Saints Start New NorWOSSA Season on the Road

A new year in NorWOSSA sports is underway.

Yesterday, the Thomas Aquinas girls basketball and boys volleyball teams travelled to Atikokan to open the season.

Both boys volleyball teams won, the Senior Saints in three straight games, while the junior squad won three sets to one.

In girls basketball, the T.A. juniors beat the Voyageurs 30-24, while the Saints Senior girls suffered the lone defeat of the day, dropping a 24-23 decision to Atikokan.

Today, all four teams head down Highway 11 to take on Rainy River.

Changes Coming to City Committees

A bit of a shake up to the committee structure at City Hall.

Council is planning to create one new committee and disband another.

The new Event Center Committee will look at expansion plans for the Kenora Rec. Center.

Councillor Ron Lunny says the committee will be looking different ideas for the Rec. Center.

Lunny says one of the issues the new committee will look at is twinning the ice surface.

In the meantime, the Youth Committee is being disbanded by council.

CAO Karen Brown says it really wasn't living up to its mandate of providing a youth voice to council decisions.

Instead she says they will be looking to student volunteers who might want to sit at the council table and provide direct imput on their decisions.

Council to Vote on Casino Next Month

Kenora City council will decide on October 4th, whether it will  agree to be considered a site for a new casino.

Last night, the first of two public meetings were held to gather feedback from the public.

The Lake of the Woods Development Commission says it supports the concept of a casino, but council says it won't support that recommendation until its heard all the feedback.

People who aren't able to attend the public meetings can fill out a survey on the city's web portal.

OPP Release Details of Pickle Lake Stand-off

A 35-year-old man faces charges following a nearly 24-hour standoff in Pickle Lake.

Provincial Police responded to a report of an assault around 3:30 Saturday morning.

The man refused to turn himself in and barricaded himeself inside a home.

OPP negotiators and the Tactics and Rescue Unit were called in and the man was finally arrested outside the home around 2:30 Sunday morning.

OPP say the accused faces counts of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and assault.

He remains in custody and his first court appearance is Thursday.

No name has been released.

A woman was treated for non-life threatening injuries.

New Events Website for Kenora District almost Ready

"Find Yourself Here" is the new tagline for a cultural mapping website that's aimed at increasing tourism in the Kenora district.

The tagline and logo was submitted by Christine Petre of Winnipeg.

Project Manager Catherine Dashny says they selected the two following an on-line competition.

The cultural mapping project will feature events, activities and attractions across the district.

Fire Destroys Rainy River Hotel

The investigation continues into the cause of a fire that destroyed a Rainy River landmark.

Firefighters from Rainy River and Baudette spent several hours yesterday battling the blaze at the Canadian Northern Hotel.

It was spotted early yesterday morning passers-by early this morning.

The hotel opened in 1903 and had operated up to the fire.

OPP Investigate a Rash of Mischief Complaints

The OPP say they are investigating a rash of mischief complaints.

Over the weekend, police say graffitti was tagged in a number of areas, including 9th Street North, 2nd Street North and 4th Avenue South.

Officers also say that a vehicle parked in the 10th Street North area had its windshield smashed.

An unlocked vehicle on Drewry Drive was entered as well.

A number of items, including some change and a multi-tool were stolen.

Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to contact the OPP or Crimestoppers.

World Suicide Prevention Day

A local organization is looking to help those affected by suicide.

Firefly, which offers support services for children in the Kenora District, is marking the 10th anniversary of World Suicide Prevention Day on Monday.

CEO Karen Ingebrigtson says those who need help should seek it as soon as possible.

Tonight there will be a candle light vigil at McCleod Park for family and friends who have been affected by suicide.

Terry Fox Run this Weekend

The countdown is underway for the 32nd annual Terry Fox Run.

The fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society will take place next Sunday.

Martha McClugh is with the Terry Fox Foundation in Ontario and says the run seems to inspire people.

The Kenora run will start at Valleyview School next Sunday and go around Rabbit Lake.

Bike Ride For Muscular Dystrophy Begins Today

A couple of fire fighters will begin their over 500-kilometre journey today in support of Muscular Dystrophy Canada.

Reagan Breeze from Dryden and Atikokan firefighter Graham Warburton are beginning their cycling trip in Kenora and they hope to arrive in Dryden tonight.

They will resume their trip tomorrow with hopes of finishing in Thunder Bay on Wednesday.

Breeze and Warburton are raising money and awareness for M.D.

Police Investigating Theft of Motor Bike

The OPP in Kenora are looking for a dirt bike that was stolen last Saturday.

Police say the bike is a blue and white Yamaha TT-R-90 youth bike.

Police say it was taken sometime between midnight and 7am from the back of a pick up truck parked at a Fourth Street North home.

According to officers, it appears the suspect or suspects pushed the bike down the train tracks towards railway street.

Anyone with information is asked to contact OPP or Crimestoppers.

Brain Injury Tour passes through Kenora

One young man is going the distance for brain injury awareness.

Troy Adams is running from Newfoundland to British Columbia to inform people about brain injuries and spread the message.

Adams says he suffered a serious injury when he was younger, and says if it could happen to him it could happen to anyone.

Adams passed through Kenora on his Cross-Canada tour on Saturday.

City Council to host two meetings today

A busy day for members of Kenora City Council.

Not one, but two meetings have been scheduled for this afternoon.

The monthly Committee of the Whole meeting has been moved up a half an hour to 3:00 tomorrow.

That's to accomodate a second meeting in the evening.

A public information session about a casino will be held at 6:00 in the Multi-Purpose Room of the Kenora Rec. Center.

Health Unit Enjoying New Office Space

A month after moving into its new office space, the Northwest Heath Unit staff are starting to settle in.

The Health Unit moved its head office into the old Mount Carmel School at the beginning of August.

Medical Officer of Health Dr. Jim Arthurs says there are still some growing pains.

Arthurs says parts of the building are still being renovated to accommodate staff who are located in their Market Square Offices.

They won't be moving over for another three years, once their lease expires.

Pickle Lake Stand-Off ends Peacefully

O.P.P. have one man in custody following what they are calling an incident in Pickle Lake.

Provincial police were occupied by the suspect at a residence in the community from Saturday into Sunday but the situation was resolved with the man being taken into custody.

The Pickle Lake detachment is in charge of the investigation but are releasing no further information at this time.

Dennis Wins Silver at International Competition

A Kenora Judoka has won a silver medal at an international competition in Cali, Columbia.

Ben Dennis advanced to the gold medal match over the weekend at the Under 17 Pan American Judo Championships.

He eventually lost to a Brazilian fighter in the 55 kilo weight division.

Winnipeggers Win Bassin' For Bucks

The Winnipeg duo of Wayne Wagner and Alex Kezler have won this year's Bassin for Bucks in Sioux Narrows.

They hauled in 53.89 pounds of bass over three days of fishing, just edging out last years winners, Darrin Bohonos and Bryan Gustafson, but less than 2 tenths of a pound.

In third place was Jeff Gustafson and Mike Reid, almost a pound off the pace.

A total of 110 teams weighed in fish during the tournament.

Tennis Anyone?

The Second annual Tennis throwdown takes place this weekend at the  tennis courts at the Kenora Rec. Center.

Players from Kenora and Dryden will be serving against eachother tomorrow.

John Benson is one of the organizers of the event and says they just want to get more people involved in the sport.

The tournament will begin at 9:00 tomorrow morning with ladies, men's, doubles, mixed doubles and youth events planned.

FASD Day in Kenora

A local committee is trying to raise awareness of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.

Today is FASD Day in Kenora.

Kerril Davidson Hunt is one of the members of the committee and says while many substances can harm the fetus, booze does cause the most damage.

The FASD committee will have a booth set up at the Kenora Shoppers Mall both today and tomorrow handing out information and talking to local residents.

Campbell Demands Consultations on MNR Cuts

The Provincial government is being challenged to hold consultations before deciding to close any MNR offices in this region.

In the Ontario legislature today, Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell says the government needs to learn from its mistakes.

Northern Development and Mines Minister Rick Bartolucci is promising the government will be consulting local communities before any cuts are made.