Flaherty Harbourfront Funding

The City of Kenora is getting more money from the federal governmentfor the downtown revitalization project.

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced two million dollars for phase two of the project.

Flaherty says the funding will help fix up the harborfront area.

Kenora mayor Len Compton says the goal of the project is to make the downtown area a destination for tourists.

Flaherty also announced 375 thousand dollars for the Lake of the Woods Business Incentive Corporation to carry out its work as a community development corporation for the Kenora area.

Day 1 KBI Results

After one day of fishing, team #3 sits in the top spot at the Kenora Bass International.

TERRY MCCLYMONT and DARRIN BOHAWNIS of Winnipeg scored the big weight of the day with 18.80 pounds.

BRIAN MCNANNEY and MATTHEW RYDBERG of Sioux Narrows are in second place just over a pound back with a total of 17.72.

A pair of local boats cracked the top ten.

BART STEBNITSKY and DARREN MARCINE are currently fourth with a one day total of 16.89 pounds and sitting in 10th is JON PEARSON and BILL MARMUS with a 15.88 total.

Big fish of the day belonged to team 112, ADAM BACHYNSKI and ANDREW BEERNARD, who caught a 4.62 pound smallmouth.

In the CAN/AM challenge the Canadians hold a slight lead over their American counterparts.

Team Canada had a one day haul of 77.33 pounds compared to 70.14 for Team USA.

Day two weigh-ins begin tonight at 4 under the big tent.

Safeway Fundraiser

The Kenora Safeway Store will 'Make Muscles Move' on Saturday.The store is raising funds for Muscular Dystrophy Canada.

Company Spokesperson Nataline Porpiglia says all money raised helps kids and adults living with neuromuscular disorders.

The money also helps fund medical research and home renovations.

Missing Woman near Thunder Bay

A Minnesota-based search and rescue team will conduct a final search for a missing Toronto woman outside Schreiber in September.

It's been 2-years since 20-year-old Christina Calayca disappeared while out for a morning jog in the area of Rainbow FallsProvincial Park.

The search team will focus on the Whitesand River.

Cadaver dogs picked up a scent there last fall, but the area was too dangerous at the time to investigate.

Forestry Associations Merge

With over 165-years of collective experience, the Ontario Forest Industries Association and Canadian Lumberman's Association are joining forces.

President Jamie Lim says the new Association will provide a strong voice for Ontario's forest sector.

Lim says the Association will provide members with the services they need to be competitive and to expand their markets.

More money for Downtown Revitalization

Another big chunk of cash for the downtown revitalization project.

This morning, the federal government presented a cheque for two million dollars for phase two of the project.

Finance minister Jim Flaherty was on hand to make the announcement and says the funding comes from their federal stimulus package.

Flaherty also announced 375 thousand dollars for the Lake of the Woods Business Incentive Corporation to carry out its work as a community development corporation.

Spread of H1N1 slowing

The spread of the H1N1 virus seems to be waning in northwesternOntario.

The latest figures from the Ministry of Health show no new cases ofthe swine flu virus in the region in the past week.

There are currently 70 confirmed cases of H1N1 in the northwest,but the symptoms are considered mild.

More bad news for Abitibi workers

More bad news for the floundering forest industry in northwestern Ontario.

AbitibiBowater says its shutting down two newsprint machines at its Thunder Bay mill indefinitely.

About 360 employees will be laid off as a result of the downtime.

Company spokesperson, Jean-Phillipe Cote says poor market conditions are to blame.

He ads that one of the paper machines may eventually be re-started.

Kraft, sawmill and woodland operations haven't been affected yet.

Kenora Council supports YAA

Municipal support continues to grow for the Northwestern Health Unit's Youth Action Alliance.

Communities, including Kenora, have been passing resolutions calling on the Province to continue funding the youth-focused anti-smoking lobby group.

Health Unit Chair John Albanese says the backing is important.

Albanese says the alliance has been very effective with its anti-smoking initiatives and should be allowed to continue.

No Posters

Kenora City Council is planning to draft a by-law preventing localevent organizers from putting up posters on downtown utility poles.

Councillor Dave McCann says the tape used for putting up posterswill damage the paint on the new light standards along Main Streetand can become an eyesore.

Council is talking about following the footsteps of city's like Edmonton and Toronto, which have installed community bullitin boards in hightraffic areas, where posters can be pinned up.

One area being considred for a community bulletin board is the new Lake of the Woods Plaza beside the ScotiaBank on Main Street.

Harborfest Committee Happy with Weekend

Organizers of Harborfest say they had another great weekend.

There was a bit of rainfall and the temperatures were cooler than normal but overall the event is being deemed a success.

Director of Entertainment Dave Blake says the event went off without a hitch.

Anyone wanting to voice their thoughts on who they would like to see play next year's event can log onto www.cjrl.ca

Blake says he'll be taking the public's requests seriously when booking acts for 2010.

New Festival Planned for the Fall

You might be a redneck if...you compete in the redneck games.

Kenora City Council is mulling over a proposal to hold such an eventin early October.

Nancy Tulloch is the city's tourism services manager and says its agood event to hold during the city's should season.

Some members of council says they aren't ready to shell out 20 thousand dollars to hold the event.

The Economic Development Commission is going to be asked to supportthe event through its budget.

Fire Hall Tender Ready

It could be the end of the month before a tender is finally awarded fora proposed firehall on Barsky's Hill.

Bids are scheduled to be returned by August 14th, but the City's ChiefAdministrative Officer, Bill Presentanz says some companies are asking for at least a week extension.

He says some companies are having trouble getting quotes on heatingand ventilation costs.

He says its possible the deadline will be extended to August 21st, anda special meeting of council will be held a week later to award thetender.

The project is expected to cost about 4.5 million dollars.

Far North Conservation Opposition

The Nishnawbe Aski Nation took its opposition to a bill seeking to map land in the Far North to the Ontario legislature to ask the government to scrap the plan.

Grand Chief Stan Beardy, along with several youth and other aboriginal leaders, says the bill infringes on First Nation Rights treaty rights.

Beardy says the plan will give the government too much power to decide how to handle lands where First Nations live, and argues the consultation process is so rushed that it's not legitimate.

New Democrat Gilles Bisson says the government is ``mucking up'' the process by leaving out the people most directly affected, just like with the Mining Act.

Bisson says even the industry agrees the process needs more time to clarify rules and avoid confrontations down the road.

The Ministry of Natural Resources insists there's still plenty of time to make changes to the bill which promises to protect at least 225,000 square kilometres in a network of conservation areas .

Flaherty visits Kenora

The City of Kenora is getting two million dollars from the federalgovernment for phase two work on the downtown revitalizationproject.

Finanance Minister Jim Flaherty announced the funding this morningon the Kenora Harborfront.

Flaherty says the money will flow through FedNor to the municipality.

Yesterday, Flaherty announced 2.3 million dollars for Red Lake.

He also announce 375 thousand dollars for the Lake of the WoodsBusiness Incentive Corporation today.

Can/Am Challenge KBI

Team Canada is looking forward to their friendly rivalry with their angling counterparts from the South.

The Canadian team is being led this year by Kenora Resident Jeff Gustafson.

Gustafson says they're relying on old techniques.

For results after the weigh ins log onto www.kbifishing.com

KBI Starts Thursday

You still have a chance to fish in the 2009 Kenora Bass International.

The KBI officially gets underway tomorrow with weigh-ins taking place under the big tent on the harbourfront.

Chair Tracey Laffin says they have room for more boats in this year's fleet and will accept last minute registration's today.

The KBI Rules and Orientation will be taking place at 6pm this evening under the big tent.

Red Lake Federal Funding

A major project in Red Lake is getting considerable aid from the Federal Government.

Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty announced today 2.3-million dollars in funding to develop the Nungesser Road Industrial Park.

The money will be used to extend water, sewer, hydro and telephone service to half of the 80-proposed lots.

Officials hope the Park located near the Goldcorp Mine and the Red Lake Airport will help create new economic opportunities.

The Conservatives are also giving the Chukuni Communities Development Corporation 300-thousand dollars to assist small and medium sized businesses.

Quetico Race

Quetico Provincial Park continues to celebrate its Centennial Anniversary with the return of the legendary Cross Quetico Canoe Race.

The 200-kilometre endurance challenge takes competitive paddlers over lakes, portages, rivers and creeks.

The original race started in 1962.

This year's race starts Saturday morning at 6 o'clock and is expected to end Sunday night at 6.

The starting and end point is the Main Beach of French Lake at the Dawson Trail Campground.

20-teams from Minnesota and Ontario are scheduled to compete.

Money for Education

The Provincial Government is boosting education in Northwestern Ontario with more then 1.5-million dollars in funding.

Confederation College is getting 1-million to launch a new Trades and Technology program.

Demand for the course is high as workers who have been hit by layoffs have flocked to Confed. to upgrade their skills.

The money will allow for 260-more students to enter the program.

Lakehead is receiving 285-thousand to fund research that will look at the utilization of wood as a value-added project and another 150-grand to study new harvest planning strategies.