Cocaine Bust in RIDE Stop

OPP RIDE Check Stops nab more than just drunk drivers.

Over the weekend, the OPP pulled over a vehicle on Railway Street during a RIDE program.

During one check, officers managed to seize almost a gram of cocaine.

44 year old Jordan Chesterfield of Winnipeg has been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking and obstructing police.

He's scheduled to appear in Kenora Court at the end of August on the charges.

MNR Monitoring Fire on Lake of the Woods

Smoke continues to waft into town from fires burning in the far north.

While there wasn't a lot of fire activity in the region, the MNR says it is currently monitoring a blaze on an island at the south end of Lake of the Woods.

They are letting the fire burn itself out saying it is beneficial for the renewal of the eco-system.

Kenora District Fire Number 73 is burning about 50 kilometres south of Kenora in the Miles Bay area, just north of Comegan Island.

Smoke From Northern Fires Drifts into Kenora

Smoke from fires in the remote north continues to filter into our area.

This despite a relatively quiet weekend on the forest fire front with only one new fire reported yesterday in the Thunder Bay District.

Rain in some parts of the region knocked down the fire hazard.

The reprieve is expected to be short lived though as the weather is forecast to be clear and warm and put the fire hazard back into the high level by mid-week.

Food Bank Shelves Almost Empty

The cupboards are almost bare at Kenora's foodbank.

A campaign is being launched next month to try and replenish supplies.

Making Kenora Home is holding its annual Hunger Doesn't Take a Vacation campaign.

Dan Jorgensen is a spokesperson for the group and says the situation is critical.

Organizers of the Wednesday Farmer's Market say they will be collecting non-perishable food items this week to help out.

Respite Care Program being expanded

A respite support program introduced in the region two years is being continued.

Carol Ness of Thunder Bay-based Wesway says a pilot project that helps families who care full-time for seniors recently received additional funding through the North West Local Health Integration Network.

Ness says there's been so much demand that they have a waiting list.

Re-Design of Driver's Licences Encouraged

The war on tobacco is taking a new twist.

A northwestern Ontario health official Klaus Larsen says as a way to discourage the sale of tobacco to underage teens, they want the Ontario government to redesign driver's licences.

He says they want to easily show when a person under of 19 will reach the age of majority.

Larsen says other provinces already use the licence system they are proposing.

Dingwalls Win Bronzeback

A big comeback for Jeff and Scott Dingwall at the 6th Annual Bronzeback Classic.

The Dingwalls were fourth after the first day weigh-ins, but walked away with the first prize money of 35 hundred dollars yesterday.

They pulled in more than 16 pounds of bass on day two for a total of 31.56 pounds over the two day tournament.

Over at the Tom Nabb Soccer complex, the Vanz Thunder claimed the B-side crown at the Kenora Ladies Soccer Tournament.

The Thunder took a 2-0 decision over Portage La Prairie in a weather shortened game.

Casey's won the c-side final with a 3-1 win over Moncrief United.

In the A-side final it was a team from Winnipeg taking top honors beating Brandon 2-1.

Keric Sells Salon

A popular local beauty salon is changing hands.

Keric Funk is selling his 2nd Street South Salon and boutique to Shauna Fortner.

While he's selling his business, Funk says he will continue to offer his styling services.

Campbell Congratulates Atleo on Re-election

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell says she's looking forward to working with Assembly of First Nations Grand Chief Shawn Atleo.

Atleo beat out seven other contenders this week, including former Treaty 3 grand chief Diane Kelly.

Campbell says she wants to address the challenges that First Nations communities are facing.

She says the NDP caucus remains committed to fighting for real consultation with First Nations and maximising training and employment opportunities in resource development.

Canfield Upset by High Gas Prices

Its time the federal government held oil companies accountable for the high price of gasoline.

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield is on the warpath over the price of fuelling up.  

He says there's no reason motorists in Kenora should be paying $1.34 a liter.

Canfield says with oil prices around 87 dollars a barrel, gas prices should be closer to a dollar a liter.

MNR Fire Crews Focus on the Far North

Focus for Ministry of Natural Resources forest firefighters continues to be in the remote north.

Eleven fires in the far north are now over 100 hectares.

One of the largest is within Woodland Caribou Provincial Park that has scorched almost one thousand hectares.

Another concern is a cluster of fires burning near the remote communities of Deer Lake and Keewaywin where smoke may be a concern for residents.

Early Morning Call for Fire Fighters

Kenora's Fire and Emergency Services Department was called into action early this morning.

Fire crews responded to a blaze at the Comfort Inn.
Three units were dispatched to the scene.

A fire official says a small air conditioning unit overheated and caught fire.

Fire fighters were able to contain the blaze to the room of origin, though smoke did drift into other parts of the motel.

Council Applies for more Infrastructure Funding

Kenora City Council is honing its wish list for a new round of projects eligible for infrastructure funding.

Upgrades for the Keewatin Memorial Arena and the roof of city hall top the wish list.

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield says they would only go ahead with the projects if they get government funding.

Council says it also wants to work with the Lake of the Woods Development Commission for a dock rehabilitation project on the north side of Coney Island.

Busy Sports Weekend

A busy sports weekend in Kenora. Tonight, the annual Kenora Ladies

Soccer Tournament gets underway at the Tom Nabb Soccer Complex.

The finals will take place Sunday afternoon. Meanwhile, 100 teams will take

to the water tomorrow morning for the Bronzeback Classic. Final day weigh-ins will take place Sunday afternoon.

New Life for Atikokan Generating Station

The Atikokan Generating Station has a power purchase agreement with the Ontario Power Authority.

It was the last step needed before the plant could be converted to using biomass.

Mayor Dennis Brown says it's a huge relief to his community.

Thunder Bay Atikokan M.P.P. Bill Mauro made the announcement Thursday in Thunder Bay.

Impaired Driving Charges on the Rise

Drinking and Driving continues to be a big issue for local police.

The OPP say they've noticed an increase in the number of impaired driving charges issued so far this year.

To date, there have been 40 charges laid, up from 33 from the same period last year.

Provincial Police say that's a 21 percent increase over last year.

Kenora Senior Gives City Council an Earful

A Kenora senior is complaining about some of the changes that have taken place on the Harborfront recently.

Len Kropiowski made a deputation to council this week upset about the naming of the new tent as the White Cap Pavillion.

Kropiowski also says he's saddened to see the Thistle Pavillion no longer has any hockey memorabilia on display.

Kropiowski also feels the food vendor trucks parked on the Harborfront obstruct the view of the lake.

Con College Bursaries get a boost

Confederation College in Kenora has more money to put towards student bursaries and awards.

Wednesday's golf tournament at the Kenora Golf and Country Club generated more than nine thousand dollars.

A record 17 teams also took part in the afternoon event. 

Off the golf course, a signed Mike Richards Los Angeles Kings jersey garnered the most interest, taking in one thousand dollars in a live auction.

HRSDC Cuts Jobs in Kenora

The Public Service Alliance of Canada calls it a further erosion of service in northern Ontario.

About 25 percent of the workforce at the Human Resources and Skills Development Canada office in Kenora is being cut.

PSAC spokesperson Judith Monteith Farrell says the jobs are being moved to southern Ontario.

Monteith Farrell says five surplus notices have been handed out in Kenora leaving a staff at the HRSDC office of about 15 workers.

Red Lake Population Jumps Again

A change in census numbers in Red Lake.

The Municipality asked for a review of the final 2011 numbers.

Red Lake has been notified that the census results were incorrect.

The population is now up 3.2-percent from the original numbers.

Red Lake's population now stands at just over 46-hundred people.