Fiecek Seeks to Defend Northern Wheelchair Curling Crown this weekend

The Wayne Fiecek rink is looking to book another berth to the National Wheelchair Curling championships.

Fiecek is in action at the Northern Ontario Wheelchair Curling playdowns in Sudbury.

He lost 10-1 this morning in the first draw to Rick Prudhomme from Sudbury, and plays again at 2:00 this afternoon.

Play continues tomorrow.

Resolute meets with regional mayors

Few details are being leaked about a meeting this week between

Resolute Forest Products and the mayors of four communties in northwestern Ontario.

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield was joined by municipal leaders from Thunder Bay, Ignace and Fort Frances.

They met with company president Richard Garneau on Tuesday.

Canfield describes the discussion as very positive.

He says Resolute re-iterated its committment to its existing mills in this region.

However, the company also stressed the need to reduce costs.

Liberals Form New Riding Association

Provincial Liberals in the Kenora-Rainy River riding are looking to increase its membership base.

A newly formed riding Association set its objectives following a recent meeting in Dryden.

It's president, Anthony Leek of Emo, says the main goal is to provide a link between the Riding and government.

Leek says the Association also wants to be better prepared for the next provincial election.

City Secures more Funding from Province

The City of Kenora's finances should become a little clearer over the next few weeks.

The province has announced funding towns and cities will receive from the Ontario Municipal Partnership fund.

Kenora Mayor Dave Canfield says they will be getting just under 5.9 million dollars this year.

Canfield says the provincial government gave the city extra funding last year to help cover the disbandment costs of the Kenora Police Service.

Hudak Calls for More Trades training

Tim Hudak says skilled trades people need a better apprenticeship program.

The Leader of the Provincial Opposition was in Thunder Bay yesterday to talk with students at Confederation College and says we are still living in the 70's when it comes to the apprenticeship program.

Hudak says we could see around a million vacancies by 2021 if things don't change now.

Woman killed in Red Lake House Fire

One person is dead following a house fire in Red Lake.

OPP and the Red Lake Fire Department were dispatched yesterday morning to a blaze on Forestry Road.

The home was completely engulfed in flames and was destroyed.

Police 49-year-old Virginia Keesic of Red Lake died on scene.

The cause is still under investigation but OPP say the fire isn't suspicious.

Ice Conditions Variable

If you're planning to go out ice-fishing this weekend, you might want to check conditions on the lake first.

There have been reports of large ice ridges opening up on Lake of the Woods on the ice road.

One large ridge has been reported near St. Helena's by Holmstrom's Marsh.

The warmer weather in recent days has created some fairly changable conditions and caution is advised.

Drug Bust in Cat Lake

Nishnawbe-Aski Police have arrested an individual who has strong ties to the Native Syndicate gang.

Police executed a search warrant on a Cat Lake First Nation residence and officers found about 400-dollars worth of oxycodone and 18-hundred dollars cash.

Three firearms were also found at the scene, including one, which has been linked to an on-going investigation.

Police say Paul Mezzetay faces 3-counts of careless storage of a firearm, possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of proceeds of crime charges.

Sarah Mezzetay faces similar charges and Knobby Wesley has been charged with possession of a controlled substance.

Broncos and Saints in Action after Exam Break

Local high school hockey teams are back in action this weekend after a two week exam break.

The Beaver Brae and Thomas Aquinas girls hockey teams are heading to Pilot Mound, Manitoba today for a tournament.

Both teams are in action this afternoon at the Pembina Lady Tigers Tournament.

Meanwhile, the Bronco Boys start the stretch run in the NorWOSSA regular season on the road.

Beaver Brae is in Dryden tonight to face the Eagles.

Homan Continues to Roll at Ontario Scotties

The Rachel Homan Rink continues to lead the way at the 2012 Ontario Scotties at theKenora Curling Club.

Homan improved to 7-0 yesterday with wins over Sherry Middaugh and Cathy Auld.

Andrea Ronnebeck is Homan's coach and says the team can be tough to beat when they get on a roll.

Missisauga's Cathy Auld is tied with Tracy Horgan from Sudbury for second with a 5-2 record.

Middaugh improved to 4-3 and is tied with Krista McCarville from Thunder Bay.

Middaugh beat McCarvilled 7-5 in last night's late draw.

Today is the final day of the round robin with draws at 2:00 and 7:00.

Survivor of North Spirit Lake Plane Crash talks about Ordeal

The lone survivor of a deadly plane crash in northwestern Ontario says he tried in vain to pull fellow passengers from the wreckage and snuff the fire that eventually destroyed the small aircraft.

Brian Shead says the crash near the tiny native community of North Spirit Lake happened in a flash.

He says one second he was reading a book, and the next second he was on the ground fighting for his life.

He says the impact of the crash knocked him and the four other people on the plane out and when he came to everyone was still strapped in their seats.

With a crushed foot and a smashed face, he managed to get out of the plane and tried to put out a fire that was burning on a wing.

When her realized that wasn't working, he managed to free the pilot, but he didn't survive.