KMTS Warns of Internet Scam

KMTS is warning of a scam that has been going around to some of its clients.

An e-mail notification has been sent out telling account holders about a phoney upgrade for an enhanced webmail user interface.

The letter says in order to save your e-mail address book in their data base, you have to send your password back to them in order to transfer your contacts.

KMTS stresses that this is a scam and urges its account holders not to give out their password to anyone.

Children's Aid Merge to Proceed on July 1st

The long talked about merger between two child care agencies in northwestern Ontario should be complete later this week.

Kenora-Patricia Child and Family Services will be joining forces with Family and Children Services of Rainy River as of July 1st.

The new children's aid society will be known as Kenora-Rainy River Districts Child and Family Services

The amalgamation process was supposed to be completed at the beginning of April, but some financial issues help up the merger.

Province Cuts Funding for Forest Access Roads

The provincial government is cutting the amount of money available to build and maintain forest access roads in northern Ontario.

The Ontario Forest Industries Association says it found out about the cut earlier this month.

Scott Jackson is a spokesperson for the OFIA and says the budget has been cut by 36 percent.

Jackson claims the Ministry of Northern Development of Mines and Forestry knew about the cut back in January but failed to inform anyone it would be taking place.

Council holds special meeting this afternoon

Kenora City Council will be meeting once more before Canada Day.

A special meeting is scheduled to take place this afternoon in council chambers to take care of a couple of last minute pieces of business.

That includes a review of a plea by the Kenora Public Library for more money to operate this year.

Council is also expected to award the tender for the municipal insurance policy this afternoon.

The council meeting is scheduled for 1:00.

Union Gas Rates Going Up

Its going to cost a bit more to heat your home with natural gas.

Union Gas says the Ontario Energy Board has approved a 5 percent rate increase as of July 1st.

Andrea Stass is a spokesperson for Union Gas and says the increase in gas prices is due to a couple of factors.

Stass says the increase in gas prices will cost the average homeowner about four dollars a month.

Funding for local child care groups announced

The Kenora District Services Board has approved funding under the National Child Benefit program.

A number of groups in the region will be getting funding under the program.

The Minto Resource Center has been promised 15 thousand dollars, while Triple Play will  receive 36 hundred dollars to help kids from low-income families play sports and participate in other social events.

The Services Board is leaving 50 thousand available for its Ontario Works Backpack program.

Rain temporarily Halts Growth of Pickle Lake Wildfire

Some 278 firefighters continue to battle a large forest fire burning outside New Osnaburgh First Nation.

The fire is now nearly 66-thousand hectares is size and is not under control.

Dave Jackson is with the Ministry of Natural Resources and he says rain has helped in fire fighting efforts.

An Emergency Area order has been placed in the Pickle Lake area with possible travel restrictions.

A record year for the Community Foundation

Its been a good year for the Kenora and Lake of the Woods Regional Community Foundation.

The Foundation held its annual spring granting ceremony on Friday and handed out more than 100 thousand dollars to 25 community groups.

Don Parfitt is chair of the Community Foundation and says they are finally starting to see some return on their investment's.

The Foundation also presented grants on behalf of the Moffatt Foundation out of Winnipeg and also the Canadian Pacific's Kenora Employees.

25 Local Groups receive funding from Community Foundation

Triple Play, the Kenora Public Library and the Town of Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls were some of the big winners in the annual granting ceremony.

Triple Play received the largest one time grant of 10 thousand dollars from the Moffatt Foundation, while the library received a number of smaller grants totally about 45 hundred dollars.

The Town of Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls also received three grants, two to help develop a community trail between Sioux Narrows and Nestor Falls, and the other to help furnish a new library in Nestor Falls.

Mail expected to begin moving again this week

The head of the postal workers' union says its members will obey a back-to-work order to end the lockout at Canada Post.

CUPW's Denis Lemelin says that's because the legislation sets out enormous fines in the case of defiance.

Plus, he believes the government would use any excuse to destroy the union should members defy the law and he says the union won't let it.

It's been more than three weeks since the union launched rotating strikes that led to Canada Post locking workers out June 15th.

Workers will begin today sorting the piles and piles of mail, with delivery to resume tomorrow.

Cancer Care Northwest Releases new plan

Cancer Care Northwest is embarking on a four year cancer plan for the region.

Vice President Michael Power says it will include a new integrated cancer screening program, which

will include the use of mobile clinics. 

Cancer Care Northwest also plans to start a new Palliative Care Program.

Pickle Lake Fire Continues to Grow

Fire crews are working round-the-clock to stop a raging wildfire from reaching New Osnaburgh First Nation.

The fire is blazing out-of-control about 9-kilometres east of the community.

It's been burning for two weeks and now covers nearly 58-thousand hecatres.

Smoke from the fire earlier forced the evacuation of the community.

An Emergency Area order has been placed in the Pickle Lake area with possible travel restrictions.

That may include the temporary closure of Highway 599.

Con. College Gets More Funding

The Provincial Government is stoking Confederation College's fires with a 4.2 million dollar funding announcement.

The money is going towards the college's Bio Energy research centre which will heat the REACH building.

President Pat Lang says it's a very positive green initiative for their Thunder Bay

campus.

The research facility will also provide hands on training for students in renewable fuel technologies.

Community Foundation to donate record amount in Granting Ceremony

The Kenora and Lake of the Woods Regional Community Foundation says it will be handing out

a record amount of money in its annual granting ceremony this evening.

Just over 100 thousand dollars will be presented to 30 different community groups.

There will be a number of first time grants made from specific funds, including the Keewatin Forever Endownment and a fund specifically targeted at the Lake of the Woods District Hospital.

The Granting ceremony will take place at the Best Western Lakeside Inn starting at 7:00.

Rickford Stuck in Ottawa for Back to Work Legislation debate

It looks as if Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford won't be getting back to the Kenora Riding this weekend.

Debate is still continuing in the House of Commons on a back to work bill for postal workers.

Rickford says he's disappointed the opposition is holding up the legislation.

The House of Commons was supposed to adjourn yesterday, but its now unclear when an actual vote on the back to work legislation will take place.

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.