Rafferty appointed FedNor Critic

John Rafferty's days of wandering in the political wilderness seem to be over.

Rafferty, the Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP says he's pleased with NDP leader Tom Mulcair's decision to appoint him as the new official opposition critic of FedNor.

Mulcair made the appointment at the unveiling of his first shadow cabinet as official opposition leader.

Rafferty and fellow Thunder Bay M.P. Bruce Hyer were kicked out of the NDP caucus last fall for supporting legislation to do away with the federal long gun registry. 

Southeast wins Allan Cup

The Southeast Prairie Thunder are the new Allan Cup champions.

The Manitoba squad beat Rosetown, Saskatchewan in Saturday's final 4-1.

The Kenora Thistles bowed out in the quarter-finals to Rosetown.

Hydro Rates Going Up next Month

Expect to see an increase in your electricity bills next month.

Kenora Hydro says it will be passing on a rate increase approved by the Ontario Energy Board.

Hydro president, Dave Sinclair says the average homeowner will see an increase of about four dollars a month.

Sinclair says the good news is that a 95 cent charge on your hydro bill to pay for the new smart meters will come off May 1st.

Shaw Launches Campaign to Fill local Food Bank

The cupboard is almost bare at Kenora's Salvation Army Food Bank, but Shaw is hoping to change that.

The Cable giant has launched its second campaign to fill foodbanks across the country.

A number of containers are being set up across the city for people to donate non-perishable food items.

The four week campaign will wrap up on May 11th, at the end of Hunger Awareness week in Canada.

Tom Cochrane Tickets for Harborfest on Sale today

Tickets are starting to move for Harborfest 2012.

Ticket sales go on-line today for the Friday night concert featuring Tom Cochrane, Saga and April Wine.

You can also pick up passes at Donny B's, Nibblers Nook, the KMTS Store and the Discovery

Center.

Tickets are 75 dollars for both Friday and Sunday night.

The line-up for Saturday night still has to be finalized.

Development Commission looks for more Docking

Kenora needs more docking space if it wants to become a more boater friendly community.

That's the conclusion of the Lake of the Woods Development Commission.

Its putting out a request for proposal for docking in the Harborfront area.

Thelma Wilkens-Page is chair of the Business Development Committee and says co-incidentally, this initiative comes the same months Kenora's new brand was launched.

Wilkens-Page says this will be a private/public partnership, with the city providing the land for the docking.

Wood First Bill Gets Through Second Reading

A private members bill to encourage the use of wood in multi-story construction in Ontario is getting all-party support.

Thunder Bay-Atikokan M.P.P. Bill Mauro introduced the bill earlier this month and yesterday in went through second reading at Queen's Park.

Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. Sarah Campbell says she'll support the legislation but says she still has some concerns.

She says feels the bill should say Ontario wood products will be given a preference in construction

projects. 

Mauro's bill was one of two that were debated yesterday, that encouraged the use of wood.

Lean to Camp Program Expanded

The Learn to Camp movement is heading north.

Parks Ontario is bringing its camping training program to provinical parks in the Thunder Bay, Wawa and Kenora areas.

Jeff Green says they will be conducting the program during one weekend of the summer in each park.

Green says the program will be offered at Rushing River this August.

Arrest made in Pikangikum Fatality

A Pikangikum man will appear in Kenora Court today in connection to a fatality in the remote northwestern Onatrio community.

23 year old Morgan Turtle has been charged with assault a weapon in connection to the death of a 32 year old man.

The body of Fitzgerald Owen was found by the side of the road in Pikangikum on April 14th.

He was taken to the local nursing station where he was pronounced dead.

Pikangikum Police Service, members of the Red Lake Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police and the OPP North West Region Crime Unit continue to investigate the fatality.

City Readies for 66th Annual NOMA Conference

The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association has finalized its agenda for its annual conference taking place in Kenora next week.

A number of provinical politicians are scheduled to be in attendance, including PC leader Tim Hudak and Andrea Horwath of the NDP.

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield says they had a hard time fitting all the speakers into just two days of meetings.

NOMA also has confirmation from at least two cabinet ministers they will be available for the so-called bearpit session.

Natural Resources Minister Michael Gravelle and Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Kathleen Wynne are scheduled to speak next Friday.

Thistles Bow out at the Allan Cup

For the second year in a row, the Kenora Senior Thistles have bowed out of the Allan Cup in the quarter-finals.

The Thistles were edged 3-2 yesterday by a team from Rosetown, Saskatchewan in the first game of the play-offs.

Jonathan Poirier scored both goals for the Thistles, his third and fourth of the Allan Cup Tournament, but it was too little too late.

The Thistles finished the Allan Cup this year without a win.

Rotary Auction Starts Today

A major fundraiser for the Kenora Rotary Club is

now underway. 

The annual Rotary Auction began this morning just after 9:00.

Fred Wright is a spokesperson for the local Rotary Club and says they have over 200 items up for bid this year.

The Rotary Auction will run until next Wednesday.

Campbell Re-news Calls for Prescription Drug Strategy

There's a renewed call for more help to those dealing with the withdrawal of oxycontin in Ontario.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell says she first raised the need for a Substance Abuse Strategy for First Nations two months.

Health Minister Deb Matthews says she is responding and has established an expert panel to

provide recommendations to her ministry.

Matthews the strategy also includes sending more doctors to support a methadone treatment program and strengthen support through Telehealth.

Water Levels Rising Slowly on Lake of the Woods

Despite a dry spring, water levels on Lake of the Woods are starting to rise slowly.

The Lake of the Woods Control Board says water levels have gone up a couple of centimeters in the past week, and are expected to go up another couple of centimeters in the coming seven days.

Spokesperson Rick Cousins says despite some concern about water levels, the lake is at a pretty good level for this time of year.

Cousins says they'd like to see the lake level go up another foot or so before summer, but that will be dependant on spring rains more than anything else.

Performers Sought For Canada Day

Plans are already in the works for Canada Day festivities in the City of Kenora.

This year, July 1st celebrations will be split between Keewatin and Kenora.

Crystal Stokes is the city's special events coordinator and says they are looking for volunteers to come forward for the evening entertainment under the big tent.

Daytime activities will take place in Keewatin, while the nighttime will belong to the Harborfront in Kenora on Canada Day.

City to Hold Emergency Expo

The City's Fire and Emergency Services Department is eager to show off its Emergency capabilities.

The fire department, police agencies and other groups in the city are planning to hold an Emergency Expo in May.

Fire Chief Warren Brinkman says they will be doing the expo in conjunction with Emergency Preparedness Week.

The Emergency Expo will take place on Saturday, May 12th.

Good Marks for Confederation College

Confederation College continues to perform ahead or at the provincial average.

A new report suggests that student and employer satisfaction has risen, as well as the school's graduate employment rate which is number one in the province.

School President Jim Madder says they are always looking to improve.

Madder also credits excellent dedication and work ethic for the success of the school.

Pickle Lake Motel Evacuated due to fire

The OPP say it was able to evacuate a motel in Pickle Lake following an early morning fire.

The blaze broke out in the kitchen area of the Winston Motel, just before 3:00 this morning.

Police evacuated the building because they were concerned about three large propane tanks that were attached to the building.

A radius of 500 meters was evacuated around the motel as a precaution.

The Pickle Lake school was opened up to lodge the evacuees.

The local fire department was able to contain the blaze and bring it under control.

Beaver Brae Juniors excel at NWOSSA Badminton Finals

Beaver Brae's junior badminton squad made its mark at the NWOSSA championships yesterday in Thunder Bay.

The Broncos won the overall junior title with 42 points.

Tyler Neil won the junior boys singles title, while Logan Gin took the silver medal.

Beaver Brae also won gold in the junior boys doubles, with Bo Rogers and Alex Smith compiling a perfect 5-0 record.

The Broncos took silver in the junior mixed doubles division with Davin Iverson and Kaitlin Sparkman finishing with a 4-1 mark.

Kenora senior players had less success. There were no medals at NWOSSA this year.

Thistles Drop their Second Game at Allan Cup

Its do or die time today for the Kenora Senior Thistles.

The Thistles lost their second game in a row last night at the Allan Cup in Lloydminster, dropping a 3-1 decision to the Stony Plain Eagles.

Jonathan Poirier scored the lone goal for the Thistles, his second of the tournament.

The Kenora Seniors are now into the quarter-finals today and will play Rosetown in an afternoon tilt.

That game is scheduled to start at 5:00 Kenora time.