OPP Report a decrease in Crime in the Kenora Area

The OPP say they have seen a decrease in most criminal activity in the Kenora area in the past year, except in a couple of specific categories.

Inspector Dave Lucas says crimes against property is down as is mischief, but the number of assault complaints has remained fairly steady.

Lucas released his annual report to the Police Services Board this morning and believes they are making progress.

Lucas says this year they will be focussing on crimes which are the result of drug abuse.

That includes violent crime and theft under five thousand dollars.

Hunter Fined for Shooting deer on the Kenora By-Pass

A Michigan man has found out the hard way its not wise to shoot a deer from across a Highway.

Court heard that the man was traveling east on the Trans-Canada Highway near Kenora last November when he saw a deer on the south side of 17A.

Paul Witter stopped on the north side of the road and shot the deer.

Witter has ben fined 3-thousand dollars for shooting across a roadway and possessing illegally killed wildlife.

Layton Rallies party faithful in Thunder Bay

Jack Layton says the rest of the Country needs to follow Thunder Bay's lead and elect NDP MPs.

That was the rallying cry of the New Democrat leader at last night's town hall that drew around 400 people.

Layton answered several questions about the region's economy and says the NDP would create a forestry strategy.

Layton says it was the Conservatives blocked the kinds of initiatives that would help the Northwest.

Northwest CCAC signs contract with its nurses

Wages remain an issue for nurses with the Northwest Community Care Access Centre.

The members of the Ontario Nurses Association recently accepted a new contract, but President Linda Haslam-Stroud says salaries aren't where they should be.

Haslam-Stroud says the new deal does follow some wage scales of another northern C-C-A-C.

Benton Resources picks up mining claim in the Kenora area

Another mining company has taken an interest in a gold deposit in the Kenora area.

Benton Resources says it has acquired 100 percent of the  Abernethy Gold project, located about 10 kilometers southwest of town.

The property currently has nine claims that were once owned by Hudson Bay Exploration and Development.

The company says recent forestry logging operations have opened access to several areas near the claims, providing good infrastructure.

Benton says it is planning to start up work on the project as soon as conditions permit.

Couchiching man faces child porn charges

A Couchiching First Nations man is facing child pornography charges.

35-year-old Eric Morrisseau was arrested this week after an on-line undercover child pornography investigation by police led them to a home on the reserve.

Police seized four computers, an external hard drive, discs and printed material, containing images of child sexual abuse.

Morriseau made a first appearance yesterday on charges making Child Pornography, possessing child pornography, making available Child Pornography and accessing Child Pornography.

Task Force Presents Drug Strategy to Council

Kenora's Substance and Mental Health Task Force has launched a number of intiatives to try and help reduce drug and alcohol use in the community.

The Task Force presented its drug strategy to council this week.

Michelle Ott is a member of the Education and Harm Reduction committee and says one of their inititatives involves working with whole families.

Ott says they have also surveyed 75 families about their concerns, and drug abuse and binge drinking come out as two of the top issues.

School difficulties and depression and anxiety are also some of the top worries of parents.

Advance Polls to Open Easter Long Weekend

Elections Canada says it has no say in how the advance voting falls for the May 2nd federal election.

Spokesperson Karen Janigan says the law states the advanced voting must be held so many days prior to the actual election day -- but -- she says there are other options available for those who aren't comfortable voting over the Easter weekend:

The Advance polls are open Good Friday, Saturday and Easter Monday.

CIP for Abitibi Lands gets the Green Light

It looks like the City of Kenora can now proceed with a Community Improvement Plan for the Abitibi properties.

A 30 day appeal period has expired and no objections have been raised about the plan.

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield says there has already been a lot of interest expressed in the property.

Canfield says they also have to decide what sort of incentives to provide companies to located on the Abitibi lands.

A phased in tax rate in one option being considered.

City Seeks Funding for Harborfront Tent

Kenora City Council isn't giving up its efforts to find funding to help pay for the new Harborfront Tent.

Last summer, the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund turned down the city's request money for the tent.

Councillor Sharon Smith says they recently learned that they can appeal that decision and will try once again to secure funding for the 1.4 million dollar Harborfront structure.

The city has applied for 750 thousand dollars from the Heritage Fund.

Northwestern Ontario issues to be Raised at Queen's Park

Opposition day in the Ontario legislature is today and NDP leader Andrea Horwath will be discussing issues in Northwestern Ontario.

Horwath is not happy that the province hasn't truly listened to the North's concerns about Bill 151.

Horwath says despite opposition the government still held the forest tenure hearings in Toronto.

Council endorses 2011 Budget

The chair of Kenora's finance committee says he'd like to see more fairness in the tax system.

Yesterday city council approved a 1.6 percent increase in the mill rate.

But Ron Lunny says because of an increase in the city's assessment this year, some property owners will actually be looking at a tax hike of as much as 4.1 percent.

Lunny says considering the city was faces with a 2.3 percent increase based on projects like the new firehall, the Discovery Center and the Harborfront tent, council did what it could to minimize the tax increase this year.

Harper Touches down in Northwestern Ontario

Prime Minister Harper continues his campaign stumping through northwestern Ontario today.

Last night he pumped up about 400 Conservative supporters in Thunder Bay for the May 2nd election.

Harper says electing a Conservative in the northwest is not a dream anymore.

Harper will be at the Regional Health Sciences Centre for an announcement this morning.

MNR on the Lookout for Pine Beetles

The spread of the pine beetle is on the minds of the Ministry of Natural Resources.

The bug already hurt B.C's forest industry and is making it's way east through Saskatchewan.

Spokesperson Taylor Scarr says it will eventually impact Northwestern Ontario as well.

Scarr says because of the high winds last year the bug flew through Alberta in just one season.

Second All-Candidates forum tonight in Sioux Lookout

Its Round 2 of 3 for the Federal Candidates in the Kenora Riding.

An All-Candidates forum is being held in Sioux Lookout tonight.

Its an open mic format and the forum is being held at the Legion from 7 until 9 o'clock.

Conservative Greg Rickford, Tania Cameron of the NDP, Liberal Roger Valley and Independent Kelvin Chicago-Boucher are scheduled to participate.

Mike Schwindt of the Green Party won't be in attendance.

The final All-Candidates forum will be next Monday in Kenora.

Drinking Water Crisis on Pikangikum

A state of emergency is in effect in Pikangikum First Nation.

In a press release, Chief Jonah Strang stated there has been no supply of potable or running water in the community.

Strang added that residents have been drawing water from a nearby lake, which is unsafe to drink.

Over 40-thousand litres of bottled water were ordered and its not known if that supply has arrived.

Strang says the water system in Pikangikum requires an immediate and complete overhaul and notes they are footing the bill to have water shipped in.

The issue has been compounded by reports of flooding in the area.

Police Nab Drunk Driver in Seatbelt blitz

The OPP's seasonal seatbelt campaign has been effective in not only nabbing motorists who fail to buckle up, but its also taken at least one impaired driver off the road.

Police say they pulled over a vehicle yesterday for a seatbelt violation.

In speaking with the driver, they noticed he had been drinking and was given a roadside breath test.

The driver failed and was taken to the Kenora Detachment office.

A 37 year old Winnipeg man is due to appear in court next month on impaired driving charges.

Bronco Cheerleaders win Bronze at Provincial Championships

The Beaver Brae Cheerleaders will be advancing to the national championships next month in Niagara Falls.

The Broncos cheer team was in Missisaugua for the provincial championships this past weekend.

Beaver Brae competed in the small team, all girls division and were 5th after the first day of competition.

On day two, the Broncos were in second, and their two day score gave them the bronze medal.

OPP seize drugs in routine traffic stop

The OPP's seatbelt campaign has netted more than just drivers failing to buckle up.

Police pulled over a vehicle on Highway 17-A over the weekend for a seatbelt infraction.

Officers also noticed the evidence of some drug use inside the car.

A search of the vehicle uncovered of 340 Oxycodone pills, 25 Ecstasy pills and 11 hundred dollars

in cash with an estimated street value of $37,000.

41 year old Ryan Place of Victoria and 41 year old Shane Nixon of Calgary have been charged

with possession of property obtained by crime, trafficking in a narcotic and possession of a weapon

for a dangerous purpose.

Kids for Cancer Tournament Seeks Support from City Council

Organizers of a hockey tournament for cancer research are seeking help from Kenora City Council.

Dean Caron started up the annual Kenora Kids for Cancer Research Tournament two years ago.

He says they have expanded every year and expect more than 20 teams this year.

He says they would like to expand ever further, but would like a break on some of their

costs at the Rec. Center. 

Caron says the tournament raised over 12 thousand dollars last year for cancer research and their target this year is 15 thousand.

No Digital Billboard for the Harborfront

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

At least that seems to be the case with Kenora City Council.

After paving the way earlier this week for the possibility of a digital bill board, the Property and Planning Committee has apparently had a change of heart.

In a vote Friday morning, a majority of council voted against a sign variance that would allow the installation of the digital display on Lakeview Drive.

Councillor Ron Lunny says that means the existing five billboards along the Kenora Harborfront will stay in place.

Allan Cup Wraps up with near Sell Out

Organizers of the Allan Cup in Kenora say they are pleased with how the week-long tournament ran.

The event wrapped up Saturday with the gold medal game in front of a near sell-out crowd at the Kenora Rec. Center.

Chair of the Allan Cup Committee Judy Bain says they were pleasantly pleased with the attendance at all the games.

Bain says it will likely take another month before they know if the Allan

Cup tournament generated any profit or not.

Flavour Gone Campaign Back with a Vengeance

The Flavour Gone campaign against flavoured tobacco has been re-launched.

The youth-based anti-tobacco organization has been battling tobacco companies for the past couple of years for targeting youth with flavoured tobacco.

Roberta Lappage says they thought they had won the battle after the federal government passed legislation against flavoured tobacco back in 2010.

During the Allan Cup tournament, a number of brightly clad youth in so-called morph suits protested the continued manufacture of flavoured tobacco.

Con College Offers New Training Program

A new training program aims to prepare First Nations workers for jobs in mining and energy.

Confederation College President Pat Lang says the program is customized to meet the needs of participants.

Courses will be offered on-reserve and by Confederation College in Thunder Bay and Geraldton.

250 training opportunities have been offered to five area First Nations by to prepare participants for jobs in the energy and mining sectors.

New Boating Test Required for Licence

That test needed to obtain a Pleasure Craft Operators Card is now a little harder.

The test includes more questions and if done on line, a 3-hour course must be completed first.

Cameron Taylor of BoatSmart! Canada doesn't see the changes discouraging people from getting the card.

The fine for not having a card is 250-dollars.

Sharks take a bite out of the Competition in Thunder Bay

The Kenora Sharks Swim Club is the cream of northern Ontario.

The Sharks took part in the Ontario division three swim championships over the weekend and took top honors.

Kenora Swimmers earned 782.5 team points ahead of Thunder Bay, North Bay and Kirkland Lake.

Teams were awarded points for their individual swimmers.

The win means that the Sharks now move up to the Ontario Division two championships next year.

Caribous Take Allan Cup back to Newfoundland

The underdog Clarenville Caribous have their first ever Allan Cup title.

The Caribous topped the six team field over the weekend with a 5-3 win over the Bentley Generals in the gold medal game.

Ivan Hapgood is the team's coach and says the win is special, especially since they failed to win a game at the Allan Cup tournament last year.

Jason Churchill, Clarenville's goal was named the tournament MVP, while Thistles captain, Sean Hughes was named to the Allan Cup all star team at forward.

First All Candidates Forum in Dryden

It got a little testy at times during last night's All-Candidates forum for the Federal Candidates in the Kenora Riding.

It was a packed house at the Dryden Legion.

Liberal Roger Valley closed the night by asking NDP and undecided voters to vote red.

Conservate Greg Rickford steered away from the remark and instead wanted to

focus on his party's track record over the past three years. 

Tania Cameron of the NDP took exception to the Valley comment and suggest that Valley was

actually supportive of her party's policies. 

Independent candidate Kelvin Chicago-Boucher decided to stay out of the name-calling and instead

called for more accountability on First Nation Communities.

Green candidate Mike Schwindt was unable to attend the debate.

The next all-candidates forum will take place in Kenora on Monday, April 25th.

OPP Focus on Missing Children

The OPP say they've made some headway in reducing the number of children who are reported missing each year in the Kenora area.

Local police say they get over a thousand reports of missing kids annually.

Inspector Dave Lucas of the Kenora OPP says they've been working with local child care agencies to reduce those numbers.

Lucas says the success of other programs such as Opening Doors, an after school program for youth at risk, also helps out.

Digital Billboard up for Debate Again

The social media is being used once again to lobby Kenora City Council.

Once again the issue of contention is the proposed digital billboard on Lakeview Drive.

Councillor Rory McMillan says he's received over 40 facebook messages since Tuesday's Property and Planning meeting.

At that meeting, council members refused to turn down the request for a digital billboard.

The Property and Planning Committee is scheduled to meet once again this morning to deal with the issue.

MNR Wraps up Training for local Fire Crews

The Ministry of Natural Resources has wrapped up a comprehensive training program for some its key members.

Response and Operations Manager Dave Cleavely says the forum was geared towards staff from across Northwestern Ontario.

Cleavely says a lot of the information was a refresher, however he notes new safety guidelines are in place to ensure the safety of workers before they do any task.

Thistles ousted from Allan Cup

The Kenora Thistles dream of Allan Cup glory are over.

The Thistles were ousted from the tournament last night in the quarter-finals with a 5-3 loss to Fort Frances.

Thistles coach Ryan Raynard says the team came out flat in their biggest game of the year.

Myles Kuharski scored a hat trick for the Thunderhawks, while Chris Medicine was strong in net for Fort.

Mike Garrow, Sean McAslan and Jon Johnson scored Kenora's goals. 

The Thunderhawks will meet the Bentley Generals in one semi-final this evening, while Dundas will take on the well-rested Clarenville Caribous this afternoon.

Dundas advanced to the semi-finals with a 3-0 shutout against the Southeast Prairie Thunder yesterday afternoon.

Allan Cup Preview

It will be a battle of northwestern Ontario in the Allan Cup quarter-finals this evening at the Kenora Rec. Center.

The Kenora Thistles will meet up with the Fort Frances Thunderhawks at 8:00.

The winner will move onto tomorrow's semi-final round, while the loser will be eliminated from further play.

Thistles Head Coach Ryan Reynard says even though the Thunderhawks are winless so far, he expects a tough game.

The other game today will see the Southeast Prairie Thunder take on the Dundas Real McCoys.

That's a 2:00 start.

The Clarenville Caribous and the Bentley Generals have a bye into tomorrow's semi-finals.

Substance Abuse Task Force Set Up

Kenora's Substance Abuse and Mental Health Task Force has come out with its first ever Drug Strategy for the community.

The Task Force was set up about a year ago, with close to 30 local agencies represented at the table.

Constable Bob Bernie of the OPP says the Drug Strategy is about more than just enforcement.

Bernie says the goal of the task force is to reduce the harm caused by substance abuse.

The Task Force has set up a web-site and hopes to develop some billboards to help to deliver their messages.

NOMA Opposes Forest Tenure Act

The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association is having its say about the Forest Tenure Act.

NOMA called for a minimum five year trial period for the proposed forest management corporations.

President Ron Nelson made his comments to the standing committee over video conference.

NOMA wants the bill amended before it returns to the Legislature for third reading.

City Seeks Funding Increase for Beds and Heads

The City of Kenora is seeking increased transfer payments from the provincial government.

Council is looking to pass a resolution calling for money for so-call heads and beds.

Currently the province provides the city about 75 dollars for every hospital, jail and college bed in the community.

That amounts to about 28 thousand dollars a year in revenue for the city.

That funding hasn't increased since 1987, and the city is seeking an increase to about 135 dollars per bed.

District Services Board has job vacancies

The Kenora District Services Board has a few key vacancies it has to fill.

The Services Board is currently looking for a Director of Emergency Services.

Peter Marshall has announced his resignation.

Councillor Louis Roussin also says the Board is looking for a new Human Resources Officer and is looking to enlarge the I.T. department.

The District Services Board has also hired a new Chief Administrative Officer.

Dan McNeil begins his new duties next month.

Thistles Lose to Bentley at Allan Cup

The Kenora Thistles have dropped their first game at the Allan Cup.

The Thistles lost a hard fought 3-2 decision against the Bentley Generals last night at the Kenora Rec. Center.

Sean Hughes and Kevin Chabbert scored power play goals for the Thistles, who are back in action tonight.

Kenora will take on Fort Frances in a quarter-final match-up at 8:00.

In yesterday's other game, the Clarenville Caribous got by the  Southeast Prairie Thunder 3-2 and earned a bye into Friday's semi-finals.

Southeast will face the Dundas Real McCoys in today's other quarter-final at 2:00. 

Council Still Grappling with Digital Billboard Decision

Kenora City Council is still split over the issue of what to do about a digital billboard along Lakeview Drive.

The Property and Planning Committee met for almost an hour this morning debating the issue.

Derrick Johnson is a representitive with Pattison Outdoor Advertising and tried once again to sell council on the idea of the digital billboard.

An ad-hoc committee set up by council to look at the issue had recommended that a variance to the sign  by-law not be given to allow the digital billboard, but the sign committee voted 3-1 against that recommendation.

Kenora Catholic District School Board Moving its Offices

The Kenora Catholic District School Board will be saying good bye to its old board offices on First Street North this week.

The Board is closing its old offices as of noon today as it begins moving to its new office space in the Old Thomas Aquinas Annex.

Director of Education, Phylis Eikre says they plan to spend the next few days moving.

Eikre says they plan to be in their new board offices by Monday, April 18th.

The new board offices cost about one million dollars to build.

Hampton Angry over Wood Allocation Decisions

A lot of words but not much action from the Liberal Government.

That's the message from Kenora-Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton after he questioned the McGuinty Liberals Monday on their wood allocation decisions.

Hampton says the Grits are out of touch with Northern Ontario and the forest industry.

Hampton says everyone he talks to in the forest sector is calling for a resumption of sawmilling in Ontario, something he says is lost with the Liberals.

Harborfront Tent Ready for Labor Day?

The City of Kenora still isn't exactly sure when the new Harborfront Tent will be installed.

Council has given the formal go ahead for the 1.4 million dollar tent, but it likely won't be ready for the summer festival season.

Chair of the Operations committee, Rod McKay says while they would like to see it up by the middle of August, he suggests September 1st is a more likely target.

That means all of the special events this summer will be held under the old tent on the south parking lot.

First All-Candidates Forum Tomorrow in Dryden

The candidates vying for a seat in Parliament as the Kenora representative will take part in their first debate this week.

An All-Candidates Debate is set for Thursday at 7 o'clock at the Royal Canadian Legion in Dryden.

Roger Valley, Tania Cameron, Greg Rickford and Kelvin Chicago-Boucher are all scheduled to participate.

Mike Schwindt of the Green Party is unable to attend.

The candidates will be taking questions from the floor and the media and will also have an opportunity to question their competitors.

Bentley and Claronville Win on Day Two of Allan Cup

The Fort Frances Thunderhawks and the Dundas Real McCoys are still searching for their first wins at the Allan Cup.

The Real McCoys were edged 4-3 by the Bentley Generals from Alberta last night at the Thistle Rink.

The loss ensures the Real McCoys will finish at the bottom of their pool.

The Thunderhawks are in a similar position after dropping a 3-1 decision to the Clarenville Caribous yesterday afternoon.

Tonight, the host Kenora Thistles will take on Bentley in a battle for first place in their pool.

Clarenville will face the Southeast Prairie Thunder this afternoon for first in the other pool.

Thistles win first game at Allan Cup

An impressive win for the Kenora Triple A Senior Thistles to start the Allan Cup.

The host team cruised to a 6-1 victory over the Dundas Real McCoys last night at the Kenora Rec. Center.

Tyler Gordon backstopped the Thistles to the victory with 36 saves, including a couple of key break-aways.

He says the team played solidly in front of him.

Sean Hughes was the player of the game with a pair of goals and two assists, while Jon Johnson had a pair of goals, and Jeff Richards scored once and added two assists.

The Thistles next game is tomorrow night against the Bentley Generals.

Meanwhile, the Fort Frances Thunderhawks squandered leads of 1-0 and 2-1, and eventually fell 6-3 to the Southeast Prairie Thunder from Steinbach in the early game.

Council Approves 1.61 percent budget increase

After months of review, Kenora City Council has finally put the 2011 municipal budget to bed.

Council yesterday agreed on a 1.61 percent increase in the mill rate.

Ron Lunny is chair of the finance committee and says they were able to trim the budget down a bit, but increasing the industrial tax rate for the first time in more than 10 years.

Lunny points out that some property owners could face a much higher tax increase than the 1.61 percent, because municipal property assessments went up an average of 2.4 percent.

Council is expected to formally approve the budget next Monday.

Nuclear Waste up for Discussion in Ignace

The Nuclear Waste Management Organization is hosting community sessions in Ignace today and tomorrow.

The group will present the results of initial screening held last year in the community.

Officials are trying to determine whether there are obvious reasons that would eliminate Ignace from continuing in the site selection process for a deep geological Nuclear repository.

If residents and Council are in favour of the findings, the community can then decide if it wants to request a feasibility study, which would take 2 to 3 years to complete.

Today's and Wednesday's sessions are from 1 to 4 and 6:30 until 8:30 at the Curling Club Gallery.