Trial of Helen Proulx Begins

"Kill me Cop, Kill me Cop".

Those were reportedly the words 39 year old Helen Proulx spoke before being shot twice in downtown Kenora on June 7th of this year.

The Grassy Narrows resident is on trial this week on four charges, including assaulting a police officer.

Constable Kathrine Moyer told the court this morning that when she came across Proulx just after 8:00 in the evening, she was cutting at her wrists and forearm in a slicing motion.

Proulx then took her knife and jabbed it into abdomen.

Moyer says she told Proulx at least six time to drop the knife, and only fired her firearm when Proulx began to jab it in her direction.

Testimony is continuing at the Kenora Court House.

ILevel Timberstrand Mill to take Christmas Downtime

A spokesperson for Weyerhaeuser won't confirm a new round of lay-offs at the ILevel Timberstrand Mill on the Jones Road.

There has been word that as many as four managers have been axed.

Wayne Rosnowsky says he can't comment on any specifics about their operations, but does says some business related changes have been made.

Rosnowsky does says the Trus-Joist Mill will be shut down for the Christmas holiday for a
week starting December 24th.

Evergreen Parents Fight School Closure

Parents with kids at Evergreen haven't given up their battle to save their school.

A 95 name petition has been sent to the Ministry of Education outlining concerns about  process the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board used to closed the school.

Patty Letourneau is a spokesperson for the parents groups and says they have filed a four page complaint to the ministry.

Letourneau admits its a long shot to save the school but is hoping they get a response from the Ministry of Education in the new year.

Enhanced 911 Service Expanded along Highway 71

First Nation communities along Highway 71 as well the Big Grassy First Nation are now enjoying enhanced 9-1-1 emergency services.


It eliminates the need for residents to call different numbers to access police, fire and ambulance services in times of emergency.

The province's Rural Economic Development Program provided partial funding to get the service established.

Treaty Three Applauds Mining agreements

The Grand Chief of Treaty 3 says increased interest by mining companies striking agreements with area bands is exciting.

Kelly says the signing of a Resource Sharing agreement between Osisko and several area bands is something that should be shared by others.

Kelly also issued caution about having to much mining activity that could make their lands not sustainable for the future.

Policing Costs on the Rise

Debate over policing in Northwestern Ontario has always been a hot topic and now Fort Frances is getting involved.

Concerns are being raised about the rising costs the of OPP service in the border community.

Councillor Rick Wiedenhoeft says the cost to contract police services has risen 19-percent over the past 4-years and could go higher with a recent wage settlement for officers.

The Kenora Detachment of the OPP is expected to present its 2011 budget forecast to the Police

Services Board this morning.

Treaty Three Police adds new officers

The Treaty Three Police Service has added four new constables, three sergeants, and one staff sergeant.

A swearing in ceremony was held this morning.

Chief of the police service, Conrad DelaRonde feels that its important to recognize the officers and the work that they are doing.

Terry Armstrong has also been sworn in as the new deputy chief of the aborigianl police service.

Council agrees to put out a tender for Harborfront Tent

Kenora city council is still stopping short of fully supporting the construction of a tent structure for the Harborfront.

Council last night gave the go ahead for the operation department to put out a tender for the project, but cost will ultimately determine whether the city moves ahead.

Councillor Sharon Smith says there isn't any money in the budget for the tent, and if the quotes come in way over their projections, they may not be able to proceed.

The cost to erect a permanent tent on the Harborfront has been estimated at 1.5 million dollars.

City Seeks 5 Million Dollar line of Credit

The City of Kenora may have millions of dollars socked away in reserves, but it doesn't have a lot of cash on hand.

That's forced city council to request a five million dollar line of credit.

Chair of the finance committee, Ron Lunny says this is the first time the
city has had to open a line of credit to pay off some of its outstanding bills.

Lunny says the city has traditionally kept between seven and ten million dollars in its checking account, but that's been depleted by a number of major projects going on in the city, including the new fire hall, the Paterson Medical Clinic and the downtown revitalization project.

Crackdown demanded on Illegal Taxis

The City of Kenora is being asked to crack down on illegal taxis operating in the community.

Tim Fullmer is one of the owners of Blue Taxi and says there are a number of vehicles operating both full and part time, that are not licenced by the city.

Fullmer says they've already talked to the OPP about the situation, and they want to launch a sting operation. 

Mayor Dave Canfield says they'll get the appropriate department in the city to deal with the issue.

Council Nominates Martin for Lakehead Fellowship

A Redditt resident has been nominated for a prestigious honor.

Kenora City Council has put forward Jack Martin's name a Lakehead University

fellowship.

Martin is a Lakehead graduate and has spearheaded the water treatment plant

project in Redditt and is one of the orginal founders of the Triple Play program.

Past nominees for the Lakehead fellowship include Rod Shewchuck and Don Parfitt.

Saints take three of four from Sioux Lookout

The Thomas Aquinas Saints took three of four games against the Sioux Lookout Warriors in court sport action.

The T.A. Senior boys basketball team eked out a 50-49 victory over the Warriors.

Alex Gamboa led the offense with 17 points.

The Saints junior boys had an easier time of it, cruising to a 57-34 win over Sioux Lookout.

Patrick Van Bellingham led all scorers with 19 points.

In girls volleyball, the T.A. senior girls won in three straight sets, while the Thomas Aquinas junior girls suffered the lone loss of the day. They were upset three sets to one by the Warriors.

Today, Rainy River is in town to take on the Saints in the last action for the teams before
the Christmas break.

One person injured in By-Pass Accident

The OPP say there were no serious injuries as a result of a single vehicle accident on the Kenora By-Pass.

The accident took place shortly after noon yesterday near the intersection of Beryl Winder Road.

Police say an eastbound vehicle lost control and struct the guard rails on the north side of Highway 17-A.

The vehicle flipped over, blocking both lanes of the road.

The By-Pass was shut down for about an hour while the wreckage was cleared.

The driver sustained only minor injuries as a result of the roll-over.

Contracts for Emergency Dispatch on Council Agenda

Kenora's Fire and Emergency Services Department says its pleased with

they way emergency calls are being dispatched in the city.

Fire Chief Warren Brinkman is recommending that city council extend a

contract with the Kenora Central Ambulence Communications Center.

Brinkman says it would cost a lot of money to try and provide the same type

of service in-house.

Brinkman says they budget about 50 thousand dollars a year for dispatching calls to the fire department.

Council is expected to endorse the five year contract at tonight's open meeting.

Saints Girls Senior Volleyballers win gold

The Thomas Aquinas Senior Girls Volleyball team  is starting to hit mid-season form, even though the NorWOSSA regular season is just a couple of weeks old.

The Saints were in Thunder Bay for the Westgate spike-off.

T.A. topped the field of 13 teams entered in the two day tournament.

Thomas Aquinas went through the round robin with a 10-2 win/loss record then proceeded to win their quarter-final and semi-finals.

The Saints met up with Dryden in the gold medal match and T.A. ended up sweeping the Eagles in two straight games, to win the event.

Thomas Aquinas Court sport teams are back in action today with Sioux Lookout in town.

Morningstar Center Gets Funding for Housing Project

Lake of the Woods District Hospital and the Morningstar Center are gettinding for a new

supportive housing project in Kenora.

The project is aimed at people with addictions issues.

Patti Dryden-Holmstrom is with the Morningstar Center and says they will be getting annual funding of 84 thousand dollars to provide supportive housing for up to eight people.

Dryden-Holmstrom says they will be working with an existing program already being provided
in the community.

The funding was announced recently by the Northwest Local Health Integration Network.

Emergency Dispatch Contract presented to Council

Kenora's Fire and Emergency Services Department says its pleased with they way emergency calls are being dispatched in the city.

Fire Chief Warren Brinkman is recommending that city council extend a

contract with the Kenora Central Ambulence Communications Center.

Brinkman says they budget about 50 thousand dollars a year for dispatching calls to the fire department.

He says the Communications Center is a state of the art facility and has worked

very well since it was opened a couple of years ago.

Council is expected to endorse the five year contract at tonight's open meeting.

MPP's head home for Christmas Break

Members of the Ontario Provincial Parliament are back in their home ridings after

a tumultuous session adjourned for the Christmas Holidays.

Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. Howard Hampton says two recent reports released last

week show the McGuinty Government is increasingly out of touch with the residents

of Ontario.

With an election looming next fall, Hampton says the next sitting of the Legislature

will likely be just as lively.

M.P.P.'s don't return to Queen's Park until late February.

City Daycare rates rising

Parents who have their kids enrolled in the city run daycare facility will have to

pay a bit more in the new year.

Kenora City Council is expected to approve a dollar a day increase for the Castle of

Learning and Discovery Children's Center starting January 1st.

Rates will increase to 30 dollars a day.

Chair of the Community Services Committee, Charito Drinkwalter says the rates are in line

with other agencies and municipally run day care centers in the region.

Council is planning to approve the rate increase at tonight's open meeting.

Weekend hockey results

The Thomas Aquinas boys hockey team just missed out on a medal at a tournamentin Kilarney, Manitoba over the weekend.

The Saints finished fourth out of eight teams entered in the tournament.

T.A. lost 5-2 to Minnedosa in the Bronze medal game.

The Saints play their home opener on Thursday night against Sioux Lookout.

Beaver Brae's boys hockey team continues to have a tough time winning in Fort Frances.

The Muskies downed the Broncos 4-1 Friday night.

Beaver Brae meets up with Fort against tomorrow night in the back end of their
home-and home series.

Meanwhile, the Kenora Triple "a" senior Thistles split their games over the
weekend.

Saturday, the Thistles were in Grunthal to take on the Southeast Prairie Thunder
and were thumped 7-1.

Friday night, the Kenora Seniors beat the Fort Frances Thunder Hawks 5-3.

Jeff Richards had goals in both games.

The Thistles are off until the new year.

The Kenora Triple "a" midget Thistles split their games against the Brandon Wheat Kings

at home this weekend.

Yesterday the Kenora Midgets were edged 5-4 by the Wheat Kings.

Saturday, the Thistles upended Brandon 7-4.