Keric Sells Salon

A popular local beauty salon is changing hands.

Keric Funk is selling his 2nd Street South Salon and boutique to Shauna Fortner.

While he's selling his business, Funk says he will continue to offer his styling services.

Campbell Congratulates Atleo on Re-election

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell says she's looking forward to working with Assembly of First Nations Grand Chief Shawn Atleo.

Atleo beat out seven other contenders this week, including former Treaty 3 grand chief Diane Kelly.

Campbell says she wants to address the challenges that First Nations communities are facing.

She says the NDP caucus remains committed to fighting for real consultation with First Nations and maximising training and employment opportunities in resource development.

Canfield Upset by High Gas Prices

Its time the federal government held oil companies accountable for the high price of gasoline.

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield is on the warpath over the price of fuelling up.  

He says there's no reason motorists in Kenora should be paying $1.34 a liter.

Canfield says with oil prices around 87 dollars a barrel, gas prices should be closer to a dollar a liter.

MNR Fire Crews Focus on the Far North

Focus for Ministry of Natural Resources forest firefighters continues to be in the remote north.

Eleven fires in the far north are now over 100 hectares.

One of the largest is within Woodland Caribou Provincial Park that has scorched almost one thousand hectares.

Another concern is a cluster of fires burning near the remote communities of Deer Lake and Keewaywin where smoke may be a concern for residents.

Early Morning Call for Fire Fighters

Kenora's Fire and Emergency Services Department was called into action early this morning.

Fire crews responded to a blaze at the Comfort Inn.
Three units were dispatched to the scene.

A fire official says a small air conditioning unit overheated and caught fire.

Fire fighters were able to contain the blaze to the room of origin, though smoke did drift into other parts of the motel.

Council Applies for more Infrastructure Funding

Kenora City Council is honing its wish list for a new round of projects eligible for infrastructure funding.

Upgrades for the Keewatin Memorial Arena and the roof of city hall top the wish list.

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield says they would only go ahead with the projects if they get government funding.

Council says it also wants to work with the Lake of the Woods Development Commission for a dock rehabilitation project on the north side of Coney Island.

Busy Sports Weekend

A busy sports weekend in Kenora. Tonight, the annual Kenora Ladies

Soccer Tournament gets underway at the Tom Nabb Soccer Complex.

The finals will take place Sunday afternoon. Meanwhile, 100 teams will take

to the water tomorrow morning for the Bronzeback Classic. Final day weigh-ins will take place Sunday afternoon.

New Life for Atikokan Generating Station

The Atikokan Generating Station has a power purchase agreement with the Ontario Power Authority.

It was the last step needed before the plant could be converted to using biomass.

Mayor Dennis Brown says it's a huge relief to his community.

Thunder Bay Atikokan M.P.P. Bill Mauro made the announcement Thursday in Thunder Bay.

Impaired Driving Charges on the Rise

Drinking and Driving continues to be a big issue for local police.

The OPP say they've noticed an increase in the number of impaired driving charges issued so far this year.

To date, there have been 40 charges laid, up from 33 from the same period last year.

Provincial Police say that's a 21 percent increase over last year.

Kenora Senior Gives City Council an Earful

A Kenora senior is complaining about some of the changes that have taken place on the Harborfront recently.

Len Kropiowski made a deputation to council this week upset about the naming of the new tent as the White Cap Pavillion.

Kropiowski also says he's saddened to see the Thistle Pavillion no longer has any hockey memorabilia on display.

Kropiowski also feels the food vendor trucks parked on the Harborfront obstruct the view of the lake.

Con College Bursaries get a boost

Confederation College in Kenora has more money to put towards student bursaries and awards.

Wednesday's golf tournament at the Kenora Golf and Country Club generated more than nine thousand dollars.

A record 17 teams also took part in the afternoon event. 

Off the golf course, a signed Mike Richards Los Angeles Kings jersey garnered the most interest, taking in one thousand dollars in a live auction.

HRSDC Cuts Jobs in Kenora

The Public Service Alliance of Canada calls it a further erosion of service in northern Ontario.

About 25 percent of the workforce at the Human Resources and Skills Development Canada office in Kenora is being cut.

PSAC spokesperson Judith Monteith Farrell says the jobs are being moved to southern Ontario.

Monteith Farrell says five surplus notices have been handed out in Kenora leaving a staff at the HRSDC office of about 15 workers.

Red Lake Population Jumps Again

A change in census numbers in Red Lake.

The Municipality asked for a review of the final 2011 numbers.

Red Lake has been notified that the census results were incorrect.

The population is now up 3.2-percent from the original numbers.

Red Lake's population now stands at just over 46-hundred people.

ELA Gains National Support

The International community isn't giving up its fight to keep the Experimental Lakes Area open.

More than 29-hundred people from 58-countries have signed an on-line petition that closed last week.

Some signatories stated that the Federal government has a mandate to conduct whole-ecosystem freshwater research.

Others call it a premier institution and a point of Canadian pride.

Minnesota Fire Crews coming north

More than 70 forest fires are currently burning in the northwest region.

Fire Information Officer Deb McLean says crews are dealing with five new wild fires yesterday.

McLean says a crew of 20 fire fighters are arriving today from Minnesota to help relieve some of the crews throughout the region.

Council Rejects Loan Request for Land Ambulence Base

The Kenora District Services Board is going to have to search a little further afield to find a banker to finance the cost of building the land ambulence base in Kenora.

Earlier this week, Kenora City council said no, to the board's request to help finance the 2.8 million dollar project.

Councillor Ron Lunny says the city isn't in the business to lend money.

Construction of the new land ambulence base on Barsky's Hill is nearing completion.

Kelly Bows out of AFN election after 2nd ballot

The Assembly of First Nations has re-elected Shawn Atleo as its national chief. Atleo won on the third round of voting after fending off seven other candidates.

Atleo told the crowd of delegates that the present day marks a turning point for aboriginal rights.

Former Treaty Three Grand Chief Diane Kelly has failed in her bid to become National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations.

Kelly dropped out of the race after finishing third with 39 votes in the second round of ballots.

Northwestern Ontario Ridings Not Affected by lost Data

No ridings in Northwestern Ontario are listed among those possibly impacted by a breach of voter privacy at Elections Ontario.

Chief Electoral Officer Greg Essensa says memory sticks containing personal information of about 2.5-million voters in as many 25 other ridings are missing from his office.

The data contains the names, birth dates and addresses of voters, but not how they voted.

Ontario Provincial Police are investigating.

OPP Lay Charges in ATV Accident

Charges have been laid in last week's crash involving two ATV's on Highway 671 north of Kenora.

Provincial Police say an all terrain vehicle was towing a second one, when one of the drivers was tossed from the vehicle.

He was transported to Lake of the Woods Hospital with minor injuries.

OPP say both teenage drivers face charges of operating an ATV on the highway without a driver's licence, no insurance and permit.

Seven People Vying for NAN Grand Chief

The candidates are now in place for Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief. 

There are seven people vying for NAN's top spot. 

They are; current Deputy Grand Chiefs Terry Waboose and Mike Metatawabin, former Sioux Lookout Mayor Lawrence Martin along with the head of of Wawatay David Neegan. 

Rounding out the list are  Harvey Yesno, Doug Semple and Brian Davey