Highway 502 Re-Opens In Time for Weekend

Perfect timing for the Memorial Day long weekend.

Highway 502 between Fort Frances and Dryden is now open to traffic.

The road was closed earlier this week as the result of a wash-out 11-kilometer
s north of Highway 11.

The highway reopening will make it easier for american visitors to come to the area to enjoy what should be a good weekend in the great outdoors.

Dryden Inquest Wraps UP

Eight recommendations have come out of the coroner's inquest looking into the death of 74 year old Edwin James Davis.

The Fort Frances man died when the groomer he was operating fell through the ice on Little Manitou Lake in February 2011.

Davis was working for Manitou Gold at the time.

Ministry of Labour Lawyer David McCaskill says the 5-member jury did a good job to help address a growing concern of ice road safety.

One of the key recommendations is having all machines regardless of age, be required to have safety equipment and updated features.

The groomer Davis was using didn't have an escape hatch.

NAN Receives FedNor Funding

The Deputy Chief of the Nishnawbe-Aski Nation is pleased with new funding announced by FedNor.

Les Louttit says the 60 thousand dollars will help Aboriginal business owners and maximize the benefits of existing and emerging opportunities.

He says it wasn't always that easy.

Louttit says the funds will also go to develop the Ring of Fire.

Quiet Week for Forest Fires

There are three active forest fires in Northwestern Ontario.

The Ministry of Natural Resources two are in the Red Lake district, one on Flat Lake Road and the other in Pikangikum.

The third fire is in the Nipigon district.

Officials say all three of them are human caused and don't pose any problems.

Farmer's Market Proving Popular

The weekly farmer's market in Kenora is going to be a success, even
before the event begins this summer.

Don Denver from the Lake of the Woods Development Commission says they've already sold out their display tables for the months of July and August.

In fact, demand is so high that an extra tent is being set up to handle
the overflow from the Whitecap Pavilion.

The first farmer's market is slated to take place June 19th.

Northwest OPP Release Long Weekend Stats

Provincial Police are out with its statistics from the May Long Weekend.

Sergeant Shelley Garr says in the Northwest Region, they laid 281 speeding charges, 4 charges of distracted driving and issued 27 seat belt charges.

In one incident, a motorcyclist was arrested for impaired driving after
he fell off is bike while driving around the Round About in Kenora.

Police says the biker had been using drugs.

Garr says that fortunately there were no serious incidents in this region.

Good Turn Out for Event Center Meeting

More than just a second ice surface for the Kenora Rec. Center.

That was the thrust of a public meeting last night staged by the
Event Center Committee.

A number of ideas were thrown around to improve the Kenora Rec. Center.

Mike Dietsch is the co-chair of the committee and says the suggestions
presented last night will help them develop a concept they eventually will
take to city council.

Dietsch says their goal is to have a concept the can take to council in August of 2014.

Councillor Votes Against Resolution on Contraband Tobacco

Education over enforcement.

City council this week voted to stronger penalties against those caught producing and selling contraband tobacco.

Councillor Sharon Smith voted against the resolution calling for more education on the topic.

Some of the actions that council voted on include higher fines and giving more authority to seize products and impound vehicles.

Smith says there are a number of aboriginal communities looking to create a sustainable business by producing raw tobacco.

Smith says the government needs to start talking to these communities.

Hudak Proposes More Help with Ring of Fire

Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak believes the government is not taking advantage of the Ring of Fire.

Speaking with northern media recently, Hudak says the area can make Ontario just as financially strong as other provinces.

Hudak says he would put a cabinet minister in charge of the Ring of Fire who had have more authority over job and wealth creation in the province.

He adds that he will also work to create transit infrastructure.

Hudak suggests that Ontario needs a premier who will champion the project at Queen's Park.

OPP Launch New Recruitment Initiative

The Ontario Provincial Police are launching a recruitment campaign in northwestern Ontario.

Constable Erin Huckell says it's called the "Northern Policing Experience", and runs from May 25th to 26th.

Huckell says travel and accommodations for anyone wanting take part will be taken care of.

PARO Receives Funding for Programs in NWO

The Ontario Trillium Foundation is giving just over 352-thousand dollars to PARO Centre for Women's Enterprise.

PARO Executive Director Rosalind Lockyer says the three year grant will be used to provide training for would be young entrepreneurs in Northwestern Ontario.

Lockyer says the money will go along way with covering the costs of salaries, training opportunities and producing materials for their training programs.

Beaver Brae Earns Top 10 Finish in Provincial Envirothon

A group of students from Beaver Brae has a chance to attend the International Envirothon championships.

The high school's Envirothon team finished in the top ten in Ontario after two weeks
of competition.

Envirothon includes an on-line test that looks at a number of issues including
Aquatics, Forestry, Soils, and Wildlife.

The next stage of the competition includes an interview with a trip to Montana
on the line for the International Envirothon in August.  

Broncos Soccer Teams Split Against Muskies

A great showing this afternoon for the Beaver Brae soccer teams.

After a pair of morning wins against the Eagles the Broncos split there games against the Muskies.

The Broncos boys started the scoring and had a 2-2 tie at half, but Fort Frances would score in the second half for a 3-2 victory.

The girls played to a 1-0 victory.

With the win, Beaver Brae's girls team finished first in their division and will now get a bye into
the gold medal game.

The next games for the Broncos team will be the NORWOSSA playoffs in Dryden next Wednesday.


Meanwhile, St. Joseph's from Dryden took the Intermediate Catholic Schools Championship
yesterday.

St. Joseph's beat Thomas Aquinas Red 1-0 on penalty kicks.

Broncos start the Day With A Pair of Wins

A pair of wins for Beaver Brae's soccer teams this morning at the Tom Nabb Soccer Complex.

The Bronco boys scored early and often en route to a 6-3 win over the Dryden Eagles.

Kodai Kuroda led the offense with a three goal game.

Meanwhile, the Beaver Brae girls saved their best for last, scoring twice in
the final five minutes to earn a 2-1 win over the Eagles.

Beaver Brae is back in action this afternoon at 2:00 against Fort Frances.

The NorWOSSA Double A playoffs will take place in Dryden next Wednesday.

Hockey for Health Gets Kudos from Council

City Council is showing it's appreciation to the organizer of the Hockey for Health Tournament.

Yesterday, council presented Dean Caron and his family with a certificate of appreciation for their work in creating the annual tournament.

Caron says there are a lot more people to thank for building the event.

Mayor Dave Canfield says the tournament has created a lasting legacy towards helping to community.

Black Sturgeon Property Owners Lobby Council

The Black Sturgeon Lake Property Owners Association is upset with City Council.

Council has voted against a moratorium to prevent future developments on the lake.

Association President Dan Olscamp says the decision goes against talks with Mayor Dave Canfield regarding a halt in water testing.

However, Olscamp didn't leave council defeated.

The city did confirm the 2014 budget will include water testing on Black Sturgeon.

Local Liberals Pleased with NDP Budget Support

Reactions are starting to come in regarding the N-D-P support for the budget.

Kenora Rainy River Liberal candidate Anthony Leek says he was very happy with the announcement.

Leek says the budget will benefit the entire province.

Leek says he is happy the province will not be going to the polls this spring and that he will stay on as the Liberal candidate for the riding.

Resolute Blamed for Demise of Boreal Agreement

A three year campaign to protect the boreal forest has broken down.

Environmental groups are blaming Resolute Forest Products for the failure of the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement.

Tim Graham from the Ivey  Foundation says they put five million dollars
into the effort to protect the boreal forest in the region.

The environmental groups say instead of protecting more boreal forest in northwestern Ontario, Resolute Forest Products has been expanding its use of local woodlands.

OPP Marine Unit Busy Over Long Weekend

Some wild weather over the May Long Weekend posed problems for boaters.

The OPP Marine Unit says its was called out a couple of times to help rescue people who found themselves stranded on local lakes.

On Monday afternoon, two 21 year old men were canoing on Stewart Lake when they were swamped.

The managed to make it to shore, and police say they were able to locate them safe and sound.

In a separate incident, a boat was stranded out in Bigstone Bay on Lake of the Woods due to high winds and large waves.

The OPP says they were able to remove the five people on Board and safely get them off the reef.

High School Soccer This Morning

The NorWOSSA double "a" soccer season is quickly drawing to a close.

The final regular season games will be taking place at the Tom Nabb Soccer

Complex today.  Beaver Brae's boys and girls teams will be in actin at 9:00 this morning against Dryden, and then will be back on the pitch at 2:00 against Fort Frances.

The NorWOSSA play-offs will take place next week in Dryden.