Kenora

Health Canada says some manufacturers of kids' pain and fever medications are now operating "at double or triple their normal volumes" in an effort to address a months-long shortage. 

Chief medical adviser Dr. Supriya Sharma said in a press briefing Friday the government is working with the industry to address the supply crunch ahead of flu season.

The Northwestern Health Unit has confirmed a new COVID-19 outbreak at Kenora’s Pinecrest Home for the Aged.

Assistant Administrator and Human Resources Manager with Pinecrest, Michelle Spencer, says the outbreak was declared after two positive tests were found in Unit 2.

As a result, visitor guidelines are as follows in Unit 2:

- 1 designated essential caregiver for COVID-19-positive residents,
- 4 designated essential caregivers for the remaining residents,
- No visitors under the age of 18 are allowed,

Emergency responders are on the scene of a large house fire on Pine Portage Bay, near Kenora. 

Residents are asked to keep clear of the area. More information will be released as it becomes available.

Staff with the Lake of the Woods Control Board say water levels on Lake of the Woods near Minaki are set to return to ‘normal’ levels for this time of the year.

This comes as the lake has dropped by about 3 inches over the past week, and two outflow decreases are scheduled for today and Tuesday.

Levels along the Winnipeg River are expected to drop with each flow change by roughly 8” below the Norman Dam and 5” above the Dalles, but staff say levels at Minaki will no longer be affected by the changes and will return to normal levels.

The Dryden GM Ice Dogs are up against the Fort Frances Lakers tonight, in an away game.

The Ice Dogs are 1-4 to start the 2022-2023 season, with their win on October 2 coming against the defending SIJHL-champion Red Lake Miners. Puck drop tonight is set for 7:30 in Fort Frances.

Five Canadian teams will see pre-season action tonight in the NHL.

The Toronto Maple Leafs visit the Detroit Red Wings, the Calgary Flames play host to the Winnipeg Jets, the Oilers welcome the Seattle Kraken to Edmonton and the Vancouver Canucks welcome the Arizona Coyotes.

A member of James Smith Cree Nation was wrongfully accused by RCMP of killing an individual during the stabbing attacks last month in the community and in the nearby village of Weldon, Sask. 

Assistant Commissioner Rhonda Blackmore said evidence shows Damien Sanderson did not kill anyone during the rampage and was killed by his own brother.

Blackmore said Myles Sanderson killed Damien Sanderson and 10 others on Sept. 4. Eighteen people were injured. 

"Myles Sanderson committed all of the homicides alone," Blackmore said Thursday. 

Residents hopefully have a more clear platform from each of the community’s three candidates for the Mayor’s seat after the second All-Candidates Debate in Kenora – as we get ready to elect our 9th Mayor this fall.

Seven Generations Education Institute was host to the debate between 11-year municipal veteran Andrew Poirier, long-time political hopeful David Byers-Kitt and 20-year leader of the Kenora and District Chamber of Commerce, Andy Scribilo – with a meet and greet afterwards.

Policing costs will continue to be a hot-button issue for the next batch of municipal councillors in Kenora.

Regional organizations are partnering together and committing to build new, affordable housing units in First Nation communities across northwestern Ontario – to help address social and economic barriers in the region – including chronic homelessness.

The Kenora District Services Board, Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board and Grand Council Treaty #3 have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work together to improve housing and education programming across the Treaty #3 territory.

Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit says they’ve terminated an investigation into a broken ankle suffered by a 42-year-old man who had been arrested in Kenora, finding no wrongdoing from officers.

Director of the SIU, Joseph Martino, explains in his report that the SIU was contacted about the injuries by the OPP on March 1, after the man was released from custody on February 7.