Broncos open home hockey schedule tonight

Double Header high school hockey action at the Kenora Rec. Center this evening.

Beaver Brae's girls team plays its home opener against the Fort Frances Muskies this evening at the Thistle Rink.

Puck drop is at 5:00.

Meanwhile, The Bronco boys will try to bounce back from a disappointing season opener on the road.

Beaver Brae were doubled up 4-2 by Sioux Lookout on Saturday.

The Broncos also host the Muskies starting at 7:30 following the girls game.

Blood donor clinic continues today

Canadian Blood Services is hoping for another good turn-out today for its blood donor clinic in Kenora.

Yesterday, 168 people turned up to give the gift of life, with 146 units collected.

That was 12 more than organizers had hoped for.

The Blood donor clinic runs until 12:30 this afternoon at Thomas Aquinas and there are still 25 appointment times available.

Thomas Aquinas Student Enjoys being Mayor for a Day

A Thomas Aquinas student has received a crash course in municipal politics.

Emily Bernie was the winner of a Mayor-for-a-day contest.

She shadowed mayor Dave Canfield yesterday as he did his rounds.

She says there are a couple of issues she'd like to see addressed in the city, including more of a focus on a youth and improved winter tourism. 

Bernie presided over yesterday's committee of the whole meeting, along with three runner's up in the Mayor-for-a-day contest.

Rainy River Resources updates Gold Mine project

There will be no base camp for employees working at its proposed gold mine south of Kenora.

Rainy River Resources released a preliminary economic assessment of the project last week.

President Raymond Threlkeld expects the projected 618 full-time workers to live in nearby communities.

As many as 675 would be involved in the construction phase with an open-pit mine in operation by 2015.

Two people charged in Fort Hope Cruiser Fire

Two people are charged  in connection with last weeks police cruiser fire in the far north community of Fort Hope. 

Police say the two, one 20 the other 23 years old, are scheduled for a court appearance in Thunder Bay today.  

No one was hurt in the blaze which destroyed the cruiser and caused damage to the house of a Nishnawbi-Aski Police officer.

Talks between Big Trout Lake and the Province on Hold

Talks between Big Trout Lake and the Ontario Government are on hold.

The First Nation feels the province is unable to provide assurance that mining  exploration by God's Lake Resources would stop while the joint panel meets.

Three deputy ministers were recently in the remote first nation community to meet with band members about the creation of a joint panel.

This past summer, Big Trout Lake issued an ultimatum to God's Lake, about its mining activity on KI's traditional land use territory.

City Councillors Due for a long overdue raise

Members of Kenora City Council are amongst the worst paid in Ontario.

But that could soon change.

City administration has come out with a report recommending a 30 percent increase next year.

Councillor Rory McMillan says they haven't had a pay raise since the year 2000.

If council approves the pay raise, the mayors salary will increase to just under 30 thousand, while councillors will get almost 15 thousand dollars a year.

Kenora Police Services

It took almost two and a half years, but the final costs surrounding the disbandment of the Kenora Police Service have been calculated.

The final payment from the disbandment of the Kenora Police was made last month.

It ended up costing the city about 2.5 million dollars once all the dust settled.

That included severance packages for former employees of the KPS as well as hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees.

The final payment of 55 thousand dollars was made last month, ending a long drawn out process.

The previous edition of council decided to disband the municipal police service and go with the OPP back in July of 2009.

Utility Bills

Local homeowners might get sticker shock when they open their utility bills in the new year.
Kenora city council has received a report which suggests that sewer and water rates should increase 10 percent a year for the next six years.

Mayor Dave Canfield says one way they might be able to reduce rates is to increase the number of customers on the system.

The report suggests the sewer and water system is seriouly underfunded and higher rates are needed to pay for upgrades to the infrastructure.

Kenora City Payroll

Pay equity is catching up with the City of Kenora.

A pay equity plan has been completed which could affect five employees on the city payroll.

Its estimated that it will cost the city about 115 thousand dollars to implement the plan.

The pay equity review is retroactive to January 1st, 2009.

Councillor Louis Roussin says they knew there would be cost associated with the pay equity review, they just didn't know how much it would be when they drafted the 2011 budget.

Any pay adjustment could come from the City's contingency reserve fund.

Saints take home Silver from Portage Tournament

The Thomas Aquinas Senior Boys volleyball team tuned up for the All-Ontario championships with a second place finish at a tournament in Portage La Prairie on the weekend.

The Saints took Rosenort to a third and deciding set, but ended up losing 18-16 in the gold medal match.

It was only T.A.s third loss of the season.

Meanwhile, the Thomas Aquinas senior girls volleyball team was also at the PCI challenge in Portage, but

had to settle for a 5th place finish.

The Saints were a win away from advancing to the gold medal game, but settled for a split with Killarny and out of the medal round.

Senior Thistle win Season opener

The Kenora Senior Thistles have won their first game of the 2011/2012 season.

The Thistles held on for a 5-4 win over the Manitoba Lightning yesterday at the Kenora Rec. Center.

Ryan Bowen hat a hat trick, while Jeff Heringer had a pair in a winning cause.

The Thistles next game will take place on December 4th at home against the Fort Frances Thunderhawks.

Midget Thistles win once in weekend road trip

It took three games, but the Kenora Triple "a Midget Thistles finally found their scoring touch yesterday in the finale of their three game road trip to western Manitoba.

The Thistles squandered a 3-0 lead, but held on for a 4-3 win in overtime against the Parkland Rangers on Sunday in Dauphin. 

On Saturday, the Rangers blanked the Thistles 4-0.

The Kenora Midgets also lost a 5-0 decision Friday night in Souris against the Southwest Cougars.

Regional Coronor completes investigation at Fort William

The investigation into the death of a 4 year old girl at Fort William Historical Park is over.

Regional Coroner Dr. Michael Wilson says they're keeping the results private.

Willow Scott Hannam died while on a school field trip to Fort William Historical Park in the spring of 2010.

New Bridge for Highway 804

The Province is building a new bridge on Highway 804 near Ear Falls.

T and K Sharp Construction of Stratton has been awarded the contract and work is expected to start early next Spring.

The Ministry of Northern Development and Mines says the project will creat about 20-jobs and will provide better conditions.

Mauro back as Parliamentary Assistant for Northern Development

It's deja vu all over again for Bill Mauro.

The Thunder Bay MPP is returning as Parlimentary Assistant to Rick Bartolucci , the Minister of Northern Development, a job he held in the last decade.

Mauro says the job brings him closer to the issues that matter to this region.

The Northwestern Ontario Student Services Consortium

The Northwestern Ontario Student Services Consortium is celebrating a year in business.

The Consortium handles all school bus services in northwestern Ontario, west of Thunder Bay.

Judy Green is the manager and says one of the big changes they've made is their web-site, which provides up to date information on school bus delays and cancellations.

Green says they plan to contract out more of their bus services in the new year in the Dryden and Vermillion Bay areas.

Gun Registry

There could be more pressure on Members of Parliament from northwestern Ontario next month.

A bill to abolish the federal long gun registry could go for third and final reading before the Christmas break.

Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford says he's not happy how two NDP members of Parliament from Thunder Bay have been treated on the issue.

Rickford feels John Rafferty and Bruce Hyer should be allowed to vote the way they want, without being disciplined by their party.

Canadian Blood Services

Canadian Blood Services is trying something new to increase blood donations.

A Partners For Life Program is being launched across northwestern Ontario.

Harvey Heather says they want businesses and local agencies to encourage their employees to give the gift of life.

There is a blood donor clinic today and tomorrow in Kenora at the Thomas Aquinas Gym.

Illinois Man fined for Too Many Walleye

It was an expensive catch of walleye.

A Chicago man has been fined 24 hundred dollars for having 12 walleye over the legal limit in his possession.

The Ministry of Natural Resources says it was conducting a patrol on Lac LeCroix on the west side of Quetico Park back in June.

Dan Behrens had stopped for a shore lunch when conservation officers checked his boat.

They found 14 walleye in his possession.