Dryden

"Freedom Convoy" organizer Tamara Lich insists she was never directly told to leave Ottawa last winter when protesters in hundreds of vehicles blocked streets around Parliament Hill as they called for an end to COVID-19 mandates, even after the Emergencies Act was invoked.

During cross-examination Friday, Lich told the Public Order Emergency Commission that when police told protesters in a mid-February meeting to depart, she took it as a suggestion.

She and other organizers had testified on Thursday that police did not tell them to leave the city.

Kenora – Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford says the Ontario government was ‘left with no choice’ but to introduce back-to-work legislation for the over 50,000 education workers taking strike action across the province.

“First of all, I want to acknowledge the important role that these education workers provide in our classrooms and in our schools. But, for us, this is just about keeping kids in class,” said Rickford, in an interview with Q104, KenoraOnline and DrydenNow.

A 26-year-old Ear Falls man is facing a few charges after being found in possession of a number of controlled substances after a traffic stop on Friday.

The Dryden OPP says on November 4 at about 10 a.m., officers conducted a traffic stop on Casimir Avenue in Dryden and found an occupant of the vehicle to be in possession of controlled substances.

The OPP’s investigation resulted in the arrest of one person and the seizure of methamphetamine, cocaine, hydromorphone, morphine, Canadian currency and items associated with drug trafficking.

Drivers in Dryden will see some delays on Duke Street today.

The City of Dryden is warning drivers that Duke Street, from Hearst Avenue to Memorial Avenue, is closed to all traffic today until 7 p.m., as crews work on repairs to the water distribution system.

The overpass will remain open and accessible from Memorial Avenue.

Public Works apologizes for the inconvenience and thanks the public for their cooperation. Anyone with questions or concerns is asked to contact their office at 807-223-2367.

In SIJHL action, the Dryden GM Ice Dogs are on the road to face off against the Bombers for the first time since Sioux Lookout launched the team.

Both the Dogs and Bombers are coming off strong wins, 7-2 each. Ice Dogs sit 2nd in the league at 8-3-0 for 16 points, while the Bombers sit third with 7-4-0. This is the Dog's only game this weekend, but the Bombers will be on the road themselves tomorrow to take on the Kam River Fighting Walleye.

A grandfather from Kenora has finally found some lottery success after 40 years of tickets. Glendon Loranger has won $250,000 on an Instant Scrabble.

A Canadian in Seoul says he's had trouble sleeping since witnessing tens of thousands of people crowding into side streets and alleys in the city's nightclub district on Saturday, a scenario that led to the crushing death of more than 150 people. 

Matthew Clement said he avoided the narrowest streets in Itaewon on Halloween after experiencing dense throngs of people in previous years that made him fear for his life. 

"In the past I've felt overwhelmed. It's terrifying," he said in an interview from Seoul. "It was very difficult to move or even control your movements."

Update: Kenora Catholic schools will close on Friday. 

Mediation between the Ontario government and the Canadian Union of Public Employees has ended without a new deal in sight – and roughly 60,000 education workers from two unions are set to strike on Friday.

As a result, the Ontario government is expected to pass legislation today to force workers to stay on the job. Bill 28, the Keeping Students in Class Act, is set to mandate a new 4-year deal for CUPE members, which leadership rejected earlier this week.

A 30-year-old Dryden resident is facing a few charges after being found in possession of illegal drugs.

On November 1, the Dryden OPP say they executed a search warrant at a King Street residence, finding and seizing suspected amounts of fentanyl and oxycodone, Canadian currency and items associated with drug trafficking.

As a result, 30-year-old Erica Beardy of Dryden has been arrested and charged with:

- Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – opioid,
- Possession of a Schedule I substance – opioid,

Northwestern Ontario had summer-like weather on Wednesday as the region broke a 44-year-old heat record for the day.

Environment Canada Meteorologists say the Kenora Airport recorded a high of 19.4 degrees on November 2, shattering 1978’s record of 16.1 degrees on the same day. The normal high for November 2 is about 2 degrees.

This comes after the Kenora area was just shy of breaking a nearly 70-year-old record on November 1, as temperatures reached a high of 13.3 degrees – below 1958’s record of 15 degrees.