NOACC wraps up fall meetings

The Northwestern Associated Chambers of Commerce has wrapped up its fall convention in Thunder Bay.

NOACC president Andy Scribilo says their goal is to get business leaders across the region more involved.

As part of the NOACC convention, Scribilo took part as one of the questioners in the northern leaders debate in Thunder Bay.

Police Investigate Cat Lake fatality

Nishnawbe-Aski Police are investigating a sudden death in Cat Lake First Nation, north of Sioux Lookout.

Police were assisting Sunday in the search for 83-year-old Charlie Gray who was overdue from a hunting trip.

Officers located Gray near his boat and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police don't suspect foul play.

An autopsy is scheduled for tomorrow at Lake of the Woods District Hospital.

Public meeting on Snowmobile Corridor tonight

Local residents will get a chance to comment on a new cross-town snowmobile corridor in the city.

An open house is being held this evening at the Operations building on Barsky's Hill.

The city has been working with the Sunset Trail Riders Snowmobile Club on an alterate route that will avoid residential areas, but will still connect the south side of the city to the north side.

The open house will run from 6:30 to 8:00 this evening.

Junior Saints win B-Side of KIVT

Dryden took top honors in the Kenora Invitational Junior Boys volleyball tournament over the weekend at the Beaver Brae and Thomas Aquinas gyms.

The Eagles won the A-Side final, getting by a Fort Frances split squad.

The other Muskies team lost to the Thomas Aquinas Saints in the B-side final Saturday afternoon.

T.A. won in two straight sets.

The Saints are back in action Wednesday when they travel to Whitefish Bay.

Drug bust in Fort Frances

Two residents of Fort Frances face several drug charges.

This after the OPP's Community Drug Action Team seized, from a home on Scott Street, last Thursday, nearly 7-pounds of marijuana, along with oxycodone and hydro-morphine.

Value of the drug seized is estimated at 65-thousand dollars.

33-year-old Kevin House and 27-year-old Laura Wickstrom will appear in court at the end of October.

SIU contacted about a weekend incident

The Ontario Special Investigations Unit has been contacted by the local OPP about an incident in downtown Kenora over the weekend.

Officers were contacted around 9:00 Saturday night to a Main Street South residence about an unwanted visitor.

When police arrived at the scene, there were met by an intoxicated male.

The 32 year old man was asked to leave, but subsequently fell down a flight of stairs.

He had to be transported to hospital by an ambulence.

The SIU must be contacted anytime someone is injured as a result of an encounter with police.

Two youth taken to hospital in ATV accident

Two 14 year old youth have been taken to hospital following a single vehicle accident involving an All Terrain Vehicle on the Kenora By-Pass.

The OPP say an ATV went off the side of the highway near the Airport Road Saturday night around 10:30 and drove into a guard rail.

Both the driver and the passenger were taken to Lake of the Woods District Hospital for treatment.

The passenger sustained only minor injuries and was released, while the driver was later transferred to the Health Sciences Center in Winnipeg with serious injuries.

The OPP's Technical Traffic Collision Unit is helping out with out with the investigation.

Northern Heritage Candidate on the Campaign Trail

The candidate for the Northern Ontario Heritage Party in the Kenora-Rainy River Riding admits its been a challenge to get her message out.

Charmaine Romaniuk entered the race, a couple of days into the election campaign.

She says that being a student at Lakehead University makes it difficult to canvass door-to-door.

Romaniuk is one of five candidates in the riding seeking to become the new M.P.P. on October 6th.

Keewatin-Patricia School District

A living document is in place to help students in the Keewatin-Patricia School District succeed.The Board has approved a new 3-point strategic plan for 2011-2012.

Director of Education Jack McMaster says the Board will use intervention strategies to help at-risk students and teachers will clearly establish expectations.

Racism

A research project, looking at relations between aboriginal and non-aboriginal people in the region, finds a persistence of racism and prejudice in the area.


Jeff Denis, an assistant professor at McMaster University, says part of the problem relates to an unwillingness to openly discuss the issue until a crisis arises.

Denis says he sees a need for ongoing education and dialogue starting at a grassroots level.

Habitat for Humanity

Safe, affordable and decent housing will soon be available in Kenora. October marks the start of the "Shingles" campaign, the first of many fundraisers for The Kenora Chapter of Habitat for Humanity


Co-Chair of the Fundraising Comimittee Thelma Wilkins-Page says donations are being accepted at most local businesses. All funds raised here in Kenora go directly into  building the first habitat home,in Spring of 2012.