Safe Grad ready to roll

Graduation ceremonies for both Beaver Brae and Thomas Aquinas students will take place

this evening.

Following the individual ceremonies, all the graduates are invited to the Kenora Rec. Center for
the 10th annual Safe Grad celebrations.

Warren Brinkman is chair of Safe Grad and says they are keeping their 10th anniversary plans
under wraps right now.

Brinkman says graduates from Wabaseemung, Grassy Narrows and Whitefish Bay have also
been invited to attend the Safe Grad celebrations.

Events will be going on all night long at the Rec. Center.

Catholic School Board approves Budget

Both local school boards are planning to run deficits in the upcoming school year.

The Kenora Catholic District School Board approved its 2010/2011 budget last night.

It includes a 56 thousand dollar shortfall.
Erica Baily is the finance manager for the separate school board and says transportation
costs are the main reason behind this years deficit.

Total spending for the Catholic School Board next year will be about 19 million dollars.

Earlier this week, the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board announced it would also
be operating with a 1.5 million dollar deficit in the next school year.

OPP lay charges against Grassy Narrows woman

A 39 year old Grassy Narrows Woman faces four charges stemming from an incident
over two weeks ago in downtown Kenora that resulted in her being shot by police.

The OPP say that Helen Proulx is charged with assault with a weapon, assaulting
police, uttering death threats and possessing a weapon dangerous to the public peace.

OPP seargant Shelley Garr says its unclear when Proulx will be able to face the
charges in court because she's still recovering from her injuries in hospital.

Proulx was shot by an OPP officer on June 7th on 1st Street South.

The incident is also under investigation by the Special Investigations Unit.

Rickford reflects on last session of Parliament

Members of Parliament are on their Summer break and the MP for Kenora believes a lot was accomplished during the recent session.

Greg Rickford says it took some time, but everyone learned to get along in the end.

Rickford notes key Legislation related to free trade, immigration, employment insurance and parole eligibility all passed in the House of Commons.

Smoke gets in your Eyes

A shift in the wind direction has brought with it an unpleasant air mass to the region.
Late yesterday afternoon, smoke from fires burning in northern Manitoba
started wafting into northwestern Ontario.

Both the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Kenora Fire Department have
received calls from local residents wondering where the smoke was coming from.

About 40 fire rangers from northwestern Ontario are in northern Manitoba battling
wild fires there.

The fire situation in this region remains very quiet.

Just one new blaze was reported yesterday in the Thunder Bay District.