Monday, November 2, 2009

Highway 17/71 Accident

The Trans Canada Highway is open to both lanes of traffic again.

OPP responded to a single vehicle crash near the Highway 17/71 junction near Kenora yesterday.

Traffic was lined up in Vermillion Bay and just outside of the turn off to Highway 71.

The highway was opened and closed throughout the day as police cleared debris from that section of highway.

The OPP are investigating the cause of the transport crash.

Recycling Program AMO

The Association of Municipalities of Ontario is applauding a discussion paper bythe provincial government which recommends that manufacturers take over 100 percent of recycling costs.

Currently, industry is responsible for 50 percent of blue box programs.

Peter Hume is president of AMO and says local taxpayers should never had been responsible for recycling costs in the first place.

In the City of Kenora, recycling costs are the main reason there is a deficit in the Solid Waste budget.

Hume says he would like the provincial government to implement the recommendations in the discussion paper as quickly as possible.

Grassy Narrows Charges Dropped

Charges have been dropped against a Grassy Narrows woman for building two cabins on crown land.

Roberta Keesick has built the cabins, without a permit, on her trapline north of Kenora.

Keesick says its a relief to have the charges dropped.

Keesick was charged in March of 2007 and the Crown Prosecutor in Red Lake decided to drop all charges last week.

She says she has not been given an explanation why the crown decided not to pursue the case.

Water Levels

Despite all the rain this week, water levels on Lake of the Woods Control Board continue to drop.

Water levels went down about one inch in the past seven days and the Lake of the WoodsControl board says the lake should drop another one or two inches in the next week.

The Control Board has been working to draw water levels down before freeze up.

Outflow remains steady at 410 cubic meters per second.

Gun Registry

The Conservatives are launching a publicity blitz to help kill the Federal gun registry.

The Tories are targetting specific ridings, aimed at twisting the arm of key MP's who might give them the votes they need to eliminate the registry.

They are buying radio ads in largely rural areas, urging listeners to flood their MPs with calls and emails to vote for a Conservtive Bill next week.

The ads stress the importance of protecting the rural way of life.With the gun registry up for a free vote, the Tories need only a handful of MP's to switch sides in order for the private member's bill to pass.

Opponents of the registry complain that it unfairly hassles honest hunters and owners of long guns, while doing nothing to stop criminals.

Crimestoppers Update

The new executive director of Northwestern Ontario and Northern Minnesota Crimestoppers says the program is as strong as its ever been.

Doug Anderson has been meeting with police, media and other community members.

Anderson says he's pleased with the program's response both in northwestern Ontario and northern Minnesota.

Anderson says part of his role is to help bring more community awareness and support for the Crimestoppers program.

Fire Season Wrap Up

There hasn't been a lot of activity for Ministry of Natural ResourcesFire Ranger Crews in recent weeks.

The fire season officially draws to a close on October 31st in northwestern Ontario.

Fire Information Officer Debbie McLean says even though theweather has been very wet this week, its still possible forwild fires to start.

McLean says MNR staff are investigating one new fire this week thatstarted west of Clearwater Bay.

The 0.1 hectare blaze was human caused.