OPP Investigate Weekend Break-ins

The OPP are investigating a couple of break-ins on the west end of town.

Over the weekend, a camp owner told police that some one had broken into their cottage on Middle Lake sometime in the past two weeks.

Some alcohol, propane tanks and some gas were stolen.

Meanwhile, someone also broke into the Keewatin Legion.

The coolers were entered, but police haven't indicated if anything was stolen.

Anyone with information about either incident is asked to contact the OPP or Crimestoppers.

Unicycle Tour of Ontario starts in Kenora

A unique cross-province tour is now making its way across northwestern Ontario.

Derrick Ferguson began his Wheel In Motion Tour in Kenora yesterday.

Ferguson is riding a unicycle across the province to raise money for spinal cord research.

Ferguson says he was inspired by Rick Hanson's Man in Motion tour, and plans to ride across Ontario over the next month.

The Stratford resident hopes to raise 25 thousand dollars over the next four weeks.

Fire activity expected to slow this week

The Ministry of Natural Resources says it's seen an increase in the number of spring fires this year.

There have been over 100, mostly grass fires, since the start of the fire season April 1st.

Fire Information Officer Heather Pridham says the weather is now reducing the threat.

Pridham says it's also allow crews to resume training in preparation of the warm months.

Property Owners Association Turns 50

The Lake of the Woods District Property Owners Association is celebrating a major milestone this year.

The cottagers group turns 50 years old today.

Susan McLeod says they've always been a voice for people who live on and near Lake of the Woods.

The Property Owners Association will hold its annual general meeting and Cottage Show in Winnipeg tomorrow at the Victoria Inn.

Dreams of a new hospital in Kenora a long ways off

It could be a decade or more before Kenora gets a new hospital.

That's the suggestion of the Chief Executive Officer of Lake of the Woods District.

Marc Belcaen says with the recent austerity measures of the provincial government, even hospital projects that had previously approved are being delayed due to a lack of funding.

In the meantime, Belcaen says they need to improve their surgical units, but the Ministry of Health says it doesn't have a lot of money for smaller capital projects.

Belcaen says a new surgical unit would be a multi-million dollar project for the hospital.

Brand Leadership Team Announced

It may sound more like a sandwich than a new city committee.

But the membership of the BLT has been announced.

The Brand Leadership team has the task of rolling out Kenora's new brand of being North America's premier Boating Desitnation.

The 13 member committee will be headed by Randy Nickle, who is also chair of the city's Tourism Committee.

The committee will work with the local business community, community partners, residents and the boating industry to implement all 60 recommendations made by Roger Brooks in creating Kenora's new brand.

Injured Workers Upset at Witmer's WSIB appointment

Injured Workers Advocate Steve Mantis is the latest to disagree with the Premier's appointment of former Tory MPP Elizabeth Witmer to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board.

Mantis says the Premier should never have appointed the former Minister of Labour that was responsible for opening up the board to include the interests of both workers and employers.

He suggests Dalton McGuinty saw the opportunity for a by-election with the appointment and jumped at the chance of getting a majority.

Float Plane Crashes Northwest Kenora near Manitoba Border

The Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Trenton says a float plane that crashed near the Ontario/Manitoba border had an emergency locator beacon on board, but it was a friend of the pilot who alerted authorities to look for the aircraft.

CaptainJean Houde says the plane was found upside-down in Lake Kapekun just west of Woodland Caribou Park.

Houde says the rescue centre didn't receive a signal, and suggested it could have been because the beacon may not have transmitted well underwater.

The 81-year-old pilot,who took off Saturday morning from Gimli, was found dead inside the plane.

Home and Leisure Show a Big Success

Maybe the weather had something to do with it.

The Kenora and District Chamber of Commerce says its pleased with the attendance from this past weekend's Home and Leisure Show.

A couple of thousand people are estimated to have passed through the doors between Friday and Sunday afternoon.

Exhibitors also say they were pleased with the traffic, reporting good numbers all three days of the Home Show.

A portion of the money collected at the door went to the Habitat for Humanity build in Kenora.

Police Push Summer Safety

The OPP is gearing up for another busy summer on the Lake.

The local police are wrapping up Summer Safety week, which is a chance to remind local residents how to stay safe while on the water or in the bush.

Mike Barclay from the OPP says if you run into problems on the Lake, be prepared and don't panic

The theme of Summer Safety week is Expect the Unexpected.

Rickford not sorry to see Penny go

The Canadian one cent piece is going the way of the dodo bird today.

The Royal Canadian Mint in Winnipeg produced its final penny today.

Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford says the penny has really outlived its usefulness and cost

the federal government more than it was actually worth.

Rickford says the penny will still be able to be used as long as they remain in circulation.

Flash Mob Hits downtown Kenora

Its not often traffic in downtown Kenora is brought to a halt.

But that's what happened this afternoon when Kenora's largest ever flash mob took place.

About 600 students from eight elementary schools in Kenora danced to Katy Perry's Firework on Main Street and the Canadian Tire Parking lot today.

There was an anti-bullying message behind the flash mob, and the students all wore pink shirts with the message EPIC, which stands for Every Person is Cool.

26th Home and Leisure Show Opens Today

A busy weekend in Kenora, with the Kenora Home and Leisure Show taking center stage at the Rec. Center.

The Kenora and District Chamber of Commerce is staging the event once again this year, and president, Andy Scribilo says its going to be one of their biggest yet.

The 26th Annual Home and Leisure Show starts this afternoon and will wrap up Sunday afternoon at 3:00.

A portion of the door proceeds will go to the Habitat for Humanity build in Kenora. 

Hospital Not Expecting a Big Increase in Its Budget

Hospital budgets are going to be tight this year.

The Northwest Local Health Integration Network has sent out letters with initial budget projections for each hospital in the region.

Chief Executive Officer Marc Belcaen from Lake of the Woods District Hospital says they don't have all their numbers yet, but they do know they will have less than one percent more to work with in the 2012/2013 fiscal year.

Belcaen says with increased inflation and labor costs, they are going to have to find ways of cutting their expenses and see if there are any areas to increase their income from other sources.

New Campaign to Save Tourism Centers

The campaign to save tourist information centers in Kenora, Fort France and Rainy River is going to be stepped up today.

Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. Sarah Campbell will be heading out to the Visitors Center at the Ontario/Manitoba border to launch the latest initiative this morning.

Yesterday in the Ontario legislature, Campbell asked Minister of Tourism Michael Chan in the to explain the reason behind the closures.

Minister Chan was evasive in his answer but did says the provincial government has put more than 68 million dollars in tourism initiatives in

northern Ontario since 2003.

Beaver Brae set to Launch Hockey Academy

Call it Hockey 101.

Beaver Brae Secondary School is planning to launch a hockey academy next fall as part of its curriculum.

Dave Tresoor is one of the teachers who will be involved in the program and says the academy won't replace their high school hockey program.

Tresoor says they will be able to accept about 28 students in the first year.

The deadline to apply to the program is May 18th.

Spring Gathering this weekend

Its being called a spring gathering.

The Treaty Three Grassroots Citizans Coalition will be meeting under the big tent on the Harborfront this weekend.

Kelvin Chicago-Boucher is helping to organize the event and says this type of event has its origins in traditional aboriginal culture.

The spring gathering will start this afternoon and will wrap up tomorrow.

Richards scores again for the Kings

The Los Angeles Kings had to win a four-team battle last month just to grab the last Western Conference playoff spot.

Now, they're one win away from the conference final.

The Kings are up 3-0 in their conference semi after beating St. Louis 4-2.

Mike Richards scored the Kings first power play goal of the series and added an assist.

Richards says that before the series, they never thought about sweeping the Blues.

The Kings can now wrap up the series at home on Sunday.

Sunset Country holds its Annual General Meeting

Tourism officials in northwestern Ontario still aren't sure what this summer will bring in terms of business.

The Sunset Country Travel Association held its annual general meeting last night in Kenora.

Gerry Cariou is the executive director and says there is some optimism.

But he says the closure of the tourist information centers in Fort Frances, Rainy River and Kenora isn't going to help an industry, which has seen a decline in numbers over the past few years.

Health Unit Campaign Targets Hypodermic Needles

Communities in northwestern Ontario are sitting on a ticking time bomb when it comes to intervenous drug use.

That's the message from the Northwestern Health Unit.

Spokesperson, Gillian Lunny says they are doing what they can to tackle the problem and have launched a couple of public safety poster campaigns.

Lunny says the campaign tackles the sensitive subject of how to safely dispose of needles that might be found in public places.