Province to look into evacuation complaints

Officials in Ontario are looking into whether families have been split up while being evacuated from communities threatened by forest fires raging in our area.

Deputy community safety minister Ian Davidson says the province has done its best to keep families together since evacuations started.

But he says the province is investigating unconfirmed reports that the evacuation process has separated members of some First Nations families from each other.

Officials say weather conditions are improving, and no further evacuations are currently planned.

Electricity back on in Pickle Lake

The power is back on in Pickle Lake and New Osnaburgh First Nation.

The lights were out for nearly 2-weeks as a forest fire near Ear Falls consumed some 18-power lines.

Hydro One was able to go on site late last week and fix the problem.

Hampton Seeking Help for Cat Lake Evacuees

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton is asking the McGuinty Government to help Cat Lake First Nation residents.

Hampton says it appears residents will be allowed to return home in the middle of this week but he notes the remote community is suffering from a severe food shortage.

The power has been out for nearly 2-weeks and Hampton says most food is now spoiled.

Hampton says most people make trips during the winter months by the ice road to get their food and stock it in the freezer.

He's asking the Province to ensure the community has food and other supplies when residents return home.

Walk for Good Life Ready to roll

A seven day 500 kilometre walk around the Kenora and Rainy River districts is set to go next month.

It will be the third year for the Walk for Good Life organized by the group Good Life for Young People.

C-E-O Teresa Hazel says its a journey of self discovery and accomplishment.

The event is open to anyone with registration made through the group's office or its website : http://www.goodlifeforyoungpeople.com/

Record Attendance For Coney Island Festival

The Coney Island Music Festival continues to grow.

This year, about 12 hundred people took in the one day event at Coney Beach.

The Third Maybe Annual Festival features seven acts over six hours yesterday.

Attendance has tripled over the past three years.

Tie for First at Canadian Bass Championships in Fort

For the first time in the history of the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship, there are co-winners.

Richard Rud and Jon Austin of International Falls and Thunder Bay's Glenn Leroux and Trevor Zimak avoided controversial tie-breaking methods to share the title after tying for the lead after three days of fishing.

Rud says both teams agreed to share the title.

Jeff Gustafson from Kenora and his partner John Peterson placed sixth overall, six and a half pounds back of the winners.

Team Symonds Wins Bronzeback

A couple of Keewatin anglers too top honors at the 5th Annual Friends and Family Bronzeback Classic.

Brad and Jayden Symonds came from behind to win the two day bass tournament on Lake of the Woods.

They weighed in 28.65 pounds of bass, beating out the day one leaders, Scott and Kyle Cook by just over a pound.

Steve Ellie and Tom Hefford placed third with a catch of 26.6 pounds.

Fisher tops Women's Field at Kenora Borealis Triathlon

Edie Fisher continues to be an ageless wonder.

Fisher was the top female finisher in the annual Kenora Borealis Triathlon/Duathlon at Garrow Park.

Competing in the 50-54 year old age group, Fisher finished the Olympic Course in a time of two hours and 26 minutes.

The top male was Chris Graham from the Tribalistic Team in a blazing time of two hours and seven minutes.

The top female racer in the Long Course Duathlon was Julie Whelan at two hours and 54 minutes.

Playaz Win Men's Soccer Tournament

The Playaz are the new kings of Kenora Soccer.

The Playaz won the Lake of the Woods mens soccer tournament over the weekend with a 2-0 win over Stonewall in the A-side Final Sunday afternoon at the Tom Nabb Soccer Complex.

McGuinty Says He won't Declare State of Emergency in NWO

Premier Dalton McGuinty says there's no need to declare a state of emergency to deal with forest fires that have driven thousands of people from their communities in northwestern Ontario.

McGuinty is in the region today to survey the damage and talk with fire personnel, volunteers and evacuees.

The premier says that the province is doing everything it can to support firefighters and evacuees.

McGuinty says that includes helping out with aircraft and providing financial support for the effort.

He'll also visit Thunder Bay later today.

Discovery Center opens its doors

The new discovery center on Lakeview Drive is getting rave reviews.

The center will act as the city's new tourism bureau and was opened to the public for the first time yesterday afternoon.

Dennis Wallace is chair of the Lake of the Woods Economic Development Commission and says they hope to be able to expand the number of services offered there.

The two million dollar facility is opening its doors to the public for the very first time today.

Lake of the Woods Task Force issues final report

A report looking at the management of the Lake of the Woods and Rainy River basins is suggesting the creation of a single International Watershed Board.

The Board would merge the International Rainy River Water Pollution Board and the International Rainy Lake Board of Control.

A series of public meetings on the report are planned for next month.

The Kenora session will take place on August 20th. 

Hampton Tours fire ravaged communities

Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. has been touring the region meeting with residents of first nation communities which have been threatened by wild fires.

Hampton has chartered his own plane to get into some of the  hard to reach areas.

He says fire fighters have been working under very difficult conditions.

Hampton has been critical of the government's response to the crisis and says more needs to be done to ensure this doesn't turn into a catastrophe.

Kenora set to help out evacuees

The City of Kenora says its ready to do what it can to help with the evacuation of thousands of residents from remote first nation communities.

Another 18 hundred people are expected to be flown out today due to smoke from over 100 forest fires.

Karen Brown is the City's chief administrative officer and says the Emergency Measures Group met yesterday and agreed to declare a state of emergency.

Brown says she will be meeting with fire chief Warren Brinkman to determine how many evacuees the city might be able to accommodate.

Natural Resources Minister Tours Fire Zone

Don't expect Natural Resources Minister Linda Jeffrey to call a state of emergency over the forest fire situation in Northwestern Ontario.

Jeffrey tells our newsroom she's reluctant to do so because the situation appears under control

Jeffrey took an aerial tour of the fire zone to get a first hand look at the fires

Fires continue consume Northern Forests

The Ministry of Natural Resources continues to try and gain the upper hand on over 100-forest fires burning in Northwestern Ontario.

Information Officer Owen Vaughan says they have recieved a lot of help in their fight.

B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland, Quebec and the Yukon are all helping firefighters in Northwestern Ontario.

Vaughan adds that several MNR employees who don't usually fight fires are also involved and he asks the public for patience as there may be some delays in other services.

Economic Development Commission Holds AGM

The Lake of the Woods Economic Development Commission says the bricks and mortar are in place in order for Kenora's economy to thrive.

The commission held its annual general meeting yesterday in the new Discovery Center on Cameron Bay.

Dennis Wallace is chair of the commission and says they have seen a lot of interest from business to set up shop in Kenora.

Wallace says there's also been a lot of interest shown in the former Abitibi property on 9th Street North and believe there should be some growth in that area in the coming year.

17 New Non-Profit Housing Units for Kenora

A total of 17 new non-profit housing units should be ready to move into by next spring.

The Aamikkowiish Non-profit housing agency held a ground breaking ceremony this morning.

Collette Surovey says they will be building in a number of areas of the community.

Aamikkowish is getting 2.89 million dollars from the provincial government for the non-profit housing project.

Dragon Tamers publish local cancer booklet

The Kenora Dragon Tamers have launched their first ever publishing venture.

The breast-cancer survivors have come out with a booklet called: The Kenora Experience, which is a local guide for people affected by cancer.

Marilyn Strain is one of the people who helped put the book together and says they spent the last year compiling all the information.

The booklet is available at most health care facilities in Kenora, as well as Edgewater Natural Health.

A busy sports line-up for the Weekend

A good weekend to be a spectator in Kenora.

A total of four major sporting events are taking place.

First up is the Lake of the Woods Men's soccer tournament at the Tom Nabb Soccer Complex.

Action gets underway this evening at 5:30 and will wrap up with the finals on Sunday afternoon.

Tomorrow, a couple of events hit the water.

On Rabbit Lake the Tops and Bottoms rowing regatta, while over on Lake of the Woods the 5th annual Friends and family Bronzeback classic takes off.

On Sunday, the Kenora Borealis Triathlon/Duathlon starts from Garrow Park.