Dryden

One Kenora resident is asking boaters to use caution when driving in areas with flooded shorelines.  

The region has experienced historic flooding this year and as a result, many shoreline property owners have taken to creating protective walls made out of sandbags to try and combat the rising water levels.  

The Lake of the Woods Women's Walleye, Lynda Richardson Memorial tournament has wrapped up for another year.  

Teams took to the waters on Saturday where some teams had the option of entering the tournament with or without a driver.

Women Only:

#1 - Cheryl Wishart & Gabrielle Wishart (Top 3 Fish Total - 67.50")

PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE, MB & WINNIPEG, MB

#2 -Tracy McDonald & Jackie McAllister (Top 3 Fish Total - 64.25")

KEEWATIN, ON

#3 - Heather MacMurphy & Donna Mills (Top 3 Fish Total - 60.75")

Canadian Blood Services says it is struggling to replenish a critically low national supply caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The organization says the virus that has persisted since March 2020 has resulted in the smallest donor base in a decade.

"The number of people across Canada who donate regularly has decreased by 31,000 donors since the start of the pandemic, which has put a strain on the existing donor community," said Rick Prinzen, chief supply chain officer and vice-president of donor relations for Canadian Blood Services.

— Update —

Highway 71 has reopened.

— Original Story —

Highway 71, five kilometres south of the Highway 17 junction, is closed in both directions due to a forest fire.

The Ministry of Transportation says, “Hwy 71 is currently closed at Isabelle Lake, 5km south of hwy 17 junction, due to a forest fire. Duration of closure is expected to be short.”

At the time of publishing, it’s unclear when the highway will reopen or how big the fire is.

The Treaty Three Police Service welcomes two cadets to their service as part of a pilot projects at their South Detachment.

Ericka Heil and Joel Ottertail, members of Lac La Croix First Nation, have been invited to take part in the project, which allows for mentoring and development of Indigenous and under-represented candidates to better support T3PS in diversification endeavours.

Both Heil and Ottertail are graduates from the Northern Ontario Cadet Program at the Provincial Police Academy. The cadets will perform public service duties and assist T3PS officers.

The Ministry of Labour, Skills and Training Development is investigating the circumstances between two workers suffering serious injuries on June 3 at Kenora’s Weyerhaeuser Mill.

Spokesperson Kalem McSween says the Ministry received a report of the injury on June 3, after two workers received non-critical injuries while inspecting a piece of equipment at the mill. The two workers later received medical treatment at the Lake of the Woods District Hospital.

Transport Minister Omar Alghabra has announced that the government will pause all mandatory random COVID-19 tests at Canada's airports for vaccinated travellers from Saturday until the end of the month.

For now, unvaccinated travellers will still be tested at airports, but the government plans to move that testing off-site next month.

The government previously said current public health measures would remain in place until the end of June, but has been facing mounting pressure from industry and opposition to improve the chaotic situation playing out in Canada's airports.

Many Ontarians may have forgotten that mask requirements are still in effect in certain areas of the province, but Ontario’s top doctor says almost all remaining mask mandates will be ending as of midnight tomorrow. 

Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kieran Moore, has confirmed that mask requirements in high-risk public settings like healthcare settings, shelters, public transit and jails will expire as of 12 a.m. June 11.

The region saw another gas price increase overnight. 

Some Kenora gas stations quietly increased their prices again, just four days after the last jump. 

Gas prices in Kenora have once again reached a new record, 215.9 per litre of regular fuel.  

Gas prices have now increased by 13 cents since June 1, 2022.  

In Kenora baseball action, The Devils took out the powerhouse Northern Harbour by a tight score of 19 to 17.

The TA Saints are celebrating taking two gold medals at home this week in soccer action. At the NorWOSSA Championships, the Saints girls and boys teams both defeated the Rainy River Owls to win gold in the finals. The final scores were 5-1 for the girls, and a staggering 14-0 for the boys.