Champion curlers offer clininc in Kenora

Two world class curlers are in Kenora today.

Reid Carruthers and Kaitlyn Lawes are at the Keewatin Curling Club offering curling clinics to registered curlers.

Carruthers said earlier in the day they had clinics with 15 curlers in grade 6 and the afternoon they hosted a clinic with 15 junior curlers.

Lawes mentioned that tonight they are also hosting an adult clinic this evening.

The pair were brought to Kenora as part of Curl Manitoba's Road Show.

Broncos and Saints Hockey Teams Back in Action

Both the Beaver Brae and Thomas Aquinas boys hockey teams are looking to continue their early winning ways tonight.

The Broncos play their first home game this evening when they take on the Fort Frances Muskies.

Game time is 7:30 at the Kenora Rec. Center.

Meanwhile, the Saints boys hockey team is on the road tonight.

T.A. will travel to Red Lake to face the Rams.

Beaver Brae's girls team is also in action tonight.

 The Broncos head to Fort Frances to face the Muskies.

All three teams won their league openers last week. 

Kenora to Play Host to Renwick Cup

Kenora will be playing host to a couple of major regional hockey championships next spring.

The Telus Mid-West Regional Midget Championships will take place in early April and will be preceded by the Renwick Cup at the end of March.

Captain of the Kenora Senior Thistles, Sean Hughes says a victory in the Renwick Cup will send them back to the Allan Cup for the third straight year.

The organizing committee for the Renwick Cup is currently seeking corporate sponsors and has announced that REMR Roofing has come on as their title sponsor this year.

Blood Donor Clinic Looking for Better Turn Out Today

Canadian Blood Services is hoping for a better turn out on day two of its
blood donor clinic.

Yesterday, a total of 122 people showed up to give the gift of life, but that was
22 less than the goal of local organizers.

The Blood Donor Clinic is now open and will run until 12:30 this afternoon
and there are still 49 open appointment times available.

Thistle Banner Thieves Make Apology

A very public apology from the two culprits who stole the Stanley Cup banners from the White Cap Pavillion this past summer.

Adam Green and Jena Poschner read letters of apology to Kenora City Council last night.

Poschner says the timing of their actions couldn't have been worse.

The Stanley Cup banners were stolen from the Whitecap Pavillion just before Mike Richards was scheduled to bring the trophy home for a community celebration.

Taxi Company Requests Fare Increase

Co-ot taxi taxi is asking city council to approve a rate increase.

Eric Lovas made a deputation at last nights council meeting and says that a fare increase has not happened in a couple years.

Lovas adds that the fare increase would only amount to an average of a one dollar  on most fares and will help manage the cost of rising gas prices and the cost of insurance.

Loviss adds that the starting rate would increase to 4.95 and a kilometer rate would go up to2 dollars.

Visitor Restrictions in Place at Hospital

There's been an outbreak of a gastro-intestinal illness at Lake of the Woods District Hospital.

Head of Patient Care Kathy Dawe says the outbreak was confirmed Sunday in the Second East ward.

She says a small number of patients and staff began to show some symptoms and as a result, a visitor ban for the ward has gone into effect.

The Hospital adds that if you are experiencing any gastro-intestinal or respiratory illness, you should refrain from visiting the hospital.

Gravelle Battles Cancer

Natural Resources Minister Michael Gravelle says he's been diagnosed with a form of aggressive lymphoma, but intends to stay on the job while undergoing chemotherapy.

Gravelle, who represents Thunder Bay-Superior North, says he is heartened by the assessment of his oncologist that he has a treatable form of lymphoma and the prognosis for a full recovery is good.

The veteran Liberal says Premier Dalton McGuinty encouraged him to carry on with his ministerial duties and he is genuinely optimistic that he will fully recover from his battle with cancer.

Three More People Arrested for Drug Trafficking

A pair of drug busts on Highway 17 west of Kenora has netted the OPP more than 16 thousand dollars in illegal drugs over the past five days.

Three Fort Frances area residents face charges following a drug bust last week.

23 year old Joel Inkster, 29-year-old Dawn Jourdain and 21 year old Allan Mutz were arrested last week after OPP stopped a vehicle and found a pound of marijuana and 14 oxycocete pills inside.

All three will make a court appearance in Kenora December 20.

Another drug bust last Thursday netted police about six thousand dollars in cocaine.

Saints head to Belleville Today for OFSAA

The Thomas Aquinas senior boys volleyball team will be travelling to southern Ontario today to prepare for the All-Ontario Single "a" championships.

The Saints will go into the OFSAA tournament as the second ranked team.

The Saints did not lose a set in regular season or post-season play this year and advanced to the provincial finals last week.

The top ranked team at OFSAA is the host team from Belleville, which is Quinte Christian.

Quinte is the defending provincial champion.

The OFSAA round-robin begin Thursday morning.

Northwest PeeWee All-Stars Finalize Roster

There are four local hockey players who will be playing for the Northwestern Ontario Peewee Triple "A" allstar team this season.

Carter Tresoor, Jared Neniska, Jayme Caron, and Jacob Parker were selected for the team after a selection camp that included over 60 players from across the Northwest.

Dan Reynard from Kenora is the teams head coach.

The team will play in All Ontario championships in Thunder Bay April 8th and the Tournament of Champions in Brandon on Febuary 7th.

Girls Atom REP Team Wins Gold in Brandon

The Lake of the Woods Girls Hhockey Atom REP won the gold medal at the the DULUX Paints Female Hockey Challenge this past weekend in Brandon, MB.

The team went undefeated in Round Robin play defeating teams from Estevan, Portage, and Brandon.

In the gold medal game on Sunday the team started quickly in a rematch against Estevan with 6 goals in the first period.

The team finished the game with a 9-1 victory.

Coach Jeff Fevreau says "it was a total team effort that won them the GOLD medal. The girls never gave up, never got discouraged, and were consistent all weekend. They rose to the challenge and worked hard to earn their wins.”

OPP Investigate Cottage Break-Ins

The OPP are investigating a rash of break-ins to camps on Lake of the Woods.

A cabin owner on Middle Island in the Hades area of the lake reported the initial break and enter yesterday and then discovered a number of other cottages had also been broken into.

Police say there was significant damage and are trying to contact all the campowners to determine what might have been stolen.

Anyone with information about the break-ins is asked to contact the Kenora Detachment of the OPP or Crimestoppers.

Boobie Nights Prepares for 4th Annual Fundraiser

Proudly Supporting Second Base.

That's going to be the theme of this year's annual Boobie Night's Fundraiser.

Angela Kuchma is one of the organizers of the event and says once again, all proceeds from the social will go towards the purchase of a new digital mammagraphy machine.

While, the Boobie Night's fundraiser won't take place until June 1st, tickets will start going on sale next month.

Diamond Jubilee Medals Presented

It was a night of recognition.

Kenora MP Greg Rickford presented local residents with a Diamond Jubliee Medal at a cermony Friday night at the Discovery Center.

Rickford says it recognises all of their hard work and contributions to the community.

Alice Jardine, Woody Linton, Ada Major, Catherine McLeod and Darlene Fish, Jarrod McLean, Dave Zroback and Constable Clinton

Fontaine were the recipients of the Diamond Jubilee Medals.

Two Arrested in Highway 17 West Drug Bust

Two people face drug charges after the OPP stopped a vehicle on Highway 17 west of Kenora.

The OPP Organized Crime and Enforcement Bureau and their Drug Enforcement Unit pulled over a vehicle last Thursday and seized about six thousand dollars worth of cocaine.

21 year old Cody Clemente of Winnipeg, Manitoba has been charged with Trafficking.

He has been held in custody pending a bail hearing.

22 year old Steven Walson-Gerigs yrs old of Palmerston, Ontario has also been charged with Trafficking.

He's due to appear in Kenora Court on January 3rd.

Brand Leadership Team has Big Ideas

More than a dozen new festivals could be on the way to Kenora.

Randy Nickle is Chairman of the brand leadership team and says more festivals would create business and promote Kenora as North Americas premiere boating destination.

Nickle adds the leadership time currently has 20 priorities moving forward to rebuild tourism in Kenora.

Another idea they are looking at is an "app" promoting local events. 

Wynne Pledges better Support for Aboriginal Education

One Liberal leadership candidate wants to offer better education to aboriginal students.

MPP Kathleen Wynne says one way of correcting previous failures in aborignal students is working with the members of the community.

Aborignal education is one of the main goals in Wynnes Northern platform if elected premier.

Wynne adds her platform for Northern Ontario includes youth job creation, a Northern cabinet committee, and infastructure.

She met with party faithful in Kenora Friday afternoon. 

Three Arrested in Pikangikum Murder

Murder Charges have been laid against three people in connection to a fatality on the Pikangikum First Nation this past spring.

Red Lake OPP and the Pickangikum Police Serivce have charged two women and one man recently with the death of 32 year old Fitzgerald Owen.

He died in the remote community on April 12th of this year.

Police say 22 year old Sheline Turtle and 29 year old Florence Dunsford have been charged with second degree murder and aggravated assault and are expected to appear in Kenora Court in December.

In addition, police have charged 24 year old Morgan Benson Turtle with second degree murder, aggravated assault, assault with a weapon and uttering threats.

He is expected to appear in court in May 2013.

Blood Donor Clinic Today and Tomorrow

Calling all blood donors.

Canadian Blood Services is back in town today and tomorrow for its final blood donor clinics of 2012.

Harvey Heather says while most of the blood collected will stay in this region, the goal is to have enough supplies to help out across Canada.

Today's clinic will run from 4:00 to 9:00 at Thomas Aquinas School and against tomorrow from 9:30 to 12:30.