Kenora

"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.

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.

The Kenora Christmas Tree has been found and the City of Kenora and Harbourtown Biz invites residents to the 91st Annual Main Street Christmas Tree Lighting. 

The event will take place on Friday, November 18 from 5:30-6:30pm on the corner of Main Street and Second Avenue south. Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive in the Treaty Three Police Sleigh around 5:45pm, where families can get their pictures taken while enjoying snacks and Christmas music. 

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."

Kyle Connor knew he'd finally score on a goalie this season and it came at a great time.

Connor scored 1:45 into overtime to give the Winnipeg Jets a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday.

His low shot past Sam Montembeault was his first goal on a netminder this season. He had an empty-net goal in Winnipeg's season opener.

“We’ve got such a good group, and build each other up in situations where guys are dealing with that,” said Connor, who scored a team-high 47 goals last season.

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,