Saints Senior Girls Heading to OFSAA

The Thomas Aquinas Senior Girls volleyball team is heading back to the
All-Ontario Single A championships.

The Saints easily won the NWOSSA finals yesterday.

T.A. beat St. Joseph from Wawa in two straight games in the best-of-three final.

The Saints also did not drop a set in the two matches played yesterday.

Thomas Aquinas now prepares for the OFSAA finals in Richmond Hill starting
March 3rd.

School Buses Canceled Again

For the second day in a row, school buses will not be running in the Kenora area.

The Northwest Student Services Consortium says while we didn't get the snow we expected
yesterday, more is in the forecast today and is expected to create poor driving conditions.

Up to 25 centimeters of snow is forecast in some areas, so buses in the Vermillion Bay, Dryden,
Red Lake, Sioux Lookout and Ignace areas have also been cancelled.

The Thomas Aquinas music trip to Winnipeg has also been cancelled today due to the bus situation.

Local schools will remain open today.

Highway 17 Closed at Highway 71 Junction

Traffic has ground to a halt on Highway 17 east of Kenora.

The OPP have closed the Trans-Canada from the Redditt Road intersection all the way
to the Highway 71 junction due to a number of jack-knifed transports.

The highway was closed just after 4:00 and police say it will remain closed until all the
trucks can be cleared from the roadway.

Lake Smart Ready to Hit the Water

Be Lake Smart.

That's the message from the Lake of the Woods District Property Owners Association as they prepare for the Lake Smart Program for 2014.

Executive Director Susan McLeod says this year they want to get off the "big lake" and spend more time in places like Mianki, Black Sturgeon Lake, and Trout Lake.

McLeod also says they want to partner with Centre of Sustainable Watersheds to create a database that can highlight there work showing what is working and what can be improved.

This will be the 4th year that LOWDPOA runs the Lake Smart program.

Police Seize 4 Pounds of Marijuana

For the second time this week over $10,000 of drugs were taken off the streets.

Kenora OPP say they stopped a vehicle early yesterday afternoon on highway 17A.

During the stop police seized 4 and a half pounds of pot valued at $10,800.

As a result 38 year old Ronen Estein and 46 year old Mario Trunzo, both from Winnipeg, have been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of property obtained by crime.

Both men answered to the charge in Kenora court earlier today.

It's the second large bust in the city in the past week, as police seized 17 grams of cocaine from a home during a search warrant on Friday.

Greenhouse Suffers Roof Collapse

All the snow this winter has been not only hard on roads and highways, but roofs as well.

Debbie's Greenhouse on the Redditt Road was the casualty from Monday's snow storm.

Vince Schatkowski says the roof of the main greenhouse collapsed while they were trying to

shovel snow off of it.

Schatkowski says they are supposed to start their spring seeding in another month, but doesn't know if they will be able to repair their greenhouse in time.

Arrest In Pickle Lake Assault

A 51-year-old man faces charges following an assault in Pickle Lake.

Provincial Police say the charges stem from an altercation that occurred at a Cat Lake Road residence.

Police say a woman sustained an injury to her head during the incident.

Richard Muckuck of Pickle Lake has been charged with assault causing bodily harm.

Union Gas Offers Winter Warmth Program

Union Gas is offering some relief to eligible families struggling to pay their natural gas bills.

It's Winter Warmth program allows customers to receive one-time financial assistance of up to five-hundred dollars.

Spokesperson Andrea Stass says there anticipate demand to be high given this year's winter.

 Stass says prices now being paid are locked in until March.

And while consumption this year has increased, Stass says it's doubtful we'll see the type of increases being experienced in parts of the U.S.

City Gets Ready for New Strat Plan

City Council is looking for funding to create a new five year strategic plan.

Councillor Rory McMillan says they are looking for upwards of 80 thousand dollars from Fednor and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund to help bring it together.

McMillan says council will set guidelines on topics such as budgeting and operations

He adds the Strat Plan will be in place for the next installment of council, and it
will be able to upgrade the document as it sees fit.

Gravelle Defends Handling of Ring of Fire

Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle is defending progress in the Ring of Fire mining project.  

The NDP say that there is virtually nothing happening to get the development corporation in gear.

But Gravelle says that's not so, adding the hiring of the consulting firm Deloitte is an important part of the equation

Gravelle says there is plenty going on behind the scenes to come up with a transportation route for the area

Con College Hands Out Bursaries

Over 250 Confederation College students from across the region have one less financial worry.

They have been awarded scholarships and bursaries totaling 120 thousand dollars to help them continue their education at the institution.  

President Jim Madder says it's all made possible by donations from alumni and other fundraising events, like the charity golf tournament in Kenora.

The ceremony was held at the Thunder Bay campus yesterday afternoon.

Saints Senior Girls In Wawa for NWOSSA

A long road trip for the Thomas Aquinas senior girls volleyball team.

The Saints are in Wawa to face St. Joseph's in the NWOSSA finals.

The best-of-three series gets underway this morning, with game two
this afternoon.

The winner will move onto the All-Ontario Single A championships in
Richmond Hill in early March.

Midget Thistles Avoid Playoff Exit

The Kenora Triple "a" Midget Thistles have managed to stave off elimination the first round of the play-offs.

The Thistles came back to beat the Winnipeg Thrashers 3-2 last night in Winnipeg.

The Thrashers built a two goal lead early in the game, but the Thistles mounted their come back in the second and third with three unanswered goals from Josh Brunton,  Daniel Nault and Brandon Stanley.

Game four of the best of five series returns to Kenora tomorrow night.

Game time is 7:30 at the Kenora Rec. Center.

Snow Day for local Students

Not a lot of snow so far, but the Northwest Student Services Consortium has decided to err on the side
of caution and cancelled all it's buses this morning.

The Consortium is worried the winter storm will wors
en as the day progresses making for poor driving
conditions for it's drivers.

As of 5:30 this morning, buses in  Kenora, Sioux Narrows,  Dryden, Vermillion Bay, Red Lake, Ear Falls.
Sioux Lookout, Ignace and Upsala have been cancelled.

All schools in the Kenora area will remain open.

Police Investigate Assault in Whitedog

A man is in Kenora hospital following an early morning assault on the Whitedog First Nation.

Treaty 3 Police and the Ontario Provincial Police say the man was attacked with a weapon and is now at Lake of the Wood District Hospital with life threa
tening injuries.

Police say that a 27 year old man is already in custody as part of the investigation.

He will appear in Kenora court tomorrow to answer to the charge of aggravated assault.

The investigation is ongoing.

School Board Grappling With Higher Utility Costs

The cold, snowy winter is making it difficult for some local agencies
to make ends meet.

The Kenora Catholic District School Board says it's natural gas costs are up this year because of the cold.

Operations manager Andrew Poirier says all their utility costs are up this year.

Poirier adds that the 10 percent increase in the city's sewer and water rates
also hit them hard, because students use a lot of water.

Two Sledders Found Safe and Sound in Eastern Manitoba

All the snow is even making it hard for snowmobiles to get around.

The RCMP in eastern Manitoba were advised of a pair of stranded snowmobilers Monday morning on George Lake northwest of Lac Du Bonnet.

Police say a 39 year old man and a 38 year old woman were sledding in the back country when they became stuck in several feet of slush.

Because of the lake conditions, the RCMP brought in a helicopter and managed to rescue the
two sledders.

They were checked out by emergency service personnel and declared to be in good health.

Kenora Officer Faces Police Service Act Charge

A Kenora OPP officer isn't out of the woods yet.

Constable Troy Bender was fined 11 hundred dollars for careless driving
just before Christmas in connection to an accident that resulted in the
death of a 42 year old Grassy Narrows woman.

Gloria Assin was being transported to the Kenora Detachment in September of 2012 when the cruiser was hit by a semi.

While criminal charges against Bender were dropped, he now faces a
charge of discreditable conduct under the Police Services Act.

No date for the hearing has been announced.

Rickford Applauds Pikangikum Pilot Project

Kenora MP Greg Rickford is applauding a new program to help at-risk youth in Pikangikum First Nation.

The Federal Government has invested nearly 2.4-million dollars over 5-years in the crime prevention program 'Project Journey'.

Rickford says the initiative will give youth the tools and opportunities they need to steer clear of crime and live in a safe community.

The program will be led by Provincial Police in Red Lake, and will prevent and reduce youth crime and anti-social behaviours among aboriginal youth between the ages of 6 to 18.

Rickford says each year, the project will engage 75 to 100 youth in primary activities with an additional 50-youth participating in secondary activities.

Crimestoppers Looking for Help In Solving Nestor Falls Break In

OPP are turning to Crimestoppers for help in solving a break-in at Nestor Falls.

An unnamed business on Highway 71 was broken into sometime between 6 p-m Saturday February 8 and 1 p-m the next day.

An amount of money and some small items were taken.

Anyone with information can call Crimestoppers.

Another Alberta Clipper Heading Our way

Environment Canada says we can expect 5 to 10 centimeters of snow over the next couple of days.

Meterologist Ria Alsen says it's thanks to an Alberta Clipper that's making it's way into the region.

Alsen says while the Kenora area will just get brushed by the system, areas west of the City there could be even more snow falling, particularly towards Lake Superior.

The snow is expected to start falling tonight and won't let up until Friday afternoon.

Feds Promoting the New First Nations Education Act

The Federal Minister of Aboriginal Affairs is trying hard to sell his government's plan for First Nation Education.

Bernard Valcourt met with the Chief of the Fort William First Nation and Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Harvey Yesno yesterday morning in Thunder Bay.

Valcourt says he's heard their concerns and feels the plan will allow adequate funding and First Nation say in the education system.

Valcourt was a guest speaker at a luncheon put on by the Chamber of Commerce.

Bronco Girls End the Regular Season on the Offensive

Beaver Brae's girls hockey team has put an exclamation mark on the NorWOSSA regular season.

The Broncos played their final game yesterday and trounced Sioux Lookout 12-0.

Hannah Rose scored three goals, while the line of Rylee Smith, Hilary Moncrief and Kate Charlebois accounted for nine goals and 12 assists.

Beaver Brae is back in action Friday night in Fort Frances for game one of their best-of-three play-off series against the Muskies.

Crews Continue Battle Against Snow and Water Lines

Kenora Mayor Dave Canfield is asking for patience when it comes to winter operations.

Canfield says the city is working at it's maximum amount to keep up with the snow fall.

He said that they will continue working the maximum amount of allowed hours, noting the city is spending around $60,000 over budget weekly on snow removal.

Also today the city sent out an advisory regarding frozen and broken water lines.

The city is asking anyone that may be susceptible to freezing lines to keep taps running in hopes of prevent any further problems.

Kenora Airport Gets Funding

The Kenora Airport is getting some funding to improve communication to pilots.

The federal government is providing 36 thousand dollars for a Runway Condition Reporting System.

Airport manager Mike Zroback says it will allow them to provide almost instantaneous landing conditions via computer.

 Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford announced the funding from the Airports Capital Assistance Program
this morning.

Search Warrant Leads to Drug Charges

Kenora OPP have taken 17 grams of cocaine of the streets.

Police executed a search warrant on Friday were they seized the drugs, valued at 14 hundred dollars, along with some cash.

34 year old Clayton Ogden and 32 year old Derek Ogden both of Kenora are now facing charges.

Clayton is charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking while Derek is facing possession of cocaine.

Both men will appear in Kenora Court next month.

School Buses Rolling This Morning Despite Snow

Kenora residents are digging out again today after yet another Alberta Clipper.

The Kenora Airport is reporting 12.6 centimeters of snow yesterday, making it the largest snowfall for February 17th.

In the meantime, the Northwest Student Services Consortium says it's buses will be running as usual this morning despite all the snow on Family Day.

The buses may be running slightly behind scheduled in some areas though because some side roads, particularly in the Kenora area still have not been plowed.

Campbell Gears Up for New Session At Queen's Park

Kenora Rainy River M.P.P. Sarah Campbell is being regional concerns back to Queen's Park.

Today marks the return of the legislature after the winter break.

Campbell says she has been out and about listening to residents.

Campbell says she will continue to hold transportation minister Glen Murray to his promises.

OPP To Launch New Program on Pikangikum

The Deputy Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police will be in Thunder Bay today to discuss a new partnership with the National Crime Prevention Center.

Sergeant Shelley Garr of the OPP says it's called Project Journey and it will help the youth of Pikangikum.

The project is aimed at Aboriginal youth-at-risk between the ages of 6 and 18 years of age.

The program will be unveiled at 10 o'clock at the OPP Northwest Region Headquarters.

Police Confirm Four Fatalities in New Osnaburgh Fire

The Nishnawbe-Aski Police Force are confirming that a house fire in the community of New Osnaburgh, is responsible for four deaths.

The service along with several other agencies have located four bodies.

The investigation is ongoing with post-mortem examinations taking place in Toronto later this week.

Job Fair Returns to Kenora

Need a job? Tired of the one you have? Or just interested to see what's out there?

If you said yes to any of those questions then the 3rd Annual Employment Outreach Career Fair is for you.

Josee Mantle is with the Kenora District Services Board and says the job fair will be hitting Dryden, Sioux Lookout and Kenora starting on February 25th.

Mantle says some 17 employers will be in attendance and those who attend should bring their resume.

Dates: Dryden February 25th 10-3 Dryden Training Center; Sioux Lookout February 26th 10-3 Legion; Kenora February 27th 10-3 Seven Generations Institute

Ontario Nurses Want Changes for LHIN's

A total of seven recommendations have been made to change the face of the Local Health Integration Networks.

The call for change is being made by the Ontario Nurses Association.

Vicki McKenna says they know there's a severe shortage of registered nurses.

McKenna adds health and safety procedures and regulations should be included in any accountability agreement.

Driven To Quit Challenge Deadline Looming

The deadline to enter the Driven to Quit Challenge is fast approaching.

You have until February 28th to register.

It's the Canadian Cancer Society contest that encourages smokers to quit the habit for at least the month of March.

Senior Coordinator at Smokers Helpline, Naomi McNeill says participants can win a new vehicle or cash prizes up for grabs.

Deadline to enter is February 28 and is made through the contests website or by calling the Canadian Cancer Society's smokers helpline: DriventoQuit.ca  or smokershelpline.ca

Province Hires Firm to Create ROF Development Corporation

Minister of Northern Development and Mines Michael Gravelle says his government is hiring the firm Deloitte LLP to help establish the Ring of Fire development corporation.

The firm will act as a neutral, third-party resource for First Nations, the provincial and federal governments and industry.

They will also work with Ring of Fire partners to set clear paths and timelines for decision-making and seek out the next steps.
       

Bronco Girls Win Morden Tournament

Beaver Brae's girls hockey team is starting to peak at just the right time.

The Broncos took top honors at a tournament in Morden, Manitoba over the
weekend.

Beaver Brae won the gold after downing the host Morden Mavericks 5-0 in
the A-side final.

The Broncos finish off the NorWOSSA regular season on the road tonight in
Sioux Lookout against the Warriors.

Midget Thistles Lose/PeeWee Thistles Win Playoff Openers

It's do or die for the Kenora Triple "a" midget Thistles.

The Thistles trail their best-of-five series against the Winnipeg Thrashers two games
to none, after a 4-3 loss Sunday at the Kenora Rec. Center.

The Kenora Midgets will try to keep the series alive tomorrow night, when they return toWinnipeg for game three.

Meanwhile, the Kenora Double "a" PeeWee Thistles are off to a good start in their best-of-three Eastman play-off series.

The PeeWee Thistles upended Niverville 7-2 on Sunday and lead the series one game to none.

Jacob Frankcom had a five goal game for the Thistles.

The Kenora PeeWee squad can wrap up the series this Saturday afternoon in Niverville.

Smash and Bash Social

The Kenora Roller Derby League is working to host a bout later this year.

Spokesperson Bayley Zilinski says they are hosting a fundraising social this Saturday to raise funds to bring 3 teams in for the bout.

Zilinski says the league is also hoping to bring in a coaching team to provide lessons and tips to players, along with advice on how to grow the league.

Tickets for the Crash and Bash Social are $10.

The is at 8:00 at the Lake of the Woods Brewery.

Free Trail Permit Weekend

Break out that snow machine and hit the trails.

The Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs are hosting a free permit weekend.

Spokesperson Gail Sayers says the deal runs all weekend long beginning Saturday and running through Monday evening.

The free permits can be printed off the OFSC website at www.ofsc.on.ca/

Four People Dead in New Osnaburgh Fire

Four people are dead as the result of a house fire this week on the New Osnaburgh

The Assembly of First Nations revealed the death toll in a news release which National Chief Shawn Atleo expresses condolences to the community following the tragic blaze.

The Ontario Fire Marshall is expected to begin its investigation today.
First Nation south of Pickle Lake.

Ontario Family Fishing Begins at Midnight

A chance to shake off the winter blahs this weekend.

This is Ontario Family Fishing Weekend, and you don't need a licence
to put a line in the water.

Rachel Pearson is with the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters and since it's been such a cold winter says you shouldn't have to worry about poor ice conditions.

Pearson says there are events taking place all weekend long to take advantage of Ontario Family Fishing, but stresses conservation limits apply if you are fishing without a licence.

Radar Runs This Weekend

Bragging rights will be on the line at the 1st Annual Kenora Snowmachine Radar Runs.

Bruce McGregor is the event organizer and says they have some nice prizes lined up as well.

Registration is 50 dollars per sled, and guarantees 5 runs.

The radar runs take to the MNR landing starting tomorrow and are free to attend.

Liberals Shut Out in Two By-Elections

Not a good night for the Liberals in two provincial by-elections.

Kathleen Wynne's party was shut out in both Niagara Falls and Thornhill.

The New Democrats took the Niagara Falls Riding, while the Conservatives held onto Thornhill.

Gila Martow won in Thornhill, maintaining the riding for the Progressive Conservatives, while the NDP's Wayne Gates won in Niagara Falls, a riding formerly held by the Liberals.

The results don't change the status of the minority Liberals in the Ontario Legislature and Wynne vowed the losses will not be repeated in a general election, which come as early as this spring.

Rickford Defends Budget/FedNor Funding

A bit of a war of words has broken out between two M.P.'s from northwestern Ontario over funding for FedNor.

Kenora MP Greg Rickford says a claim from Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty that FedNor was ignored in the Federal budget is a "bold face lie".

Rickford says the NDP should take some time to read the entire budget.

The minister responsible for the regional economic agency says he continues to make the rounds in the area making FedNor announcements.

Vermillion Bay Hosts Kin Carnival

The winter carnival season continues this weekend in Vermilion Bay.

The 48th annual Kin Carnival gets underway tonight.

Organizer Scott McEwan says the auction tonight has a special meaning.

Some of the activities this weekend including a fish fry, pancake breakfast, family snow derby, and a fishing derby.

Bronco Junior Boys Win Silver At NorWOSSA

Just one medal for Beaver Brae teams at the NorWOSSA double "a" championships in Fort Frances.

The Bronco junior boys beat Dryden 60-55 in semi-final action yesterday morning but ran out of steam in the gold medal game, dropping a 63-34 decision to the Muskies.

Beaver Brae takes home a silver medal.

It was the only final the Broncos qualified for.

Beaver Brae's senior boys narrowly missed the gold medal game, after losing in the semi-finals 44-43 to Dryden.

Both the Bronco girls volleyball teams also lost out in the semi-final round.

Broncos Blank Saints In Girls Hockey

In the late game, it was another one goal victory for Beaver Brae over Thomas
Aquinas in girls hockey.

Rylee Smith scored the lone goal of the game and Becca Mahon earned the
shut out in a 1-0 win for the Broncos.

Beaver Brae finishes the regular season on the road next Tuesday against
Sioux Lookout, while the Saints are in Dryden.

While T.A. will miss the play-offs, the Broncos will finish fourth in the league
standings and have to face Fort Frances in the semi-finals.

Broncos Edge Saints In Final Game of Regular Season

A big win and confidence boost for Beaver Brae's boys hockey team heading into the play-offs.

The Broncos beat their cross town rivals from Thomas Aquinas 2-1 last night at the Kenora Rec. Center.

The win ensures Beaver Brae will play the Saints in the semi-finals.

Both Beaver Brae and Thomas Aquinas finished with 20 points, but the Saints will finish in second place
because it had more wins.

Fort Frances finished in first and will take on Dryden in the other semi-final series.