DSAB to Give Back Money to Local Municipalities

Local municipalities can expect to get a rebate back from the Kenora District Services Board later this year.

The final audited financial statements for 2010 are just being completed chair of the services board, Phil Vinet says it looks as if they will be able to hand back about 550 thousand dollars.

Vinet says the rebates are the result of the reconciliation of the programs they provide, such as Ontario Works.

Kenora's share of the rebate is about 115 thousand dollars.

City`s Water Treatment Plant gets perfect score

The city's water treatment plant is getting top marks.

Council was presented the 2010 Water System report last week.

Councillor Rod McKay the report shows the water department is not only doing its job properly, but doing it very well.

The city is planning to upgrade the staff at the water treatment plant this year with the addition of an electrician.

Drug Bust on Airport Road

The OPP says it has seized over 40 thousand dollars worth of marjijuana during a drug bust on the Airport Road.

Late Last week the Regional Guns and Gang Unit, along with the Kenora Drug Enforcement Unit and the Kenora Street Crimes Team executed a search warrant.

Officers discovered over four and a half pounds of marijuana, along with five firearms and some drug production paraphenalia.

A 29 year old Thunder Bay man faces a number of charges, including production of drugs, possession of marijuana and unauthorized possession of a fire arm.

Kevin Zdep is due to appear in Kenora Court on May 24th to answer the charges.

Bearskin adds new plane to fleet

Starting in May, Bearskin Airlines are going to be putting a new aircraft to use.

A brand new 34 seat plane is expected to take flight and will fly from Thunder Bay to Winnipeg.

Bearskin Airlines vice president Cliff Friesen says the plane is larger and can carry more passengers.

The plane will also make stops in Sioux Lookout and Red Lake.

Army Worm infestation looming

Army Worms will invade the region's tree population in two summers from  now.

The last outbreak of the leaf eating caterpillars ended in 2004.

Ministry of Natural Resources Expert Taylor Scarr says in peak years army worms have caused slippery highways.

The furry insects have a 7 to 10 year outbreak cycle.

Community Improvement Plan Approved for Abitibi Lands

The City of Kenora is going to move ahead with a Community Improvement Plan for the Abitibi properties on 9th Street North.

Council passed a resolution last week approving a change to the official plan.

Councillor Rory McMillan says the intent of the Improvement Plan is to encourage development on the property.

There is still a 21 day appeal period for the Community Improvement Plan.

McMillan says the change to the official plan will go into effect once that appeal period is over.

Kenora Candidates Election Ready

The slate in the Kenora Riding for the May 2nd federal election has a familiar look.

All three main political parties will have the same candidates as the last election three years ago.

Tania Cameron is the NDP candidate and says she's actively been campaigning

for a couple of years now.

Liberal Candidate Roger Valley is also not stranger to the campaign trail and says he plans to get to as many communties as possible over the next 38 days.

Incumbant Conservative candidate, Greg Rickford has also been busy, opening his campaign office in Kenora just hours after the election writ was dropped in Ottawa.

There is also expected to be at least one independant candidate in the Kenora Riding this election.

Bronco Girls win OFSAA Consolation title

Beaver Brae's girls hockey team didn't win a medal at the All-Ontario

A/AA championships but they did get the consolation prize.

The Broncos won the consolation final 2-0 Friday afternoon in Stratford.

Beaver Brae was also presented with the sportmanship banner from the

tournament.

Meanwhile, the Wayne Fiecek foursome is home from the National Wheelchair curling Championships without a medal.

Fiecek's Northern Ontario squad finished the round-robin with a 4-5 record

and out of the play-offs at the Edmonton bonspiel.

Kenora Rockets dominate Fort Badminton Tournament

The Kenora Rockets had a big weekend at a junior badminton tournament in Fort Frances over the weekend.

Andrew Neil won the boys under 13 singles title and teamed up with Johnny Houlden for the double crown.

Tyler Neil won three gold medals, winning the Under 16 boysdivision, then teaming up with Logan Ginn in the boys double event, and Cayleigh Payne for the Mix doubles title.

Meanwhile, the Lake of the Woods Flyers struck gold at an Atom Girls hockey tournament in Winnipeg.

The Flyers beat Dryden 6-1 in the A-two final of the Stars Cup yesterday.

The Blue Sharks from Kenora won the bronze medal with a 2-1 win over

the Thompson, Tigers.