Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Transport Driver Charged with leaving accident scene

A Quebec transport driver didn't get to far following a motor vehicle collision.

Ontario Provincial Police were notified of the crash on Highway 17, about 15-kilometres east of Ignace.

Police say the commercial vehicle left the scene and was later spotted in Dryden.

OPP say 59-year-old Tadeusz Nizio of Quebec has been charged with careless driving and failing to report damage to property.

KDSB Hands out Funding to local Agencies

Child care agencies are getting a financial shot in the arm from the Kenora District Services Board.

The Board is handing out a total of 153-thousand dollars under the National Child Benefit program.

Triple Play in Kenora is being promised 20 thousand dollars to help lower income families participate in local recreational programs.

Northland Supportive Housing will also be getting five thousand dollars in base funding.

The District Services Board is also planning to continue the Ontario Works Backpack Program, which
provides families vouchers to buy back to school supplies and clothing.

NorWOSSA Badminton Qualifier Today at Beaver Brae

There's a racket being made up at Beaver Brae's gym today.

The qualifier for the NorWOSSa Badminton championships is taking place today.

The top male and female singles, doubles and mixed teams will be looking to advance to next week's finals is taking place.

The NorWOSSA finals will be taking place in Dryden next Wednesday.

Rainy River Resources Inks Deal with local First Nations

A number of first nations are giving their seal of approval for a major gold mining project in northwestern Ontario.

Rainy River Resources says its signed a participation agreement six aboriginal communities in the area.

The agreement sets out a schedule of benefits including employment and business opportunities, funding to support skills development, occupational training and education.

The proposed mine is located about 80 kilomters south of Kenora and is expected to be in production by 2015.

Grassroots Group Demands Pension Protection

A grass-roots movement to protect the pensions of seniors is starting up in northwestern Ontario.

The group is called Seniors, Retirees Against Pension and Elder Abuse.

Allan Bedard says he's launching the initiative over concerns about the health of private and public penion funds.

Bedard says he initially got the movement started a couple of years ago over concern for the pensions of Abitibi workers after the company went through bankruptcy proceedings.

The group is meeting tonight in Fort Frances at 7:00 at the Sister Kennedy Center.

Museum Gets Green Light to Hire

Lake of the Woods Museum has been given approval to fill a job vacancy later this year.

City Council held a short special meeting yesterday to deal with the staffing request.

The museum wants to hire a community co-ordinator and wants to have someone in place by May to cross-train with an employee who is retiring.

Council approved the new position in its 2012 budget, but deferred the decision until some details about the job could be clarified.

Car Batteries Stolen on Lakeview Drive

Someone must have needed a big boost.

The OPP are investigating the theft of more than 200 car batteries from behind a business on Lakeview Drive.

Police say the batteries were stolen between Saturday night and Monday morning, when the theft was discovered.

Anyone with information about the stolen batteries is asked to contact the OPP or Crimestoppers.

Moose Hunters Fined

Two men from Devlin have been handed huge fines for not following party hunting rules while moose hunting.

The men were charged last October after the Ministry of Natural Resources received conflicting information over who actually shot the animal.

Court fined the men over 27-hundred dollars.

Their kill was also forfeited to the crown.

Bill to Kill the Far North Act fails

The Far North Act isn't going anywhere.

MPP's have voted in support of keeping the controversial Legislation.

Ontario PC Northern Development Critic Norm Miller says the bill has turned Northern Ontario into a virtual museum by banning forestry and mining opportunities.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell voted against the Private members bill, noting while the Act is flawed, scrapping it would delay development in the North.

Summer Company Deadline Looming

Looking to start up your own business this summer?

The Northwest Business Centre is helping young entrepreneurs with the launch of the 'Summer Company' program.

Spokesperson Stefanie Armstrong says they are open to all ideas.

Over the past 5-years the Kenora-Rainy River District has developed over 15-young entrepreneurs.

The application deadline is May 7th