Highway 17 Re-opened

Ontario Provincial Police have reopened highway 17 East of Igance.

The road was closed earlier today due to a 5 vehicle collision involving 2 transports, 2 passenger vehicles, and a snow plow.

Thankfully nobody was injured in the accident.

The OPP are still advising caution on all area highways as the winter storm conditions continue.

Highway 17 Closed Between Ignace and Thunder Bay

The snowy and icy conditions continue to cause havoc on area highways.

Highway 17 is closed just east of Ignace due to a five vehicle motor vehicle collision involving two tractor trailer units, one snow plow and two passenger vehicles.

No injuries reported.

Provincial Police are urging motorists to adjust their driving during the winter storm conditions in the region.
Constable Ann McCoy says use caution.

If you are heading east of Thunder Bay today, Provincial Police have closed Highway 11 between Nipigon and Hearst due to poor road conditions.  

Assault Vicitm Upgraded to Stable Condition

A 54 year old man continues to recovery in Kenora hospital following an assault earlier this week.

Police say the man was attacked on the Whitedog First Nation on Wednesday.

He had life threatening injuries when he arrived at the Lake of the Wood District Hospital but has since been upgraded to stable condition.

As a result of the attack 27 year Russell Muckle was charged with Aggravated Assault.

He will answer to the charge today.

OPP Seek Marine Student

The Kenora OPP are looking for a new student.

The OPP are seeking applications for the Marine Assistant position.

The students will work along OPP Marine operators and conduct checks on boaters.

The OPP requires the following for consideration for this student position:

• Must be 18 years of age.
• Possess a Pleasure Craft Operators Card.
• Have a minimum Ontario G2 Driver’s Licence.
• CPR & First Aid qualifications.
• Strong swimming abilities, good communication skills, professional appearance as well as previous boating experience are all assets.

The “Marine Assistant” position is available for application: February 21-March 2, 2014.

• Only electronic applications will be considered and can be located at http://www.gojobs.gov.on.ca/SEP.asp, or the Career pages of www.opp.ca.
• It is recommended that students retain a copy for proof of their application

Highway 17 Re-Opened Again

Traffic is finally moving again on Highway 17 east of Kenora.

The Trans-Canada was closed for roughly three hours after a tractor
trailor unit jack-knifed just east of the Highway 71 junction.

The OPP just re-opened the highway about a half an hour ago.

Roads in the area are listed as snow covered with poor visibility this
morning.

Snow Sculpture Contest to Begin This Weekend

If the snow ever lets up, you might start to notice some activity on
the Kenora Harborfront.

The Snow Sculpture competition for the Winter Carnival is scheduled to
get underway this weekend.

Tourism Services officer, Heather Gropp says it's been a challenge to
get the contest underway.

Gropp says they will have seven sculptures this year with the winners to
be announced on the opening night of this year's Winter Carnival on
March 7th.

Province To Review MPAC

The Province is taking action against the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation.

The government is directing the Ministry of Finance to develop an action plan to implement 26 changes.

Dryden Mayor Craig Nuttall notes it's a long time coming.

The Minister of Finance and Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing are also calling for a comprehensive, independent performance evaluation of MPAC.

Alzheimer Coffee Breaks Well Received

The Alzheimer Society of Kenora Rainy River has received a java
jolt.

The annual Coffee Breaks fundraiser has wrapped up and
spokesperson Elizabeth Paul says they managed to raise about
24 hundred dollars.

Paul says they have a number of other fundraisers planned this year including
their Ride for Memories and Taste of Kenora dinner.

Hunters Fined For Illegally Killing Moose

The hammer is coming down on more illegal hunting in the region.

This time it's a southern Ontario man who has been fined a total of 37 hundred dollars for illegally hunting two cow moose and for shooting across a road.  

He has also been banned from hunting for a year.  

The Ministry of Natural Resources says that the incidents happened at a resort in the Lac des Mille Lacs area, west of Thunder Bay last fall.

Ontario Chamber of Commerce Bullish on Ring of Fire

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce is out with a report saying the Ring of Fire mining project will generate benefits far beyond mining and the north.

Charla Robinson is a chamber spokesperson and says this study helps to sell the project to the movers and shakers in the province.

The study shows the Ring of Fire will generate up to 9.4 billion dollars in economic activity in its first 10 years.

OPP Name new Commissioner

The Ontario Provincial Police have found their next commissioner.

Vince Hawks will take over the position from Chris Lewis on M
arch 29th.

Hawks, who has been with the OPP since 1984, has served commander of investigations and organized crime, Deputy Commissioner of Field Operations, and played a role in creating the national crime strategy.

He has won received an Exemplary Service Medal and a Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal.

TBay Tel Shut Out of Wireless Sell Off

Tbaytel was shut out in the recent sell-off of wireless services in Canada.

The regional company participated in the auction but failed to win any bids.

Bell, Rogers, Telus and Bragg Communications received the winning bids for licenses in northern Ontario.

A total of 97
licenses were awarded to 8 companies.

The auction netted the federal government more than 5.2 billion dollars.

Saints Boys Hockey Team Wins Game One of NorWOSSA Semi-final

The boys semi-final hockey series between Thomas Aquinas and Beaver Brae looks like it's going to be a hard fought, low scoring affair.

The Saints drew first blood in the best-of-three series last night with a 2-1 win over the Broncos.

Rory Keith scored the game winner for T.A.

The two teams will do battle again Saturday night for game two.

Puck drop is 8:00 at the Kenora Rec. Center.

The other semi-final between Dryden and Fort Frances was supposed to start last night
as well, but was cancelled due to the weather.

That series will now begin Sunday afternoon in Dryden.

Saints Senior Girls Heading to OFSAA

The Thomas Aquinas Senior Girls volleyball team is heading back to the
All-Ontario Single A championships.

The Saints easily won the NWOSSA finals yesterday.

T.A. beat St. Joseph from Wawa in two straight games in the best-of-three final.

The Saints also did not drop a set in the two matches played yesterday.

Thomas Aquinas now prepares for the OFSAA finals in Richmond Hill starting
March 3rd.

School Buses Canceled Again

For the second day in a row, school buses will not be running in the Kenora area.

The Northwest Student Services Consortium says while we didn't get the snow we expected
yesterday, more is in the forecast today and is expected to create poor driving conditions.

Up to 25 centimeters of snow is forecast in some areas, so buses in the Vermillion Bay, Dryden,
Red Lake, Sioux Lookout and Ignace areas have also been cancelled.

The Thomas Aquinas music trip to Winnipeg has also been cancelled today due to the bus situation.

Local schools will remain open today.

Highway 17 Closed at Highway 71 Junction

Traffic has ground to a halt on Highway 17 east of Kenora.

The OPP have closed the Trans-Canada from the Redditt Road intersection all the way
to the Highway 71 junction due to a number of jack-knifed transports.

The highway was closed just after 4:00 and police say it will remain closed until all the
trucks can be cleared from the roadway.