Harborfest a Box Office and Artistic Success

(Photo Courtesy Colleen Serban Photography)

Harborfest directors are basking in the glow of one of their best ever events.

There were three sold out evening concerts and huge crowds all weekend long on the Kenora Harborfront.

Entertainment Director Dave Blake says they also had rave reviews from the performers.

Blake says they will be hard pressed to improve on this year's entertainment line-up, they they will start that task in the next couple of weeks.

Health Unit Issues Blue-Green Algae Advisory

While local residents have been enjoying one of the warmer summers in recent years, it can come at a price.

The Northwestern Health Unit has issued an advisory about blue-green algae blooms on some of the shallower lakes in the area.

In particular, the Health Unit has singled out Sandy Lake in Pellatt Township.

Blue Green Algae can contain toxins that are harmful if swallowed, and can cause skin rashes.

The Health Unit says kids, pets and livestock should not swim in any water where you notice blue-green algae.

Campbell Continues to Fight Tourism Center Closures

It's not going to happen this year, but the fight to get the region's tourism centres re-opened isn't stopping.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell is again refuting Tourism Ministry's reasons behind closing the centres, including those Fort Frances and Rainy River.

Campbell says the government's now pointing to the use of GPS units.

Campbell admits its been frustrating, but isn't giving up hope the centres can be reopened next year.

Sandy Lake Residents Back Home

Residents of Sandy Lake, evacuated because of smoke near their community last week, are back home.

The Ministry of Natural Resources says fires that were a concern to the remote community remained quiet, allowing the 650 residents housed in hotels in Fort Frances and Thunder Bay to return.

Out of province crews from Saskatchewan and New Brunswick were also sent home with the forest fires threat diminishing due to rain and cooler temperatures.

TSB Investigates Sioux Lookout Plane Crash

Five people are coutning their blessings following a plane crash near Sioux Lookout over the weekend.

O.P.P. say a Slate Falls Airways plane with the pilot and four passengers were on a sight seeing tour whent eh plane crashed shortly after take-off from Pelican Lake.

Emergency Services, Slate Falls Airways and by-standers were on hand to get them to safety.

All five people suffered minor injuries and were taken to hospital and then released.

O.P.P. and the Transportation Safety Board are looking into what happened.

Sunset Country's Got an App For That

Travellers in Northwestern Ontario will have a new way to find out what's hot and happening.

Sunset Country Travel has developed a smart phone app to provide information on places to stay, where to eat, and things to do and see.

Sunset is aiming for a September launch, which will be available at I-Tunes and android apps.

Baird Makes Announcement for Lake of the Woods

The federal government will be working with the American government to develop a new management board for Lake of the Woods.

Foreign Affairs minister John Baird made the announcement this morning in Kenora on board the Grace Anne II.

The creation of the joint management board was one of the recommendations of the International Joint Commission.

The federal government was supposed to make its intentions known a month ago, but Baird says he was the reason behind the delay.

Baird adds that a summit will also be held in the next couple of years to compile and discuss some of the scientific data available for the lake.

Foreign Affairs Mininister to Visit Kenora

A high profile visitor is expected to be in Kenora this August Long Weekend.

Foreign Affairs minister John Baird is tentatively scheduled to hold a news conference tomorrow morning.

While no details about his visit have been released, its believed Baird will discuss the federal government's response to the International Joint Commissions report on Lake of the Woods.

The federal government was supposed to announce its plans at the end of June along with the government of the United States.

Parents Concerned about Future of Day Care Program

Kenora City council could get an earful next week about proposed plans to close the Castle of Learning Daycare center.

Parents are up in arms about the proposal and have started up a petition.

A number of parents are also planning to make a deputation to council on Tuesday during the Committee of the Whole meeting.

The proposal calls for the closure of the Castle of Learning and its after schools program at the end of this year, due to an operating deficit.

Petitions have been set up at the Barehart Boutique, the Beer Store and Cameron Bay.

OPP Preparing for Long Weekend

The Ontario Provincial Police will be out in full force this long weekend.

They will be on the roads, trails and waterways.

They will be on the lookout for speeders, those not wearing their seatbelts, and impaired drivers.

According to the Highway Safety Divison, road fatalities are up nearly 25 percent this year.

NOSM Gains re-newed Accreditation

The Northern Ontario School Of Medicine is celebrating full accreditation.

The medical school was put through the ringer by the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools back in May but made it through with shining colours according to Associate Dean Dr. Bill McCready

N.O.S.M. received full accreditation for the maximum alloted time of 8 years.

Charge laid in Traffic Fatality

A 25 year old British Columbia man is now charged in connection with a fatal traffic accident near Thunder Bay on July 4th that claimed the life of a Kenora woman.

Deborah Schneider was killed in the collision near Sistonen's Corners.

OPP Constable Diana Cole says officers have completed their investigation and have charged Paul McHale with careless driving.

Sturgeon Study Continuing

Sturgeon in Lake of the Woods and Rainy Lake are continuing to get a lot of attention from researchers.

They're tracking the movements of fish implanted with transmitters.

Lakehead University associate professor Brian McLaren says they've already gained some interesting data about spawning habits.

The study has been funded for another two years.

KMTS Loses Cell Service in Sioux Narrows

Some frustrated cell phone users in the Sioux Narrows area.

KMTS says its tower was damaged by a severe thunderstorm earlier this week affecting service.

The company says technicians are working to repair the mobility tower.

KMTS isn't giving any timeline for service to be restored.

Harborfest Ready to Roll

It looks as if Harborfest is going to be a big success even before the doors open on the first concert tomorrow night.

The tickets for all three evening shows have been sold out.

Director of Entertainment Dave Blake says this is the first time they've ever managed that achievement.

Blake says despite selling out their concerts, they expect to only break even or post a modest surplus this year.

Two TSB Investigators Looking into Trout Lake Crash

The Transportation Safety Board says its too early to say what might have caused a float plane to crash north of Kenora.

A Cessna 180 went down yesterday morning near Trout Lake.

John Cottreau from the TSB says it will be a few days before they have any more information about the accident.

Cottreau says the invetigators will also want to talk to the people on board the plane.

Two remain in hospital in serious condition.

Kenora Agricultural Fair Turns 101

The Kenora Agricultural Fair begins a new century.

This year the Ag Fair turns 101 years old.

Chris Madison is one of the organizers and says things will get under way this evening at the Kenora Rec. Center.

The Agricultural Fair will continue tomorrow and wrap up on Saturday night.

Trout Lake Plane Crash Under Investigation

The Transportation Safety Board is looking into a plane crash in the bush north of Kenora.

The OPP say that three people were injured, two of them seriously, after a small plane crashed near Trout Lake around 9:30 yesterday morning.

David Ross of the Transportation Safety Board says all three people on board were from Minnesota.

Ross says the pilot was taking off from Trout Lake at the time.

The pilot was taken to Thunder Bay for treatment, while a female passenger was airlifted to Duluth.

School Board Under the Gun to Negotiate Contracts

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board says its unlikely it will be able to negotiate new contracts with its unions before the start of the school year.

Earlier this week, the Minister of Education, Laurel Broten gave boards one month to negotiate the contracts.

Superindentant of Business, Dean Carrie says that doesn't give them a  lot of time.

Carrie says they have seven bargaining units to deal with.

He says right now, talks are scheduled to begin at the end of this month.

Support for Lac Seul Agreement

The interm forestry licence for Lac Seul is gaining lots of support.

The signing was made official this week by Minister of Natural Resources Michael Gravelle and Chief Clifford Bull.

Kenora Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell says she'd like to see similar agreement's reached across the region.

Kenora MP Greg Rickford also thinks this is a good step for the first nation.

Chief Bull announced they will be working with the Domtar Mill in Dryden on the forestry plan.

Kenora Gets Trillium Grant

The Ontario Trillium Foundation is awarding community grants to 16 local, not-for-profit and charitable organizations across Northwestern Ontario.

The grant money for the region totals more than 650 thousand dollars.

The City of Kenora is getting 15 thousand dollars to help pay for new signage.

The Share the Road signs are part of a campaign to make the city a more bike friendly community.

The Northwest Angle #33 First Nation is also getting over 12 thousand dollars towards the purchase of chair and tables for special events in the community.

Girls Sentenced in Thunder Bay Manslaughter

Three years is the sentence for two teenage girls who plead guilty to manslaughter in connection with the death of a 16-year-old Sachigo Lake First Nation girl two years ago.

The girl was found dead near a trail in Thunder Bay.

Defence Lawyer Chris Watkins says the judge took his clients sad background into consideration.

The sentence will only involve one year of secured custody.

Court Ruling on Attawapiskatt

The federal government says it's disappointed with a Federal Court ruling that Ottawa acted unreasonably in appointing a third-party manager for financially troubled Attawapiskat.

University of Ottawa constitutional lawyer Joseph Magnet says the ruling verifies what many experts have already concluded, that the relationship between the federal bureaucracy and some aboriginal communities is seriously flawed.

The court says the decision in November, 2011 to send in Jacques Marion to take over the band's finances was the wrong way to deal with the housing crisis on the northern Ontario First Nations community.

Cross Canada Tours Cross Paths in Kenora

Not one, but two cross country bike tours in support of organ donation are passing through Kenora.

Quinn Thomas is heading east on his Organ Donation Heros campaign.

Meanwhile, Damon Milsom and Kibby Evans cycling west as part of their Trekking for Transplants tour.

Evans says they've raised almost half of their 50 thousand dollar target.

All three cyclists met with Kenora mayor Dave Canfield on the Kenora Harborfront this morning.

OPP on Scene of a Plane Crash North of Kenora

Few details have been released about an airplane crash north of Kenora.

The OPP say a small plane went down in the bush near Trout Lake around 9:30 this morning.

The area is about 40 kilometers northwest of town.

An ambulence crews has been dispatched to the scene along with a number of OPP officers.

Local residents say a section of Highway 596 has been blocked off as rescue efforts continue.

Its not known if anyone was hurt in the crash.

Fletcher Defends Decision to Close ELA

The federal government doesn't seem to have any interest in re-visiting its decision to close the Experimental Lakes Area east of Kenora.

Secretary of State for Transport Stephen Fletcher says he supports the decision to close the facility.

He suggests that universities are probably in a better position to manage the ELA.

The federal government expects to save about two million dollars a year by closing the ELA.

Mobile Dental Clinic Ready to Hit the Road

A healthy smile is coming to your community!

Healthy Smiles Ontario has launched their mobile dental office, which provides free services to children 17 and under who don't have dental coverage.

The "smile mobile" will be coming to Kenora, Dryden, Ear Falls and Sioux Lookout from August 7-10.

650 People Evacuated from Sandy Lake

Some 650 residents from Sandy Lake First Nation are now settled into hotels in Fort Frances and Thunder Bay.

They have been forced from their homes because of forest fire smoke that is affecting their community.

Ministry of Natural Resources Information Officer Debbie MacLean says fires to the south and west of Sandy Lake are not directly threatening the community but they are keeping a close eye on them.

MacLean says anticipated rain is expected to knock the fire hazard down to low in the south.

Motorcycle Accident in Rainy River District

Motorcycle enthusiasts are again being reminded of the importance of wearing a helmet.

Rainy River Provincial Police say an Edson, Alberta man is in Winnipeg Hospital in serious condition following a crash on a rural road.

OPP say the crash occurred in Dawson Township when the 24-year-old driver lost control and entered a ditch.

The cause is under investigation.

Border Crossing Stats Rise in Fort Frances

There's an increase in traffic being seen at the Fort Frances border.

Canada Border Services Agency says more than 108-thousand people in 50-thousand vehicles passed in June.

That's a 4.3 per cent increase from the number of in June of last year.

By contrast, the number of travellers through the border at Pigeon River was down 3 per cent.

Sharks Enjoy Success at National Championships

Six members of the Kenora Sharks Swim Club are back home after competing at the National Age Group Championships in Calgary.

All six swimmers recorded top ten finishes, but didn's manage to medal.

Michelle Belcaen, who competed for the final time as a member of the Sharks, and Bryce Jones had seventh place finishes.

12 year old Winnie Boucha was swimming in her first national championship and had two top ten finishes, including 8th in the 400 individual medley.

More Evacuations from Sandy Lake today

An additional 250 residents from Sandy Lake First nation are being evacuated to Thunder Bay and Fort Frances today.

They've been forced from their homes because of forest fire smoke that is affecting their community.

M.N.R. Information Officer Deb MacLean says the number of fires to the South and West of Sandy Lake are not directly threatening the community but they are keeping a close eye on them.

MacLean says the smoke that has displaced the residents is difficult to predict because it's totally dependant on the wind.

RCMP Rescue Canoer

An Ontario woman is recovering from injuries after she was struck by lightning while canoeing with six other people in wilderness northwest of Kenora.

RCMP say a group of seven girls was paddling on the Bloodvein River near Lake Winnipeg on Sunday when the 23-year-old woman was hit by lightning.

A 15-year-old girl also suffered an electric shock while holding on to a canoe as they were pulling the craft ashore during the storm.

The group sent out a GPS distress signal and a helicopter with two Mounties aboard managed to track down the group.

The woman was sent to Winnipeg for treatment of minor injuries, but the 15-year-old girl told police she was not hurt and remained with the group to carry on with the trip.

Highway Dedicated in Honor of Leo Bernier

Long time Kenora M.P.P. Leo Bernier has a road named after him in Kenora, now he has a highway named after him near Sioux Lookout.

Bernier was a Hudson native and the provincial government has announced that it is dedicating Highway 664 in his honor.

The 17 kilometer stretch of road runs from Hudson to Highway 72 near Sioux Lookout and is now called the Leo Bernier Memorial Highway.

The dedication was made this morning.

Second Youth Charged in Whitefish Bay Murder

Treaty Three Police and Ontario Provincal Police have made a second arrest in relation to the death of Charles Minshall.

61-year-old Minshall was found dead at a store in Whitefish Bay on July 22.

A 14-year-old boy was arrested on Friday and charged with First Degree Murder.

He is expected to appear in Kenora Court later today.

A 16-year-old suspect was arrested and charged on July 24.

Police say that due to the ages of the suspects, their names cannot be released.

OHIP Hoax Revealed

Be aware of an internet hoax involving alleged OHIP changes.

Several local residents have reported reading about Provincial Government changes coming to Ontario OHIP coverage in 2013.

They have been told that no emergency medical procedures will be given to anyone over the age of 75 unless permission is given by a review board.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell says its an internet hoax and never been mentioned in the Legislature.

The Ministry of Health and Long Term Care is also denying the report.

Province Announces More Funding for Energy Program

The provincial government is expanding the Aboriginal Loan Guarantee Program to encourage First Nation and Métis participation in creating energy projects.

Energy Minister Chris Bentley announced details of the program expansion yesterday.

Bentley says the program is being expanded because it has been very successful so far.

Arrest Made in Keewatin Stabbing

An 18 year old man has been arrested in connection to a stabbing incident in Keewatin over the weekend.

The OPP say they were called to a 10th Street Residence around midnight on Sunday.

A 22 year old man had been stabbed following an altercation.

He was taken initially to Lake of the Woods District Hospital for treatment then tranferred to hospital in Winnipeg for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

Zachery Perrault of Kenora has been chrarged with aggravated assault.

Rain Puts a Damper on Local Forest Fires

The recent weather is a mixed blessing for the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Fire Information Officer Debbie McLean says the rain has been helpful, but all the lightning accomanying it can pose some problems.

There were just three new wild fires reported yesterday and 12 new fires over the weekend.

Hydro One Crews Still Working to Restore Power

Still a handful of Hydro One customers without power this morning.

About 100 cottages in the Clearwater Bay and Sioux Narrows area are still in the dark this morning after the electricity went off Sunday night.

Hydro One is mobilizing crews on boats to try to get to some of the more remote areas on the lake.

Sunday night's storm knocked trees onto powerlines affecting almost three thousand Hydro One customers.

Charges Laid in Weekend Boating Accident

Five people have been taken to hospital following an early morning boating accident on Lake of the Woods.

The OPP Marine Unit was called out around 4:00 Sunday morning after a 15 foot Bayliner sank, after it collided with another boat, while travelling between Kenora and Keewatin.

Police say the driver of the Bayliner and two passengers were taken to Lake of the Woods District Hospital for treatment, while two female passengers had to be airlifted to the Winnipeg Health Sciences Center.

25 year old Sean Goold of Kenora has been charged with two counts of impaired operation of a vehicle causing bodily harm.

Stingers Win Kenora Men's Soccer Tournament

The Stingers are back atop men's soccer in Kenora.

The Stingers won the A-Side final of the Kenora Men's Soccer Tournament over the weekend, with a 3-0 win over the Playaz.

They also claimed the first prize money of 15 hundred dollars.

The B-Side Final went to the Scorpions from Winnipeg, who got by Dryden, while Forza from Winnipeg, upended Marinos from Brandon in the C-Side final Sunday.

Sandy Lake Starts Evacuations

The forest fire situation has now forced 70 people from Sandy Lake First Nation from their homes.

Chief Bart Meekis has asked the city of Thunder Bay to serve as a host community.

Mayor Keith Hobbs has signed an emergency declaration for the city which has supported similar evacuations over the last few years and is prepared to support additional evacuees if needed.

Last year Thunder Bay hosted 350 evacuees and served as a transportation hub during the severe forest fire situation.

NTAB Looks at Mining Employment Needs

A research project is hoping to provide some help for the mining industry in the region.

The Northwest Training and Adjustment Board is teaming up with the Mining Industry Human Resources Council to forecast labour market needs.

The difficulty attracting younger workers, the under representation of Aboriginal Peoples and the looming retirement are all challenges for the growing industry.

Executive Director of the board Sonja Wainio will be getting a forecast in the Kenora and Rainy River Districts.

Once complete, the report will look at the 2, 5 and 10 year labor market needs of the mining industry in northwestern Ontario.

Weekend Rains Reduce Fire Hazard

There are 66 forest fires now burning here in the northwest district.

Officials with the Ministry of Natural Resources say 476 forest fires have started this year burning more than 69-thousand hectares of land.

Weekend rain has helped the situation in southern parts of the district.

The M.N.R. now says the fire hazard is "Low" for the entire region.

Canadian Blood Services Launches Partners for Life

If a single donor can save lives, imagine what your organization can do?!

That's the premise behind Canadian Blood Services' new "Partners For Life" program.

Spokesperson Harvey Heather says groups committ to donating so much blood a year and it helps them get a handle on how much blood they need to collect.

Heather says the program is being expanded into Northwestern Ontario after a successful run on a national level.

NAPS Probes Fatality in North Spirit Lake

Nishnawbe-Aski Police and the Ontario Provincial Police are now invesitgating the death of a North Spirit Lake First Nation community member.

The deceased has been identified as 38 year-old Paul Campbell of North Spirit Lake First Nation.

A post-mortem examination is scheduled for today.

Few details are being released by police.

Walk For Good Life Pays Tribute to Joe Morrison

An annual pilgrimage by native youth through the Kenora and Rainy River districts remember a well respected Kenora elder this year.

The 500 kilometre Walk for Good Life is aimed at inspiring youth.

Larissa Desrosiers of the group Good Life for Young People says this year it will also honour Elder Joseph Morrison.

The walk starts and end at Eagle Lake First Nation, began yesterday.

Kenora Anglers Enjoy Fort Frances Bass Championship

A Minnesota angling team are this year's winners of the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship.

Mark Raveling and Mike Luhman led all three days of fishing, combining for just over 55-pounds of bass.

Raveling says it's been a great tournament to fish.

Kenora anglers also enjoyed some success over the weekend.

Jeff Gustafson and his partner John Peterson finished five pounds off the pace and were third overall, while Ted and Leo Heyens claimed fifth place.

Hydro Outages

About 25 hundred homes in the Kenora area are without power this morning.

A wicked thunderstorm last night knocked out electricity to homes in the Clearwater Bay, Longbow Lake and Sioux Narrows area.

Hydro One says crews are currently assessing the extent of the damage and making repairs.

Power isn't expected to be fully restored until around 4:00 this afternoon.