

Not one, but two snow storms are expected to blow through the region.

Bill Laidlaw from Signal Weather Services says the first one will be coming
through this afternoon.

Laidlaw says while this system will produce only a couple of centimeters of white stuff, a second one will be blowing in on Thursday, carrying a lot more snow with it.

OPP Forecasting Lower Costs For Some Municipalities

OPP are releasing some figures on what will be charged to municipalities policed by the provincial service.

Beginning in 2015, policing costs will be based on a 260-dollar per household charge plus calls per service.

Inspector Steve Shouldice of the Rainy River Detachment says municipalities, like Kenora and Red Lake, now paying over 900-dollars per household will see some savings.

He adds that other smaller municipalities like Lake of the Woods, which currently pays 61 dollars per household, will face higher costs.

Shouldice says costs will also be based on 96 different types of calls, instead of the 400 now used.

KDMA Passes Five Resolutions

Municipal Property Assessments, power, and winter road maintenance.

Those were just some of the issues addressed by delegates at the annual
Kenora District Municipal Association Conference in Pickle Lake.

Dave Canfield is president of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association and believes KDMA still has an important role to play in the region.

In all, delegates passed five resolutions that will be forwarded to the next
NOMA confererence at the end of April.

The next KDMA conference will be held in Ignace.  

Thunder Bay Challenges Province on BioMass Conversion Project

Just call it a bio-mess ...The political battle continues between Thunder Bay and the province's energy minister over the amount of biomass that will be needed to fuel the Thunder Bay Generating Station.

Thunder Bay Mayor Keith Hobbs says both sides remain far apart on how much advanced biomass will be needed once the station is converted

Hobbs says if there is no change in the government's position the city will make the problem an election issue.

The province is in the process of converting the coal plant to biomass.

The Northwest Energy Coalition is renewing demands that the plant be converted to natural gas
by 2016.

NAN Leaders Disappointed With New School Funding

The Nishnawbe Aski Nation says 1.9-billion dollars in federal funding to support first nations control over education is disappointing.

Grand Chief Harvey Yesno says the investment does not immediately address the chronic shortage in education funding in NAN First Nations, especially in remote communities.

Yesno says the only way to remedy the problem is an immediate and substantial investments in schools and education programming across NAN territory.

He notes the funding doesn't take effect this fiscal year and the 500-million over 7-years for education
infrastructure spread across all First Nations across Canada doesn't meet the current 12-year backlog in school construction in NAN alone.

Campbell Gathering Feedback For Provincial Budget

Expect to see the provincial budget released much sooner then it was last year.

That's what Kenora Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell is saying as the process is moving along nicely.

Campbell has been out and about gathering feedback from residents.

She notes that her number one priority is the cost of living.

Dryden High Set to Follow Beaver Brae's Lead

Could Dryden High School be following the lead of Beaver Brae High School?!

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board is considering changing DHS to a Grade 7 to 12 school.

The model has been a huge success in Kenora according to Board officials.

Public consultations to discuss the matter are being held February 18th and 26th at the High School library.

Thunder Bay Symphony Comes to King George

A crash course in classical music.

That's what students at King George will be getting this week.

The Thunder Bay Symphony will be playing a concert this Thursday
morning for students and parents.

The school is using the concert as a bit of a fundraiser for it's breakfast
program.

Parents who attend are being asked to bring a box of healthy cereal or oatmeal as their admission fee.

NorWOSSA Single "a" Playoffs Begin Today in Red Lake

Red Lake High School is playing host site for the NorWossa Single-A championships over the next two days.

Play starts today and wraps up tomorrow.

The Junior Girls Volleyball Semi-Final opens play at noon, with the Senior Girls following at 2 o'clock.

The Junior Boys Basketball Semi starts at 4, with the Senior Boys game at 6 o'clock.

Impaired Driving Charge Laid on Ice Road

Yes you can be charged with impaired driving on an ice road.

The OPP say they charged a 40 year old Kenora man over the weekend
on Lake of the Woods.

Police say they stopped a vehicle near Billygoat Island around 1:30 Saturday
afternoon after they noticed it being driven very slowly.

Officers determined the driver had been drinking alcohol and transported him for further testing.

Raymond Iverson is due to appear in Kenora Court March 13th on the charge.