Infrastructure projects face deadline

With winter getting ready to set in, there has been some concern about the status of some of the infrastructure projects funded by the federal and provincial government's.

A recent report by the federal auditor questioned whether all the projects would be complete

by the March 31st deadline imposed by the Harper government.

Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford says so far, the projects in his riding seem to be on schedule for

completion.

A couple of projects in the Kenora area are still underway, including the Discovery Center in

Norman and the new water treatment facility in Redditt.

Both are scheduled to be complete sometime during the winter months.

LHIN's Announces funding for aboriginal elders

The Kenora Chiefs Advisory is getting funding from the Northwest Local Health Integration Network to help aboriginal elders stay in their homes.

The local group is one of seven across the region to get funding.

Just over 140 thousand dollars will go towards a new project that provide home maintenance service and home visits.

The money will also give safety and support services training to 100 elders in four communities near Kenora.

The Northwest LHIN's has doled out over 500 thousand dollars for aborigianal community

support services.

Soldi Ventures to begin Drill Program in Cameron Lake Area

Yet another mining company is planning an exploration program in the Cameron Lake area

in the Township of Sioux Narrows/Nestor Falls.

Soldi Ventures is going to embark on a winter drilling project of its recently acquired property.

The Vancouver-based company recently obtained about 76-hectares of land within the emerging gold

zone.

The company says it will be drilling in areas based on a historical and current review of data of the five separate claim holdings.

Jump Start Program helps out northern Communities

Attawapiskat youth will be getting involved in sports thanks to Canadian Tire and the Provincial Government.

The two are sending a youth wellness worker to the community who will help create sports programs.

Canadian Tire Jumpstart President Dan Thompson says they'll also have activity kit.

As part of the program, Olympic Athlete Sami Jo Small will speak to youth in Kashechewan, Attawapiskat and Fort Albany.

Funding available for tourism projects

The Ministry of Tourism is currently reviewing eight projects that could boost tourism in Northwestern Ontario.

Paul Pepe is part of the transition team for the new Northern Ontario Tourism Zone and says the projects include a big-game hunting proposal, motorcycle tours and marketing strategies into Manitoba and the Northern U.S.

Pepe notes other projects are on the go.

A total of 1.54-million dollars is available for tourism related projects in this Region.

Ignatieff tackles border crossing issues

Problems at the border was one of the hot button issues discussed Friday at a Town Hall meeting with Michael Ignatieff.

The Federal Liberal Leader addressed about 80-party faithful at the Dryden Centre.

Ignatieff says he's the only leader that believes this is a major issue.

Ignatieff notes Americans with minor convictions who want to spend a week fishing in the North shouldn't be turned away at the border.

Snow Storms cause weekend accidents

Snow squalls over the weekend resulted in a couple of road closures in northwestern Ontario.

The Kenora By-Pass was closed for about three hours early Saturday morning due to a collision involving a semi tractor trailor unit just west of the Jones Road.

Highway 17 between Kenora and Vermillion Bay was also closed down a short time on Saturday due to another single vehicle accident.

Meanwhile Highway 17 near Nipigon was closed down for about nine hours yesterday morning.

The OPP say the body of a 21 year old man was found lying in the middle of the road near the Nipigon River Bridge.

The highway was closed while the Technical Traffic unit carried out its

investigation.

Bronco Boys place second in Dryden Hockey Tournament

Beaver Brae's boys hockey team had a good showing at the annual Dryden Invitational Tournament.

The Broncos got by the host Eagles 5-3 in the semi-finals and met up with Fort Frances in the Tournament Final on Saturday.

The game was tied 1-1 after two periods, but the Muskies turned it on in the third period and downed the Broncos 4-1.

Broncos lose in WSFL Quarter-Finals

Beaver Brae's football team will start packing up its gear for another year today.

The Broncos post-season hopes were dashed on Friday in Winnipeg with a 15-14 loss to Murdoch McKay in a thrilling game at the Eastside Stadium.

Despite the loss, Beaver Brae head coach Chris Penner says he was proud of the way his team played.

Scott Morgan scored a 51 yard touchdown in the third quarter for the Broncos and Cody Jones had a four yard touchdown reception for the other major.

The Broncos held a 14-8 lead in midway through the fourth quarter before giving up their only touchdown of the day to Murdoch McKay.

Finders not Keepers according to Police Board

Its not finders keepers, at least not according to the Kenora Police Services Board.

The board met yesterday and was asked to deal with a case, where a local woman had turned in a sum of money to the OPP she found this past summer.

Board chair Glenda McMillan says if the money isn't claimed it should be returned to the finder.

But mayor Len Compton suggested the money should be kept by the board and donated to charity.

Colin Wasacase feels the matter should be deferred until the board comes up with a policy in regards to found money.

The cash amounted to about 400 dollars.

Hampton Demands help for Fort Hope

Kenora Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton is calling on the Liberal Government to take action to help Fort Hope First Nation.

Hampton says the province needs to roll out programs for first nations facing prescription drug abuse.

The NDP MPP wants the Narcotics Safety and Awareness Act amended to address the prescription drug abuse epidemic.

Saints Sweep Ignace

It was a clean sweep for Thomas Aquinas Court teams against Igance yesterday.

The Saints Senior Girls Basketball team got by Ignace 33-14.

Melissa White had 10 Points in that game.

The T.A. Junior Girls edged the Falcons 42-32. Sami Burkart led the offense with 18 points.

Both the Thomas Aquinas junior and senior boys volleyball teams ran their records to 13-0 with straight set wins over the Falcons.

The Saints senior and junior boys volleyball teams and the senior girls basketball team have all secured a berth in the gold medal Norwossa game on November 10th.

The junior girls will have to play a semi-final match on the 9th.

Broncos Football Team Play-off Bound

The second season in the Winnnipeg High School Football Leauge begins today for Beaver Brae's Football team.

The Broncos have a quarter-final date against the top team in the Vidruk East Division, the 7-0 Murdoch McKay Clansmen.

Head Coach Chris Penner says the biggest thing will be going into the game with a positive attitude.

The Broncos take on Murdoch McKay at the Eastside Stadium at 5:15 this afternoon.

Ignatieff tours northwestern Ontario

More promises to strengthen FedNor from Liberal Leader Micheal Ignatieff.

He's touring northwestern Ontario and Ignatieff claims the regional development agency doesn't get the respect it deserves from the Harper government

Ignatieff says a Liberal government would work to give FedNor a bigger say in the development of the north.

Ignatieff will stop in Sioux Lookout and Dryden today.

Redditt Road being Re-Paved

Motorists travelling along the Redditt Road can expect delays for a few more weeks.

The Ministry of Transportation is having a four kilometer section of Highway 658 re-paved.

Other sections of the Redditt Road are also being fixed up.

Work began this week with Pioneer Construction stripping off the asphalt.

A spokesperson for the local MTO says the goal is to have the work done before

winter sets in.

Province Promises to help Fort Hope

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Chris Bentley says officials are

looking for ways to help a remote First Nations community that has

declared a state of emergency.

There have been three murders and dozens of arsons and thefts in the last year on the the Fort Hope First Nation. 

Bentley says the province will work with the federal government to come up with a plan to help.

Earlier this week, Indian and Northern Affairs Minister John Duncan said calling in military reservists is one option.

IJC Task Force Visits Kenora

A Task Force set up the the International Joint Commission to look water quality issues on Lake of the Woods has wrapped up its fourth public session in four nights.

The Task Forces was in Kenora Wednesday night.

Todd Sellars is Executive Director of the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation and says he's been impressed by the work of the Task Force to date.

He says they have promised an interim list of recommendations for the public to look over early in the new year.

The Task Force has to have its recommendations to the IJC by July 15th of 2011.

More Complaints heard about Fort Frances Border Crossing

The lack of the consistency at the Fort Frances border crossing was the topic of the day at the Northern Ontario Tourist Outfitters Association Conference in Dryden yesterday.

Regional Campowners called the crossing the worst in Canada and demanded an immediate shake-up at the staffing level.

A suggestion was made to have American visitors file formal complaints, an idea quickly brushed aside by attendee Gerry Cariou.

Campowners claimed hundreds of visitors get turned away a year, even though they followed the proper procedures to visit our country.

OPP policing under budget

The City of Kenora seems to be getting value for its policing dollar.

A report was released by the Kenora Police Services Board yesterday which showed the first full year of policing the city by the OPP came in less than expected.

Inspector Dave Lucas from the Kenora Detachment says overall, they were 554 thousand dollars under budget.

Lucas says the figures are based on the one year period from July 2009, when they took over policing the city from the Kenora Police Service, to July of 2010.

Heatherington earns berth to Canada Winter Games

Luke Heatherington will be Halifax bound in February.

Heatherington was the only member of the Jaffray Melick Judo Club
to book a berth to the Canada Winter Games.

He qualified for the games by winning his Under 20, 66 kilo division in North York this past weekend.

Kaitie Dennis also attended the qualifying tournament but failed to advance.

Spirit Horse Production tours local schools

Elementary students in Kenora were treated to the Spirit Horse Theatre Production yesterday.

The play is about 2-aboriginal children whose family is caught between their traditional ways and contemporary urban culture.

It looks at the challenges and cultural sterotypes facing aboriginal students.

The production also provides teachers with a tool to make drama, dance, music and visual arts come alive in the classroom.

Meegwun Fairbrother is a Kenora actor and was one of the members of the production, which has been touring the province.

Canfield targets 2011 provincial election

Now that the municipal election is in the books for another four years,

attention is now going to be turned to the provincial election next fall.

Mayor-elect in the City of Kenora, Dave Canfield says he wants to use the

election to focus on issues affecting communities in northwestern Ontario.

Canfield says the provincial election will be an excellent opportunity to

meet with cabinet minister and other candiates for the Ontario election

to raise their concerns.

Bill aimed at Mining Companies defeated

A private member's bill aimed at ensuring Canadian mining companies respect environmental and human rights standards abroad was narrowly defeated by the House of Commons.

At final reading, MP's voted 140 to 134 against the bill.

Red Lake Mayor Phil Vinet says mining is a booming economic driver and we should be doing everything to encourage mining in Canada.

The bill was intended to hold corporations in the mining, oil and gas sectors accountable by requiring the foreign affairs and trade ministers to submit annual reports to the Commons and Senate for review.

Kenora MP Greg Rickford voted against the Bill.

Two charged with supplying alcohol to minors

The OPP have charged two people for supplying alcohol to minors.

Over the weekend, officers were called out to the Kenora Shopper's Mall where two teenaged girls were found to be in possession of some alcohol.

Following a short investigation, police determined the booze had been

purchased by two adults who then gave it to the girls.

Two residents of Washagamis Bay, a 20 year old woman and 25 year

old man will have to appear in court on charges of supplying alcohol

to minors under the age of 19.

Work on new tourism zones continues

It will still be several month's before the new Northern Ontario Tourism Zone is officialy incorporated.

Paul Pepe is a member of the transition team and says a lot of legal work remains.

Pepe says they have decided to break-up the North zone into 3 sub-region's.

A total of 1.54-million dollars has been allocated for tourism-related initiatives in Northwestern Ontario.

Pepe spoke at the Annual Northern Ontario Tourist Outfitters Association Conference in Dryden Wednesday.

NOSM contract talks set to resume

OPSEU and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine are heading back to the bargaining table.

The 2-sides haven't talked since Union members rejected the Schools last offer earlier this month.

Support staff at the school have been striking since the middle of August.

Talks are set to resume on Monday.

NOTO Conference Starts today in Dryden

The 83rd Annual Northern Ontario Tourist Outfitters Association Annual Conference starts today in Dryden.

Tourism officials and camp owners will sit down for 2-days to discuss the state of the industry.

An update on the new Tourism Zones and the benefits of a Tourism License for Ontario will be discussed on Day 1.

The contenous issue of on-going border problems will highlight day number 2.

Parkes reacts to Machin election results

The outgoing Mayor of Machin says he had a great run during his tenure.

Garry Parkes says his main goal was to better the community and he believes great strides have been made in that.

Parkes says he plans to spend some more time on his small business and do some traveling with his wife.

Parkes says a number of projects are close to moving forward and he hopes Council keeps them on the priority list.

Fort Hope Funding announced

Ottawa is working with an aboriginal community in northwestern Ontario that's declared a state of emergency over high crime.

The Fort Hope First Nation says its overwhelmed by recent murders and arsons.

Indian Affairs says it is providing 275-thousand dollars for staff and basic supplies for patrols and to repair the community's only school.

Indian Affairs Minister John Duncan says one option is to call in a reserve military unit with a large Aboriginal component such as the Canadian Rangers.

IJC Task Force in Town tonight

A task force set up to help governments address water quality and related issues in the Lake of the Woods and Rainy River watersheds will hold a series of public meetings this week.

The International Lake of the Woods and Rainy River Watershed Task Force was in International

Falls last night and travels up to Kenora tonight.

The session will take place at the Best Western Lakeside Inn starting at 7:00.

The Task Force is to submit its recommendations to the International Joint Commission by July 15.

Wicked weather wanes

The Kenora area has so far been relatively unscathed by a huge storm system that is moving over central Canada.

Rain, high winds and even some snow has been attached to the system.

Geoff Coulson is a severe weather specialist for Environment Canada and says things should start to improve later today.

The storm system has caused a number of power outages in and around Thunder Bay, and even forced the closure of the Trans-Canada Highway between Nipigon and

Schreiber for a short time last night.

No power outages have been reported in the Kenora area so far.

Great Lakes Cyclone Heading Our Way

Windy and wet.

Those are the two key words for the next couple of days.

Environment Canada has issued a weather advisory for Kenora and much of northwestern Ontario.

Severe Weather Specialiist Geoff Coulson says the system is described as a Great Lake Cyclone.

Coulson adds that we could also see winds gusting anywhere from 60 to 70 kilometers per hour

during the next day or so.

Final results in for City Council

Everything old is new again at Kenora City Hall.

Former mayor Dave Canfield was re-elected after a four year hiatus.

Canfield collected 4,178 hundred votes, compared to 1,754 for Andrew Poirier and 715 for Jim Parson.

In the council race, former councillor Ron Lunny topped all vote-getters with 4,021, followed by Sharon Smith at 3,746, Rory McMillan at 3,456 and Rod McKay with 3,037 votes.

Rounding out council are Louis Roussin at 2,838 and Charito Drinkwalter with 2,743.

In the vote for the District of Kenora Unicorporated Ratepayer Association representitive on

the Kenora District Services Board, Barry Baltesson beat out Ingrid Parkes.

There will be a couple of new trustees from Kenora on the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board.

Cecile Marcino garnered the most votes and will be joined by new comers Bob Onysko and

Michelle Ott.

Kahoot elected mayor in Ear Falls

A surprise in Ear Falls where political rookie Kevin Kahoot as defeated Councilor's Tracey Simon and Rob Doyle for Mayor.

Former Mayor Jim Demarais will sit on Council along with Vic Robinson, Rob Eady and Fred Melanson.

Kahoot  is a former Kenora resident and says he's got a great team.

Political veteran Rob Bergman and incumbent Councilor David Wilson finished 5th and 6th respectively.

Nuttall elected mayor in Dryden

A lot of new faces will sit at the Council table across Northwestern Ontario following yesterday's Municipal Election.

In Dryden, Craig Nutall defeated incumbent Mayor Anne Krassilowsky by about 300 votes.

Nuttal says he could sense victory.

Mary Trist, in her first election, was the top vote getter for Council, followed by Mike Wood, Ken Moss, Brian Collins, Martin MacKinnon and Mel Fisher.

Voter turn-out in Dryden was an impressive 61.15-percent.

Sioux Narrows/Nestor Falls council vote

Some familiar faces are back in town council in Sioux Narrows Nestor Falls.

Former Mayor Gerry O'Leary topped all vote getters with 376 and was elected as

a councillor at large along with Norbert Dufresne.

They beat out former councillors Chan Motlong and Lou Kabel.

In ward one, Gail Black was returned as a councillor and in ward two

Wayne Helliar edged out Randy Hanson 103 votes to 91.

Mayor Bill Thompson was acclaimed.

Machin elects a brand new mayor and council

Sweeping changes in Machin as voters decided to elect a brand new Council.

Incumbent Mayor Garry Parkes was unseated by Gord Dingman.

Gordon Griffiths, Ronald Kujansuu, Joseph Ruete and Dennis Peterson were elected to Council.

Incumbent's Laurie Huffman and Paul Kelly finished well behind.

Long time mayors re-elected in Rainy River District

Two long-time municipal leaders retained their seats in municipal elections across the Rainy River District last night.

Dennis Brown captured 80 per cent of the vote to beat out Bob Davidson in a successful defence of his mayor's seat in Atikokan.

Valerie Pizey outdistanced challenger Gerald Fisk to hold on to her mayor's seat in Lake of the Woods township.

Vince Sheppard is the new Mayor of Emo, defeating incumbent Ed Carlson by about 80 votes.

Canfield returns as Kenora mayor

Former Kenora Mayor Dave Canfield is heading back to city hall.

Canfield won last night's mayoralty election in convincing fashion.

He garnered over 41 hundred votes compared to 17 hundred for runner up Andrew Poirier.

Jim Parson was a distant third with 715 votes.

In the council race, Ron Lunny was the top vote getter followed by community activist, Sharon Smith.

Rory McMillan placed third, followed by Rod McKay in fourth, Louis Roussin in fifth and Charito Drinkwalter in sixth.

In the race for public school board trustee, Cecil Marcino was the top vote getter, followed by Bob Onysko and Michele Ott.

Around the region, its a changing landscape in the mayor's chair.

Craig Nuttall upset Anne Krassilowski for mayor in the City of Dryden, and

former Kenora resident Kevin Kahoot is in as mayor of Ear Falls.

Highway 596 Closed between Darlington Bay and Highway 17-A

Residents living on Highway 596 between the Darlingon Bridge and the Kenora by-pass could find it a little more difficult to get home today.

The City of Kenora is doing some emergency road work on the section of the road, about one kilometer south of Highway 17-A.

A culvert is being replaced, and the work isn't expected to be complete until about 4:30 tomorrow afternoon.

Traffic will be stopped at the Darlington Bay Bridge, and only people living south of the dig site will be allowed through.

No-one will be able to cross the dig site until the work is complete.

Traffic is also being stopped at the by-pass for vehicles trying to head south on Highway 596.

Greenpeace Caribou Caravan hits NWO

Greenpeace is touring northwestern Ontario with its "caribou caravan"

The environmental group is pressuring Minister of Northern Development Michael Gravelle and the Ontario Government to save woodland caribou.

Spokesperson Catherine Grant says the government can balance both the environment and forest industry.

Greenpeace started the caravan out last week at Queen's Park in Toronto.

DOKURA Votes for DSAB reps today

There is another vote taking place today as well.

The District of Kenora Unincorporated Rate Payers association is

set to elect a couple of representitives to the Kenora District Services Board.

In the Lake of the Woods North area, Ingrid Parkes and Barry Baltesson are vying for one position.

Polling stations will be set up in a variety of community halls and fire stations throughout the area.

Municipal Election Campaign wraps up today

The 45 day long municipal election campaign wraps up today.

While about 50 percent of the mail-in ballots have already been received at

city hall, people can still do some last minute voting today.

Returning officer, Joanne McMillin says they have two polling stations set up

for anyone who didn't get a voting kit in the mail.

The polls will close at 8:00 and CJRL news will be providing live coverage of the

results this evening right after Radio Bingo.

Busy weekend for High School Sports

 

A good weekend for Thomas Aquinas sports teams.

T.A. entered two teams into the annual Dryden Pumpkin Smash Junior Boys Volleyball tournament.

Both team red and team black finished second in their pools.

While team red lost in the quarter finals to Red Lake, team black advanced to the finals and beat the host Dryden Gold squad two games to one.

In Fort Frances, the Saints girls hockey team won all three of its round robin games, knocking off Beaver Brae, Dryden and Red Lake.

T.A. advanced to the final, but lost a close decision to the defending tournament champions, the Pembina Valley Tigers.

The Beaver Brae junior girls volleyball team also had a strong tournament in Fort Frances.

The Broncos finshed with a 3-1 record including victories over St. Pat's,

Westgate and St. Ignatius, all Thunder Bay high school teams.

Thistle lose twice on the road

A tough weekend for the Kenora Triple "a" midget Thistles.

The local midget squad played two of the toughest teams in the

league and lost both game played over the weekend.

Saturday, the Thistles dropped a 7-1 decision to the Winnipeg

Thrashers.

On Friday, the Eastman Selects overcame an early 2-0 deficit

to beat the Thistles 6-2.

Health Unit starts up flu shot clinics

The Northwestern Health Unit is putting out a call for residents to get their flu shot this fall.

It began it's flu shot clinics last week.

Director of Infectious Diseases Donna Stanley says H-1-N-1 is still cause for concern, but unlike last year, the health unit won't be administering a different shot to help combat that flu strain.

Stanley says priorities groups this year includes those with chronic disease, seniors and young children under five.

Broncos lose final regular season game

Beaver Brae's football team is heading into the play-offs on a down note.

The Broncos were spanked 35-11 by the Kildonan West Wolverines on

Friday in their final game of the regular season.

Beaver Brae's will now face Murdoch McKay in the quarter-finals on Friday

in Winnipeg.

Head Coach Chris Penner says they actually played well against the Clansmen

a couple of weeks ago, even though they lost that game.

The Broncos will play Murdoch McKay at the Eastside Stadium at 5:15 on Friday

afternoon.