OPP Remind Motorists to "Lock it or Lose it"

Yet another reminder to local motorists to lock up their vehicles when not in use.

The OPP say that over the weekend, they received a number of complaints from the Pump Avenue and Park Street areas of unlocked vehicles being entered.

In one incident, the keys were actually left in the ignition and the culprits decided to steal it.

Police say as the weather begins to warm up, they expect to see more of these types of incidents and vehicle owners are reminded to no only to lock their cars and trucks, but to keep valuables out of sight.

Blood Donor Clinic Starts Today

Its time once again to roll up you shirt sleeves and get ready to give the gift of life.

Canadian Blood Services will be holding a two-day blood donor clinic starting this afternoon.

Harvey Heather from Blood Services says this is one of their regularly scheduled clinics they hold in Kenora each year.

Today's clinic will start at 4:30 at Thomas Aquinas and will run until 9:00 tonight.

It will take place once again tomorrow from 9:30 to 12:30.

Election Campaign Enters Second Week

It was a busy weekend for the candidates in the Kenora Riding.

Both Conservative Candidate Greg Rickford and Liberal Candidate

Roger Valley officially opened their campaign offices.

Meanwhile, NDP Candidate Tania Cameron became the first person to

officially register to run in the Kenora Riding.

She filed her nomination papers at the Returning Office in Kenora

this past Saturday.

Economic Development Commission Holds the line on it Budget

Kenora's Economic Development Commission says it will not be seeking an increase in its budget from the city this year, despite increased costs.

Members of the Commission presented their budget request to council on Friday.

Chair of the commission, Dennis Wallace says they want to hire two extra  staff members to take on specific tasks.

Wallace says the two new positions will be on a one year contract basis and will be funded through reserves the Commission has accrued over the past couple of years.

Council continues to trim 2011 municipal budget

Kenora City Council is still trying to bring down an potential tax increase in

this year's budget.

Council spent all day Friday going through its operating budget line-by-line

looking for cost savings.

At the beginning of the day, Councillors started with a potential 3.28 percent

increase in taxes this year, but by the end of the budget meeting they had

trimmed the increase down to 1.7 percent.

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield says they want to keep any increases to a minimum,

because for many people, they've already experienced a tax increase this year

with the new Munipal Property Assessments.

Northern School of Medicine announces Lay-offs

A battle is brewing between the Northern Ontario School of Medicine and the Ontario Public Service Employees Union.

The school is eliminating 24 positions in order to balance the budget.

OPSEU Spokesperson Len Mason says they don't intend to take the lay-off notices lying down.

The layoffs affect staff members at campuses at Lakehead University and Laurentian University in Sudbury.

Canfield has mixed feelings on Provincial Budget

Last week's provincial budget doesn't have a lot that's going to help out municipalities across the region.

That's the feeling of Kenora mayor Dave Canfield.

Canfield says even though the government has promised to continue to upload social service costs, the city isn't seeing much benefit.

The City is continuing its budget deliberations, but there is still no time table for the release of the 2011 financial statement.

McMaster Disregards Fraser Report

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board is paying no attention to the latest report on student success from the right-wing think-tank Fraser Institute.

Director of Education Jack McMaster says the Institute has never stepped into a local classroom to witness what they are doing with teachers and students.

McMaster adds the Board has made it a priority to have more one-on-one instruction to improve literacy and numeracy results.

Drug Bust in North Spirit Lake

A 30-year-old woman faces charges after she tried to bring drugs into North Spirit Lake, about 200-kilometres north of Red Lake.

Nishnawbe-Aski Police seized more than 24-grams of marijuana and 3-and-a-half grams of cocaine.

Police say the street value of the drugs is estimated at over 24-hundred dollars.

Tobia Victoria Rae of North Spirit Lake has been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Internship program returns

Local students looking for a head start in their careers will be getting a helping hand from the Provincial Government.

The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund is once again helping local businesses provide paid internships to students across the Northwest.

Minister of Northern Development Michael Gravelle says the program is vital for keeping students in the North.

Gravelle says over 400-students are expected to take advantage in the program this year.

Wait Times for Lung Cancer Tests being shortened

Patients waiting for results from their lung cancer tests could be spending less time waiting.

Regional Cancer Care Northwest plans to cut waiting time from 18 weeks to just 6 or 7.

Spokesperson Sam McKnight says she can't put a timeline on the goal

Officials say cutting the waiting time will help ease anxiety with patients and their families.

Children's Aid Agencies in Kenora and Rainy River set to merge

The long awaited amalgmation of Kenora-Patricia Child and Family Services and

Rainy River District Family Services is going to take a little longer than expected to complete.

The merger was supposed to be finalized today.

Bill Leonard is the executive director of the new children's aid society and says they hope to have all the paperwork finalized in the next couple of months.

In the meantime, he says the marriage between the two agencies should benefit everyone.

Leonard says they are just putting the finishing touches on their 2011 budget for the new agency, and once that's approved by the province, they can proceed with the merger.

Public Sector Salaries Released

Doctors and lawyers continue to lead the way in terms of the top public

sector salaries in the Kenora area, but teachers are making up some ground.

Dr. Kerry McDonald, chief pathologist at Lake of the Woods District Hospital was the highest wager earner last year at 311 thousand dollars.

He was followed by Dr. James Arthurs, the chief medical officer of health at the Northwestern Health Unit at 262 thousand.

Justice Donald Fraser was the top paid person in the legal profession at 268 thousand.

The City of Kenora had five people earning in excess of 100 thousand dollars last year, led by former Chief Administrative Officer Bill Presentanz at 136 thousand.

The Keewatin Patricia District School Board had the most employees on the so-called Sunshine List, with 49 people making in excess of 100 thousand grand.

Slow start expected for 2011 Fire Season

With spring around the corner, fire season is on it's way.

April 1st marks the official start of fire season in northwestern Ontario. 

Ministry of Natural Resources spokesperson Debbie Mclean says she's anticipating a quiet start to the 2011 season.

Mclean says the average number of fires in the area has dropped in the past few years.

OPP Investigate Theft of Car Batteries

The OPP are looking into the theft of 27-inoperable vehicle batteries from Piston Ring in Vermilion Bay.

Police say the batteries were slated to be picked up Tuesday evening, but someone else got to them first.

OPP are concerned because one of the batteries was damaged and was possibly leaking acid.

If you have information on this case or have located one of the missing batteries you are asked to contact OPP or Crimestoppers.

Snowmobile Trails closing across NWO

Police are warning motorists and snowmobilers about unstable ice conditions.

Police say travelling on ice is not recommeneded now that the Spring weather has finally arrived across Northwestern Ontario.

Most snowmobile trails are also closed for the season, although a small number along the Trans-Canada in the Dryden area are expected to remain open for the first weekend of April.

Anglers are urged to carefuly check ice depths before heading out for one final fishing venture.

OPP warn of thin ice

With the warmer weather this week, the OPP is warning local residents to careful when heading out on the ice of local lakes and rivers.

Over the past few days, officers have responded to reports of youth

playing on the ice near open water.

Police say ice conditions can change quickly at this time of year,

and kids put not only themselves at risk playing near open water,

but the lives of emergency service personnel as well.

Independant Candidate Hits the Campaign Trail

Kenora Riding Independant candidate Kelvin Chicago-Boucher says he has a list of recommendations  on how grassroots aboriginals can hold their leadership accountable.

That's his main plank in his Federal election campaign.

Chicago-Boucher says more transparency is needed in all levels of Government.

The 46-year-old is from Lac De Milles Lac First Nation outside Upsala, but lives in Minaki.

Taxi rates going up next month

Its going to cost a bit more to catch a cab in Kenora next month.

City council has approved a modest increase in taxi rates effective April 18th.

Most of the rate increases have to do with the implementation of the Harmonized Sales Tax.

The starting rate will go from three dollars and 83 cents, up to four dollars and 30 cents.

For each one tenth of a kilometer, the rate will actually drop from from 22 cents down to 10 cents.

Council agreed to the rate changes following a deputation earlier this year from the cab companies

in town.

CDC prepares for Merger

The delivery of child and family services in the Dryden and Kenora District's will change on Friday.

'Firefly' will replace the amalgamated agencies of Patricia Centre for Children and Youth and the Lake of the Woods Child Development Center.

Patricia Centre President Jackie Mitchell says its seen as a welcome move.

Mitchell says the merger will allow staff to share ideas and will create more services for more families.