Rickford Celebrates 2013

The MP for Kenora is looking forward to a full year as a cabinet member.

Greg Rickford was put in charge of Science and Technology as well as FedNor and the Ring of Fire earlier this year.

Rickford says work on those portfolios will focus on innovation.

He notes a couple of major businesses are looking up scaling their production thanks in part to federal support.

Campbell Addresses Possible Election

Will we be heading to the polls in the new year for a provincial election?

The Progressive Conservatives have been anxious to force and election, however the Liberals continue to live thanks to the NDP.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell says the party made the right choice to support the most recent budget once the Liberals met their demands.

Campbell says she will speaking with constituents during the Christmas break to hear their concerns.

OPP Warn of New Computer Scam

A 43 year old man has been charged following a car theft in Kenora.

Provincial Police were called on Saturday to a stolen vehicle in the downtown area.

OPP located the vehicle and pulled the driver over around 1 in the morning.

As a result 43 year old James Spencer Puls of Kenora was charged with theft over 5 thousand, impaired driving, and possession of marijuana.

He answered to the charges in Kenora court yesterday.

NOVA Awards Set For January

The Northwestern Ontario Visionary Awards are going to be held January 18th.

Shift, Thunder Bay's Young Professional Network is one of the organizations behind the awards and Spokesperson Keith Anderson says he's pleased they've had 72 nominations.

The NOVA top 20 under 40 celebrates area residents who have accomplished great things in their community.

Annual Christmas Traditions Light Up the Night

Christmas begins today with 2 annual traditions in Kenora.

At 1:00 today the 15th Festival of Lights begins with a service by Pastor Cathy Giroux and Carols by the group Sideways.

Following the service thousand of ice candles will be lit at the Lake of the Woods Cemetery starting at 1:30.

In the mean time the 26th annual Tree of Life is glowing at the Lake of the Wood District Hospital.

The Hospital Foundation runs the campaign every year and is set light the star on Christmas Day.

Family Fundraiser Tonight At Shooters

Christmas spirit will be flowing tonight at Shooters.

Wes Romaniuk with the Lake of the Woods Hotel says they are holding a fundraiser for the Zroback/Skillen family after last week's fire on Drewry Drive.

Romaniuk says the night will feature country music and also includes a Chinese auction full of prizes donated by local businesses.

Entry fee for the fundraiser is a $5 donation with all proceeds going to the family.

Doors open at 8:00.

KPDSB Celebrates Successes of 2013

2013 proved to be a big year for the Keewatin Patricia District School Board.

Director of Education Sean Monteith says they've completed some big changes in Kenora including the expansion and french immersion program at Valleyview and the integration of Grade 7 and 8's at Beaver Brae

Monteith also highlights the closing and sale of Lakewood School.

Going into the new year he hopes to see Dryden High School install their new rubberized track, and a new high school for Sioux Lookout.

KCDSB To Continue Capital Work in 2014

Schools in the Kenora area are continuing to expand.

Director of Education at the Kenora Catholic District School Board Phyllis Eikre says they got 2 capital projects started in 2013.

Eikre says the expansion at Ste. Marguerite will be the focus of capital work next year.

She also made note of research going into a telecom entrance system for local schools.

Province Offers Up Recreational Funding

Provincial funding is being made available for local sports and recreational organizations

The Ontario Sport and recreational communities fund is looking for applications for 2014-2015.

Bill Mauro is the MPP for Thunder Bay and Atikokan and says last year the program supported over 350 thousand participants through 150 programs province wide.

In Kenora almsot 28 thousand dollars went to the Mount Evergreen Ski Club.

Any organization wishing to apply has until February 20th.

Follow the link for an application form visit http://www.grants.gov.on.ca/GrantsPortal/en/OntarioGrants/HowtoApply/index.htm

Campbell Calls Out Transportation Minister

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell is calling on the government to take action on winter road maintenance.

This has been one of the most deadliest years on record and Campbell says it's one of the worst years for road maintenance.

Campbell says it's time for Transportation Minister Glen Murray to pay us a visit as he promised last month.

Campbell says alarm bells should be raised now that Iron Range Bus Lines has refused to travel Highway 502.

Rickford Frustrated at Trans-Canada Twinning

Kenora MP Greg Rickford calls it one of the most difficult portfolio he has ever dealt with.

Rickford is growing frustrated with the province and its lack of action on twinning the Trans Canada Highway between Kenora and the Manitoba boundary.

Rickford says the province is sitting on all of the resources that the feds have invested.

He notes the project has been stalled for way too long.

Midget Thistles Remain and .500

The Kenora Triple "A" Midgets can't seem to break the .500 record.

This weekend at the rec centre the Thistles split a pair of games with the Norman Northstars.

Dylan Gosselin-Archer and Tristan Salesse each scored a pair of goals on Friday on route to a 4-2 victory.

However Saturday night Norman would take a 3-2.

Tristan Salesse and Josh Brunton scored for Kenora in the loss.

The Thistles now enter the holiday season with a 13-13-0-2 record.

KCDSB Speaks Against Ideas For New System

Over half a million students could be effected if the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation gets their way.

The Kenora Catholic District School Board's director of Education Phyllis Eikre says the plan to move to a 2 board system has huge implications seeing as over 600,000 students attending Catholic education every day.

The OSSTF says the change would allow them to reinvest more money into the system.

Eikre disagrees stating that funding would still be based off the total number of students.

The OSSTF suggested a system based English and another in French in their education platform earlier this month.

Cold Weather Not Going Anywhere

The winter wonderland will continue for the region.

CJRL Meteorologist Bill Laidlaw says we won't see any change to the cold weather this weekend.

He notes today could see temperatures peak at minus 15 with just a hint of sun later in the day.

Laidlaw says we can expect cold temperatures to continue through Christmas.

City Approves Sewer and Water Hike

Sewer and water rates are on the rise.

City council has approved a 10 percent increase for next year.

Mayor Dave Canfield says the amount of aging infrastructure is the one big issue forcing the increase.

He says that the reserves need to be increased for when the city needs to make repairs.

Canfield noted that if consumption goes up in the next few years then they can put a stop to the hikes.

Mining Safety a Priority for Province

The provincial government is conducting a sweeping review of mining safety in the province.

Mines Minister Michael Gravelle says the review will include a wide range of areas including health and safety regulations and enforcement mechanisms,.

Gravelle says starting in early 2014, the province’s Chief Prevention Officer will lead an advisory group of industry, labour, and health and safety representatives to begin the sweeping review.

The review will get underway in the new year

Bronco Teams Wrap up 2013

Some redemption for Beaver Brae's Boys hockey team.

After losing the last match up with Thomas Aquinas the Broncos skated to a 5-1 victory last night against their cross town rivals.

Eastin Gauthier lead the way for the Broncos with 2 goals.

The win keeps Beaver Brae on top the NorWOSSA standings heading into the Christmas break.

However, it was not the same story for the Bronco court sports teams yesterday.

Beaver Brae was swept by Fort Frances at home to wrap up 2013.

In Basketball the senior boys lost 59-42 while the juniors dropped a 54-42 decision.

In girls volleyball both the senior and juniors lost in 3 straight sets to the Muskies.

Police Seize Illegal Cigarettes

The Kenora OPP have taken over $10,000 worth of illegal tobacco off the streets.

Yesterday afternoon police stopped a Dodge Caravan for speeding on Highway 17 West of the city.

OPP searched the vehicle and found 107 cartons of unmarked cigarettes.

As a result the 40 year old driver from Winnipeg has been charged with possession of unmarked cigarettes, and possessions for the purpose of sale contrary to the tobacco taxes act.

He will answer to the charges in March.

Drewry Drive Fire Update

Two people have been taken to hospital for treatment following a house fire in the Drewry Drive area.

Provincial Police confirm that a 13 year old boy has since been transported to the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg.

OPP also confirm the family pet died in the blaze.

Fire chief Warren Brinkman says at this point he says they don't know the cause of the fire, but their investigation will continue today.

Brinkman notes they are bringing in the Ontario Fire Marshall's office to assist.

The fire broke out in the living room area, but quick work from local fire crews kept the blaze from spreading to other rooms in the house.

Brinkman adds that there is extensive fire, smoke and water damage.

Sioux Lookout OPP Target Bootleggers

Some movement in the fight against bootleggers in Sioux Lookout.

Provincial Police have wrapped up a 6-month undercover operation with the arrest of three individuals.

76-year-old Robert Eby and 41-year-old Gilbert Belmore have been charged with 2-counts of unlawfully supplying liquor.

OPP say 30-year-old Christopher Singleton faces one charge.

All three are from Sioux Lookout and will appear in court at a later date.

OPP Release Name of Accident Victim Near Atikokan

Police have identified the vicitim of Tuesday's fatal collision on Highway 11 west of the city.

Dead is 76 year old Fredrick Munro of Atikokan.  

OPP says he was the driver of a car that collided with a commercial vehicle just east of Highway 633.

His passenger, a 71 year old woman from Atikokan is in the Thunder Bay Health Sciences Centre with serious injuries.  

The driver of the commercial truck, a 49 year old man from Thunder Bay, was not injured.

Health Officials In Thunder Bay Investigate Food Poisoning

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit is looking into possible food poisoning following a banquet at the Moose Hall on Fort William Road.

Officials say that about 54 people who were at the event on Friday became sick.  

They hope to contact as many of the 270 people that attended the event as possible, that includes people from Greenstone, Dryden, Kenora and even Hamilton.  

Meantime health officials say charges have been laid and until further notice, the Moose Hall can't serve food.

Saints Sweep Atikokan

Thomas Aquinas court sport teams are going out of 2013 on a high note.

The Saints went 8 and 0 in games Tuesday and Wednesday in their home gym.

Yesterday, T.A. Court sport team swept Atikokan.

The Saints senior girls volleyball squad won in three straight sets, while the Thomas Aquinas junior girls beat the Voyageurs three sets to one.

In boys basketball, the T.A. junior boys eked out a 32-31 win over Atikokan, while the Saints Senior boys earned a 32-21 victory.

Today, Beaver Brae's court sport teams play their final games before the Christmas break with
Fort Frances in town.

House Fire Extinguished on Drewry Drive

The epidemic of house fires in Kenora continues.

A blaze broke out to a home in the middle of Drewry Drive last
night shortly after 8:00.

Captain Fred Ralko from Kenora Fire and Emergency Services says
they were able to contain the fire to the room of origin.

It's believed the occupants were suffering from smoke inhalation, but
their condition isn't known.

The cause of the fire also hasn't been released yet.

Hospital Asks Visitors to Take Precaution

A spike in flu-like illness in the region has the Lake of the District Hospital on alert.

Lynn Ronnebeck is the Infection Control Professional and says they are concerned about visitors who may be feeling ill.

Ronnebeck says this time of year sees a spike in visitors and that anyone feeling sick can pass that along to the patients they are visiting.

She stresses that this is only a precaution and that no limitation on visitors have been put in place.

Northwest LHIN Receives Provincial Funding

The regional health authority is getting a financial boost to help it coordinate better seniors care.  

Thunder Bay MPP Bill Mauro announced  $4.4M in support for the Northwest LHIN.

The money will be used to support home care for more seniors.

Mauro hopes it will help to ease overcrowding at local hospitals.

Fourteen different agencies will be receiving the money including 4 in the Kenora District.

High Cost of Policing Continues

The high price of policing will continue next year.

Kenora city council has voted to extend the current OPP contract until a new billing model is created in 2015.

Mayor Dave Canfield says the new model isn't perfect but it will help bridge the price gap.

He says some communities are paying less then $100 for policing while we are paying over $900.

Canfield says that council will continue to lobby the government for the changes whether or not an election takes place in 2014.

All New Band Council Elected On Rat Portage

Wholesale changes on the Rat Portage First Nation.

A new chief and council was voted in in yesterday's band elections.

Councillor Chris Skead has been promoted to chief.

He won in a landslide over the incumbent, Ken Skead and challenger
Calvin Skead.

An all new band council has also been elected.

Don Big George, Tyler Cameron and Edward Skeid were elected from
the slate of 12 candidates.

A total of 224 votes were cast in the band election.

One Person Dead Following Accident on Highway 11

One man is dead and a women in is hospital with serious injuries following an accident on Highway 11.

OPP says both were a car that collided with a transport early yesterday afternoon near the junction of Highway 633, 30 kilometres east of Atikokan.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

The woman was transported to Atikokan General Hospital.

The driver of the transport was not hurt.

The accident closed the road for more than seven hours and was only fully reopened just a couple of hours ago.

City Supports Veteran's Affairs Offices

The minister of veteran affairs will be hearing more calls by more Northern Ontario communities.

Kenora city council has passed a resolution to lobby the Julian Fantino to keep the nine offices around the country open.

Councillor Ron Lunny says it`s important to stand up for the Thunder Bay office.

The resolution will also be passed along to the regions MP's Greg Rickford, John Rafferty, and Bruce Hyer.

The offices are slated to close at the end of January.

Health Unit Says It Wants To Battle Obesity

Fighting the battle of the bulge.

That's one of the biggest concerns of the Northwestern Health Unit
heading into 2014.

Dr. Jim Arthurs says tackling obesity is the number one health issue in the
region.

Arthurs says even getting off the couch and walking for a half hour a day can help
keep you healthier.

Dryden Council Agrees To Close Youth Center

An 11th hour attempt to save the Dryden Youth Center has failed.

Dryden town Council has officially closed the doors on the Youth Center.

Shayne MacKinnon made a passionate plea to save the facility.

Mayor Craig Nuttall held the deciding vote and says the City can no longer afford to run the Center
.

NAN Rallies for Residential School Documents

Members of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation are in Toronto rallying in support of St. Anne's Residential School survivors.

This is the final day of a two-day hearing in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice where the federal government is being challenged to release documents from a police investigation of residential school abuse at St. Anne's in Fort Albany.

NAN Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler says the government's decision to keep evidence from survivors compromises the rights of these survivors and notes they have a legal obligation under the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement to release the documents.

Beatings, rape and the use of an electric chair were documented by a 5-year investigation by the Ontario Provincial Police which resulted in the criminal convictions of several school officials.

Fiddler stresses the survivors of St. Anne's have suffered enough.

Tories Angry Over Possible Transit Gas Tax

Progressive Conservatives says plans for a new gas tax is going to hurt northern Ontario.

A 10-cent tax is being considered to help fund rapid transit expansion in southern Ontario.

Tory Critic Vic Fedeli says it won't just tap motorists.

Fedeli says it's also a slap in the face by asking northerners to help pay transit expansion in southern Ontario, which will have no impact on this region.

Two Men Fined for Illegal Wolf Hunt

Two men have been fined a total of 45 hundred dollars for an illegal wolf kill on Lake of the Woods.

Kirk Quade of Minnesota hired a guide to help him hunt wolf last February.

Quade only had a licence to kill one deer, but ended up shooting two.

His guide, Dave Bennet attached his own tag to the wolf.

Quade was fined 15 hundred dollars for hunting without a licence, while Bennet was fined a thousand dollars for attaching a game tag on wildlife killed by another person.

Both men were also fined a thousand dollars each for making a false or misleading statement to a conservation officer.

Saints Sweep Warriors In Court Sports

A dominating performance for Thomas Aquinas against Sioux Lookout
yesterday.

The Saints senior and junior girls volleyball team blanked the Warriors
in three straight sets.

In basketball action, the T.A. junior squad got by Queen Elizabeth 47-40.

Eric Sundmark led the offense with 22 points.

In senior boys action, it was T.A. over the Warriors 42-37.

The Saints are back in action this morning with Atikokan coming to town.

Kenora Boys High School Hockey Teams Register Wins

The Thomas Aquinas boys hockey team is starting to get on a roll.

The Saints won their second in a row, defeating Dryden 3-1 last night.

Brandon Scott's shutout bid was spoiled with just two seconds left in the
game.

Meanwhile, Beaver Brae's boys doubled up Sioux Lookout 8-4 yesterday
afternoon at the Rec. Center.

Coel Forsythe, Logan Ginn and Jed Rattai each
scored two goals to lead the Bronco offense.

The Broncos and Saints will face eachother for the second time in a week
tomorrow night at the Rec. Center to wrap up the 2013 portion of the schedule.

Elsewhere, the Thomas Aquinas girls hockey team has picked up its first win of the season.

The Saints got by Queen Elizabeth High School 5-3 last night in Sioux Lookout.

26th Annual Tree of Life Underway

Lighting up the night sky.

The Lake of Woods District Hospital Foundation's Tree of Life campaign is back for the 26th year.

Managing director Jess Rheault says they are halfway to their goal of $50,000.

Rheault says since the inaugural tree of life campaign they have raised over $800,000 for the hospital.

She says the hospital is looking for funding for upwards of 3 million dollars in capital equipment needs.

To purchase a bulb for the tree visit http://www.lwdhf.com/fundraising/current-campaigns/

OPP Commissioner to Step Down

Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Chris Lewis is retiring from the force after a 35-year career.

Lewis will be stepping down on March 28th.

He joined the provincial police in 1978, beginning his career as a provincial constable in Kapuskasing.

He was appointed commissioner in August 2010.

The provincial government announced Lewis’s retirement yesterday, saying he has served across the province in a variety of front-line, specialized and management positions.

Just this past August Lewis was in Kenora and indicated he planned to fullfill his new three year
contract extension.

Asset Management Plan to be Released Today

A controversial report on the city's aging infrastructure will come before
city council today.

The Asset Management Plan outlines every piece of road, sewer and water pipe or another piece of infrastructure owned by the city.

Councillor Ron Lunny suggests that council should increase property rates by at least 2.5 percent a year for ten years to pay for their eventual replacement.

Lunny says he doesn't see that happening.

While some members of council say they find the report alarming, Lunny says the information isn't new...they've always known they've had an infrastructure deficit.

The only question is the deciding on the best way to deal with it.

Sewer and Water Rates Set to Rise Again

Kenora residents can expect to pay more for their sewer and water again next year.

Kenora city council is expected to approve another 10 percent increase in rates
at it's open meeting this afternoon

Last year, councilors agreed to raise sewer and water rates at least ten percent a year
for the next five years.

City administration says it needs the increase to build up their reserves in order to repair
and replace aging infrastructure, such as sewer and water lines as well as lift stations and storm
sewers.

Some members of council say they are concerned about the ability of low income residents to
pay the higher rates.

OPP RIDE Programs Busy

OPP's stepped up enforcement on drug driving this month has resulted in seventeen motorists being charged with impaired driving.

Four impaired driving charges have been laid in the Kenora District
so far.

There have also been 13 license suspensions issued to drivers blowing in the "warn range."

Two  of those in our district.

This is the fourth week of the Festive RIDE program that concludes after New Years Day.

STR Working on Grooming Land Trails

The president of Sunset Trail Riders is wishing everyone a safe riding season.

Richard Wilkening says there are still areas with very thin ice.

He says they haven't been able to get the groomers on area lakes yet, but of either slush, or the face some have only just frozen over in the past couple of weeks.

He says groomers are out in full force getting the land areas ready for use.

Tourism Committee Looking To Build on City Brand

Hot on the campaign trail.

The Tourism committee is busy promoting the city's premiere boating destination brand.

Randy Nickle says that includes a change of heart regarding the Mid Canada boat show in Winnipeg.

He says they were able to attend this past year, and have decided to return again in 2014.

Nickle adds they also got great promotion when Breakfast Television dedicated 2 separate episodes on the city.

Health Smiles Program Expanding

More children in Ontario will be able to see a dentist free of charge.

The province is expanding the eligibility for its "Healthy Smiles Ontario" program.

The government says the program will help more than 70-thousand children and youth from low income families.

Beginning in April, families with one child must have a net income of 21-thousand, 5-hundred dollars or less to qualify.

The figure increases 15-hundred for each additional child.

Food Bank Use Up in Ontario

The demand for food banks is growing in Ontario.

The Ontario Association of Food Banks finds 375-thousand people now relying on food banks every month.

Executive Director Bill Laidlaw says there were 16-thousand new users identified this year.

Laidlaw says food bank use this year has been greatest in rural areas and communities hit hard by plant closures.

Province Reviewing LHIN's

Regional health authorities will be get a review in the new year.

A provincial legislative committee intends to hold public meetings in late January and February to review the Local Health System Integration Act.

It include a meeting in Thunder Bay on February 3rd.

The 7-year-old act led to the creation of 14 Local Health Integration Networks, including one for the Northwest, to oversee the planning, integration and funding of local health.

New Scam Circulating in NWO

Another phone scam in our area.

Provincial Police in Sioux Lookout say someone has been calling local residents, posing as a lawyer, advising that one of their family members had been arrested in Quebec, and money was needed to get them released from jail.

The caller then proceeded to give instructions on how to transfer the money using a Western Union money transfer.

OPP say the residents realized it was a scam after they had sent several thousands of dollars to the suspect.
It's not known how many people fell victim to the scam.

Police are investigating but warn that you should always ask relevant questions and verify all information before sending any money.

Busy Week for Thomas Aquinas Sports Teams

It's the week before Christmas and all through the schools, court
sport action is in high gear.

At Thomas Aquinas, the Saints are playing back to back games
against Sioux Lookout and Atikokan before the Christmas break.

Up first this morning are the Saints senior girls volleyball team.

They will be taking on the Warriors at 9:00.

T.A. is coming off a big tournament win in Thunder Bay over the weekend.

Meanwhile, both the Thomas Aquinas boys and girls hockey teams are
in action today.