Thursday, September 5, 2013

Escaped Prisoner Found

The Kenora OPP have found an escaped prisoner.

Police say they received information today that 53 year Harvey Smith of White Dog First nation was in downtown Kenora.

The OPP located and arrested Smith over 2 weeks after he escaped custody from the Kenora Court House.

Smith did appear in Kenora
court today to answer to the charge of escaping lawful custody.

Barwick OSB Mill Sold

A change in ownership for the mill in Barwick, south of Kenora.

Ainsworth is selling off all of its assets, including the Barwick mill to Tennessee-based Louisiana Pacific for one-point-one-billion dollars.

Louisiana-Pacific chief executive Curt Stevens says it further strengthen their place in the market.

Stevens says sees all of newly acquired Ainsworth's operations as core to LP's future operations.

Coney Boil Water Advisory Lifted

Good news for Coney Island residents.

A boil water advisory has been lifted, after being put in place late last week.

The city needed two clean water samples to come back, but because of the Labor Day long weekend, it took longer than expected to rescind the advisory.

IISD To Take Over ELA in 2014

Its going to be a few months yet before the Experimental Lakes Area has a new operator.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development says it won't be taking over the ELA until 2014.

Project manager Matt McCandless says they'll use that time to find additional funding for the outdoor research laboratory.

McCandless says the funding announced this week by the province will cover only about half of  the annual operating costs of the ELA.

Social Assistance Numbers Dropping

The Kenora District Services Board says more and more people are managing to find jobs.

The latest numbers show 592 Ontario Works cases in the month of July, down from a high for the year of 653.

Social assistance recipients will be receiving a 1-percent hike on their cheque's starting on October 1st.

Save On Energy Program Launched in the Far North

The Provincial Government is out with a new energy saving program for Aboriginal Communities.

Keewayin and Wunnimin Lake First Nation are two of the 12-communities that will participate in the first year of the Save On E
nergy Aboriginal Conservation Program.

Vice President of Conservation with the Ontario Power Authority Andrew Pride says it's a great thing for Northwestern Ontario.

Pride says people in the First Nations have probably already seen project managers go out and talk to folks about conservation and the different retrofits available for houses and businesses.

Lakehead Officially Opens New Law School

Lakehead University's new Northern Ontario law school is officially open!

A grand opening event was held yesterday morning
at the Thunder Bay campus.

Thunder Bay Superior North MPP Michael Gravelle says its a school based in the north for northerners.

The inaugural class has students from Thunder Bay, Geraldton, Kenora, Marathon, Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie.

Broncos Begin their Regular Season in WHSFL

A new football season begins today for the Beaver Brae Broncos.

The Broncos are visiting the Elmwood Giants for game one of the high school season.

Coach Chris Penner says it's always tough to scout an opponent to start the season.

The game gets underway at 5:00 at Elmwood High School.

Ladies Slo-Pitch Play-Offs Wrap Up

Northern Harbor has capped a perfect season by winning the A-side Finals of the Days Inn Ladies Slo-Pitch League.

Northern Harbor beat Dunit Contracting last night to win the best-of-three championship series two games to none.

They were also undefeated during regular season.

The Tribal Logistics Slammers took the B-Side Final, also in two straight games.

The Slammers got by the Martini's 9-5 last night at the A&W Ball Diamonds.