Cocaine Bust in RIDE Stop

OPP RIDE Check Stops nab more than just drunk drivers.

Over the weekend, the OPP pulled over a vehicle on Railway Street during a RIDE program.

During one check, officers managed to seize almost a gram of cocaine.

44 year old Jordan Chesterfield of Winnipeg has been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking and obstructing police.

He's scheduled to appear in Kenora Court at the end of August on the charges.

MNR Monitoring Fire on Lake of the Woods

Smoke continues to waft into town from fires burning in the far north.

While there wasn't a lot of fire activity in the region, the MNR says it is currently monitoring a blaze on an island at the south end of Lake of the Woods.

They are letting the fire burn itself out saying it is beneficial for the renewal of the eco-system.

Kenora District Fire Number 73 is burning about 50 kilometres south of Kenora in the Miles Bay area, just north of Comegan Island.

Smoke From Northern Fires Drifts into Kenora

Smoke from fires in the remote north continues to filter into our area.

This despite a relatively quiet weekend on the forest fire front with only one new fire reported yesterday in the Thunder Bay District.

Rain in some parts of the region knocked down the fire hazard.

The reprieve is expected to be short lived though as the weather is forecast to be clear and warm and put the fire hazard back into the high level by mid-week.

Food Bank Shelves Almost Empty

The cupboards are almost bare at Kenora's foodbank.

A campaign is being launched next month to try and replenish supplies.

Making Kenora Home is holding its annual Hunger Doesn't Take a Vacation campaign.

Dan Jorgensen is a spokesperson for the group and says the situation is critical.

Organizers of the Wednesday Farmer's Market say they will be collecting non-perishable food items this week to help out.

Respite Care Program being expanded

A respite support program introduced in the region two years is being continued.

Carol Ness of Thunder Bay-based Wesway says a pilot project that helps families who care full-time for seniors recently received additional funding through the North West Local Health Integration Network.

Ness says there's been so much demand that they have a waiting list.

Re-Design of Driver's Licences Encouraged

The war on tobacco is taking a new twist.

A northwestern Ontario health official Klaus Larsen says as a way to discourage the sale of tobacco to underage teens, they want the Ontario government to redesign driver's licences.

He says they want to easily show when a person under of 19 will reach the age of majority.

Larsen says other provinces already use the licence system they are proposing.

Dingwalls Win Bronzeback

A big comeback for Jeff and Scott Dingwall at the 6th Annual Bronzeback Classic.

The Dingwalls were fourth after the first day weigh-ins, but walked away with the first prize money of 35 hundred dollars yesterday.

They pulled in more than 16 pounds of bass on day two for a total of 31.56 pounds over the two day tournament.

Over at the Tom Nabb Soccer complex, the Vanz Thunder claimed the B-side crown at the Kenora Ladies Soccer Tournament.

The Thunder took a 2-0 decision over Portage La Prairie in a weather shortened game.

Casey's won the c-side final with a 3-1 win over Moncrief United.

In the A-side final it was a team from Winnipeg taking top honors beating Brandon 2-1.