Richards traded by the Flyers to Los Angeles

A shocking trade in the NHL.

The Philadelphia Flyers trade their captain and their leading scorer, while clearing some badly needed salary cap space. Captain

Mike Richards was sent to Los Angeles, while Jeff Carter goes to Columbus. Richards says he actually heard about the trade while surfing on his computer.

Among the commodities heading to Philadelphia is the eighth overall pick in today's draft. And, with the newfound cap space, the Flyers were able to sign goalie Ilya Bryzgalov to a nine-year contract.

Rotary Club Raises Money at Charity Golf Tournament

The Rotary Club's 7th annual charity golf tournament at the Kenora Golf and CountryClub proved to be a big success again.

Just over 19 thousand dollars was raised yesterday.

A total of 31 teams took part in the event.

Proceeds will go to Rotary projects in Kenora and around the world.

Wood Allocations promised for two Kenora Companies

The provincial government has finally approved wood allocations for a couple of Kenora businesses.

Weyerhaueser and Wincrief have both accepted offers, which could created up to 55 jobs.

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield was on hand for the announcement yesterday and says the extra wood supply will be a big benefit for the iLevel timberstrand mill.

The province says as many as 12 jobs could be created at the Wincrief Pole Peeling plant thanks to the wood allocation.

Vigilent Neighbor Helps Arrest Break-in Suspect

A sharp-eyed neighbor has helped the OPP nab an 18 year old man who is believed to be responsible for a number of break-ins in the north end of town.

Early Wednesday morning, police say they received a call from a 9th Street North resident who noticed someone trying to break-in to a shed.

The observant neighbor confronted the suspect and held him until officers arrived on the scene.

Dylan Wilcox has been arrested and charged with a number of counts of break, enter and theft.

He was also charged with mischief, after a number of windows up at Beaver Brae Secondary School were smashed  night.

Safe Grad Takes Place Tonight

A big night for grade 12 students at Thomas Aquinas and Beaver Brae.

Graduation ceremonies will take place at both schools this evening.

That will be followed by the 11th annual Safe Grad at the Kenora Rec. Center.

Warren Brinkman is one of the committee members and says they just want to provide a safe alternative for grad night.

Brinkman says last year they hosted just over 350 students at Safe Grad, including grads from Grassy Narrows, Whitefish Bay and Whitedog.

80 people evacuated from Pickle Lake area First Nation

About 80 people from a northwestern Ontario First Nation community of are now in Sioux Lookout after an emergency airlift.

Town official Brian McKinnon says smoke from a nearby blaze is causing some concern.

McKinnon says smoke from the fire forced the evacuation of those residents who are very young and elderly.

More evacuees may have to be flown to Ignace or Geraldton.

OPP still searching for driver invoved in Marathon Hit and Run

The OPP has released the name of the flagman who was hit by a car on Highway 17, west of Marathon Monday morning.

23-year-old Jake Dumas is in Thunder Bay Hospital in stable condition.

Constable Peter Bertin says an arrest warrant has been issued for 23 year old Ibrahim Sendagire of Edmonton.

Bertin is asking motorists to report any hitchhikers matching the describition of the accused.

Impaired Driver crashes in downtown Kenora

An impaired driver has caused a fair bit of damage in downtown Kenora.


Early this morning, the OPP say a 2008 pick up truck hit a lamp post on Main Street South, went through a railing, down an embankment and into the parking lot of Scotiabank.

Police say the 18 year old driver and a 16 year old passenger walked away from the accident scene, but were picked up a short time later on the Kenora Harborfront.

Extensive damage was reported to the vehicle as well as property on Main Street.

18 year old Philip Reid of Winnipeg has been charged with impaired driving and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

The 16 year old youth has been charged with being intoxicated in a public place.

Pickle Lake Forest Fire Growing

A forest fire about 30-kilometres east of New Osnaburgh First Nation and Pickle Lake continues to grow.


The lightning caused fire is now 20-thousand hectares in size.

Smoke alerts in both communities have been issued and the fire hazard is extreme.

Crews are focusing on the west side of the fire and a mobile base camp has been set up to support firefighters.

11-fires continue to burn in Northwestern Ontario.

Local Contractor Fined by MNR

A local contractor has earned the wrath of the Ministry of Natural Resources.
Don Hagar has been fined three thousand dollars for illegally taking gravel from crown land.

The MNR says conservation officers received a complaint back in May about someone taking aggragate material to build a road.

Hagar admitted in court last week to illegally creating two aggregate pits on a forest access road off Father Moss Road in McGeorge Township.

He used the material to create a road to a nearby cottage.

While the cottage owner had a permit to build the road on crown land, Hagar was fined for illegally operating an aggrate pit.

Canfield has mixed feelings about Northern Growth Plan

Less talk about fixing the economy of northern Ontario and more action.


That's the sentiment of Kenora mayor Dave Canfield.

He attended the Think North summit last week in Thunder Bay and says this is the fourth major study on the region he's seen since he's been in office.

Canfield says the Northern Growth Plan has some good points, but it will only be seen as a success if it can help generate jobs for the region.

OPP still searching for driver involved in Marathon Hit and Run

If you are driving along Highway 17 you are asked to not pick up any hitchhikers.


OPP have issued the warning as they continue to search for a wanted man who struck a flagman on the Trans-Canada and left the scene on foot.

The incident occurred Monday morning west of Marathon.

OPP say the driver hit a 23-year-old worker and then collided with a rock cut before taking off.

The wanted individual has been identified as 23-year-old Ibrahim Sendagire of Edmonton.

The victim is from Marathon and he's in Thunder Bay Hospital with serious injuries.

Farmer's Market starts this morning

One of the favorite events of the summer for both local and seasonal starts up today.

The Farmer's Market begins its run on the Kenora Harborfront.

Buck Matiowski is helping to co-ordinate the Market and says they've added a few new wrinkles this year.

The farmer's market gets underway at 9:00 this morning and will run until about 2:00 in the afternoon.

MNR Conducts Blitz on Ear Falls area Lakes

The Ministry of Natural Resources has wrapped up a 2-day enforcement blitz in the Ear Falls area.


Conservation officers checked 390-people at 22-tourist camps on 4-lakes along the Highway 105 corridor.

Officials say 95-percent of those checked were following the rules.

The MNR did lay 11-charges and 11-warnings for over-limit of walleye and improperly packaged fish.

Open alcohol was also an issue.

Northwestern Ontario Immigration Portal expands

Want to move to Northwestern Ontario?

There's an app for that.

The Northwest Immigration website is now available in 15 languages and can be viewed on smart phones.

Spokesperson Rebecca Johnson says the site is garnering a lot of interest.

The website shows what jobs are available and what businesses are up for sale.

Cameron Appointed to NDP National Council

She may not have won the last federal election the Kenora Riding, but NDP candidate Tania Cameron is still active in the party.

Cameron attended the party's national convention this past weekend in Vancover and was appointed to the NDP's national council.

Cameron was one of four delegates from Ontario selected to sit on the party's national council.

Museum Gets Honor from Ontario Historical Society

A big honor for Lake of the Woods Museum.

It has been presented the Museum Award of Excellence and Programming by the Ontario Historical Society.

The award was for the exhibit entitled, "We Were Taught Differently", which was a look at the residential school system in northwestern Ontario.

The honor was for creating an exceptional exhibit that dealt with a very diffult subject.

The exhibit been taken out on tour and has also been transformed into a book.

Kroppy Senior of the Year

Kenora City Council was in a giving mood last night, presenting three certificates to local residents and an employee.

A provincial senior of the year award was handed out to Len Kropiowski.

Kroppy says he's grateful for the honor, almost like winning the Stanley Cup.

Janet Findlay was also presented an award of merit from Life Saving Society, for helping out not one, but two people in distress, in two separate incidents on Lake of the Woods last year.

Strike at Ring of Fire in NWO

A number of people who have been working up in northwestern Ontario's so-called Ring of fire are on strike.

Employees of Cliffs Natural Resources are threatening a blockade at the company's Ring of Fire site.

About 2 dozen workers walked off the job on Friday.

Spokesperson Jesse Nadon says they were offered a package that would see them get paid less than fast food employees.

Nadon says they plan to stop they're replacements from going to work.

Separate School Board launches all day Kindergarten at PJP

The Kenora Catholic District School Board is going to be adding all-day kindergarten programs at Pope John Paul II School a full year ahead of schedule.

Full day junior and senior kindergarten programs were supposed to be introduced in 2012.

But Director of Education, Phylis Eikre says the board felt it important to start it up this fall.

Eikre says they already have three classes filled for all day JK and SK at Pope John Paul next year, and its possible they could add a fourth class if there is demand.