OPP Investigate Pickle Lake Fatality

A Thunder Bay man has succumbed to injuries sustained in a single vehicle crash on Umex Mine Road in Pickle Lake.

OPP say the incident occurred on March 16th and involved a  tractor trailer unit, carrying a bulldozer and large metal conatainer.

Police say the tractor trailer unit slid into an intersection and jacknifed while striking a snow bank.

The driver was transported to Thunder Bay Hospital with serious injuries.

Police say the man, 58-year-old Thomas Dufault, was released from Hospital on March 24th, but later died.

Five names expected on Federal Election Ballot

The election ballot could see a couple of more names added on in the Kenora riding in the next few weeks.

At least two more candidates are expected to file nomination papers before the May 2nd federal election.

The Green Party says it has nominated a new candidate.

Mike Schwindt, a teacher from the Poplar Hill First Nation will be carrying that party's colors during the 38 days campaign.

An independant candidate, Kelvin Chicago-Boucher is also talking about entering the election campaign.

St. Louis Tops local schools in Fraser Report

The Fraser Institute is out with its annual report card on Elementary Schools in Ontario, and this year a small school in Keewatin tops the list in this region.

St. Louis had the top mark of 7.6 out of ten.

Michael Thomas is one of the authors of the report and says they compile all the data from the Education, Quality and Accountability tests to come up with results.

Ste. Margarite Bourgeoys was just behind St. Louis at 7.2.

Valleyview had a rating of 5.8, while Pope John Paul was at 5.3 and  King George at 4.6 out of ten.

Hampton Critical of Northwest Jury Crisis

Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. Howard Hampton is putting the blame on the McGuinty government for the jury crisis in the northwest.

The NDP critic says there is no reason a judge had to postpone a jury trial last week because there was not enough Aboriginals on the jury roll

Hampton says the government has been aware of the situation since 2008 and simply has not taken the issue seriously.

OPP in Rainy River Crack down on Drugs

The crackdown on drug trafficking continues in Northwestern Ontario.

Police have released some details surrounding 3-separate investigations in Rainy River and Emo on March 16th.

During the search of two homes, Police seized 34-marihuana plants and 860-grams of dried marihuana.

The street value of the drugs is estimated at nearly 52-thousand dollars and no charges have been laid yet.

In the third case, Police did charge a 57-year-old man after seizing a substancial quantity of money as well as roughly 45-hundred dollars worth of prescription pills.

Nielson wins Dominion Club Playdowns in Kenora

A Fort Frances area team has won the regional Dominion Curling Club Championships in

Kenora.

The Maury Nielson rink from the Stratton Curling Club finished the weekend with a perfect 4-0 record.

Nielson beat the Steve Lundin foursome in the final game of the round robin 8-3 to secure the right to attend the provincial playdowns next week in Sault Ste. Marie.

Lundin and Ted Shesky from Kenora finished in a three way tie for second with a

2-2 record.