Habitat For Humanity Committee Making Progress

Habitat for Humanity is confident it will be able to meet its fundraising target to build its first home in Kenora.

The local committee is hoping to raise 125 thousand dollars before the spring.

Ralph Page is one of the local members and says he's pleased with their progress to date.

Page says they have about 18 thousand dollars in cash donations and even more promised with "in kind" donations of labor and materials.

Catholic Board approves revised budget

The Kenora Catholic District School Board has approved its revised budget estimates for the current fiscal year.

Because enrolment is up, the separate school board is getting more funding from the Ministry of Education.

However, Finance manager Erica Baily, they still expect to add to their deficit this year, due to the extra student population.

Bailey says they have about 25.5 more students enrolled in the Catholic Board right now that they have projected back in June when they finalalized their budget.

Broncos split in Fort Frances

Beaver Brae's junior boys basketball team is going into the Christmas Break with a two game winning streak.

The Broncos edged the Fort Frances Muskies 27-26 yesterday in the Fort.

Beaver Brae opened the season on Tuesday with a win over Dryden.

The Broncos senior boys are still a work in progress. They were hammered 56-19 by the Muskies yesterday.

In girls volleyball action, the Beaver Brae senior girls picked up their first win of the season, downing the Muskies three sets to one.

The Broncos junior girls lost in three straight to Fort Frances.

Shoal Lake #39 Threatening to take Winnipeg to Court

The Shoal Lake #39 First Nation says its prepared to take legal action against the City of Winnipeg over the issue of water.

The band has given Winnipeg a deadline of January 20th to open negotiations.

Earlier this year, Chief Eli Mandamin indicated they were seeking 124 million dollars a year for the water Winnipeg uses.

The band claims the city is taking the water illegally.

Shoal Lake says the ball is now in Winnipeg's court.

Rickford supports adult training center

Lake of the Woods Economic Development Commission is getting some high level support for its concept of a Adult Training Center in Kenora.

Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford says developing training opportunities is key to the economic future of the community.

Rickford goes on to say he supports the concept.

The Commission briefed city council on the proposal for an adult training center at Lakewood School.

A final business plan is expected to outline some of the potential sources of funding for the project.

Atikokan not happy with Comparisons to Attiwapiskatt

The Mayor of Atikokan says he's not sure why his community is being used as a comparison with the financial spending of troubled Attawapiskat First Nation.

A published report notes Atikokan's operating budget to be a third of the remote Northern community.

Dennis Brown says location may play a factor.

Brown says it's also difficult to compare budgets since Atikokan doesn't have all of the same financial responsibilities as Attawapiskat.

Trout Forest Lands funding

A big catch for organizers of the Trout Forest Music Festival.

The Federal Government has handed the Ear Falls Festival 50-thousand dollars to help it through 2013 and 2014.

Kenora MP Greg Rickford says the event is a great venue to showcase local and national talent.

Trout Forest Executive Director David Hoey says the funding will make it easier for planning and will allow organizers to showcase the top talent in Canada.

Grassy rejects Long Term Plan for Whiskey Jack Forest

The Grassy Narrows First Nation is rejecting a long term forest management plan for the Whiskey Jack Forest.

The plan was released last week, but Grassy Chief Simon Fobister says it still would allow for clear cut logging in their traditional land use territory.

Fobister says the document was developed without their participation or consent.

He's now asking for a meeting with Natural Resources Minister Michael Gravelle asking the government to work with them.

So far Fobister says he hasn't heard back from Gravelle's office.

Just Say No to Chainsaws

City council is being asked to toughen up Kenora's noise by-law.

Charles King made a deputation to council this week complaining that chainsaws were not included in the current by-law.

King says one of his neighbors used a chainsaw constantly this summer and it was an irritant not only to him but other in his Lakeside neighborhood.

Habitat for Humanity Choses family for its first Kenora Build

Its a Christmas wish come true.

A single woman and her girl will be the first family in Kenora to receive a home from Habitat for Humanity.

Ashley Neniska says she's very thankful to the Habitat committee selecting her.

Habitat For Humanity is hoping to start construction on its first Kenora home in May.

Business Plan Unveiled for Proposed Adult Training Center

A proposed adult training center at Lakewood School is getting the thumbs up in a new report.

Grant Thornton was asked by the Lake of the Woods Economic Development Commission to provide a business plan for the training facility.

Geordie McEwan is the vice-chair of the commission and says the initial numbers are very promising.

McEwan admits there are still lots of hurdles to cross, including the fact the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board owns the school and has not declared it surplus to its needs.

McEwan says they will be making a presentation to the school board trustees next month.

Drunk Driving Charges Higher in Kenora

A published report suggests northwestern Ontario has the worst drunk driving rates in Ontario.

The Global News report based its findings on the number of convictions of impaired driving between June 2010 and June 2011.

The Kenora area came in with a rating of almost 12 convictions for every one thousand drivers.

Dryden's came in at 3.8, while Fort Frances was 2.6.

The provincial average was 1.7.

Local First Nations want more Consultation on Twinning Highway 17 West

Four first nations in the Kenora area say they are still concerned with the lack of consultation on the twinning of the Trans-Canada Highway west of Kenora.

Shoal Lake Bands number 39 and 40, the Dalles and Washagamis Bay met recently and shared their common concerns with the project.

Chief Lorraine Cobiness from the Dalles says the consultation process carried out by the Ministry of Transportation so far has been deeply flawed.

They say the government's of Canada and Ontario are not respecting their treaty rights.

The band chiefs says they want their interests addressed befor any work on the twinning project begins.

Bastone Elected Chair of Catholic School Board

A new face at the helm of the Kenora Catholic District School Board.

Frank Bastone takes over as chairman, following last night's board elections.

He beat out Theresa Gallick for the position.

Bastone admits their biggest challenge these days is a good one, and that's dealing with an increasing enrolment.

Bastone is joined on the board's executive by Paul Landry who was elected vice-chair.

Catholic School Board Buys Pinecrest

The Kenora Catholic District School Board is getting into the community club business.

Last night the board agreed to buy the Pinecrest Community Club from the city for 122 thousand dollars.

Phylis Eikre is the director of education and says they don't plan any changes to the operation of the outdoor rink at this time.

Eikre says the city will be tearing down the clubhouse in the spring because its no longer deemed to be safe to use.

OPP disappointed with RIDE numbers

Disappointment from the OPP with the number of people still drinking and driving this holiday season.

Thirty-one drivers have been charged with impaired since the OPP Festive Ride program started at the end of November.

Traffic Staff Sergeant Ken Mantey says people need to make smarter choices.

The charges stem from over 500 RIDE checks conducted by Police so far.

Solar Panels for Non Profit Housing Units in Kenora

Solar pannelling for seven housing units in the Kenora District.

Services Board CAO Dan McNeill says 3-project have been approved for Dryden, three for Kenora and one for Red Lake.

McNeill says two more units in Red Lake were turned down.

The housing units must be connected to the energy grid by mid-April.

No word on future of Zeller's in Kenora

Hudson's Bay Company says it hasn't decided on the fate of the Zeller's department store in Kenora.

HBC says there are 84 stores across Canada that were not included in the sale to Target last year.

The company says its currently doing a review of the Zeller's outlets and will likely decide early in 2012 what to do with them.

Target is planning to take over more than 100 Zeller's stores starting in 2013.

Bronco and Saints court teams have mixed results

The Thomas Aquinas court sport teams made it a clean sweep over Sioux Lookout.

The Saints Senior boys basketball team got 20 points from Devon Luby to cruise to a 59-39 victory.

The T.A. junior boys earned a 57-42 win over the Warriors.

Tristan Argue had 14 points for the Saints.

In girls volleyball, the Thomas Aquinas senior girls continued their dominance early in the season winning three sets to none over Sioux Lookout.

The Saints junior girls capped the day with a three sets to one win over the Warriors.

Meanwhile, up at Beaver Brae, the Broncos boys basketball teams split their games against Dryden.

The Beaver Brae Juniors trailed at the half, but allowed the Eagles just eight second half points en route to a 37-28 decision.

The Broncos senior boys lost their first league game of the regular season 39-25 to Dryden.

In girls volleyball action, the Bronco seniors and juniors lost to Dryden three sets to one.

Saints boys win on the road

The Thomas Aquinas boys hockey team head into the Christmas break on a roll.

The Saints won their third in a row last night, a 6-3 decision over Sioux Lookout. Erik Davidson led the scoring attack with three goals and an assist.

T.A. holds down first place in the Single "a" division.

Meanwhile, the Saints girls hockey team took Fort Frances to overtime, but lost in a shootout 3-2.

Beaver Brae's girls team was the latest victim of the Dryden Eagles.

The Eagles remain unbeaten in league play following a 4-1 win over the Broncos at the Rec. Center.

Ainsley Lindquist scored the lone marker for Beaver Brae.