kenora hockey teams split against Fort and Dryden

The Kenora Senior Thistles had a tough night on the road.

The Allan Cup hosts were in Fort Frances last night and were doubled up

10-5 by the Thunder Hawks.

The Senior Thistles are back in action this weekend with a game at home
against a team of all-stars from eastern Manitoba.

Also in Fort Frances last night, a better story for the Thomas Aquinas girls hockey team.

The Saints re-bounded from a three goal deficit in the first period and came back

for a 5-4 win.

The victory improves T.A. to 4-2 on the season.

It was a split for Beaver Brae's hockey teams last night.

The Bronco girls got back on the winning track with a 4-1 decision over

Dryden.

At the Kenora Rec. Center, the Beaver Brae boys dropped a 3-2 decision to

the Eagles in a shootout.

Status of Women Committee Visits NWO

A federal committee focusing on violence against aboriginal women will be paying a visit to northwestern
Ontario this week.

The Status of Women committee is traveling across Canada, and B.C. MP Cathy McLeod says they want to hear about community solutions to violence against women.

McLeod says they will be releasing a report with recommendations to the Federal Government in the Spring.

The committee will be stopping in Sioux Lookout and Thunder Bay.

OPP investigate Snowmobile Accident

OPP are once again asking outdoor enthusiasts to take it easy when hitting the trails.


Kenora OPP say an 11-year-old girl is in Hospital in Winnipeg after falling from a snow machine and being struck by a machine following behind.

The girl is in stable condition.

Police are asking young riders to ensure they are properly trained to drive machines in a safe and fun manner.

Hospital Bed Shortage Easing

Lake of the Woods District Hospital says its seen a slight easing of its bed shortage.


Chief Executive Officer, Marc Belcaen says at the end of December that had 24
alternate level of care patients in the hospital.

That's down from 26 the month previous.

He adds that only 10 of those patients were actually waiting for a long term care bed
to open up.

That's down from 13 in November.

Belcaen says the number is still high, but suggests the situation isn't as critical
as it had been earlier this fall.

Northern Harbor seeking support for expansion

A local businessman is looking for support from city council for his plans to expand
Northern Harbor.

Gary Hall is looking to add 400 docking spaces over the next 30 years, and add an R.V.
park and an arts park.

Alex Clark is working with Hall on the project and told council that there is support in
the community for the expansion.

Clark says they are having a difficult time convincing the MNR that the project should
proceed, and they are looking for support from as many groups as possible as they
go to the next level and start talking to government ministers.

Thistle Pavillion due for renovations

The Thistle Pavillion is due for some much needed renovations.


City council is being asked to support the work, which includes
replacing the roof, and refurbishing the wash rooms.

Councillor Sharon Smith says there is already money set aside for
the work.

The total project will cost over 150 thousand dollars.

Smith say they also want to increase storage down at the pavillion
so its easier to set up for special events on the Harborfront.

New Fire Hall ready to move into

It looks like Kenora's Fire and Emergency Services Department will be moving into the new fire hall on Barsky's Hill a few days ahead of schedule.

Last week, fire chief Warren Brinkman indicated they wanted to have the move complete by the middle of the month.

Yesterday, Brinkman indicated that the move into their new building is substantially complete and should be done by today or tomorrow at the latest.

He says the final items to make the move are some fire hoses, fire trucks and some
files.

Hospital ready to comply with new legislation

Lake of the Woods District Hospital says its nearly 70 percent compliant with new patient care legislation drafted by the provincial government.

The Excellence in Care for All Act goes into effect as of April 1st.

Under the act, the Hospital has to create a Quality Control Committee that will report directly to the board of directors.

The Hospital also have to have a Quality Improvement plan in place by April 1st.

Chief Executive Officer Marc Belcaen says they have tight timelines, but should
be able to meet them.

Just over 50 percent of hospital workers have flu shot

Concern has been raised about the number of employees at Lake of the Woods District

Hospital who have received a flu shot this year.

Chief Executive Officer Marc Belcaen estimates that only 55 percent of staff at the hospital have had their flu shot this year.

He adds that administration and medical staff try to lead by example, and almost 100 percent

of doctors have had their vaccinations.

He adds that they can't force employees to get a flu shot, but they make it as convenient

as possible.

So far this year, the hospital has held 20 clinics for staff, including some during evening shifts.

Gas Prices Up

Higher oil prices have pushed up the price at the pump.


Over the weekend, the price of a liter of unleaded gas went up four cents to
116.9 at most outlets across the city.

The average price in Ontario is 112 a liter.

Kenora is by no means the most expensive place in northern Ontario to fill up.

In Thunder Bay, gas is selling for 1.24 cents a liter at many service stations.

Thistles lose two on the road

The Kenora Triple "a" midget Thistles managed to pick up two points on a western road trip over the weekend, despite a pair of losses.

The Thistles were edged 5-4 by the Yellowhead Chiefs yesterday in a shootout.

It was the same scenario Saturday night in Brandon as the Kenora Midgets were shaded 7-6 by the Wheat Kings, also in a shootout.

Kenora Hydro Expansion

Kenora Hydro will be expanding its workforce this year.

The municipal utility will be hiring a conservation expert.

Hydro president and CEO Dave Sinclair says the position is mandated by the provincial government.

Kenora Hydro is just finishing a 350 thousand dollar renovation to its building on Mellick Avenue to increase office space.

Saints win gold in weekend tournament

 The Thomas Aquinas Saints senior Girls volleyball team capped a perfect weekend with a gold medal.

The Saints were the co-hosts of the Winter Smash tournament, and didn't drop a set in the
round robin or the play-offs.

T.A. faced their NorWOSSA rivals from Dryden in the A-side final, and beat the Eagles two sets to none.

In Winkler, Manitoba Beaver Brae's boys hockey team had to settle for a silver medal.

The Broncos were blanked by the Dryden Eagles 1-0 in a shootout in the tournament final.

Beaver Brae was unbeaten in the round-robin.

Meanwhile, in Winnipeg, the Beaver Brae Girls hockey team skated away with a silver medal from the Piper Classic.

The Broncos faced the St. Mary's Flames in the final, and dropped a 2-1 decision.

Hospital still in the black

Lake of the Woods District Hospital still expects to break even on its operations this year.

After the first eight months of this fiscal year, the hospital is running a surplus of about 388 thousand dollars.

Finance Manager, Cindy Gasparini points out the surplus will likely shrink during the winter months, because they have higher utility costs.

She adds there will also be some added expenditures, including equipment maintainance contracts.

She says they are still in good shape financially and barring any unforseen expenses they should be in the black once again this year.

Visitor Restrictions Lifted at Hospital

Some good news for anyone with a loved one at Lake of the Woods District Hospital.

Administration has lifted visitor restrictions that have been in place since before Christmas.

Leslie Brown is the head of patient care and says they decided to lift the visitor ban yesterday
afternoon because they've seen a decrease in the number of people with the flu.

Brown says anyone who has a cough, a runny nose, has a fever or any symptoms of vomiting or
diarrhea should avoid visiting patients at the hospital.

Quiet year for RIDE Campaign

The message of not drinking and driving seems to finally be sinking in.

The OPP wrapped up its seasonal RIDE program over the weekend and just two people were pulled off the road for impaired driving.

In all, officers stopped over 63 hundred vehicles during the five week seasonal campaign.

Two license suspensions were also issued along with 21 other criminal code and liquor license violations.

NOHFC funds three new local businesses

Six local entrepreneurs are getting funding from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund to

start up new businesses in the region.

Taiga Property Services of Kenora has been promised just over 35 thousand dollars to
purchase a back-hoe loader to provide earth-moving services to local cottagers.

Comfort Table Bakery of Vermillion Bay is also getting over 92 thousand dollars to purchase a

building so it can produce fresh baked goods, such as bread, cinnamon buns and pastries.

Another Kenora business, North West Doors, will get 25 thousand dollars under the Young

Entrepreur Program to purchase a trailor, a scissor lift and other tools to repair and install

garage doors.

NDP promise to take HST off Home Heating Bills

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath continues to attack the McGuinty Government's failure to remove the HST from hydro, and home heating bills.

Horwath says Northerners are struggling and need a break.

Horvath says if her party is elected she would remove the HST from home heating oil and natural gas.

New Fishing Regs available

There are no major changes to the fishing regulations in the 2011 Ontario Recreational Fishing Summary for lakes in the Kenora and Rainy River Districts.

The booklets are now available and MNR Biologist Amy Godwin says some clarifications were made to the northern pike season at Eagle Lake near Dryden.

Godwin says the MNR is currently reviewing fisheries management plans for this area which could lead to regulation changes in the future.

Saints win on the Court, lose on the Ice

Thomas Aquinas court sport teams haven't missed a beat after being idle for the Christmas Holidays.

The Saints won all three games played yesterday in Ignace against the Falcons.

The T.A. junior boys basketball team cruised to a 59-33 victory.

Jarrod Sundmark led all scorers with 19 points.

In girls volleyball action, both the Saints junior and senior girls won in three straight sets.

Both girls teams will be back in action today as Thomas Aquinas and Beaver Brae are hosting the 30 team Winter Smash tournament.

Action begins at noon at both gyms.

Meanwhile, the Thomas Aquinas boys hockey team lost its first game of the NorWOSSA Single "a"

season.

The Saints were in Sioux Lookout last night and lost 6-5 in a shootout to the Warriors.