Public Consultations on Lakewood Next Month

The future of Lakewood School will be the subject of a couple of community consultation sessions next month.

The Keewatin-Patricia District School board will be seeking some feedback on the future use of the elementary school.

There is a proposal to turn Lakewood into an adult learning center.

The first consultation session will take place on February 6th, followed by one at the end of the month on the 27th.

Both will take place from 7:30 to 9:30 in the Lakewood cafeteria.

Kenora to Host Sunset Country Regional Figure Skaters

Hotel rooms will be at a premium this weekend in Kenora.

A couple of major sporting events are going on.

The Ontario Scotties Tournament of Hearts wraps on Sunday, while Kenora is getting ready to play host to the Sunset Country Regional Figure Skating Competition.

Roxanne Daigneault is the coach of the local club and says they are expecting a big turn-out.

Skating begins tomorrow at noon at the Thistle Rink and wraps up on Sunday afternoon.

Survivor of North Spirit Lake Plane Crash holds Press Conference

The lone survivor of a plane crash earlier this month in the northwestern Ontario First Nation of North Spirit Lake will speak to the media today in Winnipeg about his experience.

Thirty-six-year-old Winnipeg man Brian Shead was among five people on a Keystone Air Service plane that crashed while trying to land at North Spirit Lake January 10th.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation by the Transportation Safety Board.

Treaty Three Raises concerns about Ottawa Summit

Grand Council Treaty #3 says it has some reservations about this weeks summit between aboriginal leaders and the federal government.

Grand Chief Diane Kelly was in attendance, and says while she was encouraged by the prime minister's day long participation, she was less enthused by some of the comments by the Assembly of First Nations.

She says Treaty Three has distinct traditions and customs and a tradtional government that has existed longer than Canada.

She's worried that the Joint Action Plan between the Assembly of First Nations and the Government of Canada could jeopardize that.

Mount Evergreen Opens for PD Day

A couple of options for kids this PD day.

Mount Evergreen Ski Club is opening up today to accomodate students looking for something to do.

The Chalet will open at 8:00 this morning for breakfast, while the tows will be open from 10 until 4:00 for ski and snowboard enthusiasts.

The chalet will remain open until 5:00.

Albanese Re-Elected Chair of Health Unit Board

A Fort Frances councillor is back as the head of the Northwestern Health Unit Board of Directors.

John Albanese has been re-elected as chair.

Julie Roy was selected vice-chair

Fort Frances councillor Paul Ryan, Margaret Harland of Red Lake and former Emo Reeve Russ Fortier were also returned to the board.

OPP arrest one man following chase near Marathon

A 21 year old Saskatoon man faces a number of charges following a brief chase with police on the Trans-Canada Highway between Marathon and Terrace Bay.

Justin Joseph Chaisson was one of two people in a stolen vehicle that ended up in a ditch following a police pursuit.

He has been charged with possession of property obtained by crime over five thousand dollars, breach of probation and fleeing police.

Highway 17 was closed for several hours while police searched for a second suspect.

The OPP says they are no longer actively searching for him, but the the Crime Unit has been brought in to continue their investigation.

Holman remains unbeaten at Scotties

The Rachel Homan foursome continues to lead the pack at the 2012 Ontario Scotties Tournament of  Hearts.

Homan won both of her games yesterday to improve to a perfect 5-0 record.

In last night's fifth draw, the Ottawa rink upended Tracy Horgan from Sudbury 9-3.

Krista McCarville of Thunder Bay and Cathy Auld of Missasauga a just behind in the standings at 4-1.

McCarville won both her games yesterday, including a 10-3 rout over Kathy Brown.

Auld also won both of her games on Wednesday, finishing the day with a 7-5 win over Jenn Hanna.

There are two more draws today at 2:00 at 7:00 at the Kenora Curling Club.

ORNGE Jobs Safe in NWO

There are no cuts being made to ORNGE posts in Northwestern Ontario.

18 jobs were cut at the Province's air ambulance headquarters in Mississauga.

The cuts are being made as a way to reduce costs.

The restructuring only affects office positions and not pilots or paramedics.

Homan off to a fast start at the Ontario Scotties

The Rachel Homan rink holds down top spot at the 2012 Ontario Scotties Tournament of Hearts entering day three.

Homan has a 3-0 record, and is followed closely by five other teams at 2-1.

Homan says its important to get off to a good start.

Homan takes on the winless Alison Nimik Rink from St. Thomas in this afternoon's fourth draw.

Sherry Middaugh has a must-win game today as her 1-2 rink takes on another former Ontario champ, Jenn Hanna at 2-1.

Sunset Trail Riders

Snowmobile trails in the Kenora District are opened on a limited basis.


Shaun Clifford of the Sunset Trail Riders says although the trails are passable, extra caution is always advised no matter the time of year.

For updated trail reports or to track the groomers via GPS visit sunsetrailriders.ca

Softwood Lumber Agreement

The federal government has renewed the Softwood Lumber Agreement with the United States with hardly any opposition.

The deal was extended for two years until 2015.

Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford says the agreement does provide some market certainty for
producers.
Both the Ontario Forest Industries Association, the Council of the Quebec Forest Industry and
Forest Products Association of Canada have all endsorsed the two year extension.

Treasury Metals

A peaceful protest was held at the Treasury Metals site near Wabigoon Lake Ojibway First Nation this afternoon.


Wabigoon has attempted to seek a memorandum of understanding with the company for mining rights in the area.

Chief Ruben Cantin Senior says a deadline of last Thursday to receive a response from Treasury has passed with no response.
Cantin stresses they aren't against mining on traditional territory but adds that an agreement must be reached first.

ORNGE

ORNGE has reportedly slashed 18 jobs effective immediately.

According to media reports, the province's air ambulance service says it's an effort to reduce costs.

But it says the restructuring only affects office positions and not pilots or paramedics.

Emergency Room Staff

Kenora-Rainy River's MPP is trying to get Ontario's Health Minister to visit the riding.


Sarah Campbell says the ongoing struggles to keep the Rainy River Medical Centre's emergency room staffed was among reasons behind her request to Deb Matthews.

Campbell says one of the plans needed is a better strategy that helps communities, hospitals and clinic cope with their physicians leaving suddenly.

Kids For Cancer

The Canadian Cancer Society should get a big boost this spring.

The Kids For Cancer hockey tournament has so far registered 24
teams.

Dean Caron is one of the organizers and says that's the highest
number of teams they've ever registered.

The deadline to register is January 31st by contacting Dean Caron at
mailto:31st.dkcaron@shaw.ca or by calling 548-3070.

The tournament will take place from March 26th to April 1st.

Ronnebeck adds local Flavour to Homan Rink at Scotties

No local teams are in competition this week at the Ontario Scotties Tournament of Hearts, but there is a Kenora flavour to the Rachel Homan rink from Ottawa.

Homan is the defending Ontario Ladies champions and their coach is Kenora resident Andrea Ronnebeck.

Ronnebeck admits its going to be a tough week of curling for her squad.

Homan won her first draw last night against Thunder Bay's Krista McCarville.

Homan takes on Kathy Brown at 2:00 this afternoon in the only battle between 1-0 teams.

Dennis Wins Bronze in Wales

A bronze medal for a Kenora Judoka at the 2012 Commonwealth Judo Championships taking place in Cardiff, Wales.

Kaitie Dennis won her final match this morning, defeating a Welsh fighter for third place in her division.

Dennis lost her semi-final match against a girl from Northern Ireland earlier in the day.

So far Canada has won three bronze medals, and three fighters will be going for gold later in the day.

Next up for Dennis is the Belgium Open Ladies Judo Championships this weekend.

Scotties results day one

Former Ontario champions Sherry Middagh and Jenna Hanna were among first draw winners at the provincial women's curling championship opening last night in Kenora.

Thunder Bay's Krista McCarville lost her opening game, 7-4 to defending Ontario champ Rachel Homan of Ottawa 7-4. 

Cathy Auld from Mississauga and Kathy Brown from the Toronto area were also first round winners.

Second draw action goes this afternoon at 2:00 at the Kenora Curling Club.

The third draw is at 7:00 this evening. 

Nations Aboriginal Leaders in Ottawa

Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford says he's eagerly awaiting today summit in Ottawa with the nations aboriginal leaders.

Rickford is the parliamentary secretary for Aboriginal Affairs and has a major role in the event.

He says there are some substantial issues up for discussion such as education and housing.

Rickford is acting as co-emcee for the opening ceremonies.


He adds that the drummers at the opening ceremonies are all from Treaty Three.