Beaver Brae Crowns Master Chef

It's Master Chef Beaver Brae style.

Former student Mike Green who competed on the national tv show is at the school to judge the local competition.

Green says he has some tough criteria for the dishes.

Lucas Brown won the competition with a Pan Fried Chicken with Havarti Cheese and Sauteed Mushrooms paired with a Bacon Gnocchi and Vegetable medley.

Water Levels Continue Rise

Lots of white water at the Norman Dam in Kenora these days.

The Lake of the Woods Control Board has authorized yet another increase in
outflow to combat rising water levels.

Executive Engineer says what they haven't seen this much rain in 20 years.

Water levels on Lake of the Woods have risen about six inches in the past week, and
are expected to rise another four to five inches in the coming week.

Council Concerned About Future of Land Titles Office

Kenora city council is joining a growing chorus of communities battling to keep their land titles offices open.

Council has passed a resolution asking the provincial government to maintain the Kenora Land
Registry office.

In the provincial budget two years ago, the province drafted legislation that would see land title
seaches centralized out of Thunder Bay.

Council says while much of the information may be available on-line, many people in the Kenora
area don't ahve access to high speed internet services and title searching service may not be
available to them.

Other critics worry about increased costs to homeowners and delays in getting the information.

Kenora council says it's circulating the resolution to all law offices, surveyors and municipalities
in the district.

Catholic Board Looks To Fill Vacancies

The Kenora Catholic District School Board is going to have to fill a few more vacancies this summer.

The board has received a total of four retirement requests in the past month.

Director of Education, Phylis Eikre says the don't expect any problems filling the positions.

She says two teachers, a janitor/education assistant and payroll clerk have all submitted their
resignations for the purpose of retirement

The board is also projecting a slight increase in enrolment next year, but Eikre says they don't know if
that will require any increase in staffing at this point.

Kinew Interested In National Chiefs Job?

An emergency meeting will be held for First Nations chiefs from across the country, next week.

The major topic of the meeting will be the viability of the Assembly of First Nations, whose divisions were surprised by the resignation of leader Shawn Atleo.

The meeting will take place in Ottawa on May 27.

One of the people reportedly interested in the national chief's job is Wab Kinew from the Onigaming First Nation, but currently works in Winnipeg.

Wynne Brings Campaign to NWO

The first visit to Northwestern Ontario during the election campaign for the current Premier.

Kathleen Wynne will be in Thunder Bay on Sunday to launch her party's platform.

She will stay overnight and will attend the northern leaders debate on Monday.

NDP Promise Highway Improvements

The Ontario NDP have launched their campaign platform for the spring election.

Leader Andrea Horwath says one of the key priorities for the North is expanding Highway 17.

Horwath notes the NDP promises to 60 kilometres of highways every year with half of that guaranteed to take place in Northern Ontario.

She says that includes twinning the Trans-Canada in the Nipigon area as well as the Manitoba Border to
Kenora.

Heart and Stroke Foundation Touts "Healthy" Candidates

Local provincial hopefuls Anthony Leek, Randy Nickle and Tim McKillop are healthy candidates.

They're among more than 100 candidates in the provincial election pledging to the Heart and Stroke Foundation that their parties will invest more to promote and support better health in Ontario.

The Foundation's campaign has attracted 86-percent of the elected MPP's.

Nickle Says Red Tape Huring Tourist Outfitters

Kenora-Rainy River PC candidate Randy Nickle is calling for a halt to unnecessary red tape burdens on local camp owners.

Nickle says the province has ordered all employees to wear life jackets when on the dock or near the water.

Nickle says its another example of how impractical and unnecessary government regulation is getting in the way of small local businesses.

He says the issue was a hot topic at the recent Northwestern Ontario Tourist Association Conference.

OFL Says Tory Job Cut Plan Will Hurt Kenora

The Ontario Federation of Labour says the Progressive Conservatives campaign promise to eliminate thousands of public sector jobs will have a devastating effect in northwestern Ontario.

Leader Tim Hudak wants to reduce the workforce by at least 100-thousand.

A federation study says that could mean 339 job losses in Kenora.

The O-F-L study did not look at the impact in the region's smaller communities.

Delayed Openings For 11 Provincial Parks

The unusually cool spring is having a trickle down effect at some provincial
parks in nortwestern Ontario.

Parks Ontario says it had to delay the openings of 11 parks across the region due
to snow and ice still on the lakes.

Quetico, Wabakimi and Woodland Caribou are all scheduled to open by tomorrow, which is just in time for the Memorial Day long weekend in the United States.

That's the traditional start to the American tourist season in the region.

Kenora's Master Chef To Be Feted At Beaver Brae

Beaver Brae will be paying special tribute to one of it's former
students today.

Mike Green will be returning to be a guest judge during their
Master Chef competition today.

Green was one of the finalists in the this year's edition of the cooking
show.

He'll also be be on hand at Thomas Aquinas as they also wrap up their
own Master Chef challenge.

Saints Finish NorWOSSA Soccer Season with Wins

The Thomas Aquinas boys soccer team finally has it's offense on track.

The Saints finished the NorWOSSA regular season yesterday with a 3-0 win over Rainy River.

A similar result for the T.A. girls as they routed the Owls 4-1.

Both Saints teams finished the regular season without a loss heading into
next weeks Single A play-offs in Red Lake.

Meanwhile the NorWOSSA double "a" season wraps up today at the Tom Nabb Soccer
Complex.

Beaver Brae hosts both Dryden and Fort Frances starting at 9:00 this morning.

These games are to make up for ones that were cancelled earlier this month due to poor weather.

Ontario Police Boards Discuss New Funding Model

Members of the Kenora Police Services Board are in Toronto this week for their annual conference.

One of the key issues is the new OPP costing formula.

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield says it's likely going to be a divisive issue.

While details of the new funding formula have been released, Canfield is worried that the results of the provincial election could derail implementation in 2015.

Machin Man Charged With Trafficking

A Vermillion Bay resident has been arrested for marijuana possession in Kenora.

28 year old Rob Gardner was arrested on Tuesday following a traffic stop on Highway 17-A.

Police found 200 grams on marijuana in the car valued at 36 hundred dollars.

Gardner has been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of marijuana.

He will answer to the charges in Kenora court in July.

Economic Development Commission Delivers Q1 Report

Tourism and housing.

Those are a couple of key points for the Lake of the Woods Economic Development Commission
in 2014.

In his first quarter report to council, chair of the commission, Don Denver says they are currently
at work on a plan to attract more visitors.

He says the new five year plan should be complete by the end of June.

Denver adds they are also working on a housing report, looking for ways of increasing the
inventory of affordable homes in the community.

Green Party Requests Seat at Northern Leaders Debate

Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner wants to take part in the upcoming Northern Ontario leaders debate on Monday in Thunder Bay.

Schreiner says they've written the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association expressing their interest in taking part.

Schreiner says if NOMA says they want him to take part he'll rejig his schedule and make it to the debate to face NDP Leader Andrea Horwath and Premier Kathleen Wynne.

PC Leader Tim Hudak's people said scheduling conflicts are keeping him from taking part.

Youth In Philantropy Grants Handed Out

Youth In Philanthropy has presented grants to four local charities.

The grants were handed out yesterday by students from Beaver brae and Thomas Aquinas.

Maddy Gilfix from T.A. says it was tough to only select four organizations.

Thomas Aquinas gave one thousand dollars to both the Morningstar Detox Centre and the Minto Parent Resource Centre.

Beaver Brae also gave one thousand to the Kenora Fellowship Centre and the Cat Shelter.

Stranded Canoer Rescued in Quetico

A harrowing experience for a canoeist in Quetico Provincial Park.

OPP says the man's canoe had drifted away Monday afternoon after he stopped at an island on Kawnipi Lake, leaving him stranded.

He was able to sent a message back to a Minnesota tourist outfitter who notified authorities.

Poor weather delayed rescue efforts until Tuesday morning where the man was found safe and sound.

Officers also helped get the man's canoe back.

Marathon Woman Charged With Embezzling

A Marathon woman is facing charges for involvement in misappropriation of funds.

Police recieved reports in September that an excess of  $15,000 was missing from the Marathon Minor Hockey Association's bank account.

36 year old Trixie Gulliford is being charged with theft over $5000.

She is set to appear in court July 24th in Marathon.