Howard Hampton Not Running

Former Ontario N-D-P Leader Howars Hampton says after 35 years in politics, 26 of them as the M-P-P forKenora-Rainy River, it's time to move on. The 59-year-old Hampton says he doesn't want to spend another four years as an elected politician. Hampton, who was attorney general and minister of natural resources in Bob Rae's government in the early 1990s, stepped downas Ontario N-D-P leader in 2009 after 13 years in the job

Tabacco

A victory for Canadian taxpayers and a loss for Big Tobacco. The Supreme Court of Canada has unanimously ruled the federal government can't be dragged into two lawsuits against tobacco companies. The high court has rejected an attempt by the companies to have Ottawa also held responsible for any damages that might arise out of the suits. Those legal claims could run into millions, if not billions, of dollars.

Thunder Bay Hostel

Some hospitals in the region believe there is a need for an affordable place to stay in Thunder Bay for patients and their families traveling for medical purposes. Marlene Davidson is promoting the concept of a medical hostel and says it could be an alternative to those who can't afford the 75 to 100 dollar a night hotels. Davidson envisions the hostel being similar to one in Thunder Bay set up for aboriginal patients.

The Canadian Army Veterans Motorcycle Ride will be making its way into Kenora one final time this weekend. For the past five years, about 100 members of CAV have been riding to town for a weekend of fun and fellowship. Carol Davis is one of the organizers and says they will be taking a break after this year.

The highlight of the weekend is a memorial service at Lake of the Woods Cemetary Saturday morning at 11:00. There will also be a ride to the Whitedog Dam Sunday afternoon.

Harbourfest Kick off today

Its a watershed year for Harborfest. The August long weekend festival turns 20 this year. Randy Nickle is chair of the Harborfest Board and says they are looking forward to another great weekend. Harborfest gets underway this evening with four bands playing live under the Harborfront tent starting at 7:30 this evening.

Ignace Break and Enter

Ignace OPP are reminding residents to lock their homes and vehicles in the wake of a break and enter in the community. Police say a home was broken into on Saturday afternoon. The culprit walked away with an undisclosed amount of cash. OPP are also investigating the theft of 2-bikes from the Ignace Recreation Centre and an apartment building on Pine Street. The bikes are a grey, 2011, Norco Wolverine mountain bike with green trim and a men's CCM, Nitro XT, beige mountain bike. Anyone with information is asked to contact OPP or Crime Stoppers.

Forest Fire Evacuees Return home

Another 350-forest fire evacuees from Cat Lake First Nation and Sandy Lake First Nation are returning home today. 114-of the Cat Lake evacuees have been staying in Dryden. Ian Davidson is the Deputy Minister of Community Safety and he says they are getting closer to having everyone back home. Davidson says there are 3,051 First Nation residents who are still staying in host communities.

Canadian Dollar High

One of the region's top economic minds says the Canadian dollar remains high mainly because of commodity prices. Livio Di Matteo says the loonie isn't going to lose it's value to the American buck until that changes. Di Matteo also says while interest rates also play a factor, they haven't in this case.

Poplar Hills Murder

A northwestern Ontario man is charged with second-degree murder and aggravated assault in the death of one man and the assault of another man. The incidents occurred on the remote First Nations community of Poplar Hills. Police say Aaron Strang, 20, was pronounced dead at the local nursing station shortly after Nishnawbe Aski Police Service officers found him on Friday.

Weekend Traffic

The City of Kenora is gearing up for one of the busiest weekend's of thesummer and that means more traffic .Kenora mayor Dave Canfield suggests the round-about has helped traffic move more smoothly through the downtown core, but he feels there is room for improvement. The round-about has been in use for two years, and Canfield says by and large reviews have been mostly positive from local residents.

Stolen Vehicle

A Balmertown resident has their Ram Pick-up truck back but OPP are still looking for the person who orignally stole it. The truck was found stuck in the mud near the Northwood Lodge. OPP say the vehicle was stolen and abandoned in Red Lake. Anyone with information is asked to call OPP or Crime Stoppers.

New Non Profit Housing Units

Kenora, Dryden and Sioux Lookout should have 63 new non-profit housing units up and running in the next six months or so. Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services has funded projects in each of those communities.Executive Director of the agency, Don McBain says the projects are really a bonus for the non-profit housing agencies in these communities. The Kenora District Services Board has agreed to provide rent subsidies for these new housing units, once they are ready for occupancy.

Ministry of Natural Resources warns of drying trend

The Ministry of Natural Resources says the long term forecast suggests that smoke isn't expected to be an issue in Northwestern Ontario the next 7 to 10 days. However, Information Officer Carin Glassford warns that a drying trend is expected to roll in from Western Canada that could increase fire activity and bring back smokey conditions. Glassford says 2-thousand firefighters continue to battle 116-forest fires. Glassford notes that out-of-Province firefighters are starting to be recycled with new crews coming in.

First Nations Evacuation Update

It could be some time yet before forest fire evacuees are allowed to return to their First Nation homes.
153-evacuees of New Osnaburgh First Nation decided to go home, however no more return trips are expected any time soon.
Ian Davidson is the Deputy Minister of Community Safety and he says safety is their top priority right now.
Over 34-hundred evacuees are staying in 13-communities.

Kenora Library Board Meeting

The Kenora Library Board will be meeting this week to finalize the terms of reference for its operational review. Chair of the board, Marj Curtis-Poirier says their goal is to put the contract out for tender by the end of the summer.Curtis-Poirier says they would like the operational review complete by the fall, so they can be ready when the city begins its budget process.

Discovery Center Broken Into

It didn't take long for the new Discovery Center on Lakeview Drive to become a target of thieves.

A day before the new tourism bureau was to open to the public, someone managed to break-in.

The OPP say on the evening of July 20th, someone gained access to the building and stole a lap-top computer.

Anyone with information about the break and enter is asked to contact the OPP or Crimestoppers.

MNR making headway on Fires in NWO

The Ministry of Natural Resources continues to try and gain the upper hand on several massive forest fires burning in the Far North.

The fires have resulted in the total evacuation of 4-First Nation communities and partial evacuation of 7-others.

Information Officer Owen Vaughan says they are greatful for the support of local communities.

Vaughan says the weather has helped firefighting efforts, but notes significan rain is still required.

OPP Investigate Downtown Assault

The OPP say one man has been arrested in connection to an assault in downtown Kenora.

On Saturday, police say they located the body of a 36 year old Rat Portage man in the alley behind Second Street South.

The victim had to be taken to Lake of the Woods District Hospital for treatment, and then was transported to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Center for treatment of a head injury.

His condition of the victim isn't known at this time.

Officers managed to arrest the suspect at the scene.

Rickford responds to Water Quality Report

Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford says he's actually encouraged by a report on water quality on first nation communities.

The federally-commissioned assessment shows that about 39 per cent of drinking-water systems in  First Nations communities are at high risk of being unsafe, while another 34 per cent are at moderate risk.

Rickford says the government takes the report seriously and has begun to address some of the problems.

Rickford says training people to operate treatment facilities is one of the big issues in terms of maintaining water quality, and says the government is actively working to tackle that problem.

Police Investigate Fatality on Poplar Hill

Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service is trying to determine whether or not the death of a 20-year-old man and the injuries to a 21-year-old man are related.

Police were dispatched to Poplar Hill First Nation, about 120-kilometres north of Red Lake, last Friday after a man was found on a road with serious injuries.

Police say Aaron Strang was transported to the community nursing station where he was pronounced dead.

The following day Jobby Strang of Poplar Hill drove himself to the nursing station seeking medical attention and he was transported to Winnipeg Hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

Police are looking for answers in this case.