TSB Not Investigating Sioux Lookout Plane Crash

No more details are being revelaed about the plane crash in Sioux Lookout on Sunday.

The transportation safety board says there will be no full investigation, however Slate Falls Airways is continuing their own investigation.

The Cessna aircraft occupied by a pilot and 4 passengers crashed around 2pm, shortly after take off from Pelican Lake.

All 5 occupants recieved minor injuries and have been released from Meno Ya Win Health Center.

Shaw KBI Gears up for 25th Anniversary

After three days of fun on the Harborfront, Harborfest is getting ready to make way for the 25th annual Shaw KBI.

This year, things will kick off with a boat parade.

Kristie Cavenaugh is organizing the event and says they will be making their way through downtown Kenora early this evening.

The parade is scheduled to start at 6:00 this evening.

Fire Crews Heading Home

M.N.R. officials are letting fire crews from out of province head home after the forest fire sitation eased over the weekend.

The Ministry of Natural Resources say one new fire started on Sunday near Lake of the Woods near Kenora.

Out of province resources from Saskatchewan and New Brunswick were released from the Northwest Region assignment over the weekend.

Contract crews are also being released from fires. These resources provided support to the Northwest Region during the peak of fire activity.

Busy Long Weekend for the OPP in Kenora

The August Long Weekend proved to be a busy one for the Kenora OPP.

They arrested a number of people for drinking and driving offenses and are investigating one hit and run accident on Valley Drive.

Police were also called to a boat fire on Lake of the Woods near Devil's Gap.

A 1997, 22 foot Sea Ray caught fire around 2:00 Sunday afternoon.

Police say the two occupants were rescued by passing boaters, but their vessel was completely destroyed and sank to the bottom of the lake.

The OPP say they blocked that area of the lake off for about an hour as the boat burned.

Local Groups Applaud Lake Announcement's

Several groups which work on Lake of the Woods are pleased the federal government has finally announced its intentions for a water management plan.

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird made the announcement in Kenora over the weekend.

Todd Sellars from the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation says one of the key recommendations is the creation of a new board out of two existing entitities.

Plans are also in the works for a water quality summit for Lake of the Woods.

Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford expects that will take place sometime in the next year or so.

Harborfest a Box Office and Artistic Success

(Photo Courtesy Colleen Serban Photography)

Harborfest directors are basking in the glow of one of their best ever events.

There were three sold out evening concerts and huge crowds all weekend long on the Kenora Harborfront.

Entertainment Director Dave Blake says they also had rave reviews from the performers.

Blake says they will be hard pressed to improve on this year's entertainment line-up, they they will start that task in the next couple of weeks.

Health Unit Issues Blue-Green Algae Advisory

While local residents have been enjoying one of the warmer summers in recent years, it can come at a price.

The Northwestern Health Unit has issued an advisory about blue-green algae blooms on some of the shallower lakes in the area.

In particular, the Health Unit has singled out Sandy Lake in Pellatt Township.

Blue Green Algae can contain toxins that are harmful if swallowed, and can cause skin rashes.

The Health Unit says kids, pets and livestock should not swim in any water where you notice blue-green algae.

Campbell Continues to Fight Tourism Center Closures

It's not going to happen this year, but the fight to get the region's tourism centres re-opened isn't stopping.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell is again refuting Tourism Ministry's reasons behind closing the centres, including those Fort Frances and Rainy River.

Campbell says the government's now pointing to the use of GPS units.

Campbell admits its been frustrating, but isn't giving up hope the centres can be reopened next year.

Sandy Lake Residents Back Home

Residents of Sandy Lake, evacuated because of smoke near their community last week, are back home.

The Ministry of Natural Resources says fires that were a concern to the remote community remained quiet, allowing the 650 residents housed in hotels in Fort Frances and Thunder Bay to return.

Out of province crews from Saskatchewan and New Brunswick were also sent home with the forest fires threat diminishing due to rain and cooler temperatures.

TSB Investigates Sioux Lookout Plane Crash

Five people are coutning their blessings following a plane crash near Sioux Lookout over the weekend.

O.P.P. say a Slate Falls Airways plane with the pilot and four passengers were on a sight seeing tour whent eh plane crashed shortly after take-off from Pelican Lake.

Emergency Services, Slate Falls Airways and by-standers were on hand to get them to safety.

All five people suffered minor injuries and were taken to hospital and then released.

O.P.P. and the Transportation Safety Board are looking into what happened.

Sunset Country's Got an App For That

Travellers in Northwestern Ontario will have a new way to find out what's hot and happening.

Sunset Country Travel has developed a smart phone app to provide information on places to stay, where to eat, and things to do and see.

Sunset is aiming for a September launch, which will be available at I-Tunes and android apps.

Baird Makes Announcement for Lake of the Woods

The federal government will be working with the American government to develop a new management board for Lake of the Woods.

Foreign Affairs minister John Baird made the announcement this morning in Kenora on board the Grace Anne II.

The creation of the joint management board was one of the recommendations of the International Joint Commission.

The federal government was supposed to make its intentions known a month ago, but Baird says he was the reason behind the delay.

Baird adds that a summit will also be held in the next couple of years to compile and discuss some of the scientific data available for the lake.

Foreign Affairs Mininister to Visit Kenora

A high profile visitor is expected to be in Kenora this August Long Weekend.

Foreign Affairs minister John Baird is tentatively scheduled to hold a news conference tomorrow morning.

While no details about his visit have been released, its believed Baird will discuss the federal government's response to the International Joint Commissions report on Lake of the Woods.

The federal government was supposed to announce its plans at the end of June along with the government of the United States.

Parents Concerned about Future of Day Care Program

Kenora City council could get an earful next week about proposed plans to close the Castle of Learning Daycare center.

Parents are up in arms about the proposal and have started up a petition.

A number of parents are also planning to make a deputation to council on Tuesday during the Committee of the Whole meeting.

The proposal calls for the closure of the Castle of Learning and its after schools program at the end of this year, due to an operating deficit.

Petitions have been set up at the Barehart Boutique, the Beer Store and Cameron Bay.

OPP Preparing for Long Weekend

The Ontario Provincial Police will be out in full force this long weekend.

They will be on the roads, trails and waterways.

They will be on the lookout for speeders, those not wearing their seatbelts, and impaired drivers.

According to the Highway Safety Divison, road fatalities are up nearly 25 percent this year.

NOSM Gains re-newed Accreditation

The Northern Ontario School Of Medicine is celebrating full accreditation.

The medical school was put through the ringer by the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools back in May but made it through with shining colours according to Associate Dean Dr. Bill McCready

N.O.S.M. received full accreditation for the maximum alloted time of 8 years.

Charge laid in Traffic Fatality

A 25 year old British Columbia man is now charged in connection with a fatal traffic accident near Thunder Bay on July 4th that claimed the life of a Kenora woman.

Deborah Schneider was killed in the collision near Sistonen's Corners.

OPP Constable Diana Cole says officers have completed their investigation and have charged Paul McHale with careless driving.

Sturgeon Study Continuing

Sturgeon in Lake of the Woods and Rainy Lake are continuing to get a lot of attention from researchers.

They're tracking the movements of fish implanted with transmitters.

Lakehead University associate professor Brian McLaren says they've already gained some interesting data about spawning habits.

The study has been funded for another two years.

KMTS Loses Cell Service in Sioux Narrows

Some frustrated cell phone users in the Sioux Narrows area.

KMTS says its tower was damaged by a severe thunderstorm earlier this week affecting service.

The company says technicians are working to repair the mobility tower.

KMTS isn't giving any timeline for service to be restored.

Harborfest Ready to Roll

It looks as if Harborfest is going to be a big success even before the doors open on the first concert tomorrow night.

The tickets for all three evening shows have been sold out.

Director of Entertainment Dave Blake says this is the first time they've ever managed that achievement.

Blake says despite selling out their concerts, they expect to only break even or post a modest surplus this year.