Men's Soccer Final Set

The final for Thursday night's Kenora Men's Soccer Final is all set.

The Centuries will meet up with the Stingers at 6:00.

The Centuries advanced with a 3-1 over the Playaz in semi-final action
last night.

Meantime, the Stingers romped to a 6-1 victory over the Fury.

Second Youth charged in Connection Bearskin Lake Murder

A second person faces murder charges in connection to the death of a
20 year old Bearskin Lake area man.

The OPP say another 15 year old youth has been charged with second degree murder.

Neil Fiddler was pronounced dead at the nursing station in Bearskin Lake back on August 14th.

Initially, a 15 year old youth was charged with second degree murder and also attempted murder in connection to injuries sustained by a 19 year old man.

The second youth is scheduled to appear in Kenora court today on murder charges, attempted
murder, assault with a weapon and breach of probation.

Under the Youth Criminal Justice Act the names of both youth cannot be released.

One Person dies in north end Fire

The Ontario Fire Marshall's Office has been called in to investigate a fatal fire in Kenora over the weekend.

The blaze broke out Saturday evening around 6:00 in the 5th Street North area.

Kenora Fire Chief Warren Brinkman says while crews were on the scene quickly, one person still succumbed to his injuries.

The name of the deceased has not been released.

Brinkman says investigators from the Fire Marshall's office will look into the cause and origin of the blaze.

The OPP is also investigating the incident.

Hampton concerned about possible sale of northern dams

The McGuinty Government is being asked to do something to prevent the sale of hydro dams in Northern Ontario owned by AbitibiBowater.


The dams are located in Kenora, Fort Frances and Iroquois Falls.

Kenora Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton says the government should to something to block the sale.

Hampton says the dams are vital to the future of the mills in Iroquois Falls and Fort Frances.

Extra Funding for New Fire Hall

The City of Kenora is getting some support from the provincial government to help cover part of
the costs of building a new fire hall on Barsky's Hill.

Construction of the 17 hundred square meter facility is nearing an end, and the Northern Ontario
Heritage Fund is pledging one million dollars towards the five million dollar project.

The new facility will not only have more space for fire fighting equipment, it will also include
two classrooms.

The new building is supposed to be ready to move into by the end of September.

Bronco football players open training camp

Another high school football season is just around the corner.
Players and coaches are showing up this morning at Pete Fair Memorial
field for the start of a two week training camp.

The Broncos play their first game in the Winnipeg High School Football
league on September 10th against their rivals from Dryden.

Beaver Brae will once again be competing in Division Two of the football league.

Their first and only exhibition game will be played at home against the Eagles on September 2nd.

Construction on New Group Home Begins

Construction has begun on a new group home on Brinkman Road.


The facility will replace the aging Birchcliff Group Home on the Coker Road.

Bill Leonard is the executive director of Kenora Patricia Child and Family Services and expects construction will be complete before the end of next March.

The 2.2 million dollar project is located on the site of the playground of the old Our Lady of the Valley School.

Municipal Election Deadline Looming

The deadline to run in the municipal elections is jut three weeks from today.


So far only six people have signed up to run for one of six seats on city council.

Veteran Councillor Rory McMillan is the latest person to file his nomination papers.

He suggests the four year term of office may be too big a committment for some people.

There are also two people entered in the race for three trustee positions on the public
school board and two people running for one of five seats on the Kenora Catholic District
School Board.

The deadline for nominations is September 10th.

Foul Play not Suspected in Ignace Fatality

The OPP says foul play is not suspected in the death of a person found in the bush near Ignace earlier this week.

Some people picking blueberries about 25 kilometers east of Ignace on Tuesday
discovered the human remains.

More information is expected to be released next week after a post-mortem exam is conducted in Toronto.

In the meatime, the OPP's NorthWest Region Forensic Identification Unit, the OPP Crime Unit and a forensic anthropoligist are continuing to investigate the incident.

Ride for Memories looking for riders

The Alzheimer's Society for Kenora-Rainy River district is looking for more participants for this year's Ride for Memories.


It will take place on August 28th.

Executive director Lynn Moffitt says it's an important fundraiser for the society.

Registration can be done on-line or calling the Society's office in Kenora.

Rainy River Resources increases exploration

Rainy River Resources will be spending almost 25-million dollars over the next year on exploration activities in northern Ontario.


That's an increase of over 6-million from the last fiscal year.

Most of the money will be spent at its gold-bearing properties north of Barwick.

Three million will be used to explore of an area, 470 kilometres north of Pickle Lake, a project with Sudbury-based Northern Superior Resources

Rabbit Lake Beach re-opened

With warmer weather on the way, some good news for people heading to the beach this weekend.

The Northwestern Health Health unit has re-opened Rabbit Lake Beach after shutting it down earlier this month due to high bacterial levels.

Earlier this week, Anicinabe and Garrow Park Beaches were also re-opened after water tests showed acceptible levels of e-coli bacteria.

More Fire Crews heading to B.C.

Ontario is sending more forest fire fighting personnel to British Columbia.


The Ministry of Natural Resources says it will be sending another 222 firefighters and support personnel to B-C in the coming days.

A 19-person Incident Management team and three helicopter coordinators will leave tomorrow.

The rest will depart August 26th.

There are currentlt 334 MNR personnel working in B-C.

Gravelle stays put in Cabinet Shuffle

Minister for Northern Developmen, Mines and Forestry is happy to be keeping his portfolio.

Michael Gravelle says he thinks this week's cabinet shuffle was well planned.

Gravelle also says he's thrilled to be sitting on the Priorities and Planning committee of cabinet.


Gravelle says his ministry has a lot of issues to tackle over the next while and looks forward to continuing his work.

Human Remains found near Ignace

The OPP are investigating the discovery of some human remains near Ignace.

The body was found earlier this week in an area just off Highway 17, about 25 kilometers
east of Ignace.

The Northwest Regional Forensic Identification Unit, the Crime unit and a forensic
anthropologist have been brought in to help identify the body.

The OPP say no other details are being released at this time.

Two Northwestern Children Aid Agencies to Amalgamate

Two northwestern Ontario children's aid agencies are planning to join forces.

Kenora-Patricia Child and Family Services and Family and Children Services of Rainy River
District announced their plans today to amalgamate.

Bill Leonard will be the executive director of the new child care agency and says they are still
waiting for guarantees from the province that it will cover the million dollar price tag of the
merger.

The two agencies have been talking since last September about amalgamating.

Bob McGreavy is the chair of the Family and Children's Services of Rainy River and says
they expect to be able to save about 500 thousand dollars a year with the merger.

McGreavy says no jobs will be lost due to the amalgamation.

The two agencies are expected to formally merge on April 1st, 2011.

KDSB announces funding

The Kenora District Services Board has handed out 153-thousand dollars in funding for several area children's groups.


Nearly 70-grand is going to children of Ontario Works clients for backpacks, school supplies, footwear and clothing.

Twenty thousand dollars has also been promised to Triple PLAY in Kenora to ensure that local children in need have the opportunity to participate in arts, cultural and recreational activities.

KDSB debates voting issues

The Kenora District Services Board has defeated a motion to allow alternate members to vote on key issues.

The resolution was presented by members of the unincorporated area who feel that their attendance at Board meetings without a vote is a waste of time.

One member says the unincorporated area pays 45-percent of the operations for the KDSB.

The resolution also goes on to say Municipal alternates are also frustrated with the current policy.

The KDSB is the only Services Board in Ontario that uses alternates.

Kenora Man charged with starting Forest Fire

A Kenora man has been ordered to pay the 24-hundred dollar cost of putting out a fire he started.


Court heard that back in April the man removed burned debris from a camp and dumped it into Dogtooth Lake.

However, some of the hot ash landed along the shore and a fire quickly spread due to dry conditions.

The Longbow Lake Fire Department and Ministry of Natural Resources ground and air team were forced to extinguish the blaze.

William Renner was fined an additional 250-dollars.

Ainsworth Employees to vote on tentative contract

There's a tentative deal for unionized workers at the Ainsworth oriented strandboard mill in Barwick.


It was reached yesterday afternoon following 27-hours of non-stop bargaining between the company and the Communication, Energy and Paperworkers Union.

No details are being released pending the outcome of a ratification vote by workers scheduled for tonight in Emo.

But C-E-P rep Steven Boon says the deal does address key language and monetary improvements and there are no concessions.