Province releases 2012 Sunshine List

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board has more employees on the so-called Sunshine list of public servants making more than 100 thousand dollars a year than any other agency in the region.

The public school board has 45 employees on the list, topped by director of education Jack McMaster at almost 190 thousand dollars.

Over at the Kenora Catholic District School Board, Phylis Eikre remains the highest paid employee at 180 thousand per annum.

The City of Kenora has just five workers on the list, with Chief Administrative Officer Karen Brown topping the chart at 122 thousand dollars.

Dr. Kerry McDonald continues to be the best-paid public sector worker in Kenora.

The chief pathologist at Lake of the Woods District Hospital made 310 thousand dollars last year.

Autopsies this week on Four people who died on Selkirk Lake

Police are still trying to figure out how four people died on a lake north of Kenora last week.

Yesterday, the OPP confirmed the identities of the four who died on the lake.

The body of Robert Kantimere was initially found last Thursday on the thin ice.

The OPP believe that Kantimere tried to save his friends' lives.

His boots and jacket were found on the shore and the engine of his truck was still running.

Autopsies will be performed on the four bodies.

Hospital Unions Rally in Kenora

Hospital unions are raising the alarm about today's provincial budget.

The Ontario Council of Hospital Unions is doing a cross-province tour to try and convince the McGuinty Government to find adequate funding for the health care system.

Michael Hurley is president of the Council and says a cut in funding could take millions out of hospital budgets.

The Council is also worried the new funding formula announced last week could result in a drastic reduction in hospital beds at hospitals across the province.

Day One results from Kids for Cancer Tournament

Novice Division:

• DST Penguins 10, Novice Snipers 4

• Builders 15, Raging Angels 5

Pee Wee Division:

• Jarnel Renegades 10, Green Hornets 4

Bantam Division:

• Rink Rage 7, Chow Time Bulldogs 6

• Puckgoinski Pylons 10, Vanderkrabben 7

Open Division:

• Grassy Narrows 21, Senior Snipers 20

• Dirty Dawgz 20, Ratcliffe 8

Youth Drop-In Center Needed in Kenora

A youth drop-in center has been identified as the main priority for Kenora's new youth council.

The council was set up back in January and has started to meet on a regular basis.

Mitch Frenette is Kenora's youth mayor and says a drop-in center would solve a number of the issues they've identified in the city.

Frenette says they'll be meeting once again this week, and will start meeting with school groups to help recruit new members for the youth council in the future.

Cameron Excited by New NDP Leader

It's full steam ahead for the Federal NDP.

Kenora Riding NDP candidate Tania Cameron is back home after attending the party leadership convention in Toronto.

Cameron is excited about the future now that Thomas Mulcair is in as leader.

She says Mulcair knows what the issues are and where the party wants to be in the next few years.

KIds for Cancer Tournament Underway

A major fundraiser for Cancer Research is underway.

The 4th annual Kids for Cancer 3 on 3 hockey tournament began last night in Keewatin and the Kenora Rec. Center.

Dean Caron is one of the organizers and says this year they have expanded the tournament into a week-long event.

The tournament will wrap up next weekend.

The team that raises the most money is the winner.

Drug Bust on Northern Reserve

A Lansdowne House First Nations woman faces charges following a drug bust on the remote reserve northeast of Pickle Lake.

Nishnawbe-Aski Police searched a home on Wednesday and officers seized 600-dollars worth of oxycodone and 41-hundred dollars cash.

Police also found debt lists, pill cutters and false-bottom containers.

39-year-old Rebecca Sakanee faces counts of possession of a controlled substance and possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Kenora gets set to host NOMA Conference

Municipal leaders from across the region will be descending on Kenora next month.

The annual Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association Conference will be taking place the last week of April.

Mayor Dave Canfield says he's still trying to encourage a number of cabinet ministers to make the trip north.

The last time Kenora hosted a NOMA conference, prime minister Paul Martin made a special appearance.

Rabbit Lake Resident reports Wolf Attack

A resident of the Rabbit Lake Trailor Park is the latest person to report a wolf attack on a pet.

The incident happened earlier this week, when a wolf allegedly grabbed a dog by the neck.

The 76 year old resident of the trailor park says he slammed the door, and that seemed to cause the wolf to let go of his dog.

He says other than a couple of bite marks, the dog was unharmed.

Other residents in the Rabbit Lake area have also reported seeing wolves in the area over the past couple of weeks.

Four bodies recovered from Selkirk Lake

An outing on a lake north of Kenora on a warm, sunny March day, has turned into a terrible tragedy.

The OPP now confirm that four people were killed on Selkirk Lake.

The Underwater Search and Rescue Unit located the bodies of 43 year old Dianne Otto and 42 year old Chris Mainville on Saturday.

Yesterday, the body of a fourth person, 53 year old Edward Everson was found in the chilly waters.

On Friday, the body of 55 year old Robert Kantimere was found lying on the ice of the lake.

All three bodies were found in the water in the same area where Kantimere's body was initially discovered.

Northwest NDP M.P.'s Applaud Election of new Leader

One local MP is happy with the election of the new federal NDP party leader.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty says Thomas Mulcair will be great for Northwestern Ontario.

Rafferty says he supported Mulcair from the very beginning.

Thunder Bay Superior North M.P. Bruce Hyer is also applauding the appointment of Mulcair

as the new NDP leader. 

MNR seeking input on Pelican Habitat Protection

The Ministry of Natural Resources is opening up public feedback on it's proposed habitat regulations for the American White Pelican.

Biologist Glen Desy says they want basic information before they put the plan in place.

The MNR wants to protect 300 meters of water or land on the outer edge of the nesting colony.

Feedback will be collected until April 2nd.

Kenora Hospital Workers to Hold Rally today

Hospital workers in Kenora are planning a rally today to protest changes to the funding formula for Ontario's medium-sized and large hospitals.

The rally is scheduled to take place out in front of MPP Sarah Campbell's constituency office in the Kenora Legion at noon today.

The Council of Hospital Unions says the McGuinty Government is considering a billion dollars worth of cuts to the health care system in tomorrow's budget.

The unions are predicting Kenora could lose dozens of beds as a result of the cuts.

Girls Hockey Teams bring back four medals from Winnipeg Tournament

A number of medals for teams from the Lake of the Woods Girls hockey association in their final tournament of the year.

The Kenora Blaze downed Thunder Bay Fury for gold.

In the Atom division it as an all Kenora final in the final, with the Lake of the Woods Storm beating the Panthers.

In the Peewee Division, the Thrasher collected a bronze medal while the Dynomite placed fourth.

In novice action, the Red Devils won silver after losing to Southdale in the final.

Missing Woman

An investigation is underway into the death of a 55 year old man and the disappearance of 43 year old woman.

Police have yet to confirm the identity of the deceased who was discovered on the ice surface of Selkirk Lake pending notification of his next of kin. The missing woman has been identified as 43 year old Diane Otto.

OPP Emergency Response Teams and The Underwater Search and Recovery Unit have been called in to assist with the search for the missing woman just off of highway 596.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Kenora O.P.P Detachment at 548-5534

Beaver Brae Broncos Girls Hockey OFFSA Final - Bronze

Two power play goals were the difference for the beaver brae broncos at the girls all Ontario high school hockey championship in Belleville losing 2-0 to the st. Stevens royals from bowmanville.

 The broncos end the tournament with a record of four wins, two losses and a tie and will bring home a bronze medal, finishing fourth overall

Broncos lose in OFSAA Semi-Finals

Beaver Brae's girls hockey team will be playing for a medal at the All-Ontario High School Championships in Belleville...but it won't be gold.

The Broncos lost their first game at OFSAA, a 7-0 decision to the Number one team in the tournament, St. Theresa from Belleville in the semi-finals yesterday afternoon.

Beaver Brae has been relegated to the bronze medal game tomorrow morning.

They will face the 6th ranked team, St. Stephens from Bowmanville.

Game time is 8:00 tomorrow morning.

Broncos advance to OFSAA Semi-Finals

Beaver Brae is into the medal round at the All-Ontario girls high school hockey championships taking place in Belleville.

The Broncos got by Ecole Secondaire Louis Riel 4-1 this morning in quarter-final action.

Rylee Smith, Hannah Rose, Spencer Alcock and Hayley Moncrief each scored for Beaver Brae.

Their next game is a tough one against the number one seed in the tournament, St. Theresa from Belleville.

That game is a 1:00 start.

The winner moves onto the final, the loser heads to the bronze medal game tomorrow.

Northern Ice Roads Closed

Quick deteriorating winter road conditions has led to unsafe driving conditions on the winter road network in the Far North.

Nishnawbe-Aski Police say several vehicles have attempted to use the road network and have become stuck.

Most Northern communities have closed their winter roads.