Flood Evacuees Returning Home

Flood concerns have subsided up north and that has allowed some residents to return home.

Emergency Management Ontario says 90-Attawapiskat First Nation residents currently staying in Greenstone are due to return today, and another 260 should begin flying back from Thunder Bay tomorrow.

EMO says 64 residents who were moved to Fort Frances will have to remain there a while longer until their homes are cleaned and repaired.

Nearly 400 members of the Kashechewan and Pic Mobert first nations remain evacuated.

Large Grass Fire near Pinewood

The MNR is battling a 12 and a half hectare fire near Pinewood south of Kenora near Fort Frances.

The grass fire started yesterday afternoon and was reported to Ontario MNR by the Minnesota Dept of natural Resources around 4:30 yesterday afternoon.

The blaze, just 3 miles off Highway 11 is listed as being held.

The cause has still not been determined.

Council Seeks Help in Battling Urban Deer

Municipalities across northwestern Ontario are taking a united front in
their battle against a growing urban deer population.

Kenora will be working with Thunder Bay and Dryden to lobby for lower deer permit fees to hunt deer within city limits.

Councillor Sharon Smith says the 45 dollar permit fee is just too high.

Smith suggests the permit fees are a deterrent to hunters.

City and CUPE Agree on Two Year Deal

There will be labor peace in the City of Kenora
for at least the next year and a half.

Kenora City Council has given tentative approval to a two year contract with the
Canadian Union of Public Employees on a deal retroactive to January 1st of this year.

The agreement includes a wage increase of 1.7 percent during each of the deal.

Mayor Dave Canfield suggests the contract is fair because its just over the cost of living.

Non-union staff and city councillors will also be getting similar increases.

Fire Investigation On Hold

The Fire Marshsall's Office has stopped the investigation of the fire at the old Kenora Machine Service Building.

The building is considered unsafe to examine at this time.

The investigation will continue once the building is deemed safe to enter again.
.

The building was destroyed by fire late Saturday night.

In the meantime, the OPP are continuing to hold the building until the Fire Marshall's office can complete
its investigation.

Sandy Lake Man Identified

Provincial Police have released the name of a man who died in Sandy Lake First Nation on Sunday morning.

The man has been identified as 29-year-old Uriah Kakepetum.

Nishanwbe-Aski Police responded to a call for medical assistance at a home.

Kakepetum was transported to the Sandy Lake Nursing Station where he died.

OPP are assisting Nishnawbe-Aski Police in the investigation.

Police haven't said if foul play is suspected.