Broncos bow out in the Consolation Final of Winnipeg Soccer Tournament

Some positives for Beaver Brae boys soccer team.

The Broncos were in Winnipeg this weekend for the St. John Ravenscourt Tournament.

Beaver Brae lost out in the Consolation final after a 2-1 loss to River East.

Jordan Spencer scored the Broncos lone goal of the game, his fourth of the tournament.

Beaver Brae finished with a record of one win, two losses and a shootout loss.

The NorWOSSA double "a" regular season starts on Wednesday.

NOMA Passes 23 Resolutions

Delegates from the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association are giving the Provincial Government a list of things they'd like to see changed.

They passed 23 resolutions that will be sent to the Province; including providing payments in lieu of municipal land tax and reversing the decision to close the Travel Information Centres in Kenora, Rainy River and Fort Frances.

NOMA members also approved a resolution in support of construction and operation of a ferrochrome processing facility in Exton in the Greenstone District.

Four Arrested in Pickle Lake Bust

Four Pickle Lake residents have been arrested following a drug bust.

Ontario Provincial Police, RCMP and Thunder Bay Police executed five search warrants in Pickle Lake.

Police seized 564 oxycodone pills and nearly eight thousand dollars cash as well as drug paraphernalia and 2-firearms.

Police say 63 year-old James Marino faces 11 charges including trafficking, possession of stolen property and unlawful storage of firearms.

72 year old David Lockwood, 22 year old Albert Shingebis and 50 year old Ida Crane each face three charges.

Gold Exploration Explodes in Northwestern Ontario

As many as eight new gold mines could open in the Kenora Mining District in the next four years.

That's according to MNR Geologist Andreas Lichtblau.

He says Coventry Resources is getting close to opening a new mine in the Cameron Lake area southeast of Kenora.

Lichtblau says as many as three new gold projects could start up in Red Lake in the next couple of years, two in the Dryden area and two in the Rainy River District.

Campbell Defends Abstaining on Budget Vote

Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. Sarah Campbell is defending her decision to abstain from voting on the provincial budget this week.

Campbell addressed delegates at the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association Convention yesterday and says there just wasn't any support for another election.

Campbell suggests Ontario is better off with a minority government, as long as all the party's try to work together.

Sturgeon Fishery Rebounding on Lake of the Woods

There's some good new regarding the Sturgeon fishery in Lake of the Woods and Rainy River.

Fisheries officials in Ontario and Minnesota says short-term goals established several years ago have been reached.

Tom Mosindy of the Ministry of Natural Resources says there's still work to do.

Mosindy says they now have males as old as 30 years and females at least 50.

Four arrested in theft of Vehicle from Sioux Narrows

The OPP say they have arrested four youth in connection to a stolen vehicle from the Sioux Narrows area.

Police say a 2007 Jeep Compass was taken from the driveway of a home last Thursday night.

On Friday morning, the same vehicle was seen driving just east of Kenora on Highway 17.

Officers located the vehicle abandoned at a business on the east highway and began searching for the culprits.

Three of four suspects were initially apprehended.

The OPP say two 18 year old men, a 16 year old and a 15 year old boy have all been charged with possession of property obtained by crime and various bail violations.

Ontario Jury Pools on Trial this week

The makeup of juries goes on trial before

Ontario's top court this week as two killers fight their guilty verdicts.

Lawyer Julian Falconer argues aboriginals have been unfairly shut out from juries for years.

The two aboriginals, including Clifford Kokopenace of Grassy Narrows are asking the Court of Appeal for new trials because on-reserve First Nations people were excluded from the juries that convicted them.

Kokopenace was convicted of manslaughter in Kenora Court back in 2008. 

Colleges Minister Bullish on Lakewood Project

Ontario's Minister of Colleges, Training and Universities has had a first hand look at the Lakewood School Proposal.

Glenn Murray was in town on Friday for the NOMA conference and had a chance to sit down with the Lake of the Woods Economic Development Commission.

Murray says he likes the concept of transforming the elementary school into an adult education center.

As for funding the project, Murray says there is money within the budget for colleges and universities.

Tourist Information Closures Raised at NOMA Bearpit

The closure of three tourist information centers in northwestern Ontario and the Ring of Fire.

Those two issues dominated the Bear Pit Session with four members of the McGuinty Government on Friday at the NOMA conference in Kenora.

Natural Resources Minister Michael Gravelle says while they are sympathetic about the closure of the Tourism Centers, he's not making any promises to re-open them.

On the Ring of Fire, Aboriginal Affairs Minister Kathleen Wynn re-assured municipal leaders that the government is moving forward, but much of the work is being done behind the scenes.

Municipal infrastructure, the Far North Act and the Northern Institute were other subjects raised during the bear pit session.

Flavour Gone Supports Private Members Bill

Youth advocates in Northwestern Ontario believe they have something to cheer about.

NDP Health Critic France Gelinas has introduced a Private Member’s Bill asking for a ban on all flavoured tobacco products in Ontario.

Roberta Lappage represents ‘Flavour…GONE’ and says this is a step in the right direction.

Lappage the bill will help stop big tobacco companies from producing new and enticing products for youth.

Dryden Pharmacist Charged with Trafficking

A Dryden pharmacist has been charged with drug trafficking.

Few details have been released but Ontario Provincial Police say the arrest follows a 2-month investigation.

51-year-old Robert Button has been charged with trafficking in a controlled substance.

He remains in custody and he will appear in court in Sioux Lookout today.

LHIN's Talks Health Care Funding at NOMA

The Northwest Local Health Integration Network says there may be health care shortages in this region, but it's not because of a lack of funding.

Joy Warkentin is the chair of the board of the LHIN's and says they just need to find better and more efficient ways of spending the money they get.

Warkentin says while northwestern Ontario has two percent of Ontario's population, it takes up five percent of the Health care budget.

Hudak Urges Action on the Ring of Fire

The province should be doing more to move the Ring of Fire forward.

That's the feeling of PC leader Tim Hudak.

Speaking this morning on the CJRL morning show, Hudak says the premier needs to be leading the charge.

Hudak is one of the guest speakers today at the NOMA convention in Kenora.

He'll also be speaking with party faithful at a Conservative Party breakfast this morning.

Budget Cuts affect Con College

Recent budget cuts are going to affect Confederation College's ability to extend service to local communities.

President of Con College, Jim Madder spoke to delegates this morning at the NOMA conference.

He says one of their recent success stories has been a dual credit program offered through local high schools.

Madder says there is increasing demand for trades in the region, and the college will continue to work with local business to meet the need.

Property Tax System needs to be overhauled: Hume

The property tax system is broken and needs to be fixed.

That was the message this morning at the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association Conference taking place in Kenora.

Gord Hume was the keynote speaker and says property taxes are simply inadequate to address the infrastructure deficit municipalities are facing.

Hume is suggesting some sort of revenue sharing arrangement with the upper levels of government, either a percentage of the HST for municipalities or a portion of the income tax the federal government collects.

Drug bust in downtown Kenora

A 26 year old Kenora man has been arrested after the OPP's Street Crimes Unit witnessed a drug deal going down.

Police say two men were arrested in the downtown area yesterday and eight grams of marijuana was seized.

Christopher Kitt has been charged with trafficking in a narcotic, possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of property obtained by crime.

He is being held in custody pending a show/cause hearing.

A second man was also charged with possession of a controlled substance.

Update your Immunizations

Northwestern Health Unit says a lot of residents in the Kenora and Rainy River districts don't have their immunization records up to date.

The Health Unit's Donna Stanley says a call to the Health Unit can change that.

Stanley says as adults we're quick to ensure our children receive their shots, but don't keep our own up to date.

Get ready for Culture Days

Getting folks excited about Canadian culture is the focus of a series of information sessions across the region.

The event is in preparation for Culture Days this September across Canada.

Ontario Culture Days Manager Aubrey Reeves says they will be offering free webinars to anyone interested.

Culture Days is a 3-day event that highlights our artists, musicians and cultural groups.

FedNor Critic Concerned with cuts to program

The NDP's new FEDNOR critic is quick to call for its protection.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River M.P. John Rafferty says it's too important of a program for communities across northern Ontario.

Rafferty is accusing the federal government of cutting funding for the economic development agency.

Delegates at the NOMA conference in Kenora will get an update on FedNor later today.

NOMA Conference Begins this Morning in Kenora

Physician Recruitment and dealing with drugs in our community.

Those are just two of the topics of discussion today at the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association Conference taking place in Kenora.

The conference officially opens at 8:30 this morning with greetings from Kenora mayor Dave Canfield and Treaty Three Grand Chief Diane Kelly.

There will also be presentations today by Jim Madder president of Confederation College and the Northwest Local Health Integration Network.

Police warn against new Phone Scam

Police say that fraudsters are continuing to find new ways to trick you into parting with your money.

Local Police say the latest scam has a caller posing as a Microsoft employee and getting you to remotely give up control of your computer and then offering to fix it.

Constable Julie Tilbury says you need to be careful when dealing over the phone with people you do not know.

Police say they have reports that the caller can be quite agressive.

More Money for Northern Hospitals?

A little bit of financial support to help with an immediate crisis.

NDP Health Critic France Gelinas says her party has secured an additional 20 million dollars in funding for small, rural and Northern Hospitals.

The agreement was a condition in NDP approval of the Provincial budget.

Gelinas says the money is a step in the right direction for some struggling hospitals.

However, she stresses the NDP will continue to press for more money and against the funding model for hospitals.

Second Person Charged in Pikangikum Fatality

A 29 year old woman is in Kenora Court today in connection to the death of a Pikangikum resident.

Florence Dunsford has been charged with Aggravated assault and is the second person who has been arrested in connection with the death of Fitzgerald Owen.

The OPP says an autopsy shows Owen died as a result of foul play on April 14th in the remote first nation community.

Last week, 23 year old Morgan Turtle appeared in Kenora Court on a charge of Assault with a weapon.

PARO Launches on-line classes

The PARO Center for Women's Enterprise in northwestern Ontario is reaching out to remote First Nation women.


Starting in May they'll be offering online learning classes.

Spokesperson Linda McGuire says they want to teach women about forming business "clusters."

McGuire says women have been forming small groups for years but they haven't thought of it as away to form a business.

Impaired Driving charges in Kenora on the Rise

The OPP say they've notice an increase in drinking and driving charges in the Kenora area so far in 2012.

Early this morning, one more person was charged with impaired driving, bringing the number of charges so far this year to 26, that's a 36 percent increase over last year.

The OPP say drivers between the ages of 18 and 35 make up almost 70 percent of those charged.

NOACC Pleased Provincial Budget Passes

The decision by the minority Liberal government to make budget concessions to the NDP is better than an election.

That's the feeling of the Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce.

Chief operating officer, Harold Wilson says it's more important that Chamber concerns remain on the table.

Wilson says at first glance, the concessions made to the NDP appear to be minor.

NOACC will be holding its annual spring meeting this weekend in Sioux Lookout. 

Local PC's speak out against Provincial Budget

Not everyone is happy that the provincial government was able to pass its budget yesterday.

The Progressive Conservative Riding Association in Kenora-Rainy River is speaking out against the budget.

Local riding president Dennis Butler says the budget includes cuts to tourist centers in the riding as well as MNR offices.

Butler is also disappointed that Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. Sarah Campbell decided to abstain from the budget vote yesterday, rather than vote against it.

66th NOMA Conference Gets Underway today

Delegates will begin arriving in Kenora today for the start of the 66th annual Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association Conference.

Municipal leaders from the Kenora, Thunder Bay and Rainy River Districts will be in town for the next three days.

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield says the conference was sold out about a week ago.

The main business portion of the conference begins tomorrow, though there is a planning session for municipal councillors taking place today.

NOMA Agenda Finalized

The Agenda for the 66th annual Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association Conference in Kenora has been finalized.

The only real change is the absence of NDP leader Andrea Horwath from the proceedings.

Horwath had been scheduled to speak to delegates Friday morning, but has since given her regrets.

Opposition leader Tim Hudak is still on the schedule, as are Natural Resources Minister Michael Gravelle and Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Kathleen Wynn.

They will be participating in a bear-pit session Friday afternoon.

Delegates will begin arriving in Kenora tomorrow.

Treaty Three Police Continue Investigation of Devil's Gap Fire

The Treaty Three Police aren't saying whether foul play was involved in a fire that destroyed seven cabins at Devil's Gap.

Detective Sergeant Doug McKenzie says they are still conducting interviews and collecting evidence.

He does say they are treating the blaze as a criminal investigation because there was property damage.

An investigator from the Ontario Fire Marshall's Office was brought in over the weekend, but the investigation has since been turned over to the Treaty Three Police.

While no-one was injured, damaged has been estimated at over a half a million dollars.

OPP Wrap up Spring Seatbelt Campaign

The Ontario Provincial Police have wrapped up the Annual Spring 'Seatbelt' campaign.

Police in Northwestern Ontario laid 163-seatbelt releated charges during the 8-day initiative.

OPP across the Province laid a total of over 55-hundred charges.

Beware of Invasive Plants

The Ontario Invasive Plant Council is already counting down to the May long weekend.

The council is launching a 24 day campaign this week to raise awareness of the types of invasive plants we're introducing into our environment.

Rachel Gagnon says the plants might look nice, but they are potentially harmful.

Gagnon says purple loosestrife is the most famous invasive plant, but says there are numerous others plants people don't realize aren't native to Ontario.

Caribou King Searches for Graphite near Kenora

An exploration company has taken an interest in some claims in northwestern Ontario.

Caribou King Resources says it has acquired three separate properties in the region, including one in the Kenora Mining district.

Caribou King says they are looking at graphite deposits in ten separate locations.

The other claims are in the Savant Lake and Garden Lake areas of northwestern Ontario.

T.A. to Host 2015 OFSAA Girls Hockey Championships

Kenora will soon be playing host to another provincial championship.

Thomas Aquinas announced yesterday it has won the right to bring the All-Ontario Single A and Double A girls hockey championships to Kenora in 2015.

T.A. is expecting at least 20 teams in town for the OFSAA finals.

The school is currently recruiting community members to help organize the event.

Retirees meet with Resolute Forest Products

A local seniors group is calling its meeting with Resolute Forest Products over their pensions concerns productive.

The group Seniors-Retirees Against Pension and Elder Abuse sat down with Company executives last week.

Chair Allan Bedard says they asked the company for a meeting with all of the local mills retirees and was pleased with the dialogue.

Bedard says they've also asked to have a retiree to be part of the company's pension committee.

Student Arrested for Dealing Pot

Drug dealers seem to be getting younger all the time.

The Kenora O.P.P. say they were contacted by staff at Thomas Aquinas High School on Friday about a youth who was selling marijuana.

A 14 year old boy was picked up and has been charged with trafficking.

He was one of four people arrested over the past three days for dealing marijuana in the Kenora area.

VCARS holds awards ceremony this morning

The focus of an awards ceremony today is on the victims of crime.

The Kenora and Dryden Victim Crisis Assistance and Referral Program is singling out staff and volunteers in the District.

Monica Huminiuk is the local VCARS co-ordinator and says the awards ceremony will be followed by an open house.

The awards ceremony will start at 10:00 this morning, followed by the open house at 12:30 at the Best Western Lakeside Inn.

Campbell Angry over the loss of MNR Call Center Jobs

Sarah Campbell doesn't sound like someone who's eager to support the provincial budget.

In the Ontario Legislature yesterday, the Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. lashed out at the McGuinty Government for cutbacks at the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Northern Development and Mines Minister Rick Bartolucci dodged Campbell's question and instead talked about how much money the government is putting into the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, and how much of that money has ended up in the Kenora-Rainy River Riding.

Two Arrested in Early Morning Drug Bust

A busy weekend for the OPP's Street Crimes and Drug Enforcement Units.

A total of four people have been arrested and charged with trafficking in three separate incidents.

Early this morning, officers stopped a vehicle in the Transmitter Road area.

The occupants were found to be in possession of 129 grams of marijuana.

Two Winnipeg men have been charged.

20 year old Jesse Gran and 25 year old Drew Melvin are due to appear in Kenora Court in June.

Girls hockey Hands Out Annual Awards

The Lake of the Woods Girls Minor Hockey Association is celebrating another successful season on the ice.

The girls hockey league held its third annual awards banquet Saturday night at the Kenora Curling Club.

About 400 people attended the event.

Awards were handed out to each of the division winners, as well individual awards for most improved,  dedication, pride hustle & determination, miss congeniality and most sportsmanlike.

Ontario Fire Marshall to Investigate Devil's Gap Blaze

The Treaty Three Police and the Ontario Fire Marshall's Office is investigating a fire near Devil's Gap that destroyed seven cottages.

The fire broke out early Saturday morning around 2:30.

Fire Chief Warren Brinkman says they know which cabin the blaze started at, and because the units are so close together, it didn't take long for the fire to spread.

He says their main priority became to protect a large lodge nearby.

Crews spent several hours putting out the fire and didn't leave the scene until about noon on Saturday.

He estimates damage could top over a half a million dollars.

Shaw KBI Turns 25

The grand-daddy of bass fishing tournaments in northwestern Ontario hits a major milestone this year.

The Kenora Bass International turns 25 in August.

Duncan McEwan is chair of the event and says they are still going strong with 25 thousand dollars up for first prize this year. 

McEwan adds that there is still room for teams to enter this year's event.

Kenora Hydro Tries to Address Outages

Kenora Hydro is trying to improve the reliability of its electrical system.

The Lakeside and Coney areas continue to be a source of concern, with numerous outages in recent weeks.

Hydro president Dave Sinclair says they've installed new equipment, which he believes is part of the problem.

Sinclair says they have seem some improvement in the Lakeside area in the past year, but he says they are still working to ensure better service to that part of town.

City Looking at Coney Island Docking

Kenora City council is still undecided whether to replace the aging municipal docks on Coney Island.

An underwater assessment of the crib docks will be done this spring by a dive team.

Councillor Sharon Smith thinks the city should be looking all options.

Smith suggests the city should send out a request for proposal for the Coney docks and wait to see what kind of response they get.

Community Business Survey nears completion

A business survey of all companies, large and small in the City of Kenora is nearing completion.

The survey is being conducted by volunteers from the Lake of the Woods Development Commission.

Chair of the Business Development committee Thelma Wilkens-Page says right now they are working on the retail sector.

Wilkens-Page says they hope to finish their surveys by the end of May.

Federal Government works on First Nations water legislation

The federal government is pushing through legislation for clean, safe drinking water on reserves.

But for many First Nations, especially those in remote areas, new regulations aren't bringing the kind of help they need right now.

The Slate Falls Nation in northwestern Ontario has lived for years with a boil-water advisory.

Chief Lorraine Crane says the lack of good, clean wat er means her community can't expand. And now, she and other leaders suspect the water may be responsible for a strange spike in the rate of miscarriages.

A recent national assessment of water on reserves said the federal government would have to invest 4.7 billion dollars over 10 years to bring First Nations water systems up to an acceptable par with the rest of the country.

NOMA speaks out against Budget Impasse

The president of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association says the government should get at least a full year to see if it can work with the other parties before another election is called.

Ron Nelson says he doesn't like the idea of the government's first budget since the October election being turned into a political football.

However Nelson also says the Liberals ``have to listen, and the're not used to doing that.''

Ontarians could be headed back to the polls if the budget is defeated tomorrow.

Rafferty appointed FedNor Critic

John Rafferty's days of wandering in the political wilderness seem to be over.

Rafferty, the Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP says he's pleased with NDP leader Tom Mulcair's decision to appoint him as the new official opposition critic of FedNor.

Mulcair made the appointment at the unveiling of his first shadow cabinet as official opposition leader.

Rafferty and fellow Thunder Bay M.P. Bruce Hyer were kicked out of the NDP caucus last fall for supporting legislation to do away with the federal long gun registry. 

Southeast wins Allan Cup

The Southeast Prairie Thunder are the new Allan Cup champions.

The Manitoba squad beat Rosetown, Saskatchewan in Saturday's final 4-1.

The Kenora Thistles bowed out in the quarter-finals to Rosetown.