Monday, August 24, 2009

Rat Portage Granite Plant Study

Rat Portage First Nation is looking at opening a new gang saw granite fabrication plant.

The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund is providing the first nation with money to conduct a feasibility study.

A new plant would create up to 50 jobs, encourage off reserve members to return to the community for work, and provide a general boost to the economy.

The feasibility study is expected to be complete by next month.

Swine Flu Northwestern Ontario

The swine flu virus has completely disappeared yet in northwestern Ontario.

The Ministry of Health says there were three confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus this past week in the region.

Only one of the cases was reported in the Northwestern Health Unit's cachment area, the other two were in the Thunder Bay area.

The number of cases of the swine flu in this region has now reached 74, but the province says the rate of spread is definitely slowing down.

Water Levels Lake of the Woods

A big jump in water levels on the Lake of the Woods this week due toall the rain.

The Lake of the Woods Control Board says levels have risen two inches and are expected to go up another two to four inches in the next week.

Executive Engineer, Rick Walden says its been a challenging year to try to maintain stable water levels.

Outflow from the Norman Dam into the Winnipeg River has also risenslightly this week, up to 420 cubic meters per second.

Lottery Winners Kenora

Its been a good week for local residents who play scratch cards.

Two men have won several thousands of dollars playing Bingo and Crossword.
Brian Leroux is the latest winner.

He collected 25 thousand dollars playing Instant Crossword.

He purchased his ticket at the Loaf and Jug Food Mart.

Bruce Kitt also won 50 thousand dollars playing Instant Bingo this week.

Tori Stafford's Dad Cycling Cross Canada

The father of slain Woodstock girl Tori Staffordis scheduled to be in Kenora later this week on his cycling tour to Edmonton.

Rodney Stafford says he's making the 34-hundred-kilometre bikeride in honour of his slain daughter and to raise awareness andfunds for Child Find Ontario.

Stafford plans to collect donations in Kenora at the Walmart Store this coming Friday.

Tori Stafford was abducted April 8th after leaving her school inWoodstock and her remains were found on July 19th in Mount Forest.

Thunder Bay Bad Driver

Ottawa police have laid charges against a Thunder Bay man after a father and son were struck while cycling on a busy road.

The father suffered a badly broken leg and a head injury after being struck by the pickup truck.

His 10-year-old son broke his arm.Police say the driver of the truck was merging into traffic and didn't notice the father and son in the bike lane.

21-year-old Erin Chezik has been charged with failing to yield.

Dryden Crash

Transport Canada is gradually implementing a safety management system in the aviation industry.

However, there are many critics.The former commissioner who investigated the 1989 crash that killed 24 people in Dryden is among them.

Virgil Moshansky says he sees similarities between now and events before the 1989 crash.

Transport Canada says the system offers an extra layer of safety.However, inspections have been cut and the unions say inspectors are being lost.

Cheaper Natural Gas this Fall

Natural gas rates in Ontario are going down yet again this year.

The price has fallen to a seven year low, just under three dollars US per thousand cubic feet.

Union Gas Spokesperson Andrea Stass says Northwestern Ontario residents can expect to see
their bills decrease in October.

Stass notes prices are down because the recession has seen a drop in the demand for natural gas.

Service Ontario Changes

The provincial government says it will be establishing 10 Service Ontario centers in the Kenora and Rainy River Districts in the next year.

The government announced the re-organization earlier this summer and says under the initiative, you will be able to apply for a new health card,a drivers licence, and hunting and fishing permits out of one office.

In Kenora, the Service Ontario office will be located on Robertson Street.

As a result of the changes however, the Licensing and Vehicle Registration Office, which is located in Keewatin is being closed this fall.

A spokesperson for that office says their last day in business will be October 13th.

Compton on AMO

Kenora Mayor Len Compton says he's pleased with the responsethey recieved while in Ottawa from provincial cabinet ministers at theannual Association of Municipalities of Ontario convention.

Compton says they met a total of nine ministers including the ministerof the Environment, John Gerritson.

He says they raised issues about the cost of providing clean drinking water for the City of Kenora.

Compton says they also had a very positive meeting with the Ministerof Aboriginal Affairs about the city's Common Ground initiative onTunnel Island.

KFP Severance to be paid

Kenora Forest Products and its laid off employees have reached a settlement.

The agreement will ensure the payout of severance and termination pay for about 35 workers that had been denied payment 2½ months ago.

The remaining workforce will continue to retain negotiated recall rights until June 1, 2010.

The final settlement will be mailed out to all affected workers in the next few days and severance and termination pay will be made in September, December and in June.