Monday, November 28, 2011

Red Cross pledges support for Attiwapiskatt

The Canadian Red Cross is mobilizing to help the remote northern Ontario First Nations community of Attawapiskat with its housing crisis.

The Red Cross says it's working closely with public authorities and the community to identify and address urgent, short-term needs.

At the request of the community, the Red Cross says it is taking on a donation management role to support the community's needs.

Red Cross spokesman John Saunders says some of the needs currently identified include generators, heaters, insulated sleeping mats, blankets and winter clothing.

NAN stops short of endorsing Transparency Legislation

The Grand Chief of the Nishnawbe Aski First Nation says NAN chiefs and councils are already open about their salaries.

The Harper government plans to introduce legisation to force First Nations to release officials salaries. Stan Beardy says NAN has always opened its books

Beardy stopped short of saying he supports the new legislation.

Miracle Marathon another big success

There's going to be a 30 percent increase in the need for Christmas hampers in the community this year.

That was the message delivered by the Salvation Army during the 21st annual CJRL Christmas Miracle Marathon.

Major Al Hoeft says the Marathon certainly goes a long ways towards filling the need.

Thousands of dollars in cash, toys and non-perishable food items were donated during the 21 hour broadcast.

A final tally won't be available for several more days.

Campell Stays Busy at Queen's Park

Kenora-Rainy River's newly elected MPP admits she's still getting her feet wet.

Sarah Campbell has just finished her first week in the Ontario Legislature.

She says unfortunately she's had to spend a lot more time in Toronto than she'd like.

In the meantime, Campbell has been finalizing arrangements for her constituency offices in the Riding, moving her main office in Dryden over the weekend.

Kenora Figure Skaters win eight medals in Winnipeg

The Kenora Figure Skating club claimed eight medals at its first competition of the season.

Three skaters attended the Super Skate competition in Winnipeg over the weekend.

Julia Withers took home two gold and a silver, while Kelsey Scribilo earned one silver medal, a bronze and had one fourth place and Emily Whiting collected a silver, 2 Bronze & 1 Fourth place.

Saints fall short at OFSAA

The Thomas Aquinas senior boys volleyball team has failed to win a medal at the OFSAA single A championships for the first time in four years.

The Saints returned home over the weekend, after bowing out in the quarter-finals at the provincial champships in Manitoulin Island.

T.A. was beaten two sets to one by Woodland Christian High School.

Meanwhile, the Thomas Aquinas senior girls basketball team is home after going 0-3 at the OFSAA championships in St. Catharines.

Thistles lose two at home

Close but no cigar.

The Kenora Triple A Midget Thistles managed just a single point from a pair of weekend home games against the Pembina Valley Hawks.

Saturday, the Thistles took the Hawks to overtime, but lost 3-2.

Sunday, another close game, but the Kenora midgets were downed 2-1 by Pembina Valley.

Meanwhile, a couple of girls rep teams from the Lake of the Woods Girls Minor Hockey Association travelled to Warroad, Minnesota over the weekend.

The Kenora Atoms won a silver medal after losing to Roseau in the final.

The Kenora PeeWee girls settled for a fifth place finish in their division.