Marijuana and Mushrooms Sized by Kenora OPP

Kenora OPP have been arrested 2 people following a drug bust in the city.

On Thursday police stopped a vehicle on highway 17.

Upon investigation police found 400 grams of marijuana and 2 grams of magic mushrooms.

The value of the seized drugs is roughly 9 thousand dollars.

As a result a 17 year old and a 21 year old man, both from Toronto, have been charged with multiple possession charges.

They will both answer to the charges next month in Kenora court.

Ice Roads Starting to Deteriorate

The warmer weather is playing havoc with local ice roads.

Windigo Island says the ice road is passable from the MNR landing
in Kenora to French Portage, but after that there is a lot of slush.

The band says there is still lots of ice on the lake, but
suggests only people with four wheel drives use the
ice roads at this time, due to all the slush.

New Chief for Shoal Lake #39

A new chief has been elected on the Shoal Lake #39 First Nation.

Fawn Wapioke beat out incumbant Eli Mandamin for the top job.

She'll be joined on the new council by Karen Keejick, Leon Douglas Mandamin Senior, Earl Stanley Wapioke and Vanessa Fedus.

The band elections were held this past Wednesday.

Kenora To Host Volunteer Service Awards

The region's volunteers will be honoured at a ceremony planned for Kenora this May.

The Ontario Volunteer Service Awards will be handed out to volunteers for continuous service to an organization of between 5 and 60 years.

Youth will also be recognized for two or more years of volunteer service.

The Kenora event will take place May 27.

Alberta Clipper Swerves South

 Positive weather news has been in short supply this winter, but things are looking
a little better today than expected.

An Alberta Clipper is just making it's way into northwestern Ontario, but fortunately we'll only just get clipped by it.

Environment Canada has lifted it's special weather statement for the Kenora
area.

We can still expect some snow today, but only a couple of centimeters compared to the five to 10 for the Fort Frances area.

Council Approves Keewatin CIP

Keewatin is the next part of the city that will be getting a Community Improvement Plan.

City Council agreed to put just over 39 thousand dollars in this year's budget to develop the plan.

Councillor Sharon Smith pushed council to fund the CIP and is glad the
rest of council agreed.

Smith says if the municipal budget is passed Monday, then a request for proposals will go out to develop Keewatin's Community Improvement Plan.

Kenora's Cultural Ranking Rankles

Kenora has been named in the top 15 Canadian cities to move out of.

That ranking came from a recent report on citiesjournal.com stating there is no culture in the city.

Harbourfest chair Randy Nickle says that simply not true.

Nickle notes that the report is cynical in the fact it only looks for financial figures and ignores the work of volunteers in the city.

Harbourfest, Trylight Theatre, LOWAC, and Winter Bites are examples Nickle gave of culture in they city.

Kenora Hunter Fined

A Kenora man has been fined 2 thousand dollars for illegally killing a moose.

In October last year William Carson was contacted by MNR conservation officers at a fly in cabin North of Kenora.

Carson informed the officers that he forgot to bring his hunting licence and calf seal with him.

Upon arriving back in town Carson admitted to not having a licence.

He was fined 1 thousand dollars for hunting moose without a licence and another 1 thousand for making a misleading statement.

First Nations Group Worried About New Aboriginal Education Act

Their is some concern from Anishinabek Nation Chiefs when it comes to Federal legislation of first nations education.

Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee says legislation introduced by the government in early February does not allow communities more control over their education.

Madahbee adds that it's time for the government to simply listen to first nations educators.

Reservist Applications Going On-Line

The local reserve unit doesn't want you to fall through the cracks.

Master Bombardier Lynn Danielson with Kenora's 116th Field Battery says the DND is changing the application process.

The military is doing away with paper applications and now doing them on-line.

Danielson says it's a good idea to find out where your application stands.

More information you can contact Danielson at:

807-468-6749 or lynn.danielson@force.gc.ca

Ontario Beekeepers Get Provincial Support

Premier Kathleen Wynne is thanking the Ontario Bee Health Working Group for their report into the risk honey bees face from pesticide use.

Wynne adds that the province is working with the Federal Government when it comes to the use of pesticides.

Barry Tabor from the Thunder Bay Beekeepers Association says 1.2-million dollars in funding from the province is a good start.

Tabor says he would of liked to see more attention given to bee keepers instead of growers, in the bee health working group's report.

First Day of Spring Brings Sun and Snow

Spring may be arriving in northwestern Ontario in a couple of hours, but
Old Man Winter isn't ready to give up his grip just yet.

Bill Laidlaw from Signal Weather Services says we can expect some more
snow starting tonight.

Laidlaw estimates we could see as much as seven centimeters of snow by
the time the system blows through tomorrow night.

City Embarks on New Strategic Plan

Good response so far to the City of Kenora's Stategic Plan survey.

Councillor Rory McMillan says they have almost 12 hundred responses to their on-line survey and are getting between 65 and 70 replies each day.

He says so far about two thirds of their responses have come through social media, with the rest coming through the city's web site.

He expects they will also receive a number of hard copy responses.

The City is currently at work on it's next five year Stategic Plan with the survey providing some much-needed input from the community.

Northwest M.P.'s Offer Mixed Response to Rickford's Promotion

Not everyone is pleased with Rickford's new duties.

Thunder Bay MP Bruce Hyer says he's both surprised and concerned by the appointment.

Hyer says he's concerned because Rickford didn't fight hard enough to save the Experimental Lakes Area, which is in his own riding.

Hyer says while Rickford has the intelligence for the job, he wonders where his priorities lie.

Meanwhile, Thunder Bay-Rainy River M.P. John Rafferty was more conciliatory.

He's wishing Greg Rickford well.

Rafferty says while the appointment did surprise him, it's good to have a person from Northern Ontario in the position.

Rafferty says he looks forward to working with the Kenora MP.

Justin Trudeau Skypes In

Bringing federal politics to young minds in northwestern ontario.

That was Justin Trudeau's aim yesterday as he Skyped in with grade
five students at New Prospect School in Dryden.

Teacher Mary Trist says the students may not have known who the Liberal Leader was at first but after a mock parliment they clued in.

Every student got to ask Trudeau a question and the skype session lasted a half hour.

Tories Pushing For Spring Election

Pushing for action.

Opposition leader Tim Hudak put a confidence motion before the legislature to force a jobs plan and budget announcement by the Liberal government.

Kenora Rainy River PC Candidate Rainy River says it was a needed step.

No date has been set to release the provincial budget.

SMB Retro-fitting Daycare

Some more changes are taking place at Ste. Marguerite Bourgeoys.

The Separate School board says along with the 6 classroom expansion the daycare is getting retro-fitted.

Director of Education Phyllis Eikre says the changes will happen within the current layout.

The change is needed as 4 and 5 year olds move into full day kindergarten classes.

Stroke Forum Updates New Protocols for ER's

The Northwestern Ontario Regional Stroke Forum is taking place this week in Thunder Bay.

Local health care providers will be learning from stroke neurologists about the latest practice recommendations.

Regional Stroke Educator Elaine Edwards says they'll be unveilling a new process for local Emergency  rooms.

Edwards notes that people should make themselves familiar with the signs of a stroke.

Plans for Relay for Life in the Works

Celebrate, Remember, Fight back.

That's the message as the Relay for Life committee prepares for the 2014 event.

Darell Plummer is the co-chair and says they are moving back to the Whitecap Pavilion.

Plummer says teams can now register for the annual event which take place in June.

This year's goal is $74,000.

More details and registration information can be found here.

Rickford Pleased with Promotion

Kenora MP Greg Rickford is moving up on Parliament Hill.

Rickford has been named the new Minister of Natural Resources as part of a cabinet shuffle spurred by the sudden resignation of Jim Flaherty.

Rickford says he's expecting a smooth transition, but does say he'll need to do a lot of briefing for his new portfolio.

He adds that it's a proud day for the Kenora riding.

He retains responsibility of FedNor and the Ring of Fire but gives up his Minister of Science and Technology portfolio.