Plenty of Rain Across the Region

It's time to dry up!

Ignace was the wet spot in the region receiving nearly 40-millimeteres yesterday, Sioux Lookout 32.6-millimetres and Dryden 28.8.

Two communities are dealing with near record levels.

Atikokan recieved 77.4-millimetres of rain from Saturday to Monday, while Ignace saw 67-millimetres during the same period.

Kenora received almost 20 millimeters of rain yesterday, and about 30 millimeters between Saturday and Monday.

Thomas Aquinas Hands Out Athletic Awards

A good send off for the Thomas Aquinas boys and girls soccer teams as
they head south for the All-Ontario championships today.

Last night, the Saints handed out their yearly Athletic Awards.

Zach Heino, who is a stalwart on the T.A. defense in soccer was named the senior male athele of the year.

Meanwhile,Sara Marcine and Kylee Neniska were named the co-winners of the senior girls athlete of the year award.

In junior sports, two more Saints soccer players, Eric Sundmark and Thomas Mortimer were named
junior male athletes of the year, while Lisle Compton  and Krista Robertson were the junior female athletes of the year.

Another Break In Under Investigation

The Kenora OPP are investigating another break and enter.

This time the incident occurred Saturday night in the Rabbit Lake area.

Like 2 previous break ins that are currently under investigation the suspect broke into a home but fled when the resident woke up.

If anyone has any information about this or the other 2 cases they are asked to call the OPP or Crimestoppers.

Community Foundation Exceeds Goal of 10 Hour Challenge

A tremendous community response for the Kenora and Lake of the Woods Regional Foundation.

On Friday the foundation launched a 10 hour fundraising challenge and raised about 75 thousand dollars.

Andrew Paterson is one of the founding members and donated 10 thousand dollars towards the total.

The Golden Eagle Charitable Casino also presented a cheque for 25 thousand dollars.

The Foundation had hoped to raise 10 thousand dollars in it's one day challenge.

Council Holds Special Meeting This Morning

Kenora City Council will be holding a special meeting today.

Operational issues will dominate this morning's session.

The city plans to award it's municipal paving contract and also a

will tender out the concrete work for the Winnipeg River West Branch Bridge.

Today's council meeting will take place at 10:00 this morning.

Second All-Candidates Forum Slated in Kenora

Another opportunity to find out what the candidates in the Kenora-Rainy River Riding are thinking about.

The New Horizon's Seniors Center is hosting an All-Candidates Forum
tomorrow afternoon, just prior to their evening appearance at a Chamber of Commerce sponsored event.

The afternoon forum will take place in the Rotary Room from 2:00 until 3:30.

Issues affecting seniors, such as housing and health will be the focus.

In the evening, the Kenora and District Chamber of Commerce is hosting it's own all-candidates forum at the Minis Hall at the Super 8 Motel.

Advance Polls Now Open

More advanced polls open in the Kenora-Rainy River riding are officially open.

Returning Officer Ian Simpson says voters can visit the main returning offices in Fort Frances or its satellite offices in Red Lake, Kenora, Sioux Lookout and Dryden.

Others in Ignace, Emo and Rainy River opened Saturday for four days while another will open in Ear Falls Tuesday.

Big Spruce Second Gets Underway Today

The old joke about two seasons Kenora will hold true starting today.

Now that winter is finally over, construction season officially begins in downtown Kenora with the Big Spuce Second beginning.

Moncrief Construction is expected to begin ripping up the pavement at the corner of
Main Street and Second Street South today.

That will begin four months of work to install new sewer and water lines, curbs, sidewalks and
pavement along that stretch of road.

Detour signs have started to pop up around town as motorist will be diverted away from Second Street
South,

Health Unit Warns of Insect Bites

With the recent warm weather, insects are starting to bite with a vengeance.

The Northwestern Health Unit wants you to be safe from six legged creatures.

Public health Inspector Kurtis Casey says there are 2 main health concerns at this time of year.

Casey notes you can protect yourself by wearing long clothing and using bug repellent that contains DEET.

Kenora Accessibility Committee Celebrates Awareness

It's National Access Awareness Week.

Denise Miault with the Kenora Accessibility Committee says the week is to promote accessibility for people with any form of disability.

Miault says it's easy for businesses to get involved.

Simple actions such has creating wider aisles or ensuring aisles are clear go a long way.

Minimum Wage Goes Up

Thousands of employees in the Province go to work today with a raise.

 Ontario's minimum wage officially increased Sunday.

The base salary is going up 75 cents from $10.25 to an even 11 dollars per hour.

Rafferty Supports Review of Foreign Workers Program

Reaction is mixed in northwestern Ontario on a federal Government decision to suspend the Temporary Foreign Workers program.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty says a review is needed as the program no longer serve it's original purpose of filling seasonal gaps.

Rafferty says its become a full blown affair under the Conservatives.

Red Lake Mayor Phil Vinet calls the suspension unfair to those who rely on the program to survive and says the move threatens some businesses in his community.

ORNGE Faces Charges

Ontario's air ambulance service, Ornge, has been charged with 17 labor code offences.

All 17 charges relate to an incident that occurred on May 31, 2013, after a Sikorsky S-76A helicopter crashed one kilometre from an airport in Moosonee.

Many of the charges deal with inexperienced pilots working together.

The incident killed four Orgne employees, two pilots and two paramedics.

Boobie Nights Set To Rock the WhiteCap Pavillion

It's Boobie Nights with a twist.

Angela Kuchma is an organizer of the charity event and says this year they are offering up a VIP package.

Kuchma adds that the VIP tickets also come with a bag full of Boobie Nights swag.

Tickets for the event and VIP package are still available.

Boobie Nights goes June 8th under the Whitecap Pavilion.

Lake of the Woods Lightning Win Big

A big weekend for the Lake of the Woods Lightning under 9 soccer club.

The Lightning won their division in the annual Children's Hospital Tournament in Winnipeg.

The local squad won their first two games by scores of 9-0 and 16-0 and earned a berth into the
final with a 5-2 victory.

The Lightning went through the tournament undefeated.

Saints Boys and Girls Advance to OFSAA Championships

Thomas Aquinas boys and girls soccer teams are heading to the All-Ontario Single "a" championships.

The Saints Boys swept Manitouadge in it's best-of-three NWOSSA final on Friday.

T.A. won the first game in penalty kicks and then dominated the second and deciding game 3-0.

Ryan Landon scored a pair of goals in the win.

Meanwhile, the Thomas Aquinas girls had an easy time with Terrace Bay winning that best-of-three
NWOSSA final two games to none.

The Saints Boys head to London next week for the OFSAA champinships, while the T.A. girls travel to
Windsor.

Bimose Students Celebrate Turning Points

The Turning Points Program from the Learning Partnership is celebrating students in the Bimose Tribal Council.

15 students wrote essays reflecting on a turning point in their lives.

Oliver Ridler is the Ontario North Program Manager and said 5 essays were chosen for awards.

This is the first year that Turning Points has been offered in Kenora.

It's open to all high school students.

The top 3 essays were written by Scarlett Scott, Gillian Prouty, and Danielle McDonald

Sketch of Break In Suspect Released

The Kenora Provincial Police are continuing their search for a break and enter suspect.

A sketch has now been released following 2 break-ins between May 16 and 19.

The first break in was in the South Park area while the second occurred in the Lakeside area.

In both cases the residents waking up caused the suspect to leave.

Anyone who may have information on these break ins is ask to called the OPP or Crimestoppers.

Saints Off to OFSAA

No stopping the Thomas Aquinas girls offense.

The Saints cruised to an NWOSSA gold medal today in in Terrace Bay.

Last night the Saints ran up an 8-2 win.

TA continued it's strong play with a 4-0 win this morning.

The girls will now head to Windsor for the OFSAA "A" championship from June 5-7.

Meanwhile, the Thomas Aquinas boys went 4 to 2 in penalty kicks to take game one against Manitouage.

Game 2 goes at 3:30.

Wagamese To Earn Honorary Degree From Lakehead

A former Whitedog resident is being honored this weekend by Lakehead University.

Award winning author Richard Wagamese is one of four people who will have honorary degrees bestowed.

President Dr. Brian Stevenson says it's a wonderful time of year with more than two thousand degrees being awarded.

Bob Rae, Frank Iacobucci and Former MPP Mary Anne Chambers will all receive honorary degrees.