OPP Cigarette Seizure

Two Alberta residents have been arrested after a large quantity of contraband cigarettes were seized during a traffic stop on Highway 17-A.

The OPP say they pulled over a vehicle on the Kenora By-Pass Wednesday afternoon around 3:00.

Following a brief investigation, officers found about 400 thousand illegal cigarettes, 52 grams of marijuana and a large quantity of Canadian Currency.

Police say the equivalent of 50 cases of cigarettes were seized.

58 year old Homer Doucet and 45 year old Carnelia Doucet have been charged with possession of narcotics and possession of contraband cigarettes.

Ontario Budget

Lots of goodies for northern Ontario in yesterday's provincial budget.

Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle saysan energy rebate and credit program will help both residential consumers and industrial users.

Gravelle says the budget also pledges another 10 million dollars for the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund this year, boosting spendingto 90 million dollars.

Water Quality LOW

Municipalities around Lake of the Woods are being asked to support a project designed to improve water quality.

A number of first nation communities have banded together to launch the Water Quality Improvement Program.

Ryan Haines is helping to spearhead the project and says they not only want to monitor water quality, but ultimately take action to improve the situation.

Haines says they are in the process of securing funding for the project.

Kenora City Council is being asked to contribute 10 thousand dollars starting next year.

Weather Records Kenora

Kenora is expected to break weather records next week.

Environment Canada Spokesperson Geoff Coulson says temperatures are expected to rise this weekend and continue into the work week.

Temperatures could reach 12 degrees on Tuesday.

Coulson adds we've had less snowfall than normal as well with only 2 centimeters falling to date.