Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Northwoods Radio expands

Northwoods Broadcasting is officialy welcoming two new members to its family.

The owners of CJRL have received CRTC approval to puchase two FM stations in Thunder Bay.

The sale of the Newcap assets is expected to close within the next 30-days.

Magic 99.9 and the Giant will join existing stations in Kenora, Dryden, Fort Frances, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

Beaver Brae Girls Hockey

The Beaver Brae Girls Hockey team defeated the Sioux Lookout Warriors last night.

The final score was 9 nothing for the Broncos.

Their next game is being held in the Keewatin arena on Friday at 2 o'clock against the Red Lake Rams.

Kenora Budget

The City of Kenora is about midway through its capital budget processfor next next year.

Council met for a couple hours last night to go over priority spending areas for 2010.

Councillor Rory McMillan says the city is already committed to a numberof infrastructure projects that the federal and provincial governmentshave provided funding for.

One of the projects council is looking to move forward with is therehabilitation of the bridge over the west arm of the Winnipeg River.

That project will cost between 6.6 and seven million dollars.

Greyhound Service Still Up in the Air

The fate of Greyhound service in Northwestern Ontario is up in the air.

The Ontario Highway Transport Board's 90 day deadline ends Wednesday at midnight; after that date Greyhound Canada is free to pull out of the region if it wishes.

Kenora Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton feels confident bus service will be available going west from Dryden, thanks to the Manitoba Government's deal with the company.

Hampton says the McGuinty Government hasn't stated if they are in talks with the provider to continue service east of Dryden.

Church Congregations Down

Northwestern Ontario churches are feeling the pinch with smaller congregations and an aging population.

Elaine Sauer is the Bishop for Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario's Evangelical Lutheran Church, and says many youth are moving away from their small communities.

Sauer notes the Fort Frances Lutheran Zion church is actually fairing well during the economy's recession and has a strong congregation with a mix of young and old members.

Green Party Ontario

The new leader of the Green Party in Ontario is getting prepared for the next provincial election.

Mike Schreiner is planning to tour the province to promote the party's platform and search for candidates for 2011.

Schreiner adds Northern Ontario will play an important part as the party works to gain its first seat at Queen's Park.