Kenora Wrestler Wins Bronze

A Beaver Brae wrestler is coming home from OFSAA with a medal.

Tyanna Carpenter used the momentum of a great season to finish with a bronze medal in her weight class.

In her second provincial championship Carpenter fought her way to a 6-1 record.

Her only loss came to the eventual gold meadlist.

Water Main Break Strikes West Side of City

Another water main break in the city.

This time it's affecting the communities of Keewatin and Norman.

The sewer and water department has confirmed the break in the area of Tenth Street.

As a result Firefly Child Care at Cameron bay will be closed for the day.

Reports have come in that water is returning to the affected areas.

The city wide boil water advisory remains in effect.

KDSB Takes Government to Task Over Patient Transfers

Pressure is being put on the provincial Government once again to address the issue of land ambulance non-emergency patient transfers.

Kenora District Services Board Chair Barry Baltessen says they are sending strongly worded letters to both the Ministry of Health and the Northwest Local Health Integration Network.

Baltessen says the LHIN has received 5-separate reports on the financial impact of transfers but stresses nothing has been done about it.

Rickford Angry at Rifle Changes

Kenora MP Greg Rickford says he's doing everything in his power to overturn an RCMP decision to reclassify a sporting gun that is common in northwestern Ontario.

The Swiss Arm SG550 and SG551 have been deemed prohibited.

Rickford says local residents are outraged with the decision.

The Minister of State says the RCMP hasn't announced what gun owners should do with the rifles after purchasing them in good faith.

More Power to be Given to Ombudsman

The provincial Liberals says they want to bring more accountability and oversight to government and the broader public sector.

The Liberals intend to introduce legislation that includes new powers for Ontario Ombudsman and more oversight of spending of provincially-funded agencies.

Premier Kathleen Wynne says it's been a commitment of her's since taking office.

The legislation also calls for the creation of a new patient Ombudsman to investigate complaints specific to hospitals and long-term care facilities.

Conservatives Focus on Math Scores

Back to basics.

That's the Conservatives plan for improving math scores in Ontario.

Tory Critic Rob Leone says the Conservatives have come out with a Math Achievement Action Plan to address falling test scores.

Recent EQAO test results show math scores across the province have dropped in the past couple of years.

Time to Spring the Clocks Forward

It's a sure sign spring is coming.

Daylight savings time begins on Sunday.

It means you will have to push your clock ahead an hour when you go to bed Saturday night.

Cell phones, laptops, computers will automatically update.

However, don't forget to change your oven, microwave, automatic timer light or car clocks.

Kenora Skiiers Bring Home More Medals

Kenora Nordic Skiiers are continuing to rack up the medals at the Manitoba Winter Games.

6 more skiiers took home medals yesterday.

Christopher Moose and Jaicey Myer topped the podium with gold.

Breeze Boucha and Elise Hummelbrunner both took home silver.

Tyson Silvestor and Dustin Scheiblier also found success with bronze medal performances.

Multi Vehicle Collision on Highway 17

Traffic remains slow moving on Highway 17 just east of the 71 junction.

Emergency crews are on scene following a reported 4 vehicle collision.

The accident took place in the Westbound lane.

Police are directing one lane of traffic at a time.

Earlier today a two vehicle collision held up traffic on Highway 17 East infront of McDonald's.

Caution is advised on all area roadways.

Charges Laid in Shovelling Scam

Provincial Police have laid charges following a theft last month.

OPP say 25 year Mitchell Bryant of Kenora was charged for theft under 5 thousand after items were stolen from the bathroom of a home.

Bryant and a woman were going door to door offering their services to shovel snow

At one house he asked to use the washroom and that's when the resident noticed items were taken.

He will answer to the charge later this month.

Slippery Road Conditions Cause Accident on 8th Avenue South

8th Avenue South might be a good area to avoid today.

A couple of accidents have already been reported in the area of the 8th Avenue Bridge, where the road is very slippery.

That's the area where there was a water main break last week, and today's snow has made matters worse.

Right now, police, rescue crews and an abulence is on the scene of a two vehicle collision in the area of McDonald's Restaurant.

No indication if there were any injuries.

Van Wallenghem Enters Council Race

A Kenora realtor says he plans to run for a seat on city council.

Jeff Van Wallenghem has set up a Facebook page and says he filed
his nomination papers yesterday.

That would make him the third person to enter the council race.

He joins Gregory Potvin and Kelvin-Chicago Boucher as the only candidates so far.

However there is still six more months to enter the municipal election race.

The deadline to file nomination papers is September 12th.

OPP Warn of New Scam

OPP are warning area residents of a phone scam that asks those being called to support an initiative to combat cyber-bullying.

Recently a Fort Frances resident was contact and asked to make a donation of  one, two or three hundred dollars.

OPP are warning people to remain cautious if an unfamiliar organization calls asking for donations.

New Osnaburgh Declares State of Emergency

A call for support for the community of New Osnaburgh First Nation as it continues to deal with a tragic house fire.

The Nishnawbe Aski Nation says a woman, her two daughters and her nephew died in the February 13th fire.

Chief and Council have declared a state of emergency, stating that widespread trauma has burdened their ability to provide assistance.

NAN's Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler is urging the federal and provincial governments to deploy all appropriate resources to ease the burden.

Resolute Still Looking Into Cause of Bio-Mass Explosion

The cause of an explosion at the Resolute Forest Products Mill in Fort Frances is still under investigation.

One worker was seriously injured in the blast at the biomass boiler and he remains in hospital.

Resolute says both the Ministry of Labour and the Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Service have conducted investigations.

The company is also looking at what corrective measures can be put in place.

Light Snow Poses No Problems So Far

Despite some light now overnight, it's all systems go this morning.

The snow has created some slick driving conditions, especially in the
area of 2nd Street South and 8th Avenue, where there was water main break last week.

The road is very slick and at least one accident has been reported in that area this morning.

Most roads in the region are described as snow covered to partly snow covered with poor visibility.

Highway 1 in Manitoba to Winnipeg is now listed as partially ice or snow covered with fair visibility.

Bottled Water Companies Busy With Boil Water Advisory

The boil water advisory has meant more business for companies that bottle water.

Worlframes World of Water is all hands on deck.

President Darcy Wolframe says the store is facing more and more questions these days about treatment systems.

He says previous work in the city has eased some of the pressure.

Wolframe notes the store has treatment systems that can work on single taps for an entire house.

NDP Offer Up Hydro Plan

The provincial NDP are unveiling a plan to help Ontarian's save on Hydro costs.

Leader Andrea Horwath says the plan includes stopping energy subsidies to the U.S, capping pay for executives and a stop to private power giveaways.

Horwath says the plan was an easy one to support.

Should the plan go through the NDP are promising a 100 dollar hydro rebate to customers.

OFIA Pushes Province for Building Code Changes

Kenora stands to prosper if the Ontario Forest Industries Association gets their way.

President Jamie Lim says they continue to push for building code changes to allow for six level wood frame construction in the province.

Lim says Kenora is in great position once it happens.

Lim adds a design of the world's largest wood construction building in B.C. used Weyerhaeuser products.

Con College Tight-lipped About Student Excursion

Confederation College says it will not confirm a report that some students in a winter survival training course on the weekend suffered from frostbite.  

The course is supervised by the Lakehead Search and Rescue Unit.  

The College will only say that the staff along with members of  Lakehead Search and Rescue will review current protocols-ensuring that the health and safety of students and instructors will continue to be a priority.