Kenora

UPDATE: 4:20pm - The highway has since reopened. Drivers are advised to proceed with caution if highway travel is necessary. 

Drivers are warned to stay home and off the highways after multiple incidents have been reported on Highway 1. 

Most recently, vehicles are at a stand-still just west of the Manitoba/Ontario border following a crash. 

The Ministry of Transportation says the highway is CLOSED at the MB border - the duration of the closure is unknown at this time. 

The Alberta government is crafting changes to be debated next week to reverse the section of a bill that gives cabinet unfettered power to rewrite laws behind closed doors without legislature approval, the province's premier said Saturday.

Danielle Smith told her Corus radio talk show that her sovereignty bill was never supposed to give cabinet such sweeping authority, adding her government wants to make it clear in law that this is not the case.

“You never get things 100 per cent right all the time,” Smith told her radio listeners.

The Sioux Lookout OPP has confirmed the death of 31-year-old Larhonda Miranda Shingebis, who was the subject of a region-wide search in November.

The OPP says human remains were found in the Sioux Lookout area on November 26, and a post-mortem examination confirmed Larhonda’s identity. There were no indications of foul play.

Shingebis was first reported missing on November 14. The OPP thanks the public for their cooperation and assistance throughout the investigation.

The Dryden OPP says residents can expect an increased police presence in the community as officers investigate a sudden and suspicious death.

Police responded to the report of a deceased female at a Government Street residence on December 1. A post-mortem examination in Toronto is scheduled to determine the cause of death. Police did not reveal their identity.

What started as a quick trip to get the mail, turned into a terrifying drive to Winnipeg, for a 25-year-old Portage woman and her 2-year-old daughter.

On Friday, November 25th, Bailee Scott was at her mailbox on the east-end of Portage when a man approached her vehicle, grasping his chest. She rolled down the window a little and he mentioned "heart attack". She had assumed her doors were locked, but before she knew it, he was in her car.

"He was telling me to drive. I told him I couldn't drive him, I had my daughter with me," says Scott. "He said he didn't care."

Two northwestern Ontario residents are facing charges related to a murder investigation after human remains were found near Northwest Angle #33 First Nation in September.

This comes as the OPP continues to investigate the death of 45-year-old Buifford Cowley of Naotkamegwanning First Nation, also known as Whitefish Bay First Nation.

Cowley was first reported missing from Whitefish Bay on September 4. By September 9, after extensive searches in the area, officers located Cowley’s remains in the Northwest Angle #33 First Nation area. 

It’s been a rough year for many drivers north of the bypass and another road closure can be expected for the foreseeable future.

While it’s been closed to all traffic for a few weeks already, the City of Kenora says a portion of Coker Road, east of Kelly Road, will be closed indefinitely after safety concerns were noticed by city staff earlier this month.

Northwestern Ontario residents are asked to come out and support those in need in the community this weekend with the return of two major fundraising events.

The CP Holiday Train is scheduled to make its way through northwestern Ontario on Saturday, featuring the musical talents of Aysanabee of Sandy Lake First Nation and Tenille Townes.

CP’s schedule says the train will stop in Dryden by 11:30 a.m., Vermilion Bay by 1 p.m. and Kenora by 3:20 p.m, as staff hope to collect as much food and raise as much money as they can for food banks across the country.

Joanne Assin
October 14, 1977 – November 21, 2022

Joanne, a resident of Grassy Narrows First Narrows passed away suddenly on Monday, November 21, 2022

She is survived by her husband Dallas Swain, children Denzil, Julieann, Anton and Americo, her step-children, Sabrina and Devin, her grandchildren Gaagii, Diondre, Mikylo and Lanaya whom she cherished and loved with all her heart.

Leadership with the Central Community Club is taking action to address concerns in the area but they want to clear the air with the City of Kenora.

On November 29, Q104 and KenoraOnline spoke with Kenora resident Bailey Hall after she warned the community about drug use and garbage in the Central area, after a clients’ dog got into the mess over the weekend and needed an emergency visit to the vet. Thankfully, it’s okay.