Military Hercules Helps Locate Stranded Fishermen

Two men on a fishing trip from Manitoba are lucky to be alive after getting stranded near Reynar Lake, Northwest of Kenora.

Lac Du Bonnet RCMP notified the the OPP yesterday afternoon about the 2 men.

The marine and Trails Unit along with the Northwest Region Emergency Response team and Canadian Military Joint Rescue Response team were called to help locate the men.

That included a Hercules c-130 being dispatched from 17 Wing in Winnipeg.

At 10:30 the men were able to contact the OPP with a cell phone and provide coordinates which lead to them safely being located.

Both men suffered only minor injuries.

City Council begins Budget Process

A refreshing change for Kenora City council.

None of the groups that made budget presentations was asking for a large increase in their budget in 2014.

In fact a couple of groups, including Triple Play were asking for less.

Debbie Novak is the co-ordinator of the program and says their fundraising efforts are paying off.

The Kenora Handi-Transit Service is also asking for slightly less money this year, while both the library and museum are seeking an increase in the cost of living for employees salaries.

Also, at the budget meeting the Kenora and Lake of the Woods Regional Community Foundation suggested the city invest 2 million dollars from the KMTS Trust Fund in the foundation.

Dryden Fire Hits Snag With Move to Kenora

A setback for the Dryden Fire Service.

Council has rejected a plan for now to switch dispatch service to the Kenora Ambulance and Fire Dispatch Centre.

Fire Chief Ken Kurz says he's been told to take another look at moving to the Owen Sound Police Service once the Com. Centre closes at the end of March.

Kurz says Kenora is a proven entity and is the regional supplier of fire and ambulance dispatch services.

Thunder Bay Event Centre Lands Major Partner

The city of Thunder Bay is partnering with a new consortium called Thunder Bay LIVE to help make the proposed events centre a reality.

It includes True North Sports out of Winnipeg which will see the Jets American Hockey League team move to the city.  

City Manager Tim Commisso says it now gives the project credibility

Also in the partnership are Stadium Consultants International, Gobal Spectrum and the Lakehead University Thunderwolves.

WestJet to Expand Service in the Region

WestJet Airlines is bringing a new service to the region.

The company announced  that it will start Encore routes between Toronto and Thunder Bay and between Thunder Bay and Winnipeg.

WestJet didn't say when the Encore flights would begin.

Greenstone Gets Funding for Training Center

3.5 million dollars in funding is going towards building a training center in Greenstone.

The Federal and Provincial Governments ponied up the cash that will see the regional skills training center built at the Greenstone Airport in Geralton.

Minister of Northern Development Michael Gravelle says the the investment is going to mean more jobs for the region.

The Provincial and Federal Government's tossed in an equal share of over 1.7 million dollars for the project.

Drug Bust in Lac Du Bonnet

Two people from Lac du Bonnet are facing drugs and charges after RCMP executed a search warrant at a rural home.

Officers turned up cocaine, marijuana, scales, drug packaging, firearms and ammunition.

30-year old Lance Laliberte and 22-year old Ashley Payne are set to make an initial court appearance in Winnipeg today.

Palliative Tool Kit Released For Long Term Care Homes

There's a new tool kit for long term care homes who want to offer palliative care to their residents.

The kit was developed by a group of people at Lakehead University.

Dr. Mary Lou Kelley says there really wasn't anything like this in Canada before.

Kelley says thanks to their research they can tell Long Term Care homes how they can create their own palliative care programs in their facilities.

City Starts Budget Talks Today

Kenora city council will begin crunching the numbers today.

The first of several public budget meetings will be taking place starting
this morning at City Hall.

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield says they will be asking groups that the city funds, how much money they'll need in 2014.

Council will be hearing from the Kenora Public Library, the Museum, Handi-Transit, Triple Play and the Lake of the Woods Development Commission.

Province Holds Pre-Budget Talks in NWO Today

The province's finance committee will be making it's one and only stop in northwestern Ontario today with it's pre-budget consultations.

The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association is going to speak about what it would like to see in the upcoming budget.

Spokesperson Iain Angus says they'll be asking for changes in the heads and beds payment.

The pre-budget consultation hearing is on this morning in Thunder Bay and will see 12 organizations make presentations.

Police Investigate 2 Deaths in Northern First Nation

The North Caribou Lake Police Service have called in the Ontario provincial Police to help investigate 2 deaths in a Northern first nation.

Police say they were called on Saturday death regarding a disturbance at a residence on the North Caribou Lake First Nation.

Upon arrival police found a woman dead inside.

The next morning a man was found dead inside GMC pick up truck found a short distance from the community.

The identities of the deceased have not been released.

The OPP's North West Region Crime Unit, Forensic Identification Unit, and Sioux Lookout detachment are assisting in the investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122..

Jessica Lundy Wins NOVA Award

A Kenora business owner has been named one of Northwestern Ontario's top 20 under the age of 40.

Jessica Lundy was presented a NOVA award on Saturday.

She was the only recipient west of Thunder Bay.

Lundy is the president of Good Things, which is a meat processing and retail store on 1st Avenue South.

The winners were honored at the second annual Northwestern Ontario Visionary Awards Banquet in Thunder Bay.

Hope and the City Takes a Hiatus

One of the main fundraisers in the fight against cancer is taking a year off.

Hope and The City is a ladies night out to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society.

Organizers say they are taking a year off because there have already been so many fundraisers
in the city already this year, but plan to be back again in 2015.

Last year Hope and the City raised a record 48 thousand dollars.

Northwest Business Center Finds New Manager

There will be a new face soon at the Northwest Business Center.

Diane Schwartz-Williams will be stepping down at the end of this month
and the city has found her replacement.

Allyson Pele will begin her new duties as Manager on January 28th.

Schwartz-Williams says she she has enjoyed her time with the Business Center
but is looking forward to pursuing some other opportunities.  

Environmental Assessment for Two Gold Mines Being Sought

Public comment is being sought on two mining projects in the region.

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is gathering comment on separate reports identifying the environmental impacts and measures to mitigate them of Osisko Mining's Hammond Reef Gold project near Atikokan and New Gold's Rainy River project near Barwick.

Comment is due by the middle of February.

Second Street Prepares for Downtown Revitalization

Businesses along Second Street South are bracing themselves for phase three of downtown revitalization.

It's hoped construction work can begin this spring.

Mort Goss is chair of the Harbortown Business Improvement Zone and says while the disruption could hurt stores in the short term, there is a long term benefit.

Goss says they will be looking at some promotional ideas this year to encourage locals and visitors to
shop on downtown, despite the construction.

School Board Pleased With Transition At Beaver Brae

It was a move that raised some eyebrows and caused some concerns but most people at Beaver Brae High School in Kenora are praising the new grade 7 to 12 model introduced this year.

Principal Clinton Bruetsch says the kids love it.

Bruetsch adds teachers have embraced the initiative.

The program currently provides service to roughly 150 grade 7 and 8 students and the kids are located in a wing of the school which is restricted to grade 9 and 12 students.

MTO Addresses Winter Road Maintenance

A sign the Ministry of Transportation is starting to take concerns about the state of winter road maintenance seriously in the region.

Speaking to Rainy River District Municipal leaders gathered in Atikokan on the weekend, Regional Manager Ian Smith says they are looking at some changes to the classification of Highway 502 between Dryden and Fort Frances.

Smith says the contractor had been hit with fines for not properly maintaining the road, but  believes plowing done by the previous firm was done at a higher level than expected.

NOSM Looking For New Directors

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine looking for some new board members.

They need four people to join their Board of Directors in September of this year.

The deadline to apply to the board is February 17th.

Event Center Committee Set to Unveil Draft Plans Wednesday

Work continues on expanding the Kenora Rec.
Center.

This week the Event Center Committee is taking a couple key steps in the process.

On Tuesday, at the council open meeting, a conceptual design will be presented.

The committee is then set to hold a public consultation to gather feedback on Wednesday night at the Rec. Center.

The concept is expected to include a performing arts center and a second ice surface.

The meeting gets underway at 7:00 in the Rotary room.