KDSB Outlines Homeless Funding Priorities

Supporting homeless shelters, victims of violence and those having trouble paying their hydro bills.

Three priorities set by the Kenora District Services Board this year following a provincial move to integrate services.

Director of Integrated Social Services Dianne Apland says another priority is creating a long term homelessness strategy for each community they serve.

Apland says currently there's no provincial funding attached to the 10-year plan.

EFTO Responds to Repeal of Bill 115

The local president of the Elementary Teacher's Federation of Ontario is voicing her thoughts on the repealing of Bill 115.

Anne Saltel feels that the government knew all along that it was a flawed peice of legislation, and now that they've got what they want out of it, they will repeal it.

She adds she is still deeply angered by it.

Saltel says the union is still urging it's teachers not to participate in extra-curricular activites, but it's completely up to them.

NOMA Wants Feedback on Endangered Species Act

The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association is upset it won't be getting a say in the Endangered Species Act.

NOMA has been excluded from being a part of an appointed panel that will provide recommendations to the Ministry of Natural Resources on how to improve the act.

Vice President of NOMA, Dave Canfield says the government simply isn't listening to them.

Canfield says the changes seem to be putting up more red tape and scaring away companies from Ontario.

Witnesses Admit to Assault on Ed Wilson

Testimony is schedueld to resume today at the second degree murder trial of Kenneth Ivall and Angela Duchesne.

One of the people who intiated the assault on Ed Wilson the morning of March 21st, 2009 was on the
stand yesterday.

Matt Bruce says he went to the Tower Motel with a couple of friends and had a beer before deciding
to leave.

As he exited the building, he noticed a man slap Angela Duchesne hard across the face.

Bruce says Wilson seemed to grabbing onto the woman and was worried the situation was
going to escalate, so he punched Wilson in the face.

After that, he says a friend of his escorted Wilson away, down the west side of the motel.

He says at that point, Wilson appeared to stumble and fell on the ground.

As he was trying to get up, Bruce says someone else came in and gave a soccer-style kick
to Wilson's head.

He says the kick seemed to knock-out Wilson.

He says he didn't hear about Wilson's death until the next evening when police came to interview him

School Bus Service Cancelled This Morning

The extreme cold is taking its toll on school buses this morning.

The Northwest Student Services Consortium says all school buses
have been cancelled, including First Student service in Kenora.

Buses in Vermillion Bay, Dryden, Red Lake and Sioux Lookout have
also been cancelled today.

All schools remain open.

First Student says municipal transit services in Kenora are operating today.

Chamber Prepares for Annual Business Awards

The Kenora and District Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for
its annual Business Awards Ceremony.

The awards dinner will be taking place in less than a month and will
feature 40 nominees in eight different categories including Entrepreneur of the Year, Young Entrepreneur and business improvement.

Business commentator Michael Hlinka is this year's guest speaker.

The Chamber will be holding its business awards dinner on February 13th
at the Best Western Lakeside Inn.

Treaty Three Police Warn of High Risk Offender

The Treaty Three Police are warning residents in the Whitedog area about

the release of a high risk offender into their community.

Police believe 44 year old Danny Lee Michaud is a high risk to re-offend.

They says he has previous convictions for failing to comply with a probation

order, break and enter, carrying a concealed weapon, pointing a firearm

aggravated assault, sexual assault and manslaughter.

Police say Michaud has a long list of conditions he must comply with,

including reporting to the Treaty Three Police Detachment on Wabaseemung every Friday.

Second Degree Murder Charge Laid in Grassy Fatal

A second degree murder charge has been laid in connection to the
death of a 48 year old Grassy Narrows man late last year.

The OPP and Treaty Three Police say a 17 year old youth has been arrested
following the death of David John Necanapenace.

Necanapenace died in Winnipeg hospital from injuries he sustain in
an assault on Grassy Narrows back in November.

Police cannot release the name of the suspect due to the Canada Youth
Justice Act.

Witnesses to Assault on Ed Wilson give Testimony

Testimony at the second degree murder trial of Angela Duchesne and
Kenneth Ivall is focusing on an assault at the Tower Motel on Ed Wilson.

Over the past couple of days a couple of witnesses have describe the
assault on Ed Wilson in the early morning hours of March 21st, 2009.

Earlier today, Tim Fleury was on the witness stand.

He drove a couple of friends to the Tower Motel around 2:00 in the morning.

He says when they arrived, they witnessed an argument between a man
identified as Ed Wilson and another woman.

Fleury says Wilson struck the woman with the back of his hand.

At that point he says someone then punched Wilson once or twice knocking him to the ground.

Fleury says he never got out of his truck and didn't see the whole
altercation take place.

But he did see Wilson try to get up and run around the southwest corner
of the motel.

At that point he says he didn't see what happened to Wilson, but he says
it was only about a minute later that some of the assailants ran back to
his truck and the then drove away.

The trial is scheduled to resume this morning.

Kenora Mental Health Association Receives Accreditation

A new standard for the Canadian Mental Health Association Kenora Branch.

The branch announced they have received their accreditation

Executive Director Anita Webb says it was a lot of hard work to get to this point.

Webb adds they starting working on the accreditation in 2010.

New Tourism Website Up and Running

Another way to promote events and activities in northwestern Ontario.

GONWO.ca is now up and running with information on attractions, businesses and activities.

Project lead Catherine Dashney says the on-line portal is the first of its kind.

She says seven communities are involved including Kenora and a mobile application will soon be introduced.

Local High Schools Plan Exhibition Sports Season

It might not lead to a provincial high school championship but the Keewatin Patricia and Rainy River District School Boards will get back into the sports season after the exams period.

Beaver Brae Principal Clinton Bruetsch says a compromise to allow volunteer coaches was made to allow a season to take place.

Bruetsch adds they intend to resume boys and girls hockey, boys basketball, girls volleyball, and curling.

Bruetsch adds they have asked the seperate school board to participate in the exhibition season as well.

Kenora Forest Products Look for Spring Start-Up

Finally some good news for the forest sector in Kenora.

Kenora Forest Products is hoping to resume production this spring.

Mill Manager Rod McKay says they are looking at a May or June start up date.

McKay says an improvement in the U.S. housing market makes it feasible to resume operations.

He says initially, they hope to employ as many as 105 people at the mill and another
150 in woodland operations.

Gravelle Looking Forward to Leadership Convention

Natural Resources Minister Michael Gravelle thinks its going to be a tight race between his choice for Liberal Leader Sandra Pupatello and former Education Minister Kathleen Wynne.

The final vote for the leader of the Provincial Liberals comes down this weekend.

Gravelle is pleased the majority of the delegates from his riding selected Sandra Pupatello in the first round of voting last weekend.

SMB Ready for Expansion Project

École Ste-Marguerite Bourgeoys is growing.

Last week the Kenora Catholic District School Board announced the province had agreed to fund the
school expansion.

Initially, the Catholic Board had been talking about a four classroom addition, but that's been increased to
six new rooms.

Phyllis Eikre is the director of education and says it will help house the growing population at the school.

Eikre says the expansion should be open for classes starting in the fall of 2014.

Murder Trial Enters Third Week

Another week of testimony is underway at the Kenora court House into
the second degree murder trial of Angela Duchesne and Kenneth Ivall.

One of the people involved in the assault of Ed Wilson on March 21st, 2009
was on the witness stand this afternoon.

Ian Hagar says he and a couple of buddies showed up at the Tower Motel
and notice a man and a woman arguing.

He says he heard a woman being slapped and a short time later, the
man, who has been identified as Ed Wilson was attacked.

Hagar admits he was part of the group that was involved in the assault
and says they left the scene after he kicked the man in the head, while
he was lying in the middle of A Street West.

Hagar says he was only interviewed by police 10 months later and says he
didn't come forward at the time, because he didn't want to get involved.

The Trial is scheduled to resume this morning.

Health Unit Celebrates National Non-Smoking Week

It's the first tobacco use campaign of the year.

This is National Non Smoking Week, and this year's theme is "Live, work play...even better smoke free".

Roberta Lappage is the youth corrdiantor with the Northwestern Health Unit and says it focuses on creating a healthy environment for everyone.

Lappage adds the Smokers Hotline is another great resource if you are trying to quit.

Liberals Set to Revoke Bill 115

The governing Liberals are repealing a controversial law that outraged public school teachers and limited their ability to strike.

They say the change will take effect tomorrow, but it won't affect contracts already in place.

Education Minister Laurel Broten says the move removes legislation that became a lightening rod in the labour battle with teachers.

The legislation allowed the Liberals to impose contracts on about 126-thousand teachers and education workers earlier this month, which froze the wages of most teachers and cut their benefits.
 

Digital Imaging Campaign Reaches Halfway Mark

A pressing need for digital mammography at the Lake of the Woods District Hospital.

The fundraising effort for the new unit has seperated the million dollar digital imaging campaign into two parts.

The first need was solved with the unveiling of a new digital mammorgraphy machine on Friday.

Jess Rheault with the Hospital Foundation says they have only put a down payment on the machine.

Rheault adds the foundation will be hard at work to attain the second half of the project which is a digital x-ray machine.

Central Community Club Looks at Sign Boards

A sign of the times.

The Central Community Club is seeking approval from Kenora City Council
to erect a number of sign boards on the club house and the rink boards.

Jeff Van Wallenghem is the vice-president of the community club and says
they just looking for some money to help keep the outdoor rink operating.

Van Wallenghem says any money raised from the sign boards will be used
to fix up the aging club house at Central.

KDSB Getting Less Money for Child Care

The Kenora District Services Board is getting less money from the province for child care programs.

Director of Integrated Social Services Diane Apland says they have seen a slight reduction in funding from last year.

Apland says the board is headed in a different direction right now.

Apland says it costs more to offer programs to younger children, so that may create a larger deficit.

The ABC's of Business coming to Whitefish Bay

An opportunity for anyone who has an idea or business and wants to take it a step further.

Aboriginal Business Day events will be taking place next month in Whitefish Bay and Lac Seul First Nation.

Manager of the Northwest Busiess Center Diane Schwartz-Williams says it will be a full house with several presenters on hand, including keynote speaker Wab Kinew.

Pre-registration is required.

For more information you can contact nwbiz.ca

Breast Screening Programs Expanding

The Ontario Breast Screening Program is working with Sioux Lookout's Meno Ya Win Hospital to provide mammorgrams to First Nation women from fly in communities.

Spokesperson Alison McMullen says teaming up with the hospital should mean women will be able to book mammograms year round.

McMullen says the Sioux Lookout hospital should be accredited as a breast screening program partner by April.

Windchill Warning in Effect Today

You'll want to bundle up for the rest of the week.

Bitter cold temperatures are in the forecast for the entire week and a windchill warning is currently in effect.

Bill Laidlaw from Signal Weather Services says there is a windchill warning in effect for much of northwestern Ontario.

We are expecting a high of only minus 23 today.

Midget Thistles Win Two of Three on the Road

A pretty good road trip for the Kenora Triple "a" Midget Thistles.

The Thistle took two of three games played over the weekend.

The lone blemish came yesterday in Souris, where the Kenora Midgets dropped
a 5-3 decision to the Southwest Cougars.

Davis Ross had a pair of goals in the loss.

Saturday, the Thistles earned a 2-1 win over the Yellowhead Chiefs.

It was the same result Friday night, as the Kenora Midgets doubled up
the Central Plains Capitals 2-1 in Portage.

The regular season wraps up this weekend at home for the Thistles.

Senior Thistles Score Early Score Often

An offensive onslaught for the Kenora Senior Thistles.

They cruised to a couple of easy wins over the weekend against the Bottineau Lumberjacks.

Saturday afternoon, Kevin Webb had the hat trick in a 10-0 victory over the North Dakota college team.

Friday night, it was much the same story with Ryan Pearson leading the offense with three goals in a 12-1 victory.

The Thistles should have a little tougher test this weekend, as the Williston State Tetons come to town.

New Digital Mammography Machine Unveiled

Screening for breat cancer in Kenora has gotten a major boost.

The Hopsital Foundation has announced the installation of a new digital mammography machine.

Jess Rheault with the foundation says the purchase was made to retire outdated equipment.

Rheault adds the purchase of the mammography machine was made at the halfway point of the million dollar D-I campaign which has currently raised $430,835.

The next step is the purchase of a digital x-ray which can't be done until the million dollar mark is reached.

Snowbirds Coming to Kenora this Summer

The Snowbirds will be making an appearance in Kenora this summer.

The Kenora Airport Authority is planning a three day air show at the
beginning of July.

Councillor Ron Lunny says they hope to make the air show an annual event.

Lunny says the air show will take place at the Kenora Airport with the
Snowbirds set to perform on July 3rd.

Baltesson Elected Chair of Kenora DSB

A change at the top at the Kenora District Services Board.

Barry Baltesson from Lake of the Woods unincorporated area is the new chair of the DSAB.

He replaces Phil Vinet of Red Lake, who stepped down last month.

Baltesson was acclaimed to the position yesterday and is the first representative from an unincorporated area to chair the District Services Board.

Concern Raised About Local Homeless Shelters

A major overhaul is needed in Kenora District Services Board funding for homeless shelters.

The suggestion comes from the represtentatives of Sioux Lookout and Kenora.

Sioux Lookout Mayor Denis Leney says several people are in area communities getting intoxicated and using the shelters as homes.

He says some clients go out get drunk, get arrested, go out and drink again and end up staying in the shelter to sleep things off.

He voted against a resolution to fund the Out-of-the Cold Shelter to the tune of 26-thousand dollars.

The resolution did pass with 26-grand going to the Red Lake Shelter and 15-thousand to the Kenora Fellowship Centre.

Ed Wilson Murder Trial Continues

More details are coming to light about the morning Ed Wilson died in the
Norman area on March 21st, 2009.

Yesterday, Garry Lake was back on the stand talking about an altercation
that took place outside the Tower Motel shortly after 2:00 in the morning.

Lake says he saw Wilson forcefully hit Angela Duchesne.

He says some of the people standing outside the motel decided to teach
Wilson a lession and began to beat him up.

Lake admits that he grabbed Wilson's head and kneed him in the face.

Initially he told police that Wilson was still standing when they were finished
with him.

But yesterday he says Wilson was lying on the ground when one of the members of the group gave him a soccer-type kick to the head.

Jurors at the second degree murder trial of Angela Duchesne and Kenneth Ivall are getting a rare
day off today.

Testimony is scheduled to resume Monday at the Kenora Court House.

Council Urges Help for New Doctors

The province needs to make it easier for new doctors to begin practicing
in northern Ontario.

That's the appeal from Kenora City Council.

Councillor Rory McMillan says the Ministry of Health has only one formula
which governs how many doctors are allowed to practice in a given area.

McMillan says some cities in southern Ontario have a glut of doctors wanting
to set up a practice, but that's not the case in the north, so different regulations are needed.

Teams Wanted for Carnival Snow Sculpture Contest

Local artists unite.

Organizers of the winter carnival are looking for teams for this years snow sculptures.

Special Events Coordinator Mark Duggan says the theme this year is "lake life."

Interested teams can contact mark at 467-4638.

Senior Thistles Play First Home Games of the Season

The Kenora Senior Thistles will take to the ice this weekend for their first two home games of the season.

The Thsitles are welcoming the Bottineau Lumberjacks from North Dakota to the Kenora Rec Centre.

Coach Brian Olson says the Lumberjacks are a good match up for the team, adding they beat the Lumberjacks in their first two games of the season.

The first game is tonight at 7:20 and the second game is Saturday afternoon at 1:20.

Tickets will be available at the door.

Hunter fined $2,000

The Ministry of Natural Resources have charged a New York make 2-thousand dollars.

The charges stem from an incident in October when the Man left an untagged deer hanging from a tree near Sioux Narrows

The man has been charged 15-hundred for failing to immediately attach his game seal when harvesting a deer and 500 for littering on Crown land.

The Ministry of Natural resources wants to remind hunters that if they have harvested a deer, they must do it right after the kill and attach a game seal to it.

Missing Girl Located

Kenora O-P-P confirm that a missing girl from the White Dog First Nation has been safely located.

15-year old Chantel Cameron was located by police in Edmonton Alberta.

She was reported missing last week after family had not heard from her since January 1st.

At that time she was trying to get back home to the White Dog First Nation.

Rickford Responds to Idle No More Protests

 Kenora MP Greg Rickford says it's disapointing that protests continue, especially regarding last Friday's meeting between Prime Minister Stephen Harper and First Nations leaders.

However, Rickford says he has no problem, as long as they remain peaceful.

Rickford adds that more talks between the government and First Nations are scheduled in the coming weeks.

Ed Wilson 2nd Degree Murder Trial Continues

Some of the people who were at the Tower Motel the night before Ed Wilson
died were on the witness stand yesterday at the second degree murder trial
of Kenneth Ivall and Angela Duchesne.

Melanie Kolisnik says she was with Ed Wilson on March 20th, 2009 and noticed both Ivall and Duchesne in the bar that night.

She says she didn't notice any trouble brewing, but says Ivall hit her with
the door of the Motel, as he was leaving just before closing time.

She had been outside sharing a cigarette with Wilson at the time.

She says at that point she went back into the bar and didn't see Wilson for
the rest of the night.

She adds that she waited outside the Tower Hotel around 2:30 in the morning for about a half an hour waiting for a cab, but didn't notice anyone else around.

Testimony will resume this morning at the Kenora Court House.

Canfield Eyeing Top Job at NOMA

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield is looking to take on some additional duties
later this year.

City council is nominating Canfield for the position of president of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association.

Canfield says the current president, Ron Nelson is planning to step down in the spring.

The NOMA AGM will take place at the end of April in Thunder Bay.

New Land Ambulence Base Officially Opens

Kenora Paramedics have a new place to call home.

The new ambulance building on Barsky's Hill had its official ribbon cutting Tuesday afternoon.

Dan McNeill, is Chief Administrative Officer with the District Services Board and, says the new building was a long time coming.

McNeill adds that the paramedic service moved into the building in September.

Hospital OR Due for Renovations

Stepping out of the 1950's.

That is the hope for the Lake of the Woods District Hospital after announcing a capital project with the Ministry of Health

CEO Mark Balcaen says the project is to upgrade the operating facilities that were built 60 years ago.

Balcaen adds before any work can begin they need to go through the planning phase which will take 3-4 months.

Old Man Winter Arrives with a Vengeance

Make sure your heater is working!

It's going to be extremely cold the next few days and there's no end in sight.

Bill Laidlaw from Signal Weather Services says a windchill warning is in effect across Northwestern Ontario.

The temperature will likely reach minus 40 to minus 45 with the wind.

Highway 17 Blockade Ends

Traffic is flowing again on the Trans-Canada highway near the Manitoba/Ontario border.

Shoal Lake #39 and #40 First Nations held a blockade as part of the Idle no more Movement.

Darrell Redsky was part of the protest and says they are reminding the government about the power of the treaty.

Redsky adds the protest was in part of a national day of action.

Traffic was completely blocked off from 1:00 until 2:00 when police allowed single lane traffic flow.

OPP to Monitor Idle No More Blockades

Expect some traffic delays this afternoon on Highway 17 west of
Kenora.

The Shoal Lake #39 and #40 First Nations are planning a blockade of
commercial truck traffic near the Ontario/Manitoba Border.

OPP Commissioner Chris Lewis says officers will be standing by to ensure
the protests remain peaceful.

Today's protest is scheduled to take place from 1:00 to 4:00.

A similar protest is being planned for Highway 11/17 near Nipigon today.

Municipal Budget Delayed

It could be a while before Kenora's 2013 budget is ready.

City council got a good head start in the fall, but the municipal
auditor general left midway through the process.

Councillor Ron Lunny says it will be up to other staff to pick up the
slack.

Lunny says right now it looks like the city will be able to post a modest
surplus on its operations in 2012.

Civilians Take Witness Stand At 2nd Degree Murder Trial

A couple of civilian witnesses took the stand at the 2nd degree murder trial of Kenneth Ivall and Angela Duchesne yesterday.

Ron LaLonde says he ran into Ken Ivall a couple of times on March 20th, 2009.

He says he had a couple of drinks with him at the Tower Hotel, but last saw him around 11:30 that night.

He then ran into Ivall and Angela Duchesne around 2:45 the next morning at the Tim Horton's on Lakeview
Drive.

Lalonde admits he doesn't remember much about their encounter and says he didn't actually hear about
the death of Ed Wilson until the next morning, when he was woken by a phone call from an employee at
the Tower Hotel.

Testimony is scheduled to resume this morning at the Kenora Court House.

Council Shoots Down Taxi Rate Increase

Some changes are coming to Kenora's Taxi By-Law, but they don't include
a rate increase.

Council agreed this week to a number of updates to the Comprehensive
Taxi By-Law.

Council considers the changes to be housekeeping, but won't include a
meter rate increase.

Late last year, Co-Ot Taxi had requested an increase due to the rising cost
of things like fuel and insurance.

Council did not give any reason for refusing the rate increase.

The changes are due to take effect on June 1st.

Thistles Win on the Road

After a rare weekend off league play, the Kenora Triple "A" midget
Thistles were back in action last night in Steinbach.

The Thistles doubled up the Eastman Selects 4-2, improving their record
to nine games over .500.

Dylan Gosselin-Archer had a two point night, with a goal and an assist.

This weekend, the Kenora Midgets hit the road for three games starting
Friday night in Portage la Prairie.

Swimming Sharks Draw Winner Named

The winner has been announced for the Kenora Swimming Sharks draw.

This years winner is Kathy Beckingham from Keewatin.

The Funds raised by the draw directly support for Sharks program.

Shoal Lake Bands to Block Highway 17

Members of the Shoal Lake 39 and 40 first nations are planning to stop traffic on Highway 17 tomorrow afternoon.

The blockade will be held on Highway 17 at Shoal Lake Road near the Manitoba border.

The planned time frame for the blockade is tomorrow afternoon from 1 until 4.