Thursday, June 16, 2011

OPP Release the Names of the deceased in Upsala Collision

The OPP have released the names of three people killed in a collision on Highway 17 just east of Upsala.

The accident took place just after 6:00 Sunday evening and claimed the lives of three Geralton residents.

The deceased have been identified as 20 year old Rick Oulett, 18 year old Tammy Lefebvre and 11 month old Bailee Lefebvre.

The OPP say their vehicle crossed the center line and collided with a semi  tractor-trailor unit.

The driver of the transport was not injured.

Lake of the Woods Task Force Holds final meeting in Kenora

Local residents will get one final chance to comment on a final draft report by an International Task Force for the Rainy River and Lake of the Woods watershed,

The public meeting will take place at the Best Western Lakeside Inn this evening at 7:00.

The last chance to submit comments is June 24th.

The final draft has to be submitted to the International Joint Commission by July 15th.

Meetings have already taken place this week in Atikokan, Fort Frances and Baudette.

Economic Development Commission Behind Abitibi CIP

The Lake of the Woods Economic Development Commission is throwing its support behind a Community Improvement Plan for the former Abitibi lands in Kenora.

Thelma Wilkens-Page chairs the business development and attraction committee and says the tax incentives proposed by the city are a good first step towards filling up the vacant industrial property.

Wilkens-Page says she also likes the idea of developing one main entrance for the former mill property.

The CIP is expected to be approved by council this Monday.

Mixed Results for local students in OSSLT

The Grade 10 literacy test results for area Schools are out.

Students wrote the test back in March.

Jack McMaster is the Director of Education for the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board and says he's pleased with the results.

67 percent of Beaver Brae students who wrote the literacy test were  successful, compared to the provincial average of 83 percent.

At Thomas Aquinas, the pass rate was 90 percent.

MNR Bringing Fire Crews Back Home

Forest fighting efforts in Western Canada for the Ministry of Natural Resources are being scaled back.

Because of an increasing fire hazard here at home, a planned dispatch of fire rangers to Alberta this week has been cancelled.

The MNR adds when the remaining 374 Ontario fire staff return from Alberta, they will not be replaced.

There are 10-active fires in the District including a fire that's been burning on an island on Lake of the Woods since the weekend.

The hazard is high to extreme across Northwestern Ontario.

Con College's new President getting to take over

Confederation College will have a new President starting Canada Day.

Jim Madder says it's important for him to speak with staff and students.

Madder is currently the Vice President of Alberta's Red Deer College.

Council seeks support from the NOHFC for Harborfront Tent

The City of Kenora isn't giving up its fight to secure funding for the new Harborfront Tent.

Council says it will be appealing a decision by the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund not to provide any money for the tent.

Council says it wants at least 800 thousand dollars from the Heritage Fund, which is about 50 percent of the cost.

Councillor Ron Lunny says because the tent is more of a permanent structure, he's hoping that will change they way the NOHFC looks at their application.

Beach Boys play sold out concert

The Beach Boys played to a sold out crowd on the Kenora Harborfront last night.

Over 15 hundred people attended the concert, which was the first event planned and
organized by Tourism Kenora.

The concert sold out in a matter of days after tickets went on sale last fall.