Discovery Center Nearing Completion

Tourism Kenora is hoping to move into its new digs in another month or so.

The finishing touches are being put on the Discovery Center on Lakeview Drive on Cameron Bay.

Tourism development officer, Heather Paterson says the building will provide more than just a tourist information office.

The two million dollar building is scheduled to open to the public by the end of June.

Rickford gets ready for news session of Parliament

MP's are back to work Thursday with the election of a new Speaker.

Kenora Conservative representative Greg Rickford is expecting a quick session.

The budget will be presented next Monday.

Rickford says the budget will set out plans for the next phase of the government's economic action plan.

Conservation Camp begins today

55 Years running and still going strong.

The Annual Dryden Conservation Course opens today with Grade 10 students from Dryden, Kenora and Southern Ontario participating.

Domtar is one of the major sponsors and Spokesperson Bonnie Skene says activities are taking place at Blue Lake Park, Aaron Park and Domtar's harvesting operation.

The course is geared towards getting kids interested in conservation and resource management.

Search for Missing Angler on Lake of the Woods Continues

A search for a missing American angler continues near Morson.

Provincial Police were back in Lake of the Woods yesterday looking for 69-year-old Richard Herman.

The Illinois man was with another fishing on the lake last Monday.

Their capsized boat and the body of a 73-year-old man were found by police the next day.

MTO Stats show local roads are getting safer

Figures released by the Ministry of Transportation shows that the number of accidents in the Kenora area continues to climb, but the number of people being injured or killed has been substantially reduced.

The latest figures from the MTO show that there were 50 people injured in vehicle accidents in 2008, compared to 77 in 1996.

Tom Marinis is a spokesperson for the MTO and says there are a number of reasons for the decrease.

Marinis says alcohol continues to play a big factor in local accidents, with about 25 percent the result of impaired drivers.

Hospitals get capital funding from Northwest LHIN's

The North West Local Health Integration Network is providing a total of 3.6-million dollars to 13 Northern Hospitals for upgrades.

Lake of the Woods District Hospital has been promised about 250 thousand dollars in capital funding.

Chief Executive Officer Marc Belcaen points out that the funding was actually promised earlier this year, and they are only just getting the cheques now.

Local School Boards sign bussing agreement

An agreement on transportation has been reached by the  four area School Boards.

The new protocol will cover students from across the Region, with the same rules for each Board.

Judy Green is the Manager of the Northwestern Ontario Student Services Consortium and says more information is available on-line.

The site also outlines the new school bus eligibility distances.

Another Drug Bust on the By-Pass

A 24 year old Kenora man faces drug charges after being pulled over by police on the Kenora By-Pass.

The OPP says they stopped a vehicle on Highway 17-A Thursday afternoon around 5:30.

Officers noticed some open alcohol in the vehicle and conducted a search for more liquor licence violations.

During their search about 173 grams of marijuana was uncovered.

Stephen Beckworth has been charged with possession of a narcotic for the purpose of trafficking.

He's due to appear in Kenora Court on July 14th.

Rafferty to Raise Border Crossing Issues

A meeting is being planned to discuss the issue of border access at the Fort Frances and International Falls points of entry.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River M-P John Rafferty says he's hoping to meet with U-S Senator Al Franken in early July.

Rafferty is also trying to access information on the number of Americans turned back at the border compared with other locations.

Attiwapiskat Drug Bust

A major drug bust in Attawapiskat First Nation.

The Combine Forces Organized Crime Unit searched an Attapiskat home and seized nearly 14-thousand dollars worth of drugs.

Police seized 169-Oxycodone pills and nearly 5-thousand dollars worth of cocaine.

43-year-old Richard Edwards faces 2-counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking in cocaine and oxycodone.

Kenora Area Road Safety Committee re-focuses

The campaign to improve road safety in the Kenora area has been revived.

The Kenora Area Road Safety Committee is planning a number of initiatives to try and reduce accidents and injuries on local highways.

Maria Bagdonis is a spokesperson for the committee and says one of the biggest causes of accidents locally is distracted driving.

Bagdonis says Kars will also be holding a car seat clinic in June, to make sure children are being buckled up properly.

Saints Girls earn another trip to OFSAA Single A Soccer Championship

Both of Kenora's high school soccer teams are heading to southwestern Ontario this week for the All-Ontario Championships.

Thomas Aquinas booked its ticket by winning the NWOSSA crown over the weekend.

The Saints beat Terrace Bay in two straight games in the best-of-three final.

T.A. got by Terrace Bay by scores of 5-0 Friday night and 3-2 in overtime on Saturday.

Thomas Aquinas will now travel to London on Wednesday and take the bus to Chatham for the OFSAA championships, which start on Thursday.

Beaver Brae`s girls will head to Windsor for the Double A championships later this wee as well. 

OPP release of American angler found near Morson

The OPP are continuing to search for a missing angler in the Morson area of Lake of the Woods.

Two men were reported overdue Monday night, after they had gone out fishing in a  16 foot boat.

The body of 73 year old James Wealther from Addison, Illinois was found on the shore of the lake on Tuesday.

The OPP say the capsized boat was also located in the area.

The Marine Unit, along with an Underwater Search and Recovery Unit are continuing their search for 69 year old Richard Herman from Peoria, Illinois.

OPP hiring Summer Students

The OPP has extended the deadline for any student who wants to apply for their summer constable positions.

Today was supposed to be the last day to accept applications, but that has been moved now to June 3rd.

Constable Dave Cain says the job is ideal for any youth interested in a career in policing.

Cain says the Kenora Detachment of the OPP has received funding to hire three students once again this summer.

School vice-principals appointed

With the school year quickly winding down, local school boards are starting to think ahead to the fall.

Both the Kenora Catholic and Keewatin-Patricia District School Boards have finalized their hirings for principals and vice-principals.

The separate school board has announced that Nicole Kurtz will be taking over as vice-principal at St. Margarite Bourgeois.

At the public board, Gail Mutrie has been appointed as the acting vice-principal at King George.

The changes will take effect September 1st.

OPP hand out awards in annual ceremony

A Kenora police officer involved in a shooting in downtown Kenora, almost a year ago, has received a comendation from the OPP.

Katheryn Moyer had to shoot 39 year old Helen Proulx last June, after the Grassy Narrows resident threatened her with a small knife.

OPP Commissioner Chris Lewis presented the awards at a ceremony yesterday in Dryden and says this is a way to thank those who keep our streets safe.

Moyer received the Commissioner's Citation for Bravery for her courageous actions involving a knife wielding woman in downtown Kenora.

Rickford picks up new duties on Parliament Hill

When Greg Rickford returns to Parliament Hill, he won't be enjoying much free time.

The Kenora Conservative MP has been named Parliamentary Secretary to 3 Ministers; Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, Canadian Northern Economic Development and FedNor.

Rickford notes he's excited about the opportunity.

Rickford says he's always had a passion for issues in the Arctic as well as aborignal concerns.

Provincial cash announced for Local Roads Boards

The Provincial Government is providing 25 million dollars to local roads boards across the province.

Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle says the 191 rural road boards in the region will share that cash.

Gravelle says the money is used on roads in a number of unincorporated communities across the northwest.

No Target Store expected in Kenora

It looks as if Kenora won't be getting a Target store any time soon.

Earlier this year, Target announced it was buying up a number of Zeller's outlets in Canada.

Yesterday the company announced which of the 105 stores across Canada would be initially converted.

Spokesperson Amy Reillery says they hope to have the new stores open by 2013.

The only Zeller's in northwestern Ontario to be converted is in Thunder Bay.

Four stores in Winnipeg will be changed over to Target outlets.

Saints Girls host NWOSSA soccer championships

The Thomas Aquinas Girls soccer team is eyeing a return trip to the All-Ontario Championships.

The Saints are hosting the NWOSSA championships this weekend.

The best-of-three final against Terrace Bay begins this evening at 6:00 at the T.A. soccer field.

Game two is scheduled for 10:00 tomorrow morning, and game three if necessary is at 2:00 Saturday afternoon.

The winner will move onto the OFSAA finals next week.