Dryden

The Kenora District Services Board is working on a proposal for a dormitory at the Seven Generations Campus in Kenora.

Henry Wall is the CAO of the KDSB and says housing is one of the biggest needs for students wanting to do their post-secondary schooling.

“We’re partnering with Seven Generations Education Institute for 67 housing units,” explained Wall in a meeting with Ontario’s finance committee earlier this month.

Two members of the U15 AA Kenora Thistles will be off to the Ottawa area next month to represent the region!

Kenora’s Nathan Oglive and Jaden Van Walleghem have been named to the Northwest Explorers roster to represent Hockey Northwestern Ontario at the Ontario Winter Games between February 3 and 6th in Renfrew County.

Barry Baltessen is back as chair of the Kenora District Services Board.

The new board met last week for their first meeting of 2023.

Joining Baltessen on the executive is Mark Sobchuk as vice-chair.

Sobchuk is representing Lac Seul.

Some of the new members of the board are Dryden Mayor Jack Harrison, Ignace Mayor Bill Gascon, Pickle Lake Mayor James Dalzell and the Mayor of Machin Gordon Griffiths.

Laurie Huffman is representing the Oxdrift Unincorporated area.

The Bank of Canada raised its key interest rate Wednesday by 25 basis points to 4.5 per cent.

It is the eighth consecutive increase as the central bank tries to grapple with high inflation.

However, the Bank of Canada suggests hikes could be done for now if projections hold steady.

First Nations in the area now have access to a Geoportal.

Grand Council #3 has launched the portal to gather, store and share data from indigenous communities in the region.

With the Geoportal, first nations can find out what kind of resource activities are going on in the region, as well as economic opportunities, sharing knowledge and teachings and protecting sacred sites in the Treaty #3 Territory.

Grand Chief Francis Kavanaugh says it’s an important step for Indigenous communities in their territory.

Members of your Dryden GM Ice Dogs will be hard at work over the next couple of weeks – both on the ice and in the kitchen.

The Ice Dogs have announced their new Icing on the Puck fundraising campaign, just in time for Valentine’s Day.

A 34-year-old Sioux Lookout resident is facing sexual assault charges after a week-long investigation.

The OPP says the investigation into an allegation of sexual assault that occurred in Sioux Lookout began on January 18, and as a result, one resident was arrested.

34-year-old Andrew James (AJ) Schardt of Sioux Lookout was charged with Sexual Assault and has been released from custody. He’s set to appear in Sioux Lookout courts on February 28.

We are closer to Armaggedon than ever before.

That is the feeling of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, who have moved the Doomsday Clock up to 90 seconds to midnight.

Spokesperson Steve Fetter says Russia’s invasion of Ukraine increases the chance that nuclear weapons could be used.

“As careful as the US and NATO might be, the possibility of nuclear use cannot be discounted,” Fetter said at the unveiling of the Doomsday Clock.

“Accidents, mistakes, or miscalculations could lead to unintended escalation.”

The Kenora OPP is seeking the public’s help in identifying the suspects involved in a break-in at a camp on Coney Island.

Police were told about the break-in on Sunday and a video was obtained by officers.

The OPP says are looking for two men with masks who broke into the cottage.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Kenora OPP at 1-888-310-1122, or 807-548-5534.

Nothing in writing, but the mayors of Kenora, Sioux Lookout and Pickle Lake feel they are getting closer to a deal on policing with the
province.

The three municipalities formed a coalition of police cost last April.

Mayor Andrew Poirier says they had productive meetings with the Solicitor General Michael Kerzner, on Monday.