Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Truck Fire

The OPP says a tractor-trailor unit sustained extensive damage after catching fire while driving between Kenora and Vermillion Bay.

The incident took place last Thursday about 20 kilometers west of Vermillion Bay.

Police say when officers and personnel from the Machin Volunteer Fire Department showed up at the scene, the cab was completely engulfed in flames.

The trailor itself sustained only minimal damage.

No-one was injured and foul play is not suspected in the incident.

The OPP say the Trans-Canada was closed for about an hour while fire fighters worked to extinguish the blaze.

Treaty Three Forestry

Grand Council Treaty #3 says it needs to be consulted before any new forestry management deals are made in northwestern Ontario.

Treaty Three Grand Chief, Diane Kelly says the Ministry of Natural Resources is not listending to the owners of the forest.

She says traditional governments in this region pre-date the Province of Ontario and the Government of Canada, and maintains they have the right to authorize development.

Kelly says she supports efforts by individual communities to define their economic interests in the region, but the decision maker is Grand Council Treaty #3.

Chiefs from Treaty Three have been meeting on the Rat Portage First Nation over issues ofresource benefit sharing.

Hampton Prorogation

Now that the Federal Government is getting back to work, the Provincial government will be taking a couple of days off.

Premier McGuinty plans to prorogue parliment this Thursday.

Kenora Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton says not much work will get done this week.

The Provincial Legislature will be shut down for four days and will return with a throne speech on Monday, March 8th.

American Passports Cost More

More bad news for Northwestern Ontario's tourism industry.

The US State Department is planning to hike passport fees by as much as 35 per cent.

Ontario's Sunset Country Executive Director Gerry Cariou says the move could have an impact on bookings this summer.

Cariou says families of five will not be able to afford a more expensive passport, on top of higher gas prices and increased taxes on accomodation.

Violent Weekend Kenora

A violent weekend in Kenora, with police investigating at least three assaults.

In two of the incidents, OPP officers were also attacked.

On Saturday, police were called to a fight on 1st Street South.

While officers were investigating, they were confronted by a man, who tried to obstruct them.

The suspect became agitated and pulled a knife on the officers.

He was disarmed, but then tried to attack police with a broken bottle.

He then barricaded himself in a room.

The OPP were finally able to talk the man out and place him under arrest.

Aaron McDonald has been charged with obstructing police, escaping lawful custody, assaulting police and assault with a weapon.

Nice Weather

It appears that March is coming in like a lamb across northwestern Ontario.

Environment Canada meteorologist Geoff Coulsen says the rest of the week will be the nicest we've seen in some time.

Thursday and Friday we can expect a high of 5, while Saturday is promising a high of 7.

Coulsen credits a high pressure system from the west for giving us the unseasonable temperatures.