Sioux Lookout Storm Aftermath

There is no damage estimate yet in the aftermath of Monday's major storm in Sioux Lookout.


High wind and baseball sized hail blasted the community.

John Madsen is the General Manager of Madsen Motors and he says his dealership received minimal damage, with minor damage to about six vehicles.

He says they caught the edge of the storm but notes others didn't.

Madsen says some people on the south end of town had major damage with broken windshields and twisted panels.

Gillons Insurance says claims are coming in at a steady pace, noting over 30-claims have been recieved.

Environment Canada says Sioux Lookout had hailstones in the order of 8 to 9 centimetres across in diameter.

The storm also broke windows and downed trees.

(Photo courtesy of Weather Network. theweathernetwork.com)

Highway 11

Provincial Police say an 88-year-old Fort Frances man has died as a result of a single vehicle crash on Highway 11, near Atikokan.


Police say the crash occurred yesterday morning about 2-kilometres east of the Arctic Watershed.

Constable Diana Cole says the vehicle crossed the centre line and crashed into a rock cut and burst into flames.

Cole say Jack Tiefenbacher was the only one in the vehicle.

OPP continue to investigate the cause of the crash.

Red Cross Urging Folks To Receive CPR Training

The Canadian Red Cross is encouraging everyone to receive CPR training.

The request comes following the rescue of a 3-year-old boy at the beach in Anicinabe Park.

The boy was saved by a Manitoba man who performed CPR.

Red Cross Spokesperson Carol Peterson says it can be a number one priority in saving someone's life and giving that extra time for paramedics to arrive.

Peterson says the Red Cross provides all levels of training as well as first aid and CPR.

For more information visit:
Kenora Branch

1008 Ottawa Street, Unit A
Keewatin, ON
P0X 1C0
Tel: (807) 547-2683
Fax: (807) 547-3562
http://www.redcross.ca/

OPP Probe Fatal Crash

Ontario Provincial Police are investigating a firery highway crash.


Constable Diana Cole says that a single vehicle crash took place around 7 o'clock yesterday morning near Atikokan.

Police can't say who died or how many people were in the vehicle at the time since all they have right now are charred remains.

Report

A new report says the gap between aboriginal and non aboriginal residents quality of life is improving.


The benchmarking report is backed by the Federal Government and states the gap is not as big as it once was.

Pic River Chief Roy Michano says things have improved but no thanks to the Government.

The report was released on Tuesday and states more First Nations people are finding jobs and self employment is on the rise.

Ring of Fire project

A recent Toronto Star article is raising alarms over the proposed Ring of Fire project.

The paper obtained Environment Canada documents that show the project could lead to poisioning as seen in the movie Erin Brokovich.

Minister of Natural Resources Michael Gravelle is reassuring the public the project will be safe.

Gravelle says there are many rungs of assement that mining projects are put through.

The Ontario Invasive Species Strategic Plan

Ontario has developed a plan to combat invasive species in order to protect the province's environment and its economy.


The Ontario Invasive Species Strategic Plan outlines Ontario's approach to the prevention, early detection, and rapid response to new invasive species like zebra mussels and the emerald ash borer.

Minister of Natural Resources, Michael Gravelle says "This plan paves the way for important partners like the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters and the Invasive Species Centre to fight this threat together."

15 Forest Fires In Northwest Region

Due to over 15,000 lightning strikes over the long weekend, 10 new Fires were reported in the Northwest region, bringing the total number of active fires to 15.

 The Kenora district saw the most action with 4 new fires being detected.

Fort Frances, Sioux Lookout, and Dryden all had one new fire.

With the hot dry weather continuing, more holdover lightning fires are expected to be discovered across the region.

Protect Yourself From West Nile

With summer here, it's also mosquito season.


They can carry the West Nile Virus, which while uncommon, can lead to complications.

Some people may not experience symptoms, but the typical ones are flu-like.

Somtimes the virus can cause severe illness such as meningitius, especially in older people.

Ways to protect against the virus are using repellant with DEET, wearing longer clothing and getting rid of standing water.

For more information on how to protect yourself, call your local Health Unit office.

Meantime, public health officials in Toronto and St. Catharines are reporting finding mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus.

Toronto Public Health says it received a laboratory report indicating that mosquitoes have tested positive for West Nile.

Toronto associate medical health officer Dr. Howard Shapiro says the finding of mosquitoes carrying West Nile is earlier in the season than previous years.

In St. Catharines, environmental health manager Peter Jekel says all Niagara communities should be on alert.

No birds have tested positive for West Nile so far this summer in Niagara and the region has not seen any human cases.

Halton Region Public Health last week reported finding West Nile in two mosquito ponds.

Council Looking At Local Fishing Regulations

A local advisory committee wants to improve and protect fishing in our area.

The Fisheries Management Zone 5 Council is proposing several regulation changes effecting lakes in Dryden, south of Kenora and in the Rainy River District.

Member Richard Boileau says they now want to know what the public thinks.

The Council won't present a final report to the Ministry of Natural Resources until later this year.

For more information go to www.fmz5.com.

Record Breaking Weather Continues

A record breaking day in Northwestern Ontario on Monday.


Fort Frances was the hot spot with a record high of 33.

Sioux Lookout reached a new high of 32.4 and Kenora hit 32.3 degrees.

Dryden and Ear Falls hit records of 31.8-degrees.

Red Lake topped a record high of 30.3.

The area was also hit with a brief violent rain storm.

Rural streets were flooded and trees were knocked down during the storm

More Information On Train Victim

More information is now known on the state of a Dryden woman who was hit by a train.


20-year-old Gabrielle Boucher was struck at he Glengoland Road south crossing.

CJRL News has learned that Boucher was flown to Hospital in Thunder Bay with multiple fractures on both hands and her right leg suffered serious injuries.

Boucher isn't expected to be released from hosptial any time soon and multiple surgeries are now required.

Provincial Police are still looking into the incident.

Missing 11 year old

Thunder Bay Police are releasing a photo of a missing 11 year old girl.

Constable Julie Tilbury says Trinity Payash was reported missing on June 30th.

Police believe she may have hitch hiked to Kenora or could be hanging out in the downtown Port Arthur area.

Health Unit Launches Prevention Video

Prevention is the key message of a new on-line video.


The Northwestern Health Unit has launched the video called "Let's start a conversation about health and not talk about health care at all".

Medical Officer of Health Doctor James Arthurs says the video will hopefully show people how they can prevent illness from happening by making changes to their lifestyle.

The video can be seen at nwhu.on.ca

Boat Crash in Minaki

A close call for two boaters in Minaki.

Kenora Provincial Police say the collision occurred Friday in front of the marina in Minaki.

Two people were thrown from the boats.

OPP say both vessels were travelling at slower speeds and both people were able to get out of the water without injuries.

OPP RESPOND TO A NUMBER OF MISCHIEFS

Members of the Kenora OPP detachment responded to a number of mischief calls over the long weekend.


On Sunday 01 July two vehicles in the Hilly Lake area were entered, nothing was taken from one of the vehicles but the other which was unlocked had a back pack with rollerblades stolen.

On Monday 02 July an unlocked vehicle on Ninth Street N. in the city of Kenora was entered, nothing was taken from this vehicle. A vehicle parked behind a residence on Park Street in Kenora had the rear window smashed out, another vehicle was vandalised while parked on Lakeview Drive and a vehicle on Third Street S. had damage done to the hood and cracked tail light.

The service window for Dairy Queen on Lakeview Drive was smashed out sometime during the evening on 30 June; as well on 01 July the Gazebo at the park in Keewatin was vandalised.

Student's History Project Up For Top Project

Another local youngster is in the running for the top history project in Ontario.


Vermilion Bay's Emma Lang researched Red Lake's Ken Leishman, better known as the "Flying Bandit".

Lang calls Leishman a "modern day Robin Hood".

Lang says Leishman pulled off the largest gold heist in Canadian history back in 1966.

She says he stole gold from Red Lake in Winnipeg, which prompted the largest manhunt in Manitoba history.

The "Bandit" was captured but escaped from jail.

He was later captured and served his sentence and later perished in a mysterious plane crash.

Lang says she was inspired by her family and has always been interested in the subject.

To vote for Lang's project go to www.emmalang.ca.

Lang is no stranger to being in the spotlight.

Earlier this year the Lillian Berg student was selected to serve as a Legislative Page at Queen's Park.

Path of the Paddle

Path of the Paddle is coming to Northwestern Ontario.


The project by the Trans Canada Trail organization aims to create a 900 km water trail from Thunder Bay to the Manitoba border.

The expected cost is less then $500,000.

The route has 5 segments that will require paddling groups and interested communities to maintain the waterways as trail stewards.

Community information sessions will be held in Kenora on July 10th at Lake of the Woods Discovery Centre from 10am-noon, in Atikokan on July 17th at the Economic Development Corporation from 9am-11am and in Dryden on July 25th at the Best Western Motor Inn from 4pm-6pm.

For more information, contact Vicki Kurz at 223-6669 or at vkurz@shaw.ca

Manitoba Man Saves Child In Kenora

A three-year-old boy was saved at Anicinabe Park over the weekend
thanks to a Manitoba man.

Dave Redl of Blumenort says the child was found lying in the water at the beach and adds that he was one of the only people on the beach who knew C-P-R.

Redl says he performed the life-saving procedure on the child for about 10 minutes with positive results.

 The child was taken to Lake of the Woods District Hospital, held for observations then released

Shoal Lake #40 Joins Lawsuit against Winnipeg

A second first nation has joined a lawsuit against the City of Winnipeg for re-selling water from Shoal Lake to surrounding communities.

Shoal Lake #40 First Nation says it has taken steps to become a full participant in the suit being undertaken by their mainland neighbors, Shoal Lake #39.

Chief Erwin Redsky says they would prefer a negotiated settlement, not litigation.

He says if Winnipeg insists on overstepping its authorization, they are prepared to take whatever measures are necessary to protect their rights.

Shoal Lake #39 is asking for over 100 million dollars a year from the City of Winnipeg for the water it is using and re-selling to other communities.