City Warns Residents of Deer Interaction

It's fawning season and local residents are being urged to leave baby deer alone.

Councillor Sharon Smith says there have been numerous posts on social media of people trying save abandoned fawns.

She says the mothers are likely not that far away and can be very protective.

Smith says she would like the city to put out a media release on how the public should treat our urban deer population and baby deer particularly at this time of year.

KPDSB Selling Board Office

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board is actively looking for a buyer for it's board office in Norman.

The property was declared surplus last month.

Superintendant of Business Dean Carrie says they have to offer the building to other school boards and the three levels of government first.

Carrie says the building is on a couple of acres of land and suggests it could be an attractive piece of property for the right owner.

Candidates Talk Hydro

 People in the region want to see Hydro rates lowered.

That was a resounding theme during a candidates forum yesterday afternoon in Kenora.

NDP MPP Sarah Campbell says her party will take immediate actions by eliminating the HST on bills along with the Debt Retirement Charge.

Campbell also highlighted plans to merge 4 power agencies into one.

Anthony Leek with the Liberal party also spoke of cost savings measures on your bill including the Low Income Energy Assistance Program, Northern Ontario Energy Credit, and the 10 percent Ontario Clean Energy Credit.

PC candidate Randy Nickle says their plan focuses on stopping power subsidies, eliminating bureaucracies, and and partnering with Manitoba Hydro.

Green Party Will Create New Foundation

The Green party in Kenora-Rainy River is promoting its plan to form a Social Innovation Foundation.

The group would provide grants, loans  and mentorship to support young entrepreneurs.

Candidate Tim McKillop says they will divert 300-million dollars from regional development funds to the operation of the Foundation.

McKillop and his party say that local enterprise is the engine of economic growth and thriving communities.

Advanced Poll Starting to Close

Some advanced polls across the Kenora-Rainy River district will close today.

This is the last day to vote at polls in Ignace, Emo and Rainy River before the main vote June 12.

Advance voting is still being conducted at the returning office in Fort Frances and its satellite offices.

An advance poll is also now open at the Emo Legion until Friday night.

Tim Horton's Sends Kids to Camp

Tim Horton's is giving underpriveleged children a camping experience.

Btoh coffee shop's in Kenora are participating in today's Camp Day.

Tim Horton's will send all proceeds from coffee sales to the Tim Hortons Childrens Foundation for the cause.

Dryden Moves to Build Solar Farm

Dryden is moving forward on plans to possibly construct a massive solar farm.

The idea was presented by consulting firm KPMG.

Larabie says the farm would provide 600-thousands dollars in revenue and isn't costing the City a single cent.

It's not clear how the provincial election is impacting the application.

No Parking Zone Added to Mike Richards Way

Some changes are being made to accommodate truck traffic along 5th Street South during Phase Three of Downtown Revitalization.

City council agreed to remove the parking zone on the south side of Mike Richards Way this morning.

Operations manager Rick Perchuck says they want to give trucks as much room as possible making turns onto the street.

The Big Spruce Second includes replacing century old sewer and water lines, building new
curbs and sidewalks, landscaping and repaving the roadway.

City Awards Roads Contract

The City of Kenora will be spending a bit more on road repairs this year.

Council has approved the tender from Pioneer Construction worth 1.7 million dollars for
it's road works contract.

Operations manager Rick Perchuck says most of the work will be done in the Valley Drive and Minto areas.

Perchuck says they will be re-paving some of the areas in the Minto area that eroded last year during heavy
rain storms.

Sioux Lookout OPP Cracking Down on Bootlegging

Provincial Police in Sioux Lookout continue their crackdown on the illegal sale of alcohol.

Two people have been charged in separate incidents.

Officers were called to an assault where alcohol was a factor and some involved in the incident were under age.

Police investigated and 22-year-old Terry Legros was charged with unlawfully selling liquor and supplying liquor to a person under 19-years of age.

OPP also charged 42-year-old Chris Koostachin after officers observed the exchange of money for liquor in
front of the LCBO store.

Northern Ontario Heritage Party Looking to Elect 3 MPP's

The Northern Ontario Heritage Party are going after 3 spots in the Ontario legislature.

Party spokesperson Paul Sloan says the party has one key belief:  more representation for the people of the north.

Sloan adds separation is a very long way off and that in the meantime the party is focused on getting the North better representation in Queen's park.

That includes adding new Northern specific ministries and more ridings.

Forest Fire Hazard Dropping

The Ministry of Natural Resources has completed a successful prescribed burn on 3-islands on Lac Seul.

The work was conducted last Friday and was aimed at renewing the ecological health on the islands and to spur the Woodland Caribou habitat.

The forest fire hazard is moderate to high in Sioux Lookout and Red Lake but low across other parts of the region.

There were two confirmed fires in the northwest region between May 30 and June 1 in the districts of
Nipigon and Thunder Bay.

No problems were encountered with these fire and they are now out.

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,