Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Sudden Death Update

OPP have released the name of the person who was found dead at a hotel in Kenora last week.

44 year old Stephane Simard of B.C. was travelling with his common law spouse to Quebec for
the Christmas Holidays.

Simard was pronounced dead at the scene and a post mortem exam revealed his death was due to natural causes.

OPP Toxicology Report

A toxicology report is expected to provide more information into the death of a 26 year old in Kenora.

OPP are investigating the death of Sheena Jack on December 21st.

Last Monday, paramedics attended a local residence and later transported Jack to the Lake of
the Woods Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Foul play is not suspected in connection with her death.

Emergency Shelter Funding

Good news for those who use the emergency shelter in the cold winter months, the Provincial Government has decided to provide funding to operate the program at the Fellowship Centre.

The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities reversed their decision to no longer fund the program on December 23rd.

The Province will only fund the emergency shelter for one more year through the Job Creation Partnership Program.

It costs around 123-thousand dollars to operate the shelter 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Municipal Elections October

Kenora Mayor Len Compton is keeping his cards close to his vestregarding his future in municipal politics.

In a year end interview with CJRL news, Compton refused to saywhether he planned to run in the next municipal election.

Nominations forms for the 2010 municipal elections will be availablestarting January 4th.

The elections will be held on October 25th.

Rafferty Year End

Thunder Bay-Rainy River M-P John Rafferty feels the NDP made some gains during the past session at the House of Commons.

M-P's took their Christmas Break Friday and Rafferty says there were some positives.

The House of Commons rose recently for its Christmas break.

Rafferty says there were also some gains in pension reform.

Rainy River Resources Year End

Rainy River Resources will continue its exploration activities in the district next year.

President Raymond Threlkeld says activity this year led to the discovery of some additional gold zones.

Threlkeld says while actual mining is still a few years ago, work has started on an economic impact assessment and a baseline environmental studies.

Beer Store Theft Update

Thunder Bay police are trying to determine if two men charged with driving a Jeep into a Beer Store are responsible for other break-ins at beer and liquor stores using thesame heavy-handed method.

A 30-year-old and a 20-year-old are charged with breaking and entering and possession of stolen property.

What police do know is that a pickup was stolen early on Monday but it broke down so thieves then stole a Jeep.

The Jeep was used to drive through a Beer Store window where up to 10 cases were taken.

Police were already investigating a robbery at an L-C-B-O just before Christmas where thieves smashed through the window with a pickup and stole four 60-ouncers of rum.

Thunder Bay Fraud

Two people charged with defrauding two Thunder Bay companies of more than a quarter million dollars are due in court in February.

Kerry Wirkkunen is charged with fraud, theft, forgery and mischief while Jaye Wirkkunen is charged with fraud and possession of stolen property.

The charges stem from a two-month investigation into fraud at A-B-P Constructors and another company.

Truck Goes Through Ice

A Manitoba motorist ventured off the ice road on Monday and his truck broke through the ice just south of Thompson Island.

The driver and three occupants travelled off the marked path at Hough and Wild Cat Island.

All four occupants exited the vehicle and had to walk a short distance before flagging down another vehicle to drive them to safety.

OPP are reminding motorists to always check ice conditions prior to travelling out on ice.