NWHU Hosts Do One Thing Conference

The Northwestern Health Conference is set to hold it's first ever major health conference.

The Do One Thing Conference begins tomorrow under the Whitecap Pavilion.

Event Manager Mike Greaves says over 300 people are scheduled to attend.

Greaves notes attendees include health professionals, schools, and non-profit organizations.

The Do One Thing Conference runs from tomorrow afternoon through Wednesday.

It also features an evening event with Rant specialist Rick Mercer.

for more details and to purchase tickets visit www.doonethingconference.ca.

Wynne/Horwath Duke It Out in Northern Debate

Energy, the Ring of Fire, police costs and social services.

Those were just some of the issues covered in the Northern Leaders Debate today in Thunder Bay.

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield asked about improving supports for social services and NDP Leader Andrea Horwath agreed that more needs to be done for people on social assistance in this region.

For her part, premier Kathleen Wynne pledged to maintain ministries that are important to northern Ontario such as Aboriginal Affairs, Natural Resources and Northern Development and Mines.

Conservative leader Tim Hudak was a no-show, campaigning in southern Ontario instead.

Former Kenora Resident Tagged to Be Ice Dogs Bench Boss

Kenora's Kurt Walsten is the new Head Coach of the Dryden Ice Dogs.

Walsten has plenty of coaching experience in junior hockey and was an assistant in Drumheller, Alberta last season in the AJHL.

While he is originally from Kenora Walsten has also been Coach and GM of the Sioux Lookout Flyers in 2011 and has experience in the BCJHL, the MJAHL and MJHL.

Brian Bates is the new General Manager and he hopes to strike a nice balance this year.

Walsten and Bates both say this years team will be held accountable and will be highly visible in the community.

Another Break-In Reported

The OPP are investigating yet another incident of someone getting caught breaking into a home in  the south end of town.

Police say a resident in the South Park sub-division woke around 4:00 in the morning to find unknown individual in their house.

The suspect fled the scene.

The incident took place three days before a similar incident in the Lakeside area.

This time, the suspect is described as being a large male, with jeans rolled up to his knees, wearing
a red hoodie and baseball hat.

The OPP say they don't know if the incidents are connected.

Hot Weather Over the Weekend, but No Records

Close but no cigar.

Kenora came close to setting a record warm temperature over the weekend.

On Saturday the thermometer topped out at 29.1 Celcius.

That was just shy of the previous record of 29.4 set in 1972.

Fort Frances did set a record hitting 30.7, breaking the previous record set
in 1980 of 30.5.

Two People Dead In Fatal Accident Near Eagle River

Two people are dead following a two vehicle collision near Eagle River.

The crash occurred around 7 o'clock yesterday morning on Highway 17.

Provincial Police say a westbound vehicle collided with an eastbound transport.

Both the male driver and male passenger of the vehicle died.

The driver and passenger of the transport weren't injured even though their vehicle went off the road into a body of water.

Police are investigating and no charges have been laid.

A post-mortem exam is being conducted today at Lake of the Woods District Hospital.

Northern Leaders Debate Today

Two of Ontario's top political leaders square off in an election debate in the city today.

The NDP's Andrea Horwath and Kathleen Wynne of the Liberals will be answering questions on northern Ontario issues when
they face each other in the lunch hour debate at the Valhalla Inn.

PC leader Tim Hudak could not make it because of a scheduling conflict.  

Hudak instead will be spending the day in Peterborough and a couple of stops in the Toronto area.

Liberals Release Election Platform in Thunder Bay

The provincial Liberals have released their election platform.

Premier Kathleen Wynne was in Thunder Bay yesterday afternoon to present the platform.

Added to their new plan is one billion dollars in funding for the Ring of Fire, regardless of federal government involvement.

Wynne says the Ring of Fire is important to the north.

The Premier also discussed road maintenance in the north, adding that twinning the highway between Thunder Bay and Nipigon is a priority.

Canfield Says Operational Review Long Overdue

An operational review is coming for the City of Kenora.

Council this week passed a resolution to send out a request for proposals.

Mayor Dave Canfield says the review will set a good benchmark for the city.

The last review was performed in 2000 and Canfield notes changes in the municipal organization have occurred since that time.

It's expected the review will be carried out this summer.

Clothing Drive For Kasechewan Evacuees

A clothing drive is being held for the almost 600 Kashechewan First Nation evacuees.

The evacuees could be staying in Thunder Bay for much longer than originally thought.

They've already been here for three weeks and officials aren't sure when they'll be able to head back to their community because of flooding in the James Bay.

The Nishinawbe Aski Nation is working with a number of agencies to collect clothing and toiletries.

They'll also accept books, toys, and pens, pencils and paper.

GPS Unit Helps American Man on Rainy Lake

A distress call though a GPS satellite is being credited with helping a Minnesota man receive emergency help.

OPP were notified of the distress call Friday.

Using the coordinates, police were able to locate the man at this lake only access cabin in the northwest arm of Rainy Lake where he was found to have suffered a leg injury and needed assistance.

Police were able to help the man return home.

His injury did not require urgent emergency medical attention from police or ambulance personnel.

Mid-Air Fight Arrests Made

A fight in the air has resulted in charges against three people.

Nishnawbe-Aski Police in Attawapiskat received a complaint about a fight taking place on board an aircraft in flight.

The incident occurred on Air Tindi Flight 803.

27-year-old Cindy Okimaw of Attawapiskat faces one count of endangering safety of aircraft.

Two youth face similar charges as well as assault.

Two Derailments Under Investigation in NWO

Two train derailments over the weekend in the region.

A train left the CP rail tracks near Dinorwic on Friday afternoon.

The incident was minor and no one was injured.

The Transportation Safety Board is investigating a derailment, east of Fort Frances.

A team of investigators was deployed after 35-five cars left the CN rail track Friday afternoon, just east of the level crossing on Highway 11-71 in the township of Alberton.

It's reported that two of the cars contained dangerous goods, but nothing spilled.

A small grass fire also broke out, but was quickly extinguished.

No one was injured.

NorWOSSA Soccer Championships Start Today in Red Lake

NorWOSSA play-offs will take place on two fronts over the next three days.

The Single "a" championships are being hosted in Red Lake starting this
morning.

The Thomas Aquinas boys and girls teams have semi-final games against
the host Rams.

The Saints boys play at 10:00 with the T.A. girls on the pitch at noon.

The winner of those semis will face either Sioux Lookout or Rainy River in
tomorrow's finals.

Beaver Brae will host the Double "a" championships on Wednesday at the Tom Nabb
Soccer Complex.

Sharks Sharp in Thunder Bay

The Kenora Sharks got along just swimmingly in Thunder Bay over the
weekend.

Several members of the local swim club brought back medals from the
SunLife Grand Prix swim meet put on the by Thunder Bay Thunderbolts.

Natalie Peterson led the way with three gold medals, while Emilia Mastromateo
collected a pair of gold.

It was a clean sweep for the Sharks in the 10 year old girls 200 meter freestyle, with
Alexis Fromme taking gold, Mastromateo silver and Amelia Illman bronze.

12 year old JC Dragasyk won a gold, silver and a bronze.

It was also a Sharks sweep in the12 and under 200 meter breast stroke with Gabe Mastromateo winning gold, Dragasyk silver.

Beaver Brae Crowns Master Chef

It's Master Chef Beaver Brae style.

Former student Mike Green who competed on the national tv show is at the school to judge the local competition.

Green says he has some tough criteria for the dishes.

Lucas Brown won the competition with a Pan Fried Chicken with Havarti Cheese and Sauteed Mushrooms paired with a Bacon Gnocchi and Vegetable medley.

Water Levels Continue Rise

Lots of white water at the Norman Dam in Kenora these days.

The Lake of the Woods Control Board has authorized yet another increase in
outflow to combat rising water levels.

Executive Engineer says what they haven't seen this much rain in 20 years.

Water levels on Lake of the Woods have risen about six inches in the past week, and
are expected to rise another four to five inches in the coming week.

Council Concerned About Future of Land Titles Office

Kenora city council is joining a growing chorus of communities battling to keep their land titles offices open.

Council has passed a resolution asking the provincial government to maintain the Kenora Land
Registry office.

In the provincial budget two years ago, the province drafted legislation that would see land title
seaches centralized out of Thunder Bay.

Council says while much of the information may be available on-line, many people in the Kenora
area don't ahve access to high speed internet services and title searching service may not be
available to them.

Other critics worry about increased costs to homeowners and delays in getting the information.

Kenora council says it's circulating the resolution to all law offices, surveyors and municipalities
in the district.

Catholic Board Looks To Fill Vacancies

The Kenora Catholic District School Board is going to have to fill a few more vacancies this summer.

The board has received a total of four retirement requests in the past month.

Director of Education, Phylis Eikre says the don't expect any problems filling the positions.

She says two teachers, a janitor/education assistant and payroll clerk have all submitted their
resignations for the purpose of retirement

The board is also projecting a slight increase in enrolment next year, but Eikre says they don't know if
that will require any increase in staffing at this point.

Kinew Interested In National Chiefs Job?

An emergency meeting will be held for First Nations chiefs from across the country, next week.

The major topic of the meeting will be the viability of the Assembly of First Nations, whose divisions were surprised by the resignation of leader Shawn Atleo.

The meeting will take place in Ottawa on May 27.

One of the people reportedly interested in the national chief's job is Wab Kinew from the Onigaming First Nation, but currently works in Winnipeg.