New Gold Starts Take Over Process from Rainy River

New Gold has started formal proceedings in its take-over bid of Rainy River Resources and its signature gold project south of Kenora.

The Vancouver-based mining company is offering 3-dollars and 83 cents a share for Rainy River, with the deal valued at about 310-million dollars in total.

Rainy River's board of directors has already supported the offer which closes July 24.

Ontario's Worst Roads Named

Northwestern Ontario didn't make the cut in the Canadian Automobile Association Ontario Worst Roads campaign.

More than 10-thousand votes were counted this year and Dufferin Street in Toronto topped the list for the second straight year.

Spokesperson Korey Kennedy says the closest road to us to make the list was Kraft Creek Road in Timmins at number 4.

Thunder Lake Road in Dryden was the most nominated road in this region.

Kennedy stresses the campaign is important as 90
percent of the roads selected have either been fixed or are about to be improved.

City Council Looking To Broadcast More Meetings

It might not be a ratings hit, but Kenora City Council is looking to
broadcast its open meetings.

Council says its willing to work with Shaw to air committee-of-the-whole and monthly council meetings.

It will set the city back about 12 thousand dollars to purchase and install
the technology.

Councillor Rod McKay says he has his reservations about spending that kind of money and wants to know how many people might actually watch their meetings, before supporting the expenditure.

Catholic School Board Expects More Red Ink

The Kenora Catholic District School Board expects to have a small deficit for a second year in a row.

Trustees with the Separate School Board approved the budget last night.

It calls for spending of just over 24.7 million dollars.

Finance officer, Allison Smith says their funding from the province is basically the same as last year.

The Board's deficit is expected to come in at 168 thousand dollars in the
2013/2014 school year.

Fire Hazard Rising Again

Five new forest fires have sparked in Northwestern Ontario.

The Sioux Lookout and Nipigon Districts each saw two, while one was reported in the Kenora area.

The Ministry of Natural Resources says the dry, warm weather helped fuel these fires.

The MNR adds while some rain is forecast, the hazard remains moderate to high in the region.

Hospital Foundation Transfers A Record Amount

A record breaking year for the Lake of the Woods District Hospital Foundation.

Last night at their Annual General Meeting the foundation announced they transferred a record 752 thousand dollars to the hospital in 2012-2013.

Managing Director Jess Rheault says it an amazing mark to achieve.

Rheault says the money helped cover a lot of needs on the hospital's capital side, as well as bring in digital mammography.

City Reaches Fire Protection Agreement With MNR

The Ministry of Natural Resources and the City of Kenora have reached
a tentative five year agreement for fire protection.

Fire Chief Warren Brinkman says they looked at six possible options.

He says in the end they decided the city would be best served if MNR fire crews were responsible for islands and the northeast quadrant of the
municipality.

Brinkman says while the agreement will cost the city just over 100 dollars
a year, the city will still be on the hook for some of the MNR's fire fighting
costs.

Kenora Forest Products Start Up Delayed

Red tape seems to be hampering the start up of the Kenora Forest Products Mill.

Mill manager Rod McKay says they had hoped to start producing studs and other wood products this summer.

But he says there have been a number of delays, including finding markets for their hog fuel.

McKay says they hope the MNR will be licencing the mill soon, and expects they could be
operational by the fall.

Con College Holds its Convocation in Kenora

A night of celebrating success for Confederation College.

Last night was the convocation ceremony for the Lake of the Woods Campus.

Acting Director Laura Christie says the 50 graduates were enrolled in a number of different programs
including business accounting, early childhood education, office administration, personal support worker,
native child and family services and practical nursing.

Craig Turgeon who graduted from the Native Child and Family Services Program won the Campus Award of Excellence.