Earthroots applauds Audit of Whisky Jack Forest

An audit of the Whiskey Jack Forest is painting a disturbing picture of a forest in decline.

Environmental group Earthroots says the report backs up Grassy Narrows' First Nation's claims of mismanagement.

Spokesperson David Sone says the audit team found significant issues with the management of the forest.

MNR Fire Crews Continue to be busy

The Ministry of Natural Resources has 86 aircraft and almost 500 fire rangers on the ground battling wild fires in northwestern Ontario.

There were six new fires reported yesterday including one in the Kenora District, bringing the total to 81 in the region.

The MNR says 149 people were evacuated from the Community of Cat Lake yesterday due to smoke blowing into remote first nation.

The elderly, the young and people with health issues were flown to Kapuskasing.

Cat Lake is one of five areas the are currently in a state of emergency due to a lack of electricity.

A fire burning out of control about 50 kilometers northeast of Ear Falls has knocked out power to Pickle Lake, New Osnaburgh, Slate Falls and the Musselwhite Mine.

Hydro crews were able start work fixing up the power lines, but its expected to be the weekend before the lights are back on in those communities.

Cultural Mapping in Kenora District Complete

A database of the area's people, places and experiences has been created as part of a lengthy cultural mapping process.

Vicki Kurz was part of the team responsible for the exercise and says they wanted to find out what assets the Kenora District has to market to outside communities.

Kurz says officials will now look to the marketing and promotion of regional tours.

For more information on the project  you can go to http://www.culturaltourismmapping.ca/

Summer Beaver memorial trek

A Northern Ontario first nation is holding a memorial walk from Pickle Lake to Thunder Bay.

Members of Summer Beaver will be walking in memory of those they lost in a plane crash in 2003.

Money raised will go towards maintaining the road that was built to the crash site.

Interim Beds promised for Pinecrest

Pinecrest Home for the Aged says it should be able to start accepting more long term care patients very soon.

Yesterday, the Northwest Local Health Integration Network announced it would fund 10 interim beds for the next two years.

Laura Kokochinski is the CEO of the LHIN's and says the goal is to try and reduce the number of elderly in hospital, who are waiting for a bed.

A total of 760 thousand dollars has been allocated to Pinecrest to help pay for the additional beds.

Electronics Recycling encouraged today

Bring us your tired old TV's, computers and stereo systems.

That's the mantra today of Ontario Waste Stewardship, which is the agency that oversees recycling programs in the province.

Local residents are being urged to drop off their old electronics for recycling today at the Kenora Public Works Yard.

This is the second year in a row the electronics recycling tour has come to

town.

Recyclable products can be dropped off between 10:00 this morning and 4:30 this afternoon.

Body of Missing American Angler Found near Ear Falls

The body of a missing angler has been found in Wenasaga Lake, near Ear Falls.

78-year-old Richard Carroll of Finlayson, Minnesota was located yesterday morning in shallow water.

An autopsy is scheduled for today.

Carroll was reported missing last weekend and his boat was found capsized with his fishing gear and personal floatation device floating near by.

Lac Seul Spends money on new roads

Lac Seul First Nation has started work on a 7.2-million dollar upgrade of major roads in the area.

The project will refurbish existing roads that provide access to Frenchman's Head, Kejick Bay and Whitefish Bay.

The First Nation will also upgrade Goodie Lake Road between Hudson and Frenchman's Head.

The money comes from a recent timber trespass settlement with the Federal Government.

Library Prepares for Operational Review

The board of the Kenora Public Library says it will be going ahead with an operational review of the facility.

A committee has been struck to come up with a terms of reference for a consultant to come in an look at local library services.

Councillor Sharon Smith says one of the things she wants the review to look at is how the Library is spending the extra money the city came up with last month to help erase a sizable deficit.

Smith says she also wants an audit of the donations the library has received over the years for the continued operation of the Keewatin Public Library.

Ministry of Labor Continues Investigation at Nodin Causeway

The Ministry of Labour has issued two orders against a southern Ontario company following yesterday's industrial accident on the Noden Causeway, east of Fort Frances.

A 33-year-old man was taken to hospital in Fort Frances with leg injuries after the 65 tonne crane tumbled over.

The Ministry has halted work in the area until investigators can complete their work.

Con-create of Bolton Ontario, has also been instructed not to move the crane, but ensure it's stable.

Deer Lake Residents Heading Home Today

Residents of the Deer Lake First Nation should start returning home today.

They were evacuated to Geralton last week due to a large forest fire, which was burning just 3.5 kilometers from their community.

The MNR says the first wave of residents should start returning today and they should all be home by Friday.

In the meantime, Sandy Lake, Cat Lake, North Spirit Lake, Kee-way-win and Koocheching remain on evacuation alert as forest fires continue to blow smoke into those communities.

More Fire Crews Heading to Northwestern Ontario

The ministry of Natural Resources is getting some much needed help to combat the fire situation.

100 personal from BC are now in the province and 100 more are expected by the end of the week.

MNR Spokesperson Deb MacLean says its turning out to be a busy fire season.

MacLean says the fire hazard in the Northwest remains moderate at this time but expects it'll rise when hot dry conditions return.

OPP release the name of deceased in Highway 71 accident

A 25 year old Northwest Angle resident has been identified as the pedestrian killed in a collision with a transport south of Sioux Narrows.

The OPP say the accident took place around 4:00 Sunday morning in the area ofFickas Road.

Dayton Kavenaugh was pronounced dead at the scene.

That's the second fatality in that area in the four days, and third person who has been killed in a motor vehicle accident in the past week.

Fellowship Center seeking funding from the City

Kenora's only emergency shelter is looking for a handout from city hall.

Members of the Fellowship Center board made a deputation to council  yesterday seeking some funding to help offset their utility costs.

Bill Cameron is a member of the board and says they provide a vital service to the community.

Cameron says they are hoping the city will help pay for some of their recycling costs and their sewer and water bills.

Habitat For Humanity Comes to Kenora

Kenora is getting its very own Habitat For Humanity chapter.

An agreement has been formalized, which will see Kenora be a part of the international organization, which strives to build homes for low income families.

Ralph Page is chair of the local committee and says they have already started up their fundraising effort.

Page says their goal is to begin building their first home by late next spring.

OPP search for Missing Man near Ear Falls

The search is on for a missing angler on Wenasaga Lake, near Ear Falls.

OPP were notified on Saturday morning that a 73-year-old man from Minnesota went fishing and didn't return.

His capsized boat was found a shortime later in the water, along with some of his gear and a personal flotation device.

The Underwater Search and Recovery Unit is involved in the search.

No name has been released.

Tim Horton's to Appeal Assessment's

A hearing has been scheduled for September on an appeal of the property assessment of several Tim Horton's stores in northwestern Ontario.

The chain is arguing the assessment of several stores in Thunder Bay, Fort Frances, Dryden and Kenora is too high.

The Assessment Review Board will hold a tele-conference September 6th to hear the appeal.

MNR Focussing on Ear Falls Area Wild Fire

The Ministry of Natural Resources is concentrating its efforts on a large forest fire in the Ear Falls area.

Spokesperson Debbie MacLean says the fire is showing extreme behaviour.

MacLean says at one point they did have to pull ground crews from the area as well as evacuate a few tourists from an outpost camp in the Margaret Lake area.

The fire has consumed power lines that feed Pickle Lake, Cat Lake First Nation and New Osnaburgh.

Hydro One Spokesperson Danielle Gauvin says the power went out around 3:30 Sunday afternoon.

Pickle Lake officials say they are coping with the outage and continue to work on alternate plans.

Industrial Accident on Nodin Causeway

There's been an industrial accident on the Noden Causeway east of Fort Frances.

A crane, being used on the bridge, apparently fell over into Rainy Lake just after the lunch hour yesterday.

The operator was taken to hospital in Fort Frances.

An eyewitness says the individual suffered a leg injury.

Investigators with the Ministry of Labour in Kenora have been called in to look into the

accident. 

Gussy wins Castin' for Cash

Kenora anglers Jeff Gustafson and August Collinson captured the Castin' for Cash tournament at Lake Despair Lodge.

A record-setting catch on Saturday of 18-point-2-1 pounds gave the team a total of 32-point 4-6 pounds over the two days.

Nathan Brigham and Brett Meyers of Emo and Scott and Ralph Galusha of Devlin tied for second, but Brigham and Meyers were awarded the spot based on their larger day one catch.

A total of 56 angling teams participated.