ELA Saved For The Summer

The immediate future of the Experimental Lakes Area, west of Vermilion Bay looks brighter today. The Harper government and the International Institute for Sustainable Development have signed a Memorandum of Understanding. Kenora MP Greg Rickford says it's a great step forward. Rickford says the provincial government will continue talks with the ISSD.

Mayor Calls Royal Edward Arms A Cesspool

The days are numbered for the Royal Edward Arms apartments on May Street.   Mayor Keith Hobbs says the District Social Services Board will not renew the lease with the city when it expires, and you aren't hearing any complaints from the mayor who calls it a cesspool which will cost 10 million dollars to fix up.   Hobbs says there will be other housing found for the current tenants when in closes by 2015.

Local 10 Mile Runners To Remember Boston

Organizers of the annual 10 Mile Road Race on Victoria Day will pay respects to the Boston Marathon tragedy.   Ralph Hibbert says what form that tribute will take isn't known, and that it's still in the planning stages.   Hibbert says about 1 thousand runners are expected to participate.

Wunnumin Lake Fire Kills Three

Nishnawbe Aski Police are confirming a fatal fire in Wunnumin Lake First Nation 360 km northeast of Sioux Lookout. Sergeant Jackie George says three people are dead following a house fire early yesterday morning. All three are reported to be girls and aged 1, 6 and a 21 year old woman. Officials say the community of roughly 600-people is devastated.

CBSA Releases Border Stats

Canada Border Service Agents are being kept busy at the Pigeon River border crossing.  Last month a US resident tried to enter Canada and was referred to immigration where they discovered the traveler had been convicted for delivering LSD in the States.  She was turned away and returned to the US.  Meanwhile, in the Spring, two US residents crossing the border claimed they didn't have any firearms or weapons in their vehicle. Upon further examination it turned out they had a .38 calibre handgun in the centre console of the vehicle.  The driver was charged for failing to report his handgun to agents and paid fines over 3-thousand dollars.

Highway 593 Open

The Ministry of Transportation has crews working on Highway 593 today after water flooded the highway near the Highway 588 intersection.  The water has receded.  Highway 593, 7.8 km south of Highway 588 has now been re-opened to traffic in both directions.

Campbell Raises ELA Issue

The government may have said it will save the Experimental Lakes Area but the fight is continuing.  Speaking in the Legislature, Kenora Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell said that the Ontario government has failed to re-open the facility.  In response, Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Laurel Broten says the ELA remains in control of the federal government and work on a deal is continuing to re-open the facility.

Treaty Three Vote To Be In PSAC

The Public Service Alliance of Canada is looking after the Treaty Three Police Service.  PSAC Regional Vice President Sharon DeSousa says majority of employees have voted YES to union protection.  DeSousa says the service still wants to fall under Provincial Jurisdiction, instead of Federal and number of issues will be resolved once the jurisdictional challenge has been rolled on.

Careful With That Axe...

A Dryden man's quest has resulted in some trouble with the law.  City Police were contacted on Monday regarding a man, who appeared to be drunk, wandering around Wilson's Trailer Park carrying a long handled axe.  Police arrived, and say that the man told officers he was looking for someone and was " going to chop them up into little bits".  As a result, police have charged 24-year-old Richard Halverson with uttering threats to cause bodily harm.

Rickford Reacting To NDP MPP

The MP for Kenora is reacting to comments made by MPP Gilles Bisson that both levels of government need to start thinking about relocating some First Nations communities in the far north because of annual spring flooding.  Greg Rickford says moving some communities would be part of a long term plan.  Rickford says the feds are currently helping impacted communities by investing in significant building and residential upgrades.

More Pigeon River Border Tales

A recent report from the Canada Border Service Agency tells of how two Canadian Residents picking up packages in the United States were left with a hefty fine.  The traveller was told to go into the office and pay the duty and taxes on their parcels when they told the border agents they didn't have their receipts and they would go to their car to look up the details on their cell phone.   Instead of returning to the office they ran away without paying.  OPP caught up to the man and as a result he was charged a thousand dollars on top of the taxes and duty on his goods.