Kenneth Ivall Sentencing Delayed

Justice delayed.

The sentencing of Kenneth Ivall has been put on hold for another two weeks, while Justice Terrance Platana
considers a join submission from the crown and Ivall's lawyer Chris Watkins.

Ivall was found guilty three and a half months ago in the second degree murder of Ed Wilson the early morning hours of March 21st, 2009.

In a sentencing hearing this morning it was suggested that a 16 year sentence be given Ivall without chance of parole, minus the 51 months he's already served.

Crown Attorney Mary-Anne Mousseau says Ivall has a 20 year criminal history of violence, domestic violence and drug dealing.

Justice Terrance Platana says he wants to give serious consideration to the joint sentencing submission and
will instead hand down his decision on June 28th at the Kenora Court House.

Friday Night Concerts At Harbourfest Finalized

Classic Rock acts will dominate this year's Harborfest.

The line-up for the Friday night concert has been finalized.

Dave Blake is the director of entertainment and says Bachman-Turner
will be the headliners.

70's group rock group Sweet and Kenny Shields and Streetheart will round out the Friday night concert.

Tickets go on sale at noon today.

Coney Island Challenge Launched

A new challenge is coming to Kenora.

The Coney Island Challenge is a paddleboard event that will circumnavigate the island.

Steve Strachan from the Hardwear Company says you only need a few supplies to join, including your own paddleboard, paddle and life jacket.

The Challenge will depart from the Harbourfront on July 1st.

All proceeds will go towards the Kenora Association for Community Living.

More details can be found at the Hardware Company.

Kenneth Ivall To Be Sentenced This Morning

The family of Ed Wilson should be able to get some closure today.

Wilson was killed behind the Tower Motel in Norman back in March of 2009.

Today, Kenneth Ivall, who was found guilty of second degree murder back in February, will be sentenced in Kenora Court.

Ivall's co-accused, Angela Duchesne plead guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter midway through the trial and is currently serving a three year sentence in federal penitentiary.

Relay for Life Tonight

One of the biggest fundraisers for the Canadian Cancer Society takes place this evening.

Relay for Life takes center stage at Lakewood School.

Organizer Danielle LaJeunesse says the relay has 3 main messages.

LaJeunesse says anyone can come down to offer their support.

All donations raised during the relay will go to the Canadian Cancer Society.

Concerns Raised Over Flying Lanterns

They are pretty, but also pose a potential fire hazard.

Flying lanterns have become a big concern for the Lake of the Woods
District Property Owners Association.

Executive Director Susan McLeod says they are working to control how many lanterns make their way into the air.

McLeod says if the lanterns fall into a dry tree it's like lighting a giant candle in the forest.

Municipal Paving Tender Approved

The city will be spendng just over 836 thousand dollars on the municipal paving budget this year.

Council approved the low bid from Moncreif Construction at a special meeting yesterday.

Operations Manager Rick Perchuck says there several componants to the paving contract, including the resurfacing a half-kilometer section of Valley Drive.

Perchuck says he wanted the paving tender awarded as soon as possible so the work would be complete prior to the beginning of the new school year.

School Board Provides Update on Valleyview

Work to expand Valleyview School will be starting soon.

Sean Monteith is the Director of Education at the Keewatin Patricia District School Board and says they are are almost ready to select a tender for the project.

Monteith says in case the construction is not completed by the start of the school year that they still have the capacity to handle the influx of students.

Monteith adds that with three additional kindergarten programs at Valleyview, including a french immersion
class, the school is getting close to capacity.

Cliffs Defends Decision to Delay Ring of Fire Project

Cliffs Natural Resources says it still plans to stay in the Ring of Fire chromite project.

Spokesperson Bill Boor says the company decision to put the project on hold is necessary because of government and court delays in the environmental assessment process.

Boor can't say if the move will end up delaying the start up of the mine

Boor says he can't see any reason the issues can't be resolved quickly.

Elementary Teachers Agree to Deal with the Province

The union representing public elementary teachers has reached a tentative agreement with the government that freezes wages, but guarantees a two per cent raise starting next year.
   
Members of the Elementary Teachers' Federation are paid two per cent less than teachers in the French and Roman Catholic school systems.
   
Education Minister Liz Sandals says that situation that will be fixed before the next round of bargaining.
   
The extra money for the 76 thousand public elementary teachers will cost the province 112 million dollars a year on top of whatever
raises the union negotiates next time.

Museum Book Launch Tonight

The seasons of Kenora have been turned into poetry.

Diane Clarke is set to launch her new book of poems called Lake of the Woods Seasons.

Clarke says she is inspired directly by the area we live in.

The book launch takes place tonight at the
Lake of the Woods Museum.

Missing Woman Found Safe

A missing woman from Winnipeg has been located by Police in Kenora.

Police say that 26 year old Jade Kolba, who had gone missing yesterday morning, was safely located this afternoon.

The Kenora OPP are thanking the public for helping them locate Kolba.

OPP Searching for Missing Woman

Provincial Police are looking for assistance in locating a woman who has gone missing from Kenora.

OPP say 26 year Jade Kolba from Winnipeg was last seen at the Main Street Dock yesterday morning around 8:30.

Kolba is 5 foot 5, 130 pounds with blonde hair.

She was last seen wearing a blue shirt, black denim shorts and has 2 duffel bags.

Anyone with information is asked for contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or 548-5534.

Union Concerned About Cuts to Treaty Three Police Officers

More cutbacks for the Treaty Three Police Service.

Local Spokesperson with the Public Service Alliance of Canada Judith Monteith-Farrell says the aboriginal police service has announced a massive rollback in salaries, benefits, and hours.

Treaty Three Police Service is making the drastic cuts as a way to save the service, which has seen it funding reduced by the Federal government.

First Nation Chiefs are meeting on Monday to discuss how to proceed with the police service.

KPDSB Looking at Reduced Enrollment in the Fall

Enrollment continues to decline at the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board.

As part of its 2013/2014, budget package, there was enrollment projections for the next school year.

The public school board estimates overall student numbers will drop by about 100.

Director of Education Sean Monteith says there is some good news at the Kindergarten level, where they are seeing a big influx of students.

The largest drop will be felt at the secondary level, where enrollment is forecast to drop by 86 students next year.

Elementary numbers are expected to drop by just 20 students.

Campbell Happy With Passage of Provincial Budget

No real complaints from Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. Sarah Campbell on the approval of the Provincial Budget.

Campbell says she's pleased the NDP have promised to support the minority Liberals, adding it wouldn't have made sense to go to the polls this summer.

Campbell says she's happy there will be an Accountability Officer who will oversee spending by the parties.

She says other highlights for her are the changes in wait times for home care and a 15-percent cut in auto insurance premiums.

Gravelle Not Worried About Cliffs Commitment to Ring of Fire

Ontario's Minister responsible for mining isn't overly concerned that Cliffs Natural Resources is temporarily suspending its environmental assessment activities in the Ring of Fire in northern Ontario.

Michael Gravelle says these sort of challenges aren't unusual in a major project like this one.

The mining company says delays and uncertainty of land rights forced them to suspend their environnmental assessments.

Gravelle says talks will continue between the mining company and the Ontario government.

Sobey's Buying Safeway Stores

Canada's second-biggest supermarket chain is getting bigger.

Sobeys, which is based in Nova Scotia, is acquiring the Canadian assets of Safeway for 5.8-billion dollars.
   
Safeway has more than 200 stores between Thunder Bay and the Pacific coast.

Sobeys, which owns or franchises more than 13-hundred stores across Canada, says it has not yet decided if it will keep the Safeway name.

Big Trout Lake Woman Arrested

Some missing money has landed a Big Trout Lake women in some trouble with the law.

Provincial Police say a package containing a large amount of cash was sent to the community, but not all of it was there.

Police say 21-year-old Kaitlyn Sakakeep is charged with theft under 5-thousand-dollars and breach of trust.

Share the Road Bike Ride this Weekend

Its becoming an annual event.

The 2nd Share the Road Fathers Day Bike Ride is hitting the road this Saturday.

Maria Bagdonis with Young Drivers says they are holding the event again after the very positive support they received last year.

Bagdonis says the bike ride helps promote road safety.