Terrace Bay Mill

New life for the idled Terrace Bay Mill.


The Provincial Government says the Aditya Birla Group has agreed to purchase the assests of the mill and plans to invest more than 250-million dollars to convert the facility.

The company is based out of India and the reported sale price is 300-million dollars.

The mill will dissolve wood pulp for rayon fibre and will help in preserving 275 jobs.

The deal is subject to court approval.

The mill has been closed since a fatal explosion last November and subsequent downtime.

Northern Ontario Slams Cabinet Shuffle

A Northern Ontario MP is taking a shot a the federal cabinet shuffle.


Julian Fantino is the new Minister for International Co-Operation.

Timmins-James Bay NDP MP Charlie Angus says Fantino has mishandled the fighter jets file for the government, and Harper is signalling his disdain for international aid by moving another inept minister into the job.

Angus says the shuffle should have been a lot bigger if Harper really wanted to signal a cleanup.

Bev Oda resigned Tuesday after a large public outcry and internal Tory caucus dissent over her lavish spending habits.

Police Break Up Bootlegging Attempt

Nishnawbe-Aski Police say charges haven't been laid after a bootlegging operation was foiled on Canada Day.


Police were called to the Kashechewan First Nations airport and officers seized several types of booze in large bottles.

The amount of alocohol seized was roughly 30-litres and the value is pegged at $7,200

Kenora Woman Dies In Two Vehicle Crash

A 60-year-old Kenora woman has been identified as the victim of a two vehicle collision on Highway 11/17 west, near Sunshine.


Provincial Police say an eastbound 2006 Toyota Matrix collided with a westbound 2012 Ford Focus around 2 o'clock yesterday morning.

Police say the victim was a passenger in the Ford.

OPP say Deborah Schneider was airlifted to hospital in Thunder Bay but she succumbed to her injuries en route.

The male drivers of both vehicles were also airlifted to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The crash closed the highway for several hours and the cause in not yet known.

Schneider is the second person to die on area roads in as many days.

Tuesday morning, 88-year-old Jack Tiefenbacher of Fort Frances died in a single vehicle crash on Highway 11, near Atikokan.

Sioux Lookout's Birthday Triathalon

Sioux Lookout is turning 100!


And to celebrate, the town is holding their 23rd annual triathlon and 8th kids Triathlon.

The event will be held on August 6th and start time is 9am.

There is the option to sign up as a team, two or three participants.

There will be various races for different age groups.

Age group 11yr and under - 200m swim, 3.0km bike, 1km run

Age group 12 –13 - 300m swim, 5.4km bike, 2.5km run

Age group 14 –15 - 500m swim, 10km bike, 4km run

Age group 16 and up - 750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run

For more information, check out www.siouxtriathalon.info or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/siouxtriathalon.

Free Family Fishing Week

Free fishing week is almost here.


From July 7-15, everyone can fish, even if they don't have a fishing license.

The event is held through the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters.

Conservation Outreach Program Coordinator Alesha Caldwell thinks fishing is such an integral part of growing up and experiencing the outdoors.

For beginners, Caldwell suggests fishing off the dock.

She speaks from personal experience about the number of fish that hide in the cool shade.

For more information, check out www.ofah.org.

Sioux Lookout Storm Aftermath

There is no damage estimate yet in the aftermath of Monday's major storm in Sioux Lookout.


High wind and baseball sized hail blasted the community.

John Madsen is the General Manager of Madsen Motors and he says his dealership received minimal damage, with minor damage to about six vehicles.

He says they caught the edge of the storm but notes others didn't.

Madsen says some people on the south end of town had major damage with broken windshields and twisted panels.

Gillons Insurance says claims are coming in at a steady pace, noting over 30-claims have been recieved.

Environment Canada says Sioux Lookout had hailstones in the order of 8 to 9 centimetres across in diameter.

The storm also broke windows and downed trees.

(Photo courtesy of Weather Network. theweathernetwork.com)

Highway 11

Provincial Police say an 88-year-old Fort Frances man has died as a result of a single vehicle crash on Highway 11, near Atikokan.


Police say the crash occurred yesterday morning about 2-kilometres east of the Arctic Watershed.

Constable Diana Cole says the vehicle crossed the centre line and crashed into a rock cut and burst into flames.

Cole say Jack Tiefenbacher was the only one in the vehicle.

OPP continue to investigate the cause of the crash.

Red Cross Urging Folks To Receive CPR Training

The Canadian Red Cross is encouraging everyone to receive CPR training.

The request comes following the rescue of a 3-year-old boy at the beach in Anicinabe Park.

The boy was saved by a Manitoba man who performed CPR.

Red Cross Spokesperson Carol Peterson says it can be a number one priority in saving someone's life and giving that extra time for paramedics to arrive.

Peterson says the Red Cross provides all levels of training as well as first aid and CPR.

For more information visit:
Kenora Branch

1008 Ottawa Street, Unit A
Keewatin, ON
P0X 1C0
Tel: (807) 547-2683
Fax: (807) 547-3562
http://www.redcross.ca/

OPP Probe Fatal Crash

Ontario Provincial Police are investigating a firery highway crash.


Constable Diana Cole says that a single vehicle crash took place around 7 o'clock yesterday morning near Atikokan.

Police can't say who died or how many people were in the vehicle at the time since all they have right now are charred remains.

Report

A new report says the gap between aboriginal and non aboriginal residents quality of life is improving.


The benchmarking report is backed by the Federal Government and states the gap is not as big as it once was.

Pic River Chief Roy Michano says things have improved but no thanks to the Government.

The report was released on Tuesday and states more First Nations people are finding jobs and self employment is on the rise.

Ring of Fire project

A recent Toronto Star article is raising alarms over the proposed Ring of Fire project.

The paper obtained Environment Canada documents that show the project could lead to poisioning as seen in the movie Erin Brokovich.

Minister of Natural Resources Michael Gravelle is reassuring the public the project will be safe.

Gravelle says there are many rungs of assement that mining projects are put through.

The Ontario Invasive Species Strategic Plan

Ontario has developed a plan to combat invasive species in order to protect the province's environment and its economy.


The Ontario Invasive Species Strategic Plan outlines Ontario's approach to the prevention, early detection, and rapid response to new invasive species like zebra mussels and the emerald ash borer.

Minister of Natural Resources, Michael Gravelle says "This plan paves the way for important partners like the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters and the Invasive Species Centre to fight this threat together."

15 Forest Fires In Northwest Region

Due to over 15,000 lightning strikes over the long weekend, 10 new Fires were reported in the Northwest region, bringing the total number of active fires to 15.

 The Kenora district saw the most action with 4 new fires being detected.

Fort Frances, Sioux Lookout, and Dryden all had one new fire.

With the hot dry weather continuing, more holdover lightning fires are expected to be discovered across the region.

Protect Yourself From West Nile

With summer here, it's also mosquito season.


They can carry the West Nile Virus, which while uncommon, can lead to complications.

Some people may not experience symptoms, but the typical ones are flu-like.

Somtimes the virus can cause severe illness such as meningitius, especially in older people.

Ways to protect against the virus are using repellant with DEET, wearing longer clothing and getting rid of standing water.

For more information on how to protect yourself, call your local Health Unit office.

Meantime, public health officials in Toronto and St. Catharines are reporting finding mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus.

Toronto Public Health says it received a laboratory report indicating that mosquitoes have tested positive for West Nile.

Toronto associate medical health officer Dr. Howard Shapiro says the finding of mosquitoes carrying West Nile is earlier in the season than previous years.

In St. Catharines, environmental health manager Peter Jekel says all Niagara communities should be on alert.

No birds have tested positive for West Nile so far this summer in Niagara and the region has not seen any human cases.

Halton Region Public Health last week reported finding West Nile in two mosquito ponds.

Council Looking At Local Fishing Regulations

A local advisory committee wants to improve and protect fishing in our area.

The Fisheries Management Zone 5 Council is proposing several regulation changes effecting lakes in Dryden, south of Kenora and in the Rainy River District.

Member Richard Boileau says they now want to know what the public thinks.

The Council won't present a final report to the Ministry of Natural Resources until later this year.

For more information go to www.fmz5.com.

Record Breaking Weather Continues

A record breaking day in Northwestern Ontario on Monday.


Fort Frances was the hot spot with a record high of 33.

Sioux Lookout reached a new high of 32.4 and Kenora hit 32.3 degrees.

Dryden and Ear Falls hit records of 31.8-degrees.

Red Lake topped a record high of 30.3.

The area was also hit with a brief violent rain storm.

Rural streets were flooded and trees were knocked down during the storm

More Information On Train Victim

More information is now known on the state of a Dryden woman who was hit by a train.


20-year-old Gabrielle Boucher was struck at he Glengoland Road south crossing.

CJRL News has learned that Boucher was flown to Hospital in Thunder Bay with multiple fractures on both hands and her right leg suffered serious injuries.

Boucher isn't expected to be released from hosptial any time soon and multiple surgeries are now required.

Provincial Police are still looking into the incident.

Missing 11 year old

Thunder Bay Police are releasing a photo of a missing 11 year old girl.

Constable Julie Tilbury says Trinity Payash was reported missing on June 30th.

Police believe she may have hitch hiked to Kenora or could be hanging out in the downtown Port Arthur area.

Health Unit Launches Prevention Video

Prevention is the key message of a new on-line video.


The Northwestern Health Unit has launched the video called "Let's start a conversation about health and not talk about health care at all".

Medical Officer of Health Doctor James Arthurs says the video will hopefully show people how they can prevent illness from happening by making changes to their lifestyle.

The video can be seen at nwhu.on.ca