Charges Laid in Weekend Boating Accident

Five people have been taken to hospital following an early morning boating accident on Lake of the Woods.

The OPP Marine Unit was called out around 4:00 Sunday morning after a 15 foot Bayliner sank, after it collided with another boat, while travelling between Kenora and Keewatin.

Police say the driver of the Bayliner and two passengers were taken to Lake of the Woods District Hospital for treatment, while two female passengers had to be airlifted to the Winnipeg Health Sciences Center.

25 year old Sean Goold of Kenora has been charged with two counts of impaired operation of a vehicle causing bodily harm.

Stingers Win Kenora Men's Soccer Tournament

The Stingers are back atop men's soccer in Kenora.

The Stingers won the A-Side final of the Kenora Men's Soccer Tournament over the weekend, with a 3-0 win over the Playaz.

They also claimed the first prize money of 15 hundred dollars.

The B-Side Final went to the Scorpions from Winnipeg, who got by Dryden, while Forza from Winnipeg, upended Marinos from Brandon in the C-Side final Sunday.

Sandy Lake Starts Evacuations

The forest fire situation has now forced 70 people from Sandy Lake First Nation from their homes.

Chief Bart Meekis has asked the city of Thunder Bay to serve as a host community.

Mayor Keith Hobbs has signed an emergency declaration for the city which has supported similar evacuations over the last few years and is prepared to support additional evacuees if needed.

Last year Thunder Bay hosted 350 evacuees and served as a transportation hub during the severe forest fire situation.

NTAB Looks at Mining Employment Needs

A research project is hoping to provide some help for the mining industry in the region.

The Northwest Training and Adjustment Board is teaming up with the Mining Industry Human Resources Council to forecast labour market needs.

The difficulty attracting younger workers, the under representation of Aboriginal Peoples and the looming retirement are all challenges for the growing industry.

Executive Director of the board Sonja Wainio will be getting a forecast in the Kenora and Rainy River Districts.

Once complete, the report will look at the 2, 5 and 10 year labor market needs of the mining industry in northwestern Ontario.

Weekend Rains Reduce Fire Hazard

There are 66 forest fires now burning here in the northwest district.

Officials with the Ministry of Natural Resources say 476 forest fires have started this year burning more than 69-thousand hectares of land.

Weekend rain has helped the situation in southern parts of the district.

The M.N.R. now says the fire hazard is "Low" for the entire region.

Canadian Blood Services Launches Partners for Life

If a single donor can save lives, imagine what your organization can do?!

That's the premise behind Canadian Blood Services' new "Partners For Life" program.

Spokesperson Harvey Heather says groups committ to donating so much blood a year and it helps them get a handle on how much blood they need to collect.

Heather says the program is being expanded into Northwestern Ontario after a successful run on a national level.

NAPS Probes Fatality in North Spirit Lake

Nishnawbe-Aski Police and the Ontario Provincial Police are now invesitgating the death of a North Spirit Lake First Nation community member.

The deceased has been identified as 38 year-old Paul Campbell of North Spirit Lake First Nation.

A post-mortem examination is scheduled for today.

Few details are being released by police.

Walk For Good Life Pays Tribute to Joe Morrison

An annual pilgrimage by native youth through the Kenora and Rainy River districts remember a well respected Kenora elder this year.

The 500 kilometre Walk for Good Life is aimed at inspiring youth.

Larissa Desrosiers of the group Good Life for Young People says this year it will also honour Elder Joseph Morrison.

The walk starts and end at Eagle Lake First Nation, began yesterday.

Kenora Anglers Enjoy Fort Frances Bass Championship

A Minnesota angling team are this year's winners of the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship.

Mark Raveling and Mike Luhman led all three days of fishing, combining for just over 55-pounds of bass.

Raveling says it's been a great tournament to fish.

Kenora anglers also enjoyed some success over the weekend.

Jeff Gustafson and his partner John Peterson finished five pounds off the pace and were third overall, while Ted and Leo Heyens claimed fifth place.

Hydro Outages

About 25 hundred homes in the Kenora area are without power this morning.

A wicked thunderstorm last night knocked out electricity to homes in the Clearwater Bay, Longbow Lake and Sioux Narrows area.

Hydro One says crews are currently assessing the extent of the damage and making repairs.

Power isn't expected to be fully restored until around 4:00 this afternoon.