Thistles Play North Stars at Home for Two Games

The Kenora Triple "a" midget Thistles will play a rare Thursday night game.

The Thistles are at home to the Norman North Stars for a pair of games.

Tonight's contest starts at 7:30 at the Thistle Rink.

Beaver Brae court sport teams managed a split with Fort Frances.

Both senior squads posted victories yesterday.

The Bronco senior boys volleyball team swept the Muskies in three straight games, while the junior team lost three sets to one.

In hoops action, the Beaver Brae senior girls got eight points from Baily Markham in a 24-18 decision over Fort.

The Bronco junior girls lost 32-18.

Cardboard Boat Races today

More than 50-elementary students from Dryden, Keewatin, Red Lake, Rainy River, Vermilion Bay and Ignace participated in the Cardboard Boat Race in Dryden today.

Skills Canada Spokesperson Carolyn Hartlen explains the purpose of the intiative.

The students constrcuted a "seaworthy" boat using cardboard, duct tape, adhesive and good ole brain power.

Bravery Awards for Two Treaty Three Police Officers

Two Kenora area police officers are being recognized for their actions during a stand-off on the Grassy Narrows First Nation.

Constables George MacNeil and Kris Miclash from the Treaty Three Police will receive the Governor General's Medal For Bravery.

In May of 2007, the two officers had to confront a man who was firing a .223 bolt action rifle in the community north of Kenora.

The officers took cover behind their vehicle and told the suspect to drop his weapon.

The intoxicated man continued toward the constables and fired two shots.

The officers eventually were able to shoot at the suspect, forcing him to drop his rifle.

They were able to secure the weapon and restrain the injured gunman until an ambulence arrived at the scene.

The awards ceremony will be held at a later date in Ottawa.

Hampton lands a new job

It didn't take long for Howard Hampton to land a new job.

Hampton retired as the M.P.P. for the Kenora-Rainy River Riding prior to the provincial election.

He's taken a job with the Toronto law firm of Fasken Martineau.

He'll be working with the corporate social responsibility and aboriginal affairs groups at the law firm.

Gravelle to move to Natural Resources

There will be some familiar faces in new portfolios when premier Dalton McGuinty announces his new cabinet today.

Michael Gravelle is being shuffled out of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry and into Natural Resources.

This will be the first time in over four years that the Natural Resources Minister will come from outside of the GTA.

Meanwhile, Rick Bartolucci will be returning to Northern Development, a post he held before becoming the province's communty safety minister.

NDP MP pans increase in House of Commons seats

At least one northwestern Ontario Member of Parliament is panning plans to increase the number of seats in the House of Commons.

Thunder Bay-Superior North MP Bruce Hyer doesn't think more seats are necessary.

A recent report suggests the Harper Government could add 13 more seats for Ontario but Hyer says that won't fix parliament.

Hyer says if a party wins 30 percent of the votes they should have 30 percent of the seats.

Sioux Lookout drug arrest

A search of a home in Sioux Lookout has resulted in the seizure of a large quantity of drugs.

OPP and the Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau executed the search warrant yesterday.

Officers found 6-thousand dollars worth of cocaine and marijuana as well as a number of electronic devices and cash.

OPP say 34-year-old William Juras and 32-year-old Patricia Robertson both face charges of possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine.

Juras has also been charged with possession of a controlled substance.

Mineral Mountain Explores Gold Zone near Nestor Falls

The potential of yet another huge gold deposit has been identified southeast of Kenora.

The Mineral Mountain Resources's find comes as its conducts exploration work around the former Straw Lake mine east of Nestor Falls.

Company vice-president Brad Baker says they believe it to be similar to the Hammond Reef project near Atikokan.

But Baker says more exploration is needed before any consideration of a mine is made.

Broncos wrap up football season at home

Beaver Brae's football team will wrap up the regular season in the Winnipeg High School Football League at home.

The Broncos are just playing for pride when they take on West Kildonan this afternoon.

Beaver Brae was eliminated from the play-off race last week after losing to Kildonan East.

The Broncos are currently tied with West Kildonan for 5th place in their division.

Only the top four teams make the play-offs.

Game time is 2:00 this afternoon at Pete Fair Memorial Field.