OPP Searching for Missing Man

The OPP's Marine Unit is searching for a 20 year old man missing on the Winnipeg  River in Keewatin.

Officers were initially stopped shortly after 9:00 Saturday morning on the Darlington Bay Bridge.

Witnesses say they saw a man jump off the bridge, but he failed to surface.

Kenora's Fire and Emergency Service Department and ambulance personnel were also dispatched to the scene.

The OPP are continuing to patrol the area and an Underwater Search and Rescue Unit has also been called in.

The name of the missing man has not been released.

2 Robberies in Less Than a Week in Kenora

For the second time in less than a week, a robbery has been reported in downtown Kenora.

The OPP say a man was walking along 1st Street South Friday morning, when another man called out to him.

He went to talk to him, but was then assaulted and forced to withdraw some money from a nearby bank machine.

Police say they managed to locate the suspect a short time later and took him into custody.

Broncos Hudson Boucha Makes Team Manitoba

A star linebacker from Beaver Brae will be competing in the under 18 Football Canada Cup in New Brunswick.

Hudson Boucha is the lone player from the region to earn a spot on the Team Manitoba roster.

This past season Boucha lead the Broncos with 41 tackles, along with 2 forced fumbles and a touchdown.

Boucha and his teammates play their first game on Monday against team Ontario.

Paddle Across Canada Arrives in Kenora

A team of paddlers are in Kenora today to spread their message of outdoor education.

The team called Paddle Across Canada are collecting donations and raising awareness about the important of outdoor education for youth

Paddle Across Canada member Peter Vooys say the team is collecting funds for the Pine Project, the Koocheching Community Initative, and Camp Outlook.

Scott Graham says their journey also includes a little bit of history as they started from Rocky Mountain House and using old fur trader routes to make their way to Montreal.

The trip is expected to take 130 days.

Visit http://paddleacrosscanadatour.org/ to learn more about the PACT team, the journey, and to donate.

OPP Officer to Stand Trial on Dangerous Driving Charge

A Kenora OPP officer will have to stand trial on a charge of dangerous driving causing death.

Constable Troy Bender was charged by the Special Investigations Unit
last fall after the cruiser he was driving collided with a semi tractor trailor
unit at the intersection of the Redditt Road and the Kenora By-pass on September 23rd, 2012.

A prisoner in the back of the cruiser, 42 year old Gloria Assin, was killed in the collision.

Justice David Gibson says there is enough evidence to take the case to trial.

So far, no trial date has been set.

MNR Fire Crews Heading North and East

The Ministry of Natural Resources is sending some of its fire crews out of province.

Twenty firefighters, along with support staff, are being dispatched to lend a hand in the Northwest Territories and Quebec.

There are 41 active fires in northwestern Ontario including two in the Kenora District.

The largest blaze is an 11 thousand hectare blaze, 50 kilometres northwest of Red Lake.

A second wild fire
, 300-hectares in size, has also sparked 40-kilometres northwest of Red Lake.

T3P Board Breaks Silence

The Treaty Three Police Service board has finally broken its silence surrounding its decision to close down the aboriginal police department.

A week after announcing the closure, the board has issued a press release saying government underfunding and not financial mismanagement were responsible for the decision.

The board says a number of factors played into their decision, including an arbitration ruling which gave the Treaty Three officer wage parity with the OPP.

The Board says it had to lay off seven officers as a result and says if it continued to pay those rates, they would run up a deficit of 3.3 million dollars.

It adds that even though the federal and provincial governments have committed to continue funding the police service, there is no additional
money to cover the wage increases.

Ride For Memories Ready to Roll

Get your motor running and head on down the highway for the Alzheimer Society of Kenora-Rainy River.

It's annual Ride for Memories and Poker Derby is get for August 24th.

The Society's Rossana Tomashowski says they hoping to raise 50-thousand dollars.

Registration can now be made by calling the Society's Kenora office or through its website.

Parts of Minaki Lodge Salvaged

The Old Minaki Lodge is getting a new chance at life.

After the fire at the lodge the redevelopers salvaged some granite bocks and timbers.

Doug Johnston says the Minaki on the River developers will be using the items in a special commemoration project.

Johnston says the Gazebo will be placed on a point between the Dockside Restaurant and the Powerhouse.

Merger of Non-Profit Housing Corporations Still On Hold

Both the non-profit housing corporations in Kenora and Keewatin are rejecting a request for proposals for management of their units.

Chair of the Keewatin Board Jack Peason told council this week that they can save 13 thousand dollars by going it alone.

Mayor Dave Canfield says at this point he's prepared to turn the whole matter over to the District Services Board.

Canfield says council will wait for a report from city administration in September before making any decision about amalgamating the non-profit housing services.

Council Approves Sewer and Water Upgrades

The McLeod Park washrooms are expected to be out of service for a while longer.

The water lines servicing the washrooms come through Safety Bay and are in need of repair.

Work won't begin until city council approves a tender for the work.

City council is expected to approve a bid for sewer and water upgrades at its next open meeting on Monday.

Titan Contactors had the lowest of three bids for the work at 973 thousand dollars.

Police Investigate Fatality on Onigaming

The OPP and Treaty Three Police are investigating a fatality on the Onigaming
First Nation near Nestor Falls.

On Wednesday, officers were called about a man in distress.

When they arrived at the scene police found a deceased male in an
apartment.

A woman was also at the scene and in need of medical treatment.

She's listed in serious, but stable condition.

The OPP's Northwest Crime Unit has been called in to help out with the
investigation.

The name of the deceased has not been released.

Police Release Name of Man Killed in crash near Ignace

The OPP have released the name of a man killed in an accident near
Ignace earlier this week.

53 year old Cordell Majcher from Winnipeg was killed when the pick-up  he was driving collided with a transport about 10 kilometers west of Ignace Wednesday morning.

A post-mortem exam will be conducted today at Lake of the Woods District
Hospital.

The OPP say they are continuing their investigation into the cause of the crash.

Local Aboriginals Rally to Save Treaty Three Police

Working to bring the people of Treaty #3 together.

Tania Cameron has been rallying support to save the Treaty #3 Police Service.

Cameron says one main goal she has is to make sure people know what is happening.

A meeting was held at Anicinabe Park last night to talk about the loss of the aboriginal police service.

Cameron says they are working on a plan to get a large audience with people from Treaty #3 communities to rally at the Police Services AGM in Kenora on July 23rd.

Kenora Student Starts Summer Business

A Kenora student has launched his own company with help from a provincial program aimed at promoting youth entrepreneurship.

Coel Forsythe is launching the Tight Line Guide Service, after his business proposal was accepted by the Summer Company program.

It's just one of three in the Kenora and Rainy River districts to be accepted.

Forsythe receives a grant to start his business and an additional bursary if it proves to be successful.

EAC Issues Annual Report to Council

Kenora's Environmental Advisory Committee is raising some concerns about the city's landfill site.

Teika Newton presented the committee's annual report this week.

She says while there is still lots of life left in the Jones Road Landfill site, the dump isn't bottomless.

Newton says the landfill initially had a life span of 40 years, but that could be extended if more waste can be diverted.

Rates At Rec. Center Due to Increase

Its going to cost you a bit more to go to the Rec. Center this year.

A number of rate increases have been proposed for the fall.

Recreational Services Manager Colleen Neil says they are looking at about
a five percent increase across the board for pool and rink rental rates.

She says this is the first rate increase in almost four years.

She adds that the hike in user rates will help get them closer to the 65 percent cost recovery target set out by city council.

Smoke From Large Fire Blows into Red Lake

Smoke from an 11-thousand hectare forest fire continues to blow into Red Lake.

The fire poses no threat to the community but the Ministry of Natural Resources states that the smoke isn't expected to leave anytime soon.

Information Officer Heather Pridham says this fire is their number one priority.

Reports from Minnesota indicate that smoke from the fire is also blowing into several communities in that state.

Tourist Outfitter Fined

A man from Minnesota has been fined by the MNR.

Mark Zupancich, who run the Zup's Fishing Resort and Canoe Outfitters in Lac La Croix, was fined 2 thousand dollars for not submitting payment to the province for the sale of hunting and fishing licences during the 2011 season.

Zupancich plead guilty to the charge in court and repaid the province to full amount owing of almost 14 thousand dollars.

Highway 17 Re-opens near Ignace

Highway 17 is now open between Dryden and Ignace.

The Trans-Canada was closed yesterday due to a fatal collision, about 15-kilometres west of Ignace.

Provincial Police are confirming one fatality.

Witnesses say the collision involved a half ton truck and a transport.