Heartbreak for Bantam Thistles

A heartbreaking end for the Kenora Double "A" Bantam Thistles.

The Thistles lost the Eastman Championship last night to the Seine River Snipers 3-0.

Coach Dave Withers says he's proud of the team and the unbelievable season they had.

Withers passed his congratulations on to the Snipers for a very hard fought championship series.

Hospital Expects to File Deficit for Upcoming Year

Funding changes are affecting the Lake of the Woods District Hospital.

The province is going away with global funding and changing to a Quality Based Practices model.

The QBP model tracks the amount of procedures performed at hospitals and takes away funding to provide back over time.

As a result the Lake of the Woods District Hospital is expecting to file a deficit for the upcoming year of $887,000.

However, the board says they are not currently expecting to cut any services provided at the hospital.

Dragon Boat Festival Cancelled

Dragon boats won't be plying the waters of Rabbit Lake this
summer.

The Kenora and Lake of the Woods Regional Community Foundation
has announced that it will be cancelling the popular Dragon Boat
Festival.

Chair of the foundation, Don Parfitt says they just don't have enough
volunteers to keep the event running.

Parfitt says the Dragon Boat festival has averaged about 20 thousand
dollars in revenue each year.

Development Commission Appears Before Budget Committee

The Lake of the Woods Development Commission is being grilled
about its spending.

Members of the Commission appeared before the city's budget committee yesterday.

Fred Wright is one of the directors and admits it was a learning year with
both the Whitecap Pavillion and Discovery Center coming on line.

He says their goal going forward is to better match their costs with their
revenues.

Wright says the Discovery Center cost about 30 thousand dollars more to operate than expected, in part because they handed out more tourist brochures due to the closure of the Tourist Information Center at the
Ontario/Manitoba Border.

Health Unit Supports Report on Childhood Obesity

A registered dietician with the Northwestern Health Unit has some healthy eating tips following this week's report on childhood obesity.

Julie Slack says children tend to copy what their parents do.

Slack also recommends keeping healthy foods, like cut-up veggies in fruits, in the fridge at eye level.

Slack says schools have really stepped up their game in promoting healthy food choices and parents
need to follow suit.

Campbell Supports Changes to Gas Tax Revenue

Call it the first step to correct infrastructure funding.

Kenora Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell spoke in the legislature about a new bill that will change how the gas tax is divided.

Campbell says she supports the bill even though it doesn't solve all the issues.

Campbell says the bill is a good step in pressuring the government to set up a dedicated fund for infrastructure maintenance that will benefit rural and Northern Ontario.

New MNR Minister Addresses Job Cuts

The new Minister of Natural Resources is commenting on any future job cuts in his ministry.

The province talked in September of 2012 of possibly closing the Ignace MNR office, as well as cutting positions at several area Provincial Parks.

David Orazietti says he'll try to balance providing first line MNR service with cost efficiencies.

Orazietti says all Ministries are facing financial pressures.

Police at Norman Dam

Some details have been released after police and emergency crews responded to a call in the area of the Norman Dam this morning.

Kenora O.P.P have confirmed that with the assistance of emergency crews that a body has been recovered from the intake area of the dam.

Police says the body has been transported to the Lake of the Woods District Hospital and that a post mortem is schedule for Friday.

Campbell Demands Action on MPAC Assessments

Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. Sarah Campbell is demanding
the government hold off on property assessment changes.

In the Ontario Legislature today, she says communities across the north
are facing hardship as a result of the decisions being made by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation.

Finance minister Charles Sousa confirmed that his department is reviewing
the situation.

Canfield Speaks Out Over Policing Costs

There needs to be a level playing field when it comes to policing costs.

That's the suggestion of Kenora mayor Dave Canfield.

He was speaking at the Police Service Board meeting yesterday
and says Kenora continues to pay more than twice as much as the
provincial average.

Canfield says he did bring the issue back up in Toronto last week in his
meetings with provincial cabinet ministers and hopes they were taking
note.

Council Resumes Budget Talks Today

Kenora's budget committee will be hitting the books today.

A day long budget meeting is scheduled at city hall.

Councillor Ron Lunny admits the city faces some financial hurdles, partially
due to changes in the Municipal Property Assessments.

Lunny says while residential waterfront property assessments continue to go up, industrial and commercial assessments are going down.

NTAB Embraces Mining Report

A new report on employment needs in the Kenora District is being welcomed by the Northwest Adjustment and Training Board.

The document calls for the need of 32-hundred workers in the mining sector, 17-hundred alone in the skills trades industry.

NTAB Executive Director Sonja Wainio says this report will pay off in the long run.

Wainio stresses it's important to work with area schools to promote the opportunities facing the area.

New Aboriginal Affairs Minister Gains Endorsement

The provincial Liberal candidate in Kenora-Rainy River believes David Zimmer is the right man for the new Aboriginal Affairs Minister position.

Anthony Leek says the government has promised to make aboriginal issues a top priority.

Leek notes Zimmer is familiar with some of the issues facing aboriginals, noting he spent time as the Parliamentary Assisstant of Aboriginal Affairs.

Con College Hands Out Student Awards

Hard work has paid off for a number of student at the Lake of the Woods Campus of Confederation College.

The school presented awards and bursaries to recognize the academic achievements of students.

Laura Christie is the Acting Director at the College and says they were able to give away a number of bursaries thanks to a number of local events, including their annual charity golf tournament.

Winners included:

Tanisha Granbois-Entrance Award
Chantelle Nault-Accounting Achievement Award/Scotiabank Award
Vyctoria Barling-SUCCI Award Kenora
Laura Frenette/Chelsea Lanteigne/Devon Schneider-Kenora Golf Committee Awards
Andrea Glasman/Katelyn Harris/Brittany McNee-SUCCI Inc. Endowed Awards
Sarah Hendrickson/Clarissa Kuepfer-Dr. Charles M. Johnson Award

3 Medals at OFSAA for Thomas Aquinas Swimmers

The Thomas Aquinas boys swimming team has earned 3 medals at the All-Ontario championships in Etobikoke.

Connor O'Flaherty has had a great outing with a silver in the men's 200 meter freestyle and a bronze in the 100 meter freestyle.

The team also earned the silver medal in the 4 by 100 meter freestyle relay.

Other results saw Bryce Jones place 4th in the 100 meter backstroke and 5th in the 100 meter butterfly.

2 swimmers achieved personal bests during the meet with Bryn Jones in the 100 meter individual medley and Jarrett Weedon in the 50 meter freestyle.

The two day meet wrapped up this afternoon.

Tickets on Sale for Boobie Nights 4

A very popular annual event is on track to sell out again this year.

Angela Kuchma with Boobie Nights says tickets are going fast for the annual fundraiser supporting the Lake of the Woods District Hospital Foundation.

This years Boobie Nights slogan is "proudly supporting second base."

Tickets are on sale for 20-dollars and can be found at Century 21, Keric Funk Salon, Ho-Joe's, and The Lake of the Woods District Hospital Foundation.

Gas Prices Jump Again

Its going to cost a bit more to fill up your tank this morning.

The price at the pump is up about five cents a liter.

Gas prices jumped from 123.9 cents to 128.9 in the
last 24 hours at most service stations in Kenora.

According to Gasbuddy.com, that's near the average to
the rest of the province.

The average price in Ontario is currently 1.28 a liter.

Beaver Brae Prepares for Influx of Grade 7 and 8 Students

Parents can expect a smooth transition when Beaver Brae opens its doors to grade seven and eight students next year.

Clinton Bruetsch is the principal of the high school and provided trustees with the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board and update of their process to date.

Bruetsch admits some parents have concerns about sending younger kids into a secondary
school environment.

Bruetsch says the grade seven and eight students will be using the upper east academic wing when school
starts in the fall, giving them their own space.

As many as 160 students are expected to be added to Beaver Brae's student population in the fall.

Good Turn-out for Save ELA Forum

Save ELA feels their efforts have been paying off with the government.

Peter Kirby who Organized the forum in Kenora last night says that the government has already shown some willingness to change their stance on the facility.

Kirby says he is hopeful that the government is sincere in their claim to find a new ownership group for the facility.

He adds that the public should continue to pressure their government by continuing to write letters to members of legislature and parliament.

Just over 100 people attended the forum held at Knox United Church.

KPDSB Responds to EFTO Job Action

Its unclear what if any extra-curricular activities will be carried out
at local public elementary schools this spring.

Last week the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario indicated it's
members would not particpate in activities outside the classroom.

Director of Education with the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board
Jack McMaster says that could impact on some activities such as track,
soccer and baseball.

Elementary teachers are upset about the contracts that were imposed on
them by the provincial government at the beginning of the year.