Thomas Aquinas Perfect after OFSAA Round Robin

The Thomas Aquinas senior girls volleyball team is living up to its top billing so far at the All-Ontario Single A championships taking place in Belleville.

The Saints are undefeated in the round robin, with a perfect 4-0 record.

So far T.A. has yet to drop a set.

Last night, Thomas Aquinas finished the day with a 25-15, 25-20, straight sets win over West Park Secondary School from St. Catherines.

The Saints have now advanced to the quarter-finals and will be on the court at 11:30 in a must-win game.

A victory moves them into the semi-finals, and a loss would send them home empty handed.

Conservatives Hints at their Northern Platform

With a provincial election just seven months away, the Progressive Conservatives are starting to outline their platform for Northern Ontario.

Tory Critic for Northern Development and Mines, Randy Hillier says they don't like many of the policies and legislation drafted by the McGuinty government and would scrap the Far North Act.

Hillier describes the Far North Act as divisive, because it excludes about half of the territory of northern Ontario from any sort of development.

City Demanding Money to Repair Bridges

Its like being between a rock and a hard place.

That's how some members of city council have described this year's budget process.

Of particular concern is what to do with the city's aging bridges.

There's no money in the capital budget to fix them up, but Councillor Ron Lunny says they know the work has to be done eventually.

The West Winnipeg River Bridge, better known as the Husky Bridge, is the main priority for the city, and needs over 5.5 million dollars of repair work done.

Mayor Dave Canfield says he doesn't want to foot the bill for the project and is insisting the provincial government take back control over bridges from the municipality.

Camp on Lake of the Woods Destroyed by Fire

A fire to a camp on Lake of the Woods is believed to have caused more than a million dollars damage.

The OPP say they were contacted around 3:00 Sunday morning about a blaze in the area of Strawberry Island.

Police say the building was not occupied at the time and was completely

destroyed by the fire.

The Ontario Fire Marshall's office has been contacted, but will not be attending the scene.

The Camp belonged to Jim Richardson and was valued at about 1.6 million dollars.

First Student Canada wins school bussing contract in Kenora

A new company will be picking up kids for school in the Kenora

area next year.

The Northwestern Ontario Student Services Consortium, which handles

transportation issues for local school boards, has awarded a five year

contract to a company called First Student of Canada.

That company will be taking over from Excel Coachlines, which has

had the contract for several years.

The Student Services consortium says the tender process was part of a

provincially mandated initiative.

First Student will take over school bus service in Kenora this fall.

Tent Tenders for the Harborfront come in under budget

One of the items in the City's capital budget in 2011 is the tent covering for the festival park.

Operations manager Rick Perchuck says they have received back

the tenders for the tent, and they are all under the 1.5 million dollars

that has been budgeted for the strucuture.

Perchuck says a report will be presented to the committee of the whole  next week for review.

Council still has to find a way of funding the tent structure

City Starts Budget Process

Kenora city council has started the long budget process for 2011.

Today councillors got a first hand look at the capital budget, which

calls for spending of 13 million dollars this year.

Chair of the finance committee Ron Lunny admits there are some

big challenges ahead.

Some of the items in this year's capital budget are completion of the Discovery Center and downtown revitalization, the harborfront tent, and a new pumper truck for the fire department.

HST to add to City's Budget Woes

The Harmonized Sales tax could have some impact on the City of Kenora's 2011 budget.

The provincial government has said repeatedly, the HST is revenue neutral, but Chief Adminstrative officer of the city, Karen Brown expects the HST will add about 1.7 percent to its spending.

She says city department's will have to take that into account when drafting their operating budget's this year.

NOACC supports Northern Growth Plan

The Northwestern Associated Chambers of Commerce is another organization on board with the Northern Growth Plan.

NOACC President Barry Streib says the proposed Northern Policy Institute is welcome by the chambers

While critics say the plan has no substance, Streib believes the framework is there to guide growth into

the future.

Rafferty Demands HST be taken off gasoline

Thunder Bay-Rainy River M-P John Rafferty believes gas prices in northwestern Ontario are out of control.

In the House of Commons Friday, Rafferty says removal of the HST would help bring them down.

Rafferty says studies suggest the recent increase in prices is netting the federal government almost 7-million dollars each week

Agent Orange Panel being set up

Natural Resources Minister Linda Jeffrey says an independent panel into Ontario's use of Agent Orange will be up and running by the end of the week.

She says she will likely name the head of the panel within the next few days.

Close to 650 calls have flooded provincial hotlines in the wake of recent revelations that Agent Orange was used in Ontario for more than three decades.

Saints Aim for Gold at OFSAA

The Thomas Aquinas senior girls volleyball team is in Belleville today for the start of the All-Ontario Single A championships.

Saints head coach Bob Kowal says this is probably the best team he has taken to OFSAA.

The Saints go into the tournament as the number one ranked team.

Their first game is at 8:00 this morning against People's Christian Acadamy from Toronto, which is the lowest seed at OFSAA.

Festival Funding Announced

A couple of local festivals are getting a helping hand from the provincial government.

Celebrate Summer, a festival which will take taking place just after Canada Day has been promised 40 thousand dollars to help stage that event this year.

Harborfest will also be getting 75 thousand dollars from the Ministry of Tourism's Celebrate Ontario fund.

A total of 20 million dollars has been promised 230 different festivals across the province, to help attract more visitors and create jobs in the community.

Council begins budget process this morning

Kenora city council will get its first crack at the 2011 budget this morning.

A special council meeting is scheduled to take place in Council chambers to go over the capital budget and take a look at long term projects.

The budget time-line for this fiscal year will also be laid out.

The budget meeting is scheduled to take place at 9:00 this morning.

Mixed reviews for the Northern Growth Plan

The head of the Northwestern Ontario Muncipal Association is giving thumbs up to the province's Northern Growth Plan.

Ron Nelson says NOMA is especially happy that a Northern Policy Institute is part of the plan

Nelson says now the plan is out it's up to everyone concerned to make sure it moves forward.

NDP MPP Howard Hampton doesn't see much oppirtunity for growth after reading the new Growth Plan For Northern Ontario,

The Northern Growth Plan was released on Friday to much fanfare.

Northern Policy Institute being Planned

The McGuinty government's proposal for a Northern Policy Institute is only a idea so far.

Liberal MPP Bill Mauro says details will be worked out by the presidents of Lakehead and Laurentian Universities.

Mauro says the advice will be passed on the Minister of Northern Development.

Wasaya Air expanding again

Flying services to Northern Ontario will be getting a boost.

Wasaya Airways is meeting increased demand for air service in the North by adding its second Bombardier Dash 8 since October.

Vice President George Simon says the company also plans on adding a third Dash 8 as part of an expansion plan.

Simon says the new planes can carry 37 passengers which is a lot larger than the current planes in their fleet.

The Fight is on for Northern Ontario Curling Teams

The federal NDP wants to save Northern Ontario and its place on the national curling stage.

Sports Critic Glenn Thibeault of Sudbury says they're trying to stop the Canadian Curling Association from eliminating the region's place at the Brier and giving it to the defending champion.

Thibeault says the region's vastness and uniqueness support the need for a separate Northern Ontario entry.

Hospital still in the black

Lake of the Woods District Hospital still expects to break even this year

despite its recent bed shortage.

Finance manager Cindy Gasparini says as of the end of January they wereabout 220 thousand dollars in the black.

She adds that the bed shortage has meant more overtime costs, so that will eat into their surplus.

She adds that at this point they still don't know what their budget will be for this years, but says right now they are working with the expectation of a zero percent increase.

Bronco Girls win NorWOSSA hockey Gold

Beaver Brae's hockey teams have won one gold and one silver medal in the NorWOSSA finals.

The Bronco girls took the NorWOSSA double "a" title last night with a 4-2 win over Dryden.

Ainsley Linquist led the scoring attack with a goal and three assists, while Sam Smith, Hannah Rose and Haley Moncrief each scored singles for Beaver Brae.

The Broncos won the best-of-three final two games to none and will head to Stratford after the March Break for the All-Ontario championships.

Meanwhile, the Fort Frances Muskies took the NorWOSSA double "a" boys crown with a 4-3 win over Beaver Brae last night at the Rec. Center.

The Muskies scored the game winner 12:28 in overtime to take the series two games to none.

Senior Thistles Trounce Penticton

The Kenora Triple "a" senior Thistles were not good hosts over the weekend.

The Thistles whipped the Penticton Vees in two games played at the Kenora

Rec. Center.

Yesterday, Jeff Richards had a pair of goals en route to a 9-1 win over the Vees.

On Saturday, the Kenora Seniors got three goals from Jon Johnson in a 9-4

rout over Penticton.

Meanwhile, the Kenora Double "a" PeeWee Thistles came up short in their best-of-three final against Steinbach in the EastMan Manitoba League.

The Millers best the Thistles 2-1 yesterday at the Keewatin Arena to take the series two games to one.

Beaver Brae Cheerleaders win Double Gold at Northern Regionals

Beaver Braes cheerleading squad won a couple of gold medals at the Northern Region Championships yesterday in Thunder Bay.

The Broncos took the Team Dance gold and also won the small, all-girl intermediate cheerleading competition.

The both cheerleading squads had now qualified for the provincial championships.

The cheer squad will head to Missisaugua in April.

OPP wrap up investigation of Ear Falls Snowmachine Fatality

The OPP have released more details surrounding a snowmachine

accident near Ear Falls.

23 year old Marcel Santerre was badly injured around 2:30 Tuesday
afternoon after he ran into a hydro guide wire.

He had been travelling with two other people on the Hydro line trail at
the time.

The other two sledders took Santerre to hospital in Ear Falls, but
he succumbed to his injuries.

Police say neither drugs nor alcohol were involved in the fatality.

Martin Falls Begins Blockade of Ring of Fire

The Marten Falls blockade is underway.

The First Nation community wants more input when it comes to ring of fire development.

NAN Grand Chief Stan Beardy says some companies working in the region already get the message.

Beardy says First Nations in the region aren't against development; they just want to make sure there are long term benefits for their communities.

Hospital Experiencing another Bed Shortage

Lake of the Woods District Hosptial is experiencing another severe bed shortage.

In fact, the hospital has asked for and been granted

1-A status by the Northwestern Local Integration Network.

Director of Patient Care, Leslie Brown says that gives patients waiting for long term care, first priority for any beds that open up.

Brown says they have requested that the 1-A status be extended for at least four weeks to address their overcrowding issues.

Catholic Board Looks Forward to expanding All Day Kindergarten

The Kenora Catholic District School Board says it should have no problem accomodating an all-day, everyday program at Pope John Paul II school.

PJP and Lakewood will be getting all day learning at the kindergarten level by the fall of 2012.

Director of Education, Phylis Eikre says the all day program has been a big success at St. Louis in Keewatin this year.

Eikre says Pope John Paul was designed with all-day, everyday kindergarten in mind, so they should be able to roll it out next year with no problems.

Northern Growth Plan to be released today

After three years of consultation, the Northern Growth Plan will be released today.

The opposition, though, is not impressed.

NDP Critic Gilles Bisson says several towns across northern Ontario have already lost their major employer and the Liberals response so far has been inadequate.

Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle says the document is an economic vision for northern Ontario for the next 25 years.

Canfield honored for Support Forest Industry

The Ontario Forest Industries Association still has fond memories of Kenora

mayor Dave Canfield.

Canfield was one of six people who were presented awards for their contribution

to the forest industry yesterday at the OFIA's annual general meeting.

Canfield says he really wasn't expecting the honor.

Canfield also accepted an award on behalf of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association for its work in support of the forest industry in Ontario.

Winter Carnival Begins Tonight

A busy weekend in Kenora.

The Winter Carnival begins this evening.

Tourism Development Officer Heather Paterson says they have a full slate of events this weekend.

Things get underway this evening with a bang.

The fireworks will start at 7:00 followed by an Al Simmons concert at Lakewood and the BluesFest at Shooters.

OFSAA Nordic Championships underway in Ottawa

One medal so far for Kenora's cross country skiiers at the All-Ontario championships taking place in Ottawa.

Jamie Triskle of Thomas Aquinas won gold in the para-nordic event yesterday.

The top finish in the junior girls 5 kilometer freestyle race was Sammi Burkhart from T.A. in 5th, while Maya Boivin placed 8th.

In the senior boys 7.5 kilometer freestyle, Erik Lockhart placed 31st out of over 160 racers.

Meanwhile, Manon Magnon was 15th overall in the Senior girls division.

Beaver Brae's junior girls were 6th in the team event.

Today, the team relays will take place.

Saints boys hockey team OFSAA Bound

The Thomas Aquinas Boys hockey team is heading to OFSAA.


The Saints doubled up the Sioux Lookout Warriors 8-4 last night at the

Kenora Rec. Center to win their best-of-three NorWOSSA single "a" final series two games to one.

T.A. now travels to Timmins after the March break for the All-Ontario championships.

Meanwhile, the NorWOSSA finals begin on two fronts for Beaver Brae's hockey teams.

The Broncos girls will host the Dryden Eagles in Game one of the best-of-three series
tonight at the Kenora Rec. Center.

The puck drops at 8:30.

The Bronco boys are on the road tonight.

They travel to Fort Frances to take on the Muskies in game one of their

best-of-three series.

Game two is back at home at 7:00 at the Thistle Rink.

JM arena petition being circulated

A petition is being circulated trying to get support for an

artificial ice plant at the Jaffray Melick arena.

Organizers say they had good support last night for the
petition, and it will be doing the rounds some of the other
arenas in town over the next few days.

The plan is to present the petition at the next committee of the
whole meeting of council.

Due to volunteer burn-out and unseasonably warm weather
in February, use of the natural ice surface was cut short. 

Hampton Lashes out at Energy Retailers

Beware of signing any long term contracts with energy retailers.

That's the message Howard Hampton says he wants to present at a pair of town hall meetings tomorrow.

Hampton says his constituency office regularly gets complaints about the unscrupulous practices of energy retail agents who go door to door.

Hampton will be holding information sessions at the TraveLodge at 2:00 and 6:00 tomorrow.

Saints boys hockey team losing game two of final

A third period collapse by the Thomas Aquinas boys hockey team has forced a third and deciding game in the NorWOSSA single "a final.

The Sioux Lookout Warriors scored four unanswered goals in the final 15 minutes of the game to earn a 5-1 victory last night.

Game three is scheduled to take place tonight at 7:00 at the Kenora Rec. Center.

Treaty Three Police Opens New Detachment

First Nations leaders and other dignitaries gathered yesterday to celebrate the opening Treaty Three Police Services new detachment in Couchiching First Nations.

It's home to twenty officers policing First Nations in the Rainy River district.

Police Chief Conrad Delaronde says it provides them with some facilities they didn't have before.

Delronde says the move from offices in Emo also provides with them with more visibilities to the people they directly serve.

All Kindergarten expanding to two more schools in Kenora

Premier Dalton McGuinty says 900 more Ontario schools

will start offering full-day kindergarten in 2012.

Both Lakewood School and Pope John Paul II school will be opening

their doors to the all-day kindergarten programs in 2012.

Jack McMaster is the director of education with the Keewatin-Patricia

District School Board and says he been very encouraged by the program.

The Public school board will also be offering the program at Riverview in Dryden, Red Lake/Madsen Elementary School and at Sioux Mountain in Sioux Lookout by the fall of 2012.

Fatal Snowmobile Accident near Ear Falls

A Geralton resident has been killed in a snowmachine accident in northwestern Ontario.

The OPP say three men were riding their snowmobiles south of Ear Falls yesterday when the accident took place.

23 year old Marcel Santerre was injured in the collision and died a short time later.

Police say they are not releasing any other details about the fatality at this time.

Control Board begins Snow Monitoring Program

The Lake of the Woods Control Board says its beginning its

winter snow monitoring program this month.

Communities across the drainage basin have received higher than

average snow falls this winter.

Spokesperson for the Control Board Rick Cousins says its too early to

say what impact all the snow will have.

Cousins says realistically, spring rains have a bigger impact on water levels on the lake than the snow.

Government Evasive on Ring of Fire Blockade

The McGuinty government is saying very little about a planned blockade of the Ring of Fire area this week. The Marten Falls First Nation plans to stop access to the proposed chromite mining project.

In the legislature Aboriginal Affairs Minister Chris Bentley says Michael Gravelle is familiar with their concerns

Bentley says there are northern First Nations that are working on economic plans with the help of the government

A colder than normal February

Much of Northwestern Ontario experienced normal temperatures last month.

The exceptions being Thunder Bay and Fort Frances.

Meterologist Bill Laidlaw says they were hit with bitterly cold weather.

Laidlaw says snowfall amounts vary throughout the region as well with Ear Falls getting less than other areas.

Ultimate Fishing Town Nominations open

Nominations are now being accepted to the World Fishing Network's contest to find Canada's Ultimate Fishing town.

Towns can submit their bids in until April 8th.

Several northwestern Ontario communities were nominated in last year's contest with Nestor Falls coming in second to Port Alberni, British Columbia in the on-line contest.

IJC Task Force Seeks input on Interim Report

It's not making making any recommendations, but a Task Force examining the management of the Lake of the Woods and Rainy Lake basins has put forward plenty of ideas for discussion.

The Task Force has to submit a final report back to the International Joint Commission by July.

Canadian Secretary Kelli Saunders says they're now looking for public comment.

A least two more rounds of consultations are expected, including one in April.

More Downtime at the Abitibi Mill in Fort Frances

More downtime is planned for workers at the AbitibiBowater mill in Fort Frances.

The company says both the paper and kraft mills will be halted for fourteen days beginning March 28th because of poor market conditions.

More than 500 employees will be effected.

The news comes as about 230 employees are in the middle of a shutdown of the mill's paper machines that is to end March 7th.

NorWOSSA Hockey Finals set

Beaver Brae hockey teams now know who they will play in the

NorWOSSA Double "a" finals.

The Bronco boys will travel to Fort Frances Friday for game one of their

best of three final against the Muskies.

Fort advanced after beating Red Lake 6-1 last night in the third and deciding

game of their series.

Beaver Brae's girls hockey team will face-off against their nemesis from

Dryden.

The Eagles trounced Fort Frances 6-1 last night to win their best-of three semi-final two games to one.

Meanwhile, the Thomas Aquinas boys hockey team travels to Sioux Lookout tonight for game two of their best-of-three Single "a" final against the Warriors.

The Saints took game one last week and a win will advance them to the OFSAA championships.

March comes in like a Lion

In like a lion.

That's the way March has blown into Kenora.

A sudden snow system blew into town this morning, but we're not expecting a lot more snow today.

Severe weather specialist Geoff Coulson says areas to the east of Kenora are being harder hit.

Coulson says high winds will create low visibility due to blowing snow, and will also drive the temperatures down over the next few days.

Drug Bust in Rainy River District

Four Rainy River district residents face drug charges.

Provincial Police seized over 37-thousand dollars worth of drugs, including 36 marihuana plants, a quantity of marihuana bud and a quantity of prescription pills from two homes in LaVallee township and Chapple township last Thursday.

A 26-year-old woman and a 31-year-old man from LaVallee township each face production charges.

Two men, aged 27 and 23, from Potts Township, face charges of possession and Insecure storage of a firearm.

Countdown begins for Kenora Winter Carnival

Organizers of the Kenora Winter Carnival have officially begun the count down.

The carnival takes place over the weekend.

Heather Paterson is the tourism development officer for the city and says even before the event gets underway, one competition has already been a success.

Eight local charities have been busy selling their carnival buttons.

The charity challenge will wrap up as one of the final events of the winter carnival on Sunday.

Paterson adds that they are still looking for teams to enter the Great Canadian Canoe Race on Sunday afternoon.

Frank Symonds Classic Results

A good weekend for the Kenora Nordic Trails Ski Club.

It hosted the 21st annual Frank Symonds Classic out at the  Mount Evergreen Ski Club and members took home hardware in three different categories.

Carl Peever finished first in the men's 10 kilometer race, while

Jennifer Findlay was the top female racer.

In the 9 kilometer freestyle event, Dan Morwood took top honors, while Janet Findlay was the top female racer.

In the kids two kilometer race Jakob Rasmussen set the pace, with Elise Hummelbrunner the top female.

Ring of Fire Blockade Planned

A First Nation is planning to set up a blockade Thursday near the massive chromite deposit in northern Ontario known as the Ring of Fire.

Marten Falls First Nation is planning to block access to the deposit near James Bay because its members feel excluded from negotiations on its development.

Aboriginal communities in the area have complained that mining companies aren't consulting them in their plans to develop the deposit.

Schaeffer Inquest Begins this week

An inquest gets underway in northwestern Ontario this week to look into the shooting death of a Peterborough man.

The O-P-P's use-of-force policy is under the microscope as a coroner probes the 2009 shooting death of Levi Schaeffer near a remote First Nation community.

The inquest will also look into the circumstances that led to Schaeffer being shot by officers in the Osnaburgh Lake-area.

O-P-P officers and members of Schaeffer's family are expected to testify at the inquest, which is expected to run through Friday.