Housing Prices on the Rise

House prices in northwestern Ontario have gone up by 26 percent over the past four years.

That's according to the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation.

MPAC released its first ever report today, and it shows housing prices have increased more in northern Ontario than any other part of the province.

For the province as a whole, housing prices have gone up an average of 17 percent since 2008.

Police Confirm One Dead in Whitefish Bay Shooting

One person is dead following a shooting incident on the Whitefish Bay First Nation southeast of Kenora.

The OPP confirm that 61 year old Charles Minshall was shot early Sunday morning.

Minshall lived in a residence attached to the store.

The Treaty Three Police and the OPP responded after they received a report of gunfire in the area of the store.

Minshall was pronounced dead at the scene.

A post-mortem exam will be conducted later today at Lake of the Woods District Hospital.

Police say they don't have a suspect in custody, but are asking anyone with information to contact the Treaty Three Police Crime Unit, the OPP or Crimestoppers.

OPG ready to wean Atikokan Plant off Coal

The switch from coal to biomass at Ontario Power Generation's plant in Atikokan will begin this fall.

Work on the 200-million dollar conversion will result in the plant actually stopping the use of coal this October.

Plant Manager Chris Fralick say the existing workforce of 85 will remain on site.

The plant will begin burning biomass in 2014.

Red Lake OPP lay Sex Assault Charges

A 25-year-old Cochenour man faces a long list of charges after a 50-year-old woman was sexually assaulted.

Red Lake Provincial Police say the two knew each other and the incident occurred at a Cochenour home.

OPP say the accused faces counts of break and enter, overcoming reistance to commit and offence, forcible confinement and sexual assault causing bodily harm.

The victim was transported to hospital and released.

The accused remains in custody and no names have been released.

More Fire Crews Heading to Northwestern Ontario

Badly needed help for weary firefighters in Northwestern Ontario.

20-firerangers from Saskatchewan and 20-from New Brunswick are joining local crews on the fire lines.

Waterbombers from Quebec and Newfoundland have also been called in.

20-firerangers from Minnesota arrived last week.

Five new fires were reported yesterday, bringing the number of active fires up to 70.

OPP Says Phone Scams on the Rise

The OPP say they have been getting complaints about an increasing number of telephone scams in recent weeks.

In one incident, a local resident agreed to donate 250 dollars to a charity they figured was worthwhile, and provided their credit card number over the phone.

Only after making the transaction did they contract police to ask whether the call was legitimate.

An officer was able to work with their financial institution to stop the payment from going through.

Police say local residents have also complained of phone calls about securing winnings or vacation packages.

The OPP remind you that if it seems to too good to be true, it likely is.

Cargo North Ready to Launch New Service

A new service is coming to Northwestern Ontario.

Cargo North President Frank Kelner announced the purchase of a new aircraft which will provide air cargo services.

Kelner thinks that this new addition, a Basler Turbo 67, will help a lot of businesses and companies.

The launch date is expected to be November 1.

Kelner says he has obtained 2 more planes by 2013.

LOWBIC Website Garners Award

Lake of the Woods Business Incentive Corporation is showing off some new hardware.

Executive Director of LOWBIC, Ryan Reynard says their website was singled out at a recent conference.

Reynard adds that the website is often the first point of contact for a number of would-be entrepreneurs in the area.

The award was handed out at the annual general meeting of the Ontario Association of Community Future Development Corporations.