Enrolment expected to rise at Catholic School Board

The Kenora Catholic District School Board seems to be defying a provincial trend.

The separate school board is projecting an increase in its enrolment this fall.

Superintendant of Business Erica Baily says the student population could swell by 46 students in September.

She says the increased enrolment should result in a bit more money from the provincial government in student grants next year.

Ring of Fire Conference Wraps up

The Ring of Fire Coordinator is calling a two day conference on the chromite deposit in Thunder Bay a success.

Christine Kaszycki says it's designed to understand what infrastructure is needed for the mining project to proceed.

Prefered transportation methods and routes were discussed at the final day of the event.

Two Women plead guilty to Manslaughter in Death of Big Trout Woman

There will be no trial in the death of a Big Trout Lake woman in Thunder Bay in 2010.

That's because the 2-people originally charged with First Degree Murder have pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of Manslaughter.

Michelle Morris and Joanne Vivier will be sentenced on November 16th.

Catholic School Board completes a hiring spree

The Kenora Catholic District School Board has been in a hiring mode over the past month.

The separate school board has just filled a total of 12 full-time positions.

Phylis Eikre is the director of education and says the hirings are due to a number of issues.

Eikre says they have hired extra staff for the full-day kindergarten program at Pope John Paul.

New Osnaburgh being evacuated



(Photo courtesy of the MNR)



A raging wildfire in northern Ontario has prompted the Chief of the New Osnaburgh First Nation to order the evacuation of the entire community of more than 450 people.

About 150 residents are now in Geraldton, 195 in Sioux Lookout and 105 in Ignace.

The fire is burning 15 kilometres east of New Osnaburgh, and has grown to 300 square kilometres.

The Ministry of Natural Resources says the fire is not under control and crews are having trouble with shifting winds that are blowing smoke into the Pickle Lake, Sioux Lookout and Dryden areas.

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.