Ice Roads almost Ready

Ice roads to remote First Nations across northwestern Ontario are beginning to open up to light vehicle traffic.

But the routes over frozen lakes and swamps are still not strong enough to support heavy supply transports and fuel trucks.

At Bearskin Lake First Nation, residents started driving south on the weekend.

That road runs through Muskrat Dam First Nation, with links to Weagamow Lake, Keewaywin, Koocheching and Sachigo Lake First Nations.

The road opening is a little late this year due to the heavy snow the area has received.

Supplies, like wood for building houses, had to be flown in later than usual,
by costly air transportation.

There are almost three-thousand kilometres of ice roads in northern Ontario.

Early Morning Drug bust on the By-Pass

A 28 year old Fort Frances woman has been arrested after being pulled

over on the Kenora By-pass.

Acting on a tip, the officers stopped the vehicle shortly after 3:00 this

morning and discovered about 50 oxycodone pills, with a street value

of about 54 hundred dollars.

Police say the pills were bound for the Big Grassy First Nation and Fort Frances.

Lindsay Copenace has been charged with possession of a narcotic for the

purpose of trafficking.

She's due to appear in Kenora Court on February 28th to answer the charge.

Canfield to appear before Pre-Budget Consultations

The provincial finance committee will likely get an earful when it makes a pit stop

in Thunder Bay.

Tomorrow's pre-budget consultation is the only one taking place in northwestern
Ontario.

Kenora Mayor Dave Canfield will be making a presentation not only on behalf
of the city, but also for the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association.

He's upset with the lack of notice municipalities were given to attend the session.

Canfield says he only has about five minutes to make a presentation on behalf
of the city, and will focus on funding to repair municipal bridges and road, and
the municipal infrastructure deficit.

Sioux Narrows Man fined

A Sioux Narrows man has been fined 800 dollars for failing to attach a tag

to a deer he had killed.

The Ministry of Natural Resources says Conservation Officers came upon
Christopher Frenette in the Maybrun Road area near Sioux Narrows
last month.

He had a white-tailed deer fawn on the rack of the snowmobile he was
riding.

The MNR says even though he had a antlerless game seal for the area,
he failed to attach it.

The deer was forfeited to the crown, and his firearm will be returned once
the fine has been paid.

OPP warn of another Phone Scam

Local residents are being warned about another phone scam that's
been reported in the Kenora area.

The OPP say someone has been calling local homes, saying they work for the local court house

The caller goes on to say they are attempting to clear up minor outstanding fines in the community and they then offer the chance to pay your outstanding fine over the phone by credit card.

Police say often there are no outstanding fines, but some people have been paying without
first checking with the local court house.

The OPP say court offices do not use this method to collect outstanding fines.

Long Form Census Coming

Use your voice and take part in the 2011 long-form census.


That message is being pushed by the Union of Ontario Indians.

Grand Chief Patrick Madahbee says they've struck a deal with Statistics Canada to hire aboriginals to collect the data from area reserves.

The data collected by Stats Canada is then later used by the Provincial and Federal Governments for funding allocations.