Search Called Off for Missing Cliff Diver

The active search for 26 year old Larry Larivee of Thunder Bay is over for the moment.

Police say OPP divers were unable to find any sign of Larivee at the McKenzie River falls location where witnesses say he disappeared last week after he dove in off a cliff.

Police say some areas of the river are just too dangerous to search and will be reassessed once water levels are lower.

City Approves Demolition Permit at Old Abitibi Mill Site

Another landmark on the old Abitibi mill site on 9th Street North will soon be disappearing.

The Old TMP building is scheduled to be torn down over the next few
weeks.

Mayor Dave Canfield says the owners of the property were not just able to find a tenant for the building.

The city's economic development officer, Jennifer Findlay says City Hall has issued a demolition permit for the TMP plant on the former mill site and work is expected to begin shortly.

OPP Officer Finds Out Next Month Whether He'll Stand Trial

A Kenora OPP officer will find out next month whether he will have to
stand trial on a charge of dangerous driving causing death.

A three day preliminary hearing wrapped up at the Kenora Courthouse last
week for Constable Roy Bender.

He was charged by the Ontario Special Investigations Unit last fall in the
death of 42 year old Gloria Assin.

The Grassy Narrows resident was riding in the back of an OPP cruiser when it was involved in an collision with a transport at the intersection of the Kenora By-Pass and the Redditt Road.

Justice David Gibson is expected to decide if the matter should go to trial
on July 12th.

Taxi Companies Appeal for Rate Increase

Another plea to raise taxi rates in Kenora.

Co-Ot Taxi has made a second deputation to council asking
for the hike.

Eric Lovas from Co-Ot says taxi drivers are having a hard time making
ends meet thanks to increased gas prices and insurance premiums.

Mayor Dave Canfield says because they've already rejected a rate increase this year, they won't be able to deal with the issue again until next year.

SMB Expansion expected this Fall

A sod-turning ceremony for the new expansion at Ste. Margarite Bourgeoys is expected to take place in the fall.

Phylis Eikre is the director of Education with the Kenora Catholic District
School Board and says they are just finalizing the plans for the six classroom addition.

She says they are also working on some contingency plans for students
who might be affected by construction work.

Eikre says SMB might lose some of its play-ground area during construction so they will be working with Pope John Paul to ensure students have a place to go for recess.

OPP Advise on Life Jacket Use

OPP want to see people wearing their life jackets while on the waters this summer.

The laws currently only requires life jackets to be readily accessible on a vessel.

Constable Jim Davis says there have been three drownings in northwestern Ontario this month this should be reason enough to wear them.

The fine for not having a life jacket or personal flotation device is 200-dollars.

OPP Commissioner Ready for New 3 Year Term

OPP commissioner Chris Lewis says he's looking forward to another
three year term at the helm of the provincial police.

Lewis was re-appointed by premier Kathleen Wynn earlier this month.

Speaking in Kenora last week, Lewis says he's not ready to retire just yet.

Lewis has already completed one three year term as Commissioner of the
OPP.

UNESCO Defers Decision on Pimachiowin-Aki

The Manitoba and Ontario governments say they will keep going with their push for a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

At its annual meeting in Cambodia, UNESCO's world heritage committee deferred a decision on the large stretch of Boreal forest along the inter-provincial boundary.

The committee has asked Canada to refine its submission.

UNESCO advisory groups have raised questions about whether the area is unique enough to warrant a world heritage site designation.

It will be at least another year before the committee makes a decision.

Province Assembles Committee To Look At Jury Rolls

A top Northwestern Ontario Aboriginal leader will co-chair a panel that will oversee tackling the crisis facing First Nations in Ontario's justice and jury system.

Nishnawbe Aski Nation deputy grand chief Alvin Fiddler will lead the committee.

Fiddler hopes that with his first hand experience he will be able to contribute significantly to the discussion.

Fiddler will head the committee along with Irwin Glasberg, an assistant deputy minister.

Lower Speed Limit for Railway Street On Hold

Some members of Kenora City Council are resistant to lowering the
speed limit on Railway Street.

A group of residents have signed a petition asking the city to approve
a reduction in the speed limit from 50 kilometers an hour down to 40.

They are concerned about the windy road and the fact there are no sidewalks.

But some council members, including mayor Dave Canfield feel the current
speed limit isn't unreasonable.

Council has agreed to put the matter on hold until their next meeting in July.

You can have your say by logging onto our new poll at 895 The Lake.ca

Kenora Non-Profit Housing Supports Merger with Keewatin

The Kenora Non-Profit Housing Corporation says its supports the concept of merging with their Keewatin counterparts.

Wendy Cuthbert is a member of the Kenora board and says there will be less duplication and therefore immediate cost savings.

However, Cuthbert says the Kenora Board does not support the city's decision to put out a request for proposal to operate an amalgamated service.

She says the city isn't familiar with the service they provide and doesn't trust them to make the right decision.

Kenora Jail Wins Amethyst Award

The Kenora Jail is celebrating it's one of a kind truth and reconciliation program.

Steve walkers is the Superintendent and says the jail was presented an Amethyst Award for the program.

Walker says it's has taken years of hard work.

The program allows the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to collect victim impact statements from inmates who have been affected by the residential school system.

More Graduation Ceremonies This Week

Demand for a regional adult education program continues to be high.

Over 600-students were enrolled in the joint Seven Generations Education Institute and Keewatin-Patricia District School Board program.

44-students walked the stage to get their diploma this year.

The program targets students who are 18-years of age or older and who have been out of high school for at least a year.

Next year, adult ed programs offered through Seven Generations will be moving into Lakewood School.

Operation Corridor Results In 26 Charges in NWO

Following a campaign targeting bad commercial truck drivers, Provincial Police says they are satisfied the message is out there.

Sergeant Shelley Garr says out of 300 commercial drivers charged in the province, 26 were in the northwest region.

Across the province, 35 percent of all charges were equipment related.

That's compared to 12 percent in the northwest.

Sharks Swim South for Grand Forks Meet

22 members of the Kenora Sharks are heading south this weekend for a
swim meet in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

The Sharks will wrap up the spring session of their season at the 50 Meter Stroke Challenge, hosted by the Red River Wahoos.

The meet begins tomorrow and wraps up on Sunday.

City Finalizing Canada Day Plans

Canada Day plans are starting to come together in Kenora.

Once again, Keewatin will be the main hub for daytime activities on July 1st.

Joyce Murray is a member of the Keewatin Summer Splash Committee and says they have a number of events for the whole family.

Murray says once again, the Canada Fireworks will be back in K
enora on the Harbourfront.

City Increases Funding to Fix Up Downtown Businesses

Businesses in downtown Kenora will have access to a little bit more money to help fix up their buildings.

Kenora City Council has tentatively approved an additional 50 thousand dollars for the Harbourtown Community Improvement Fund.

Initially council had approved 100 thousand dollars in the 2013 budget, but a couple of major projects, including the Lake of the Woods Brewing Company ate up a lion's share of the money that was available this  year.

The CIP fund allows businesses or building owners to access money to fix up their facades or install  new signage.

City Insurance Cost Increase Slightly

The city will be spending a little bit more for its insurance coverage this year.

City council has approved a policy worth 329 thousand dollars, that's a 1.7 percent increase over last year.

The city's Health and Safety Officer Bruce Graham says they'd like to be able to find a cheaper rate, but there just isn't a lot of competition for their business.

Councillor Louis Roussin feels the city should be able to get a better rate by going to a request for proposal.

Community Foundation Holds Spring Granting Ceremony

Kenora area residents continue to show they are a generous bunch.

Last night, the Kenora and Lake of the Woods Regional Community Foundation handed out over 146 thousand dollars during its spring granting ceremony.

The Keewatin Summer Splash received 15 hundred dollars and committee member Joyce Murray says they will use that money to help stage Canada Day Celebrations in their community.

The Minto Parent Child Resource Center was the big winner last night picking up over
16 thousand dollars worth of cheques.

Catholic School Board Projects Increase in Enrollment

The Kenora Catholic District School Board continues to defy education trends.

Enrollment is expected to be up slightly once against this fall.

Director of Education Phylis Eikre says its too early to say how many more students
might be enrolled in their schools this fall.

Eikre says they have managed to maintain their teaching staff numbers and adds
there will be no redundancies this year.