OPP investigate vandalism at Golf Course

The Kenora Golf and Country Club has been the target of vandals once again.

The OPP say they were contacted yesterday about some damage to some of the greens.

Police say that sometime during the evening hours, someone drove an ATV around the golf course.

Anyone with information about the mischief is asked to contact the Kenora OPP or Crimestoppers.

Community Foundation hoping for stable funding from City next year

The Kenora and Lake of the Woods Regional Community Foundation is hoping the city restores its full grant next year.

Members of the Foundation made a budget presentation to council yesterday.

Chair, Don Parfitt says they anticipate another good year in 2012.

Parfitt says while donations have been going up, they still need operational funding.

He's hoping the city continues its 25 thousand dollar annual contribution in 2012.

Penney re-elected as Chair of the public school board

Dave Penney appears to be a permanent fixture as the head guy at the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board table.

For an eighth straight year the Ignace Trustee was elected Chair of the Board.

Kenora's Cecile Marcino is back as Vice-Chair.

The elections were held Tuesday night in Dryden.

Sprague area hotel damaged by fire

A hotel in a small town in southeastern Manitoba has been damaged by fire.

Mounties say it happened early Tuesday morning at the Woodridge Inn near Sprague.

No one was in the hotel at the time.

The Manitoba Office of the Fire Commissioner is also investigating.

City-Property Deals

The City of Kenora is getting ready to complete a transaction that will see
the old Kenora Fire Hall on 2nd Street South sold off to private investors.

They are planning to transform the heritage building into a brew pub.

Meanwhile, a deal between the Kenora Catholic District School Board and
the City of Kenora is also nearing completion.

The city is planning to sell the old Pinecrest Community Club to the separate
school Board.

Both deals will be finalized at Monday's open meeting of council.

Rainy River Resources

Rainy River Resources plans to scour the countryside for workers for its proposed open-pit gold mine north of Barwick.

The company will be creating just under 1300 jobs in 2015. On the construction side they’ll need at least 675 workers and it’s estimated that they’ll also add another 600 plus men and women in the mine.

Vice-president of Operations Garret McDonald says they hope to attract some of those now out west.

McDonald says the company is already planning to build its current workforce which sits at 60.

City Council Budget

The cost of living continues to go up, but not every group in Kenora is looking for
more money from the City.

City Council heard five budget presentation yesterday and two groups, Triple Play
and Handi-Transit indicated they would not need more money in 2012.

Debbie Novak is the coordinator of Triple Play and says they can actually manage with
less money next year.

On the other hand, the Museum and the Economic Development Commission are looking for an increase in their budgets totally almost 100 thousand dollars in 2012.

2009 Human Remains

More details will be released tomorrow morning in Orillia on an unsolved mystery in Kenora.


The investigation centers around human remains found near Miller Rapids Road on June 17th, 2009.

OPP say a Forensic Artist has enhanced the investigation with facial re-creations.


OPP will be seeking further assistance from the public and medical community to identify the individual.

The Regional Coroner for Northern Ontario and a representative of Ontario Forensic Pathology services will take part in the Media Conference.

Kenora District Services Board

Housing for low income residents in the Kenora Riding will continue to be a huge challenge

for the Kenora District Services Board in 2012.

Chief Administrative Officer Dan McNeil met with city council yesterday to provide an
overview of some of their budget issues next year.

McNeil expects they will end up working more closely with the province on the issue of homelessness.


McNeil adds that municipalities currently pay 100 percent of the non-profit housing budget in
the Kenora District, and that continues to be a huge part of their budget.

No Parking

Motorists who insist on parking in the fire lane beside the Kenora Rec. Center may soon get a rude awakening.

The City wants to get tough on people who continue to park illegally.

Council says its not willing to tow away vehicle just yet, but it is prepared to
start ticketing vehicles.

The lane on the north side of the Rec. Center is currently posted as a Fire Lane.

The Nutritious Food Basket

Northwestern Ontario continues to be one of the most expensive areas of the province to buy

food.

The Health Unit has released the results of its annual Nutitious Food Basket.


It shows the cost to feed a family of four has risen to just over 918 dollars a month.

Public Health Dietician, Chelsea Lecain says that doesn't leave a lot left over for other
bills.

The Nutritious Food Basket is based on 67 food items purchased in 13 communities the Northwestern
Health Unit services in the region.

http://www.nwhu.on.ca/

Water Meters

When it comes to reading water meters, the City of Kenora is going to continue to

go "old school".

The Operations Department wants to hire a meter reader to go door to door, once
every three months.

Operations manager Rick Perchuck says it would cost two million dollars to install
a new remote "reading" system.

He expects the cost will eventually go down, but in the meantime, he says its more
feasible to hire someone to do the reading manually.

Kenora Assembly of Resources

The City plans to extend its agreement with the Kenora Assembly of Resources for another year.

K.A.R. is responsible for helping out with special events on the Kenora Harborfront.

Councillor Ron Lunny says the contract is the same as last year at 151 thousand dollars.

Kenora Girls hockey teams bring home gold from Emo

Lake of the Woods Girls Hockey teams continued their winning ways in Emo over the weekend. 

Female players from six Kenora teams were in the race for Gold along side Emo and Fort Frances teams.

The Atom Storm went undeafeated taking gold over Kenora's Red Panthers with a score of 1-0.

The Novice Blue Jays also brought home gold, with Jessica Pitura scoring the winning goal with 2.5 seconds remaining in the second overtime period assisted by McKenna Isfeld.

The Peewee Dyn-o-mite sported some hardware of their own bring back home the bronze in that division defeating Fort Frances Esso.

"The level of hockey these young girls are playing today is simply amazing! We have young girls playing Boys Hockey and Rep Hockey then switching it back to play in the House league raising the bar for a more talented game." says Cindy Johnson president of LOWGH.

The Novice Atom Home Tournament will be held January 6th bringing over 400 visitors into our community.

Saints Boys win Silver in Killarney

The Saint Thomas Aquinas Saints were in Killarney, Manitoba this past weekend for the Killarney Raiders AA Hockey Tournament.

The Saint Thomas Aquinas Saints finished the weekend in 2nd place only losing to College Gabrielle-Roy Caveliers in the final.

The Saints beat Melita to advance to the semi-final were they went on to beat the defending tournament champions and host team Killarney Raiders 4-3 in a shoot-out.

The Saint Thomas Aquinas Boys Hockey Teams next games are this Friday and Saturday vs Red Lake.

Science North Brings Traveling Planetarium to Northwestern Ontario

Science North is now offering the planetarium experience to schools and events in the Northwest.

Spokesperson Nicole Chaisoon says they have a portable planetarium based in Thunder Bay and available for travel

The cost of the inflatable unit and all the equipment that goes with it, is about 90 thousand dollars.

Kenora District To Get a new Judge

The Kenora District is gaining a court Judge and that has upset the Rainy River Law Association.

Justice Thomas McKay is relocating to London and his replacement is now being redisbuted to Dryden.

Association President Barbara Morgan says it's a further erosion of court services the District has experienced.

Morgan says the decision by Ontario Chief Justice will delay cases because the judge will be be traveling from Dryden to preside over court in Fort Frances.

Man falls through Ice on Lake of the Woods

A not so subtle reminder to check the ice conditions before you head out on the lake.

A 77 year old Kenora man went through the ice of Lake of the Woods over the weekend while riding his ATV in the area of Kendall Inlet Road.

The man was able to use a screw driver as an ice pick and crawl out of the frigid waters and onto the ice.

He then rolled to shore and sought shelter in a nearby cabin.

He managed to call for help and the OPP also showed up responding to an intrusion alarm at the cottage.

Other than being cold, the driver of the ATV was no worse for wear.

Saints Girls Win Gold in Dryden

The Thomas Aquinas Senior Girls volleyball team is in mid-season form less a month into the winter court sport season.

The Saints won gold at a tournament in Dryden over the weekend, compiling a perfect 9-0 record, including winning twice against the host Eagles Squad.

T.A. faced Dryden in the gold medal game on Saturday and won by scores of 25-20 and 25-16.

Melissa White led the scoring attack with 38 kills and 24 aces.

The Saints are back in action tomorrow as they travel to Red Lake to take on the Rams.

Attawapiskat update

Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence says the additional housing units are welcome -- but the team Ottawa appointed to review her reserve's finances is definitely not.

Spence says her James Bay community appreciates the federal government's move to buy the reserve seven more modular homes, for a total of 22.

The announcement came yesterday from Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan.

But Spence says Duncan was sadly misinformed when he said she had acknowledged the necessity of allowing Ottawa's third party management team to do its job.

The chief insists that statement was completely false.