OPP nab motorist with drugs and radar detector

A reminder that radar warning devices are illegal in Ontario.

The warning follows a traffic stop on the Kenora Bypass on Saturday.

OPP stopped the vehicle after spotting the device and officers found out that the driver had a gram of hash, one marihuana plant and a small quantity of hash oil in his possession.

OPP say 36-year-old David Hargreaves of Edmonton faces charges.

Jury make-up cause for local appeal

Ontario's Highest Court says it will hear arguments about whether the makeup of jury panels is unfair to accused aboriginals.

The Appeal Court put an ruling on hold last week despite having decided a jury was reasonable to have convicted a man of manslaughter in 2008.

Clifford Kokopenace was convicted in Kenora of stabbing his friend Taylor Assin to death in a 2007 fight.

Kokopenace wants to argue the composition of the jury was unfair to him.

NDP to field a couple of candidates for Kenora-Rainy River

There are at least two people planning to seek the NDP nomination in the Kenora-Rainy River Riding.

Kenora lawyer Robert Sinding will be challenged by Sarah Campbell from Oxdrift.

The 29 year old Campbell declared her candidacy moments after Hampton announced he would not seek re-election.

Campbell says she has plently of political experience.

The NDP will be holding nomination meetings in 5-communities starting on August 12th.

The party will officially announce its candidate on the 15th.

Green Party Selects its Candidate

The Green Party has selected its candidate for Kenora-Rainy River.

Jo Jo Holliday of Kenora has been elected.

Holiday was the Green candidate in the 2007 Provincial election.

She also ran unsuccessfully in the 2008 Federal Election for the Green Party in the Kenora Riding

Sandy Lake Evacuees loose their home

Its not what any family wants to come home to.

The family of evacuees from Sandy Lake First Nation that came home to find their house burned to the ground are trying to stay positive during this difficult time.

The family of 4 is staying with their grandparents for the time being, and Chief Adam Fiddler says when all evacuees return home the community will pull together in support of the of the family.

Chief Fiddler says he hopes all evacuees from Sandy Lake First Nation will be returned home later today.

More fires burning across northwestern Ontario

Dry weather and lightning strikes sparked 20 new forest fires in Northwestern Ontario yesterday, bringing the total number of blazes to 140.

Ministry of Natural Resources spokeswoman Stephanie Pagnucco says residents of Sandy Lake and Deer Lake are expected to return to their communities today and tomorrow.

More than two-thousand firefighters, including 586 from out of province, are fighting the blazes, backed by about 100 aircraft.

Busy weekend for Police

The Harborfest weekend proved to be a busy one for the OPP.

Police say they had 72 liquor licence violations, five impaired drivers and handed out five warnings resulting in three day licence suspensions.

In once instance, the OPP were conducting a RIDE check stop on Saturday.

One driver failed to stop for officers, then fled his vehicle on foot.

Police say they were able to identify the driver and arrested him a short time later.

30 year old William Hoard of Kenora has been charged with impaired driving and dangerous driving.

He's due to appear in Kenora Court on September 8th to answer to the charges.

The City and AbitibiBowater reach agreement on Leachate treatment

The City of Kenora has reached a new agreement with AbitibiBowater to deal with the leachate from the old Mud Lake dump site just off Mellick Avenue.

Council held a special meeting last week to finalize the deal.

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield says there was some urgency to get the deal done.

Canfield says the new agreement includes a big increase in the price AbitibiBowater is paying for the treatment of the leachate.

Jones wins a pair of medals at National Swimming Championships

Kenora swimmers brought back a pair of medals from the National Age Group Championships in Montreal over the weekend.

Bryce Jones was one of the busier members of the Kenora Sharks, making the finals of the 50, 100 and 200 meter back stroke alon with the 400 meter individual medley.

Jones won silver in the 200 meter backstroke and a bronze in the 100 meter back.

Michelle Belcaen made the finals of the 50 meter freestyle.

Conor O'Flaherty was the other member of the Sharks who attended the National Championships, and all three swimmers came home with several personal best times.