City Excited by Infrastructure Funding

Fixing city infrastructure on the provinces dime.

City Council spoke at the open meeting this week about another $100 million in funding for small, rural, and Northern communities.

Mayor Dave Canfield says Northern communities have large infrastructure debts and have been working non stop for more funding.

Canfield says the government is aiming at making it an annual fund.

Production Could Increase at Weyerhaeuser

Solving employment needs at the local level.

Bill Candline is the plant manager at the Weyerhauser Timberstand mill and says the industry is in need of trades people.

Candline says they have their apprenticeship programs to qualified people on the job.

Candline adds the need for tradesman will continue to go up as the US housing market expands.

He projects that production at the mill could go up to 6 days a week next year, which would create around 30 new positions.

Warm Weather Continues

The warm weather will continue for a few more days.

Bill Laidlaw from Signal Weather Services says we've been lucky so far.

He says we will continue to see above average temperatures for the rest of the week.

Laidlaw adds stronger winds are heading our way and rain could start up late Friday.

Broncos Court Teams Continue to Struggle

A tough day on the courts for the beaver Brae Broncos.

The Broncos took on Fort Frances in girls basketball and boys volleyball.

The only win came from the senior volleyball team 3 sets to 1.

the juniors dropped their game 3 sets to 2.

in basketball the seniors lost 31-15 and the juniors also lost 42-21.

Consultants Complete Patient Transfer Review

A consultants report looking into non-emergency land ambulance patient transfers in the Kenora District shows serious regulatory and funding irregularities compared to Southern Ontario.

The report contains 24-recommendations and was drafted following feedback from everyone but the provincial government.

Director of Emergency Management Services Andrew Tickner says they support most of the recommendations.

KDSB Chair Barry Baltessen says he's hoping the report opens the governments eyes and will use it to lobby for more government support.

Baltessen say the KDSB is upset that non-emergency transfers are funded in the South and not here at home.

Priorities Remains Status Quo at Safe Communities Kenora

The priorities remain the same for Safe Communities Kenora.

The community group their Annual general meeting yesterday.

Co-Chair Maria Bagdonis says things will remain status quo with Falls, Transportation, Self-Inflicted injuries, and violence being the top 4 priorities.

New members were also named to the leadership table at the meeting with Jennifer Carlson being named the second co-chair.

KPDSB Enrollment Increases in Kenora

The City of Kenora is seeing a slight increase in enrollment this school year.

Dean Carrie is the Superintendent of Business for the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board and he outlines the major highlight is Valleyview School.

Carrie notes between J-K and S-K they have 75 students at Valleyview.

He stresses that's more than any other school in the board.

Carrie says the creation of French Immersion at the school has also helped spike the numbers.

New Accessible Spots in Keewatin

Addressing parking concerns in Keewatin.

City Council is making changes to accessible parking in the community.

Councillor Sharon Smith says the current spots are not clearly marked and are abused by motorists.

As a result new parking spots are being set up on Bay Street by the post office, and directly across from the library.

Smith also says safety was taken into account as the spots are located away from the traffic on Ottawa Street.