Local Shelter Box to Support Philippine Typhoon Victims

Two Kenora residents may be going to the Philippines to support people affected by Typhoon Haiyan.

Ron Nelson and his wife are volunteers with Shelter Box who are trained to go assist in disaster locations and hand out box to victims of disasters.

Their previous efforts include deployments in the Japan Tsunami, and the Haiti Earthquake.

Nelson says they will be reaching out the to Philippine community in Kenora for support along with community groups, and hosting fundraising events.

Typhoon Haiyan is the largest storm ever recorded, with winds speed over 315 kilometers an hour.

By comparison Hurricane Katrina that devastated New Orleans in 2005 saw winds speed maxing out at 280 kilometers an hour.

For more information on Shelter Box visit www.shelterboxcanada.org

Development Corporation to be Set Up for Ring of Fire

The province is looking to take a big step forward in the Ring of Fire project.

A Development Corporation will bring all parties involved in the project together to manage issues.

Minister of Northern Development and Mines Michael Gravelle says it's a significant move.

He says the corporation would bring the groups involved together, manage finances and address issues surrounding infrastructure.

Premier Kathleen Wynne has written to Prime Minister Stephen Harper asking for the Federal Government to partner with the province.

Traffic Moving Again On Highway 17 East

The OPP say it could take days for the wreckage to be cleared away from a
multi-vehicle accident between Kenora and Dryden.

Last night, police closed both lanes again for about an hour in order to clean
up some debris.

Today however, traffic is moving normally again.

The Trans-Canada was closed for almost nine hours yesterday following an
early morning accident near Nelson Granite.

A total of 14 transports were involved in the collision.

Hospital Patients Satisfied

Some room for improvement.

Lake of the Wood District Hospital has released the results of it's latest patient satisfaction survey.

Mark Balcaen is the CEO of the Hospital and says for the most part the result are very good, however one areas needs some work.

Balcaen says the hospital will be hanging up more posters up throughout the hospital to help inform patients of their aboriginal services.

He adds that apart from that one exception the hospital has a 97 percent approval rating.

NAN Adopts Education Treaty

The Nishnawbe Aski Nation is again calling for the right to control their own education on NAN territory.

Over two hundred delegates met to create the Right to Education treaty.

Grand Chief Harvey Yesno explains the importance of this treaty for aboriginal youth.

Yesno says for the treaty to be effective, communities must work together.

Beyak Supports Senator Suspensions

Northwestern Ontario senator Lynn Beyak believes the senators who were suspended from the upper chamber got what they deserved.

Beyak voted in favour of suspending the three because she says it was the right thing to do.

Beyak adds that she has mixed feelings about the senators keeping their benefits.

She would have preferred their benefits being removed but notes at least one of the senators that was suspended had some health concerns.

Forestry Bill Passes Second Reading

A bill that will help the forestry industry and Northern Ontario has passed second reading.

Bill 13, also known as the  Ontario Forestry Industry Revitalization Act, was brought forward by Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli.

Fedeli says this is a huge step towards providing a much needed boost to the Northern Ontario economy, however he notes more work still lies ahead.

The bill will focus on amending the Ontario Building Code to allow mid-rise wood frame construction up to six stories, instead of the current four
.

Nominations Ready for Chamber Business Awards

Time to nominate your favorite business.

The Kenora and District Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for its annual business awards.

Some of the categories include business improvement, entrepreneur of the year, youth entrepreneur, aboriginal business, and customer service.

The deadline for submissions is December 15th.

The Awards Ceremony will take place on February 12th.

Fundraising Dinner for Bechard's Tonight

A community effort to help a local family in need will take place tonight.

A fundraising dinner will be held tonight at Thomas Aquinas for
the Bechard family, who lost their home earlier this week to fire.

The Railway Street fire caused extensive damage to the house, as well as
a business and a garage.

Financial donations to the family can be made through Copperfin Credit Union, but Lake of the Woods District Hospital says it is no longer accepting any
clothing, as they have been overwhelmed by donations.

The spaghetti dinner will run from 6 until 8:00 this evening.

Horwath Says Economic Statement Has Nothing for the North

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is less than impressed with the Provincial Government's Fall Economic Statement.

The speech was made Thursday by Finance Minister Charles Sousa.

Horwath says what's really disappointing is how Northern Ontario is neglected.

Horwath adds the bad policies in the economic statement will be felt first in the North.

Broncos Head to Dryden For NorWOSSA Finals

Beaver Brae court sport teams will have to take the long way into the NorWOSSA finals if they want to win gold today.

The Broncos are in Dryden for the Double A boys basketball and girls volleyball championships.

First up are the junior semi-finals at 10:00.

In girls basketball, Beaver Brae will tip-off against Dryden for the right to face Fort Frances in the final this afternoon.

The Broncos junior boys volleyball team will face the Muskies in their semi this morning.

In the senior semis, The Bronco girls will take on Dryden once again, while Beaver Brae's boys volleyball squad will meet up with Fort Frances at 11:30.

Grassy's Clear Cut Logging Concerns Raised at Queen's Park

The Grassy Narrows First Nation claims the Minister of Natural Resources is making false
statements about plans for clear cut logging in the Whiskey Jack Forest.

This morning in the Ontario Legislature, David Orazietti says there are no wood harvesting blocks
in Grassy's Traditional Land Use Territory.

However, Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. urged the government continues to interfere.

Grassy maintains that the government has plans to carry out clear cut logging activity within
the next decade.

Highway 17 East Now Open to One Lane

Traffic is moving slowly today on Highway 17 east of Kenora.

One lane of the Trans-Canada has been opened following a multi-vehicle accident just west of Vermillion Bay early this morning.

The OPP say a number of vehicles ended up in the ditch near the Nelson Granite pit, creating a chain reaction involving at least 14 vehicles.

The accident took place around 1:00 this morning and the highway was shutdown for about nine
hours.

Wynn Government to Deliver Fall Economic Statement Today

When  the government delivers its Fall Economic Statement today it will be promoting capital investment.

That's the message from Finance Minister Charles Sousa.

The government wants to help small and medium-sized businesses grow, so they are able attract larger companies to invest. which would create good jobs in Ontario.

These ideas include a "pay or play" tax incentive for new spending in equipment, technology and training, as well as research and development tax credits to reward additional spending.

Salvation Army to Expand Christmas Hampers

The Salvation Army is hoping to include something a little extra
in this year's Christmas Hampers.

Sandra Poole is their business manager and says they would like to
include some cold weather gear like mitts and to
ques this year.

Poole says applications for the Christmas Hampers are now available
at their office on Matheson Street.

Last year, the Salvation Army handed out over 400 Christmas Hampers to
families in need in the Kenora area.

School Buses Delayed but Not Cancelled by Accident

School bus service in the Vermilion Bay area is running this morning despite the collision.

The Northwest Student Services Consortium says due to the volume of track traffic stopped on Highway 17, buses will experience delays but they have not been cancelled.

Two buses serve the impacted area.

Highway 17 East Still Closed

The OPP stress all efforts are being made to reopen Highway 17 between Vermilion Bay and Kenora.

OPP say the highway was closed just before 1 o'clock this morning due to a pileup involving 14 transports.

Police say icy road conditions caused the crash and several tractor trailer units were sent into the ditch near Nelson Granite.

Officers from Dryden and Kenora as well as ambulance and Machin Fire personnel are on scene assisting in the clean-up.

Amazingly no major injuries are reported.

The OPP Communications Center in Thunder Bay suggest the Trans-Canada could be closed for a couple of more hours to allow for the wreckage to be cleared from the roadway.

Community Foundation Hands Out 85 Thousand Dollars

A big night for a number of community groups.

The Kenora and Lake of the Woods Foundation presented cheques totalling more than 85 thousand dollars.

The Lake of the Woods Arts Community received a five thousand dollar cheque for their Muskies on Main public art project.

The Town of Sioux Narrows/Nestor Falls was a big recipient receiving almost ten thousand dollars for various community programs.

Mayor Bill Thompson says he's particularly excited by the little free library program.

The Sioux Narrows Arts group also received 13 hundred dollars in funding, while the
Sioux Narrows/Nestor Falls Softball league will collect 25 hundred dollars.

Other recipients last night included Mount Evergreen, Habitat for Humanity, the Kenora
Road Safety Committee and the Hospital Foundation.

Knights of Columbus Set Up Endowment Fund

The Knights of Columbus in Kenora is giving back to the community.

The group is setting aside 50 thousand dollars to create a new endowment fund through the community foundation.

Paul Landry is a spokesperson for the group and says its their way of giving back to the community.

Landry says the endowment fund will be used for scholarships at Thomas Aquinas
High School and also other social needs in the community.

He says the proceeds from the sale of their building on First Street South provided the seed money
for their endowment fund.

Moonias Inquest Wraps Up

The death of Bruce Moonias of Lansdowne House First Nation is being ruled a suicide.

A coronors jury announced the verdict today which included 23-three recommendations aimed at improving support for pyschiatric health in aboriginal communities, improved communications, and weapons storage.

Leonard Kim is on the coroners council and says some of the recommendations should be strongly considered.

Moonias died of a gunshot wound in the winter of 2006 after an involvment with police.