Early morning fire in Keewatin, under control

Kenora Fire & Emergency Services were called to a Keewatin residence on River Street early this morning. 

The call came in around 4:30 a.m., and Deputy Fire Chief Dave Pratt says the fire was under control quickly with a fast response from his team. 

"We got a call for smoke in the basement—a family of at least four people. We did find, I believe, a fire in the furnace room. The fire has been knocked down.  And we've done a primary search to make sure no one else was in the structure," he says. 

New technologies to improve snow clearing on Highway 11, 17

Kenora – Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford says the government's new safety improvements for Highway 11 and Highway 17 will help to save the lives of northwestern Ontarians each winter.

The Ministry of Transportation says after a technical review of safety and snow-clearing on Highway 11 and 17, they will be implementing a new ‘ON Trans-Canada’ service level with snow expected to be cleared to bare pavement within 12 hours of a snowstorm.

Wunnumin Lake FN calling for fair boil water compensation

Leadership with the Nishnawbe Aski Nation is fighting to ensure fair compensation for all members of Wunnumin Lake First Nation, not just a select few.

NAN, who represents 49 First Nation communities in the far north, is joining the Chief and Council of Wunnumin Lake who are calling on the federal government to ensure that all members of the community receive compensation from a recent boil water advisory settlement with Ottawa.

Third youth charged with murder in Dryden cold case

A third youth who cannot be named under Canada’s Youth Criminal Justice Act is facing charges of first-degree murder related to the death of Henry Stone-Arnold in 2018.

Stone-Arnold of Dryden was reported missing on August 10, 2018, and was last seen alive at the Husky Gas Bar on August 8. His white Dodge Ram was found abandoned at a local business the following day.

Nov. 24 Sports Update

The U18 ‘AAA’ Kenora Thistles fell 5-1 last night to the Winnipeg Thrashers at the Kenora Rec Centre.

Brandon Gustafson, playing in his first game since October 8th, scored the lone marker for the Thistles.

“It felt good being on the ice with the boys. Burying one tonight felt good to get that off of my back and to play some hockey. It’s good to be back,” he said, after the game.

Festival of Lights now taking orders for Ice Candles

The 24th Annual Ice Candle Festival of Lights is coming up this holiday season and candles are now available for order! 

Candles are $8.00 for pick-up, which includes the wax, or $10.00 to be placed and lit for you. You can also Adopt a Veteran's Grave. For $10.00 your ice candle is placed and lit at one of our World War I or World War II veterans' graves. $2.00 from the purchase of each ice candle is donated to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #12 Kenora.

The deadline to order your ice candles for the Festival of Lights is Friday, December 2.

Canadian-Israeli teen killed in Jerusalem attack while on his way to seminary

A rabbi with a seminary in Jerusalem has identified a 16-year-old Canadian-Israeli student as a person killed in one of two blasts that went off near bus stops in the city. 

Rabbi Refaen Rockmill said Aryeh Shechopek was a very special student who is being mourned by his peers. 

"He was always smiling. Everyone loved him. Loved him. And he loved everyone else," Rockmill said Wednesday.

"He always did everything to try his best, and in getting on with life, and doing the right things and trying his best to be a good person."

Red Lake to design new Events Centre, 500-seat Arena

The Municipality of Red Lake is looking to build a new Red Lake Events Centre and 500-seat arena thanks to the support from the provincial government.

Kenora - Rainy River MPP, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister of Northern Development, Greg Rickford, announced that Red Lake will see $369,550 to hire engineers to produce technical drawings of the proposed facility.