Dryden

A very wet spring has led to water levels on the Lake of the Woods, Winnipeg River, and numerous creeks and swamps in the area to rise significantly causing flooding concerns and washed out roadways. 

Since April 20, water levels on Lake of the Woods have risen by roughly 25”, while levels on the Winnipeg River have risen by about 67” since early April. The rise in levels has been driven by the area breaking numerous precipitation and snowfall records throughout the winter.

More information is coming to light about the fatal plane crash near Sioux Lookout on April 29 which took the lives of four men – one of them being the second most wanted man in Canada.

Now, officials in British Columbia have confirmed there was a second wanted man among the victims.

The Sioux Lookout OPP reported the private plane’s wreckage was located between Ignace and Sioux Lookout in the Kukukus Lake area at approximately 7:45 a.m. on April 30.

Leadership within the Northwestern Health Unit says that COVID-19 data and trends are staying fairly steady week-to-week, as the province is well into the 6th wave of the virus.

During her bi-weekly conference with regional media members, Medical Officer of Health for the NWHU, Dr. Kit Young Hoon, says hospitalizations have remained somewhat stable recently.

“The number of hospitalizations has not seen a substantial change over the last few weeks, which better represents the impact the virus has on our region and our residents,” says Young Hoon.

British Columbia's anti-gang unit says it's looking into why an international fugitive was on board a plane that crashed in northwestern Ontario and what his relationship was with the other passengers. 

Sgt. Brenda Winpenny of the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit B.C. said Wednesday police will also be looking for any links to B.C. gangs as they review the crash that killed Gene Lahrkamp, 36. 

The Dryden OPP has a suspect in custody following a traffic stop on Boozhoo Avenue within the city on Tuesday (May 3, 2022).

Officers determined that driver of the vehicle had a suspension. Further investigation found the operator to be in possession of a quantity of suspected cocaine. Officers also seized items consistent with drug trafficking and Canadian currency.

As a result of the investigation; 19-year-old Cypress Lawson, of Dryden, has been charged with the following offences:

Drivers in Dryden are asked to avoid the Park Crescent area today.

Park Crescent will be closed to through vehicular traffic on May 5 from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., as crews complete repairs to the area’s wastewater collection system.

Anyone with questions or concerns is asked to contact Public Works at 807-223-2367. Public Works apologizes for the inconvenience, and drivers are reminded to slow down and move over when driving near working crews.

Police in the far north are investigating a suspicious death.

The extremely high water levels on Lake of the Woods have led the Lake of the Woods Control Board (LWCB) to fully open the Norman Dam in Kenora by May 7, 2022.

Lake of the Woods and Winnipeg River water levels will continue to rise until inflow to Lake of the Woods falls below the outflow rate. The rate of rising will depend on rainfall in the coming weeks.

Officials from the LWCB say the lake is expected to rise towards the top of the legislated operating range (323.47 m or 1061.25 ft) by mid-May.

A push from the Bloc Québécois for the House of Commons to confirm the right to an abortion failed Tuesday, as Conservative MPs were warned against commenting on the U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion that has thrown the issue back into the domestic spotlight.

Canadian leaders are among the millions reacting to the news first reported Monday by Politico of a leaked draft opinion by the U.S. top court, suggesting it could overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion countrywide.

Elias Lindholm scored and Jacob Markstrom made 16 saves as the Calgary Flames beat the Dallas Stars 1-0 in the opener of their NHL first-round series. The Flames smothered the Stars in the first period, holding Dallas to just three shots. In other series openers, Pittsburgh edged the Rangers 4-3 in triple overtime, Colorado dumped Nashville 7-2 and Washington beat Florida 4-2.