Police Find Body of Missing Man

A sad ending to a missing persons case in Kenora.

Provincial Police say they have found the body of 47 year old Hughie Whiskeyjack.

OPP say a search was conducted near the Separation Rapid's Camp where Whiskeyjack was last seen on Saturday.

His body was found in the area.

A post mortem will be conducted today at the Lake of the Woods District Hospital.

OPP Investigating A Pair of Theft Complaints

The OPP are searching for a suspect involved in a pair of theft complaints over the weekend.

Police say they initially responded to a report of a stolen vehicle from the Lakeside area Saturday afternoon.

The vehicle was recovered a short time later, but then officers received another theft complaint from a nearby business.

In both incidents, the suspect was described in a similar way:  about six feet tall, with short red hair wearing a light colored plaid shirt.

Anyone with information about either incident is asked to contact the OPP or Crimestoppers.

Road Closed To Grassy Narrows

The Grassy Narrows First Nation is cut off this morning due to flooding.

The OPP say Highway 671, about 25 kilometers south of the community  has been closed due to a road wash-out.

Police say due to the strong current, work to repair the road won't take
place until later today.

Over the past two days the Kenora area has seen over 36 millimeters of
rain swelling local lakes and rivers.

Kasechewan Evacuated

Only a handful of community members and band leaders are now in the remote community of Kashechewan.

Nearly 16-hundred residents are now being housed elsewhere, including Thunder Bay, to wait out rising waters near their community.

Meantime, Pic Mobert First Nation near White River has declared a state of emergency as its watch water levels on the White River.

Flood Watch Issued For Dryden Area

The Ministry of Natural Resources has issued a flood watch in the Dryden area.

The MNR says the Wabigoon Chain of Lakes and Eagle Lake are experiencing increased water levels.

Officials say anyone living close too or downstream from the lakes may be hit with flooding.

Residents should take steps to protect their property.

The forecast is calling for more precipitation.

Council Asked To Reject Energy East

The Energy East Pipeline continues to be a divisive issue locally.

Yesterday, Kenora City Council was taken to take for allowing the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association to endorse the project.

Teika Newton is with the Kenora Environmental Committee and feels the project won't reduce the transport of dangerous material via rail through the community.

Mayor Dave Canfield took exception to Newton's comments saying NOMA has done it's homework and they have to look at both sides of an issue in order to make the right decision.

Big Spruce 2nd To Start June 2nd

It's being call the Big Spruce Two.

Phase Three of Downtown Revitalization is set to begin in June.

Expect a lot of construction and detours in downtown Kenora this summer
as work on Phase Three is scheduled to begin on June 2nd.

Work will start at the corner of Main and Second Street South where pavement will be removed and excavatin will begin.

All of Second Street South will be dug up during the summer with final paving slated for the end of September.

Moncrief Construction had the winning bid at just over 4.7 million dollars.

Kenora BIZ says it's working on an Open For Business campaign during construction.

Northern Policy Institute Appoints Advisory Panel

The pieces of the government's new Northern Policy Insitutute are slowly coming into focus.  

President Charles Cirtwill says he's  chosen six members for the advisory committe and is looking for some more candidates.

Cirtwill says the advisory members were selected for their experience, knowledge and connections in key sectors across the entire Northern Ontario region.

He adds that he's still looking for people who are leaders in their communties and policy field to sit on
the advisory panel.

Fort Frances Set To Re-Open Tourist Info Center

Ontario's former tourist centre in Fort Frances will be reopening, for at least year anyway.

The town will operate the centre on a one-year lease with the province.

Mayor Roy Avis says they're also receiving some money through Ontario Sunset Country Travel Association to help operate the facility.

The provincial government had stopped operating the centre due to budget cuts.

NorWOSSA Soccer Games Scrubbed Today

The weather continues to play havoc with the NorWOSSA soccer season.

Beaver Brae was supposed to host both Fort Frances and Dryden today at
the Tom Nabb Soccer Complex.

But the damp conditions and snow flurries means today's games will be post-poned.

The new date for the games is Friday May 23rd.