Rock and Roll Beach Party a Success

The Rotary Club's Rock and Roll Beach Party has helped raise some much needed funds for polio.

The Beach Party was held at the Ballroom Blitz on Friday and raised about 240 dollars.

A spokesperson for Rotary says combined with matching contributions from the government, the money will allow over 100 polio vaccinations.

The fundraising will continue until the end of March.

2 People Charged for Drug Possession

Dryden O.P.P have charged two people following a search warrant at a home in Wainwright Township.

Provincial Police, along with members of the Kenora detachment and Dryden Police Service found drugs in the home, and have charged 22-year-old Kelsie Kelly and 24-year-old Derek Palermo.

The charges include unauthorized possession of a prohibited device and possession of marijuana, oxycodone and cocaine.

Police say the two have been released from custody on a Promise to Appear, and have a court date of March 25.

Boil Water Advisory on First Avenue South

Their is a boil water advisory in affect for the Blue Heron, the Banister Centre, and Shoppers Drug Mart.

The advisory was issued as a result of an early morning water main break on First Avenue South.

Anyone using water from these locations for consumption is advised to boil water for at least a minute.

Consumption includes brushing teeth, adding to food, washing fruits and vegetables, and making ice cubes.

The advisory will remain in affect until further notice.

Northern Ontario Cabinet Meeting Scheduled

The new Ontario government has selected Sault Ste. Marie to be the location of their cabinet meeting on March 1st.

Outlined in the Throne Speech, the government says they will discuss issues in Northern Ontario, including transportation needs for the Ring of Fire.

In addition, the government will focus on employment opportunities for young people and Aboriginal communities.

Water Main Break Closes Road

A water main break has forced a detour this morning for some
motorists.

About a foot of water has pooled in the middle of a section of
1st Avenue South this morning in front of the Bannister Center.

City work crews has blocked off the section of road from Consumer
Frosted Foods and the Safeway intersection.

No word as to when the street might be re-opened again.

Council Members in Toronto for Good Roads

Members of Kenora City Council are on the hunt for more funding to fix up our aging bridges this week.

Mayor Dave Canfield and a couple of councilors are in Toronto for the Ontario Good Roads Conference.

Canfield says while they have been told they can apply for two million dollars in infrastructure funding, it falls far short of what they need.

Canfield says the cost alone of fixing up the West Branch Bridge over the Winnipeg River has
been estimated at over six million dollars.

Extracurriculars expected Back in local High Schools

It appears the government is making headway with the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation.

Last week the OSSTF began encouraging members to resume extra-curricular activities following an internal vote.

Director of Education with the Keewatin Patricia District School Board Jack McMaster is pleased the province and
the teachers have agreed to work together to resolve the issue.

Extracurriculars could start up later this week.

The OSSTF will hold a news conference later today.

Stunt Driving Charge Laid in Vermillion Bay

O.P.P. In Dryden are charging a 22 year old Manitoba man with stunt driving.

He was caught doing 50 kilometers an hour over the posted speed limit on Highway 17 in Machin Township.

The vehicle has been impounded for a mandatory seven days and the man is facing a court appearance in Dryden to answer to the charges.

Rickford Passed over for Promotion

Hiding his disappointment, Kenora MP Greg Rickford says he's ready to work with the new Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development.

Bernard Valcourt, previously a secretary of state for the Francophonie, steps into the void left when John Duncan suddenly resigned last week.

Rickford says he will continue his work as Parliamentary Secretary to Aboriginal Affairs.

Rickford says he's a team player and will support the new Minister.

Bronco Girls Advance to League Final

Beaver Brae's girls hockey team has moved onto the final of the
Northland Cup.

The Broncos eked out a 4-3 win over the Red Lake Rams in sudden
death overtime last night a the Kenora Rec. Center.

Eve Charlebois scored the game winner at the 2:20 mark of OT.

It was her second goal of the game.

The Broncos now await the winner of tonight's other semi-final between
Dryden and Fort Frances tonight.

Midget Thistles Lose Two in Brandon

The Kenora Midget Thistles have dug themselves a big hold in their quarter-final play-off
series against the Brandon Wheat Kings.

The Thistles lost both games in Brandon over the weekend and trail their best-of five
series two games to none.

Yesterday, the Thistles were doubled up 4-2.

On Saturday, the Kenora midgets were blanked 5-0.

The Thistles face elimination when they play the Wheat Kings
in game three at home Friday night.

Senior Thistles Drop Two Against Southeast

Close but no cigar for the Kenora Senior Thistles.

They dropped a pair of one-goal losses to the Southeast Prairie Thunder
over the weekend at the Kenora Rec. Center.

Yesterday, the Thistles were edged 2-1 by the Thunder.

Ross Johnson scored the lone Kenora goal.

Saturday, Southeast scored with 10 seconds left in regulation to earn a 4-3 win over the Thistles.

Ficek Loses Final of Northern Wheelchair Playdowns

Home ice wasn't enough of an advantage for the Wayne Ficek foursome at the Northern Ontario Wheelchair Curling Playdowns.

Ficek lost out to Gino Sonego in yesterday's final at the Kenora Curling Club.

Sonego won the right to advance to the National Championships with a 9-7  victory.

Sonego and Ficek had split their games against eachother during the round robin and the play-offs.

Final Arguments Made in Murder Trial

The crown and the defense have painted very different pictures of what took place the night Ed Wilson died on March 21st, 2009 in Norman.

Final arguments were presented to the jury yesterday.

Crown Attorney Mary-Ann Mousseau rejects defense arguments that Kenneth Ivall was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

She says he was enraged by the fact that Ed Wilson had struck him outside the Tower Motel.

She also says Ivall wanted to avenge a sexual assault that Wilson was alleged to have made against
Angela Duchesne when she was 16 year old girl.

The defense meanwhile suggests that Duchesne orchestrated many of the events that fateful night, including
the beating of Ed Wilson by a number of men outside the Tower Motel.

Defense lawyer Chris Watkins says Duchesne manipulated and lied to police and destroyed evidence
and suggested the jury should disregard any statements that she made during the trial.

Watkins says while his version of events may not match the crown's he says they fit the facts just as well.

Justice Terrance Platana has dismissed the jury until Tuesday morning, when he plans to make his final
instructions to them, before they begin their deliberations.

Campbell Urges Province to Help Save ELA

A last-ditch plea to save the Experimental Lakes Area.

Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. Sarah Campbell used her podium at
Queen's Park to appeal to the provincial government to take action
before its too late.

Campbell says to date, the province hasn't done done much to help cause.

The clock is counting on the closure of the ELA.

It's scheduled to close its doors in just over a month.

KDSB Ready to Tackle Homlessness

It's going to cost a few bucks but it's something that's needed in the Kenora District.

The Services Board has been told to come up with a long-term plan to address the homelesness and housing issues facing the region.

Chief Administrative Officer Dan McNeil says a number of groups will be involved.

The province has asked for the plan but has provided no funding.

A final report is due by January 1st, 2014.

Province Announces Funding for Addictions

The provincial government wants to improve access to addiction services for First Nations communities.

Ontario will provide 1.5 million dollars in ongoing annual funding to support five new Community Wellness

Development Teams, and to increase the use of tele-medicine equipment in treatment centers.

This will allow health care providers to conference with patients in remote communities to enhance addictions treatments.

Rainy River Resources Outlines New Gold Zone

Rainy River Resources continues to build on the potential of its gold mine south of Kenora.

It's out with the latest findings from a drill program conducted in an area identified as the Intrepid zone.

The company says the results continue to support the belief that the zone is similar to a main deposit found in the heart of its project.

It hopes to better define the size of the zone by the middle of this year.

Hope And the City Tickets On Sale this Weekend

Hope in the City is celebrating its third year in Kenora and
tickets for the much anticipated event go on sale tomorrow.

Ashley Hoffmeister is one of the organizers and says its chance
to women to dress up, go out on the town and have some fun.

Hope in the City is a fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society.

Tickets for the May 11th gala go on sale tomorrow at 11:00 at the
Discovery Center.

Northern Ontario Wheelchair Curling Playdowns

A wheelchair curling team from Kenora is ready to go back to the National championships.

Kenora Skip Wayne Ficek says his team is ready for the Northern Ontario playdowns this weekend at the Kenora Curling Club.

Ficek says his team is ready to go after a rebuilding year in 2011.

The playdowns start this afternoon with the first draw at 1:30 with teams in action.

The finals will take place on Sunday.