Sioux Lookout Storm Aftermath

There is no damage estimate yet in the aftermath of Monday's major storm in Sioux Lookout.


High wind and baseball sized hail blasted the community.

John Madsen is the General Manager of Madsen Motors and he says his dealership received minimal damage, with minor damage to about six vehicles.

He says they caught the edge of the storm but notes others didn't.

Madsen says some people on the south end of town had major damage with broken windshields and twisted panels.

Gillons Insurance says claims are coming in at a steady pace, noting over 30-claims have been recieved.

Environment Canada says Sioux Lookout had hailstones in the order of 8 to 9 centimetres across in diameter.

The storm also broke windows and downed trees.

(Photo courtesy of Weather Network. theweathernetwork.com)

Highway 11

Provincial Police say an 88-year-old Fort Frances man has died as a result of a single vehicle crash on Highway 11, near Atikokan.


Police say the crash occurred yesterday morning about 2-kilometres east of the Arctic Watershed.

Constable Diana Cole says the vehicle crossed the centre line and crashed into a rock cut and burst into flames.

Cole say Jack Tiefenbacher was the only one in the vehicle.

OPP continue to investigate the cause of the crash.

Red Cross Urging Folks To Receive CPR Training

The Canadian Red Cross is encouraging everyone to receive CPR training.

The request comes following the rescue of a 3-year-old boy at the beach in Anicinabe Park.

The boy was saved by a Manitoba man who performed CPR.

Red Cross Spokesperson Carol Peterson says it can be a number one priority in saving someone's life and giving that extra time for paramedics to arrive.

Peterson says the Red Cross provides all levels of training as well as first aid and CPR.

For more information visit:
Kenora Branch

1008 Ottawa Street, Unit A
Keewatin, ON
P0X 1C0
Tel: (807) 547-2683
Fax: (807) 547-3562
http://www.redcross.ca/

OPP Probe Fatal Crash

Ontario Provincial Police are investigating a firery highway crash.


Constable Diana Cole says that a single vehicle crash took place around 7 o'clock yesterday morning near Atikokan.

Police can't say who died or how many people were in the vehicle at the time since all they have right now are charred remains.

Report

A new report says the gap between aboriginal and non aboriginal residents quality of life is improving.


The benchmarking report is backed by the Federal Government and states the gap is not as big as it once was.

Pic River Chief Roy Michano says things have improved but no thanks to the Government.

The report was released on Tuesday and states more First Nations people are finding jobs and self employment is on the rise.

Ring of Fire project

A recent Toronto Star article is raising alarms over the proposed Ring of Fire project.

The paper obtained Environment Canada documents that show the project could lead to poisioning as seen in the movie Erin Brokovich.

Minister of Natural Resources Michael Gravelle is reassuring the public the project will be safe.

Gravelle says there are many rungs of assement that mining projects are put through.

The Ontario Invasive Species Strategic Plan

Ontario has developed a plan to combat invasive species in order to protect the province's environment and its economy.


The Ontario Invasive Species Strategic Plan outlines Ontario's approach to the prevention, early detection, and rapid response to new invasive species like zebra mussels and the emerald ash borer.

Minister of Natural Resources, Michael Gravelle says "This plan paves the way for important partners like the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters and the Invasive Species Centre to fight this threat together."

15 Forest Fires In Northwest Region

Due to over 15,000 lightning strikes over the long weekend, 10 new Fires were reported in the Northwest region, bringing the total number of active fires to 15.

 The Kenora district saw the most action with 4 new fires being detected.

Fort Frances, Sioux Lookout, and Dryden all had one new fire.

With the hot dry weather continuing, more holdover lightning fires are expected to be discovered across the region.

Protect Yourself From West Nile

With summer here, it's also mosquito season.


They can carry the West Nile Virus, which while uncommon, can lead to complications.

Some people may not experience symptoms, but the typical ones are flu-like.

Somtimes the virus can cause severe illness such as meningitius, especially in older people.

Ways to protect against the virus are using repellant with DEET, wearing longer clothing and getting rid of standing water.

For more information on how to protect yourself, call your local Health Unit office.

Meantime, public health officials in Toronto and St. Catharines are reporting finding mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus.

Toronto Public Health says it received a laboratory report indicating that mosquitoes have tested positive for West Nile.

Toronto associate medical health officer Dr. Howard Shapiro says the finding of mosquitoes carrying West Nile is earlier in the season than previous years.

In St. Catharines, environmental health manager Peter Jekel says all Niagara communities should be on alert.

No birds have tested positive for West Nile so far this summer in Niagara and the region has not seen any human cases.

Halton Region Public Health last week reported finding West Nile in two mosquito ponds.