Lake of the Woods Brewing Still On Schedule

The brew pub being proposed for the old Kenora Fire Hall is still being targeted for a May long weekend opening.

Demolition work inside the Heritage Building is continuing and owner, Taras Manzie says they are still working on getting all the building and liquor licencing permits they need in order to move the project along.

Manzie says they will be keeping all the artifacts that have been designated, including the call box, the fire bell and most of the porcelain brickwork.

He adds that he has already hired a brew master from Victoria and is also working to staff some other key positions.

Sharks Host Annual Fall Meet

The first big test of the season for the Kenora Sharks Swim club.

The Sharks are hosting their annual Kenora Invitational Swim Meet this weekend.

Teams will be coming from across northwestern Ontario and Winnipeg.

The first heats will take place tomorrow morning and will wrap up Sunday afternoon.

Thistle Teams in North Dakota This Weekend

Both the Kenora Triple "a" Midget and Senior Thistles will be spending the weekend in North Dakota.

The Senior Thistles are in Bottineau for a pair of games against a college team.

Coach John Tressoor says this is still part of the team selection process.

The Senior Thistles have games Saturday and Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Kenora Midgets will be taking the weekend off league play, for a tournament in Grand Forks.

The Thistles will play four games over the next three days.

Rec. Center looking for More Employees

The Kenora Rec. Center is hoping to increase its staffing complement.

Community Services manager Colleen Neil has put in a request to  city council to hire two more maintenance operators.

She says right now, their maintenance technicians just don't have time to get all their work done.

Neil says while the extra jobs will add another 48 thousand dollars to their budget, it will reduce the need for contracting out and the need for part-time workers.

New Logo for Tourism in Kenora

North America's Premiere Boating Destination.

Thats the new status the Brand Leadership Team feels they took a big step towards today with a new tourism logo for Kenora.

Team chairman Randy Nickle says the logo is just one step of the process and that community involvement will be key in expanding the brand.

Nickle adds that anyone intrested in using the new logo and helping to build the brand can visit kenoraboating.com.

Saints Sweep for NWOSSA Gold

The Thomas Aquinas Senior Boys Volleyball Team has its ticket booked for the All-Ontario Single "a" Championships.

The Saints swept the Manitouadge Wolverines in three straight sets this morning in the NWOSSA Final.

Saints head coach Bob Kowal feels they are still capable of playing better.

Thomas Aquinas will leave next Tuesday for Belleville, for the OFSAA championships.

The All-Ontario finals will start next Thursday. 

Hockey Northwest Raises Concerns About Minnesota

There's an issue developing between Hockey Northwestern Ontario and Minnesota Hockey.

H.N.O. says it is dispelling a rumour that they will not issue travel permits to teams wanting to compete in tournaments.

General Manager Trevor Hosanna says travel permits will be issued once an event is sanctioned properly and Minnesota Hockey seeks approval from U.S.A. Hockey late.

Hosanna says permits will be issued once Hockey Canada approves the event and so Hockey Northwestern Ontario is the last to know making it more difficult to approve a permit.

Free Daycare on Offer

A group called Community Caring for Community is offering a day of free child care.

The day care will be run at the Kenora Rec Centre next Saturday and will have a morning and an afternoon session.

Kelly Sipos is one of the organizers and says the goal of the free daycare is to shine a spotlight on an on-going concern in the community.

Yesterday was the last day to register, but Sipos says they still may have room for last minute registrations for the service.

Public School Board Releases Grad Results

A new report by the Keewatin Patricia District School Board shows that the graduation rates are higher for those who stay in school longer.

The four-year rate for all students 71%, the five year rate in 84% and the six year rate is 86 %.

Scott Urquart is the Student Success Leader and says they are particularly pleased with grad rates for special education students.

The rates are lower for Aboriginal students, with the four year rate at 45%, the five year rate at 67% and the six year rate at 71%.

Wynne Brings Northern Tour to Kenora

Liberal leadership candidate Kathleen Wynne will be rolling out her Northern Ontario platform today in Kenora.

Wynne was in Thunder Bay yesterday and will be in Kenora this afternoon to meet with party faithful.

One of her promises is the creation of a northern Ontario committee of cabinet.

Glen Murray is also on a tour of northern Ontario this week.

Saints Advance to NWOSSA Championship game

The Thomas Aquinas senior boys volleyball team is a win away from advancing to the All-Ontario Single Championships again.

The Saints will play in this morning's NWOSSA final against either Manitouadge or Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School from Thunder Bay.

Yesterday T.A. easily won both their round robin matches in three straight sets.

Neither game lasted longer than an hour.

The NWOSSA gold medal games goes at 10:00 this morning at the Thomas Aquinas gym.

KMTS Prosperity Trust Fund sees Slow Growth

Its been a tough year for investments.

The City has released the most recent results for its KMTS Citizan's Prosperity Fund.

The city's treasurer, Charlotte Edie reported to city council yesterday that they will be able to meet their target of three percent earnings on the Trust Fund this year, but admits its been a tougher year than last year.

The city's aim is to earn at least three percent on its investments and loans in order to generate at least 1.1 million dollars in revenue, to help offset taxes.

Thomas Aquinas wins first game At NWOSSA Finals

The Thomas Aquinas Saints are off to a quick start at the NWOSSA playoffs.

The team started the playoffs today against Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School from Thunder Bay.

The Saints dominated the match from the opening serve winning in straight sets.

TA plays again at 2:00 against Manitouwadge High School.

The finals will be played tomorrow morning at 10:00 with the winner moving on to the OFSAA playoffs.

Murray Brings Leadership Campaign North

A liberal leadership canidate has Northern Ontario on his mind.

Glen Murray is heading to Thunder Bay today to speak with party faithful about his plans for the North if elected premier.

Murray, who was minister of training,colleges and universities, says that the north "needs it's own voice."

His campaign is built on tax cuts for the middle class and small businesses, no-money-down college or university tuition, cities and towns that work, and a smart government that listens.

Stewardship Group Proposed for Laurenson's Creek

A group of concerned citizans living along Laurenson's Creek have indicated they would like to set up a Stewardship group.

The interest group would look at both the protection of the Laurenson Creek wetlands and navigation.

Councillor Sharon Smith feels the city should support their efforts.

Mayor Dave Canfield says the city just doesn't have the funds to support another community group financially, but says council can endorse their goals.

City Urged to Create Stanley Cup Replica

The campaign to create a giant replica of the Stanley Cup is being revived.

Bob McMillin made the pitch to city council this week, suggesting a fiberglass trophy be made to show off Kenora's hockey heritage.

McMillin says the concept has been kicked about for years, but feels the Stanley Cup Replica could be placed at the Discovery Center as a tourist attraction.

Castle of Learning Parents Reminded to Re-register

A reminder for parents with kids at the Castle of Learning Day care center.

You must re-register for the day care program before Firefly takes over in the new year.

Caryl Hron from the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board says they are working with Firefly for a seemless transition for parents.

Hron says they will be continuing before and after school day care programs as well in the new year, once the city gives up the Castle of Learning.

Treaty Three Agrees to Work with Anishinabek Nation

Two First Nations organizations are working together to tackle some common issues.

The Grand Council Treaty 3 and Anishinabek Nation have formed a unity protocal, where they will look at child welfare, lands and resources, and protection of treaty and Aboriginal rights.

Treaty 3 spokesperson Dale Morrisseau says it makes sense that they would form this partnership.

A traditional ceremony was held last week.

Kenora Airport Receives Government Funding

The Kenora Airport is getting almost 99 thousand dollars for the federal government.

The funding was announced today to replace the Airfield Electrical Generator.

MP Greg Rickford says funding is essential to support the growth of the airport.

Rickford adds the government has provided around 1.3 million dollars to the airport in the last few years including a new snobblowing machine and a perimeter fence.

Doctors Reach Deal with the Province

Ontario's doctors are to vote next month on a tentative deal reached between the Ontario Medical Association and the cash-strapped provincial government.

Health Minister Deb Matthews says the government reversed some earlier fee cuts that were supposed to save 340 million dollars a year to reach the agreement with the doctors.

The O.M.A., which had launched a court challenge of the fee cuts, says it's pleased the government agreed to reverse some of the cuts.

The Progressive Conservatives lashed out at the Liberals for not sticking to the announced fee cuts, and complained they can't ask questions about the deal in the legislature.

The New Democrats say the Liberals are sending the wrong message to other public sector workers who started negotiations with the government on a wage freeze yesterday.