Impaired Driving Charges up In 2012

Two more people have been charged with drinking and driving in Kenora.

That brings the number of impaired driving charges to 34 so far this year, an increase from 27 during the same time period the year before.

Inspector Dave Lucas of the Kenora Detachment says that leaves them no choice but to increase enforcement.

The OPP say in one incident over the weekend, they pulled over a vehicle in the Park Street area because the car looked like it had been in an accident.

Saints Honor their Top Athletes

A big night for a grade 10 student from Thomas Aquinas.

Patrick Van Belleghem took home a number of awards from the annual Saints Sports Banquet, including senior male Athlete of the year.

Erica Lindquist and Emily Bernie shared the honors at Senior Female Athletes of the year.

Sandy Davidson Hunt was the male junior athlete of the year, while Jilly Derouard was named the top junior female athlete.

Ministry of Labor Called in to Investigate Boating Fatals

The Ministry of Labor has been called in to help investigate a fatal boating accident on Lake of the Woods.

Two American men died Saturday night in Ash Bay after the boat they were in ran into a rock face.

The anglers were staying at a local fishing resort and were fishing with a guide at the time.

The deceased have been identified as 71 year old Robert Foster of Frankfurt, Michigan and 71 year old James Saney of Sylvania, Ohio.

A 62 year old Kenora man remains in Winnipeg Hospital in stable condition.

Local School officials Asked to Cut costs

Local school officials say they are ready to work with the Ministry of Education to find cost savings.

Directors of Education and school board chairs took part in a conference call with Ministry officials last week.

Phylis Eikre is director of Education with the Kenora Catholic District School Board and says broader consultations will begin in the fall.

Eikre says no-where in the discussions did ministry officials talk about the need for forced amalgamations.

Three Summer Businesses Being Set up

The creative minds of three high school students has resulted in three new businesses popping up in the North West.

Jennifer Brown, Ryan Milne and Shawnee Morrisseau will soon be opening their own business through the provincial government's Summer Company Program.

Small business Advisor Stephanie Armstrong says they offer the program each summer.

They will be given up to three thousand dollars and business training to help them get going.

Effects of Mercury Poisoning Still being Felt

A report says two First Nations communities devastated by mercury poisoning nearly 50 years ago are still feeling its impact.

The report is from Masazumi Harada, a Japanese expert on the subject.

The communities of Grassy Narrows and White Dog were ravaged by mercury poisoning in the 1960s when the Dryden paper mill began dumping toxins into the English-Wabigoon River.

Harada has been to the communities several times since the mill stopped dumping mercury in 1970.

He says his most recent examinations in 2010 found 59 per cent of the people he assessed were still showing signs of poisoning.

Thunder Bay sets up Flood Fund

Thunder Bay City Council is moving a half-million dollars from their savings to a new flood relief fund.

Money in the fund will be used to cover cleaning up the homes of flood victims and covering their insurance claims.

City Manager Tim Commisso says no Provincial or Federal funds will flow until the Province declares Thunder Bay a disaster area.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Relief team came to the City yesterday to asses the flood and decide if it's a disaster area.

Alarmed For Life in the North End

Don't be alarmed it you see a couple of fire trucks cruising through your neighborhood tonight.

Kenora's Fire and Emergency Services is going door with its Alarmed for Life campaign in the north end of town.

Fire fighters will be visiting homes on 2nd, 3rd and 4th Streets north.

They be knocking on doors between 6:30 and 8:30 checking to make sure each home has a working fire alarm on every floor.

Boobie Nights Raises Record Amount

Organizers of Boobie Nights say they exceeded their own expectations this year.

The fundraiser generated 53 thousand dollars Saturday night, which will go to the Lake of the Woods Hospital Foundation.

Bill Scribilo from Century 21/Reynard Real Estate says they sold out early.

Boobie Nights this year raised about 20 thousand dollars more than last year, and proceeds will go towards the purchase of a new Digital Mammography Unit for the Hospital.

Richards a win away from Stanley Cup

The Los Angeles Kings are on the brink of their first Stanley Cup.

Jonathan Quick made 22 saves, and Mike Richards had an assist as the Kings beat New Jersey 4-nothing, to take a 3-0 lead in the Stanley Cup final.

 

The Kings can cap the series with a win tomorrow night on home ice.

 

The Kenora Rec. Center will be broadcasting the game live on a big screen TV

starting at 7:00.

State of Emergency Updated in Thunder Bay

The Emergency Operations Control Group in Thunder Bay is updating the city's state of emergency. 

Acting Mayor Rebecca Johnson says the flood situation has moved to the top of the agenda for tonight's council meeting where they will be asking for a half-million dollars in initial cash to help set-up the City of Thunder Bay District Relief Fund.

In other flood news, Manager of Infrastructure, Darrell Matson says he hopes one of the main pumps at the water treatment plant will be operational today.

Meanwhile Lakehead University announced 160 residence beds will open to those displaced by the flooding.

Currently there are more than 300 workers associated with the flood staying there.

Black Out, Speak Out Today

For the second time in three days local residents are speaking out against the federal government's Bill C-38.

The omnibus bill includes not only the federal budget but changes to the Environmental Protection Act.

Today is Black Out, Speak Out Day, and Ashley Bennett says she's trying to raise awareness of the impact of Bill C-38.

A number of environmental groups are blacking out their web sites and
Facebook pages in protest over changes to the Environmental Protection Act.

Transfield Takes Over Local Road Maintenance

There's a new tenant for the Abitibi lands on 9th Street North.

Transfield held a ribbon cutting for its operations in Kenora.

The company has signed a 12 year deal with the provincial government to provide road maintenance services in northwestern Ontario, with June 1st the takeover date.

Transfield is using a paved portion of the Abitibi property as a staging area for its road maintenance equipment.

Former Ohio Mayor killed on Lake of the Woods

A published report in the United States suggest one of the men killed near Kenora over the weekend on Lake of the Woods was a former mayor of the City of Sylvania, Ohio.

71 year old James Seney was on a week long fishing trip with some old high school friends.

The other man has been identified as Robert Foster.

They were killed when the boat they were in crashed into shore Saturday night near Ash Rapids.

A third person was injured in the collision, and is listed in stable condition.

Sylvania is a suburb of Toledo, Ohio.

Two Americans Die in Boating Accident

Three people are dead following to separate accidents in the Kenora over the weekend.

Saturday night, the OPP say two American Visitors were killed after the boat they were travelling in crashed into the shore near Ash Rapids.

A third person had to be taken to Lake of the Woods District Hospital for treatment.

The identities of the decease have not been released, but reports from Ohio, say one of the men was the former mayor of the city of Sylvania.

Winnipeg Man Killed in Motorcycle Accident

A 58 year old Winnipeg man is dead following a  single vehicle accident near Clearwater Bay.

The OPP say a motorcycle went off the Trans-Canada Highway near Caribou Lake around 8:30 Saturday morning.

The deceased has been identified as Kari Valenius.

Police are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident.

The Highway was closed for a couple of hours while officers took a close look the accident scene.

Kenora Rallies against Bill C-38

There was a noisy demonstration in downtown Kenora Saturday afternoon.

A couple of dozen people marched in opposition to federal budget cuts.

Jim Johnson says they are concerned about the impact Bill C-38 will have on local services.

Johnson says he also takes issue with the decision to close the Experimental Lakes Area near Kenora.

Ontario Health Council Speaks Out against Budget Cuts

There's concern how recent budget cuts are going to affect local services.

Not one, but two events were held Saturday to protest budget cuts at the federal and provincial level.

The Ontario Health Coalition spoke to a handful of people.

Natalie Mehra is a spokesperson for the group and says the government likes to talk about transforming the health care system, but its not putting the necessary resources into things like home care.

Mehra says some communities in northwestern Ontario simply don't have the supports in place to allow seniors to live at home.

Canadian Cancer Society Gets Boost

Its going to be a big week for the Canadian Cancer Society in northwestern Ontario.

Over the weekend, Relays for Life took place in Dryden, Sioux Lookout and Red Lake and so far 263 thousand dollars has been raised from those three events.

Cancer research and programs will also get a boost in Kenora this weekend when the Relay for Life takes place at Lakewood School.

Organizers are hoping to raise at least 100 thousand dollars from the 12 hour overnight walk.

Richards gets ready for Game Three

The Los Angeles Kings can put a strangle hold on the Stanley Cup Play-offs with a win on home ice.

Kenora's Mike Richards says they'll have to play well because the New Jersey Devil's aren't going to roll over and play dead.

Richards says he's still motivated by losing the Stanley Cup final two years ago to Chicago.

Game time is 7:00 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.