Giller Gala Tonight

Call it a glittering Giller Gala.

The annual Giller Award for Canadian fiction will be announced
tonight.

Once again the Kenora Public Library is celebrating the event with
a fundraiser at the Best Western Lakeside Inn.

The Giller Gala will start at 5:30 this afternoon.

The winner of the Giller will take home a cool 50 thousand dollars.

2013 Forest Fire Season Officially Over

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2013 will go into the books as the quietest forest fire season in the past four years.

The MNR has compiled its season ending report and it shows there were just 357 forest fires this summer, about half the number as last year.

Fire Information officer Heather Pridham says the weather was a big factor.

Pridham says there were fewer human caused and lightning-caused fires this summer.

Health Unit Encourages Testing for Radon Gas

A simple test in your home could prevent lung cancer.

The Northwestern Health Unit is encouraging home owners to test for Radon, which is a naturally occurring radio active gas that comes from the breakdown of uranium that is found in rocks and soil.

Public Health Inspector Rick Pascoe says you can't see it, smell it or taste it.

Test kits range from 15 to 30-dollars and are available at local home household stores.

Concern Raised About New Snowmobile Trail Regulations

A Conservative MPP is accusing the Liberal government is trying to kill the snowmobile industry in Ontario.

Jim Wilson says a new regulation would require snowmobile clubs to pay for the use of hydro right-of-ways.

He says that's just not financially feasible for most clubs.

Wilson says the new regulations would require the snowmobile clubs to not only pay for use of the hydro right-of ways, but also to pay for fencing along the trails.

Conservatives Refuse to Endorse Nuisance Bear Committee

Kenora-Rainy River Conservative candidate Randy Nickle is standing behind several members of his party who voted against an NDP motion to establish a nuisance bear committee.

The motion passed in the Ontario Legislature 31-24 last week, and the Conservatives note that all three former Ministers of Natural Resources stood and voted against it.

Randy Nickle says we've already had a committee to study the issue and they made their recommendations to the government.

He says the conservatives have already been looking at consulting northerners on the wildlife issues facing the region and that their northern policy has given northerners a voice and let them determine what's best for them.

Nickle says it's another form of duplication and a waste of taxpayer money.

Common Voice Gives Cautious Support to New Energy Plan

The Common Voice Northwest Energy Task Force says it generally supports the recommendations contained in the Ontario Power Authority's draft energy plan for the Dryden, Ear Falls, Red Lake and Pickle Lake area.

The vote of confidence comes after 2-months of intensive review and consultation.

Co-Chair Ian Angus says its essential that the Province speed up the process of developing new and needed infrastructure into the Dryden north area.

Hebert adds Pickle Lake has been telling the government since 1995 that their community has no access to sufficient energy.

And in 2008 representatives of the Musselwhite Mine with the Minister of Energy to present their case for the construction of a new transmission line.

Hebert says a delay in construction is unacceptable and Ontario must find a way to eliminate planning barriers.

The Energy Task Force report has been submitted to the Ministry of Energy and the OPA.

Fort Man Arrested for Stealing Vehicle

A 26 year old Fort Frances resident faces a long list of charges after police
in Rainy River District stopped a stolen vehicle.

The vehicle was reported stolen early Monday morning from a home in Fort Frances, and a half hour later the OPP had located it.

The vehicle was pulled over and the driver, Bobby Morrison was arrested.

He faces two counts of breach of probation, impaired driving, theft of a
vehicle, driving while under suspension and possession of marijuana.