Chamber Prepares for Annual Business Awards

The Kenora and District Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for
its annual Business Awards Ceremony.

The awards dinner will be taking place in less than a month and will
feature 40 nominees in eight different categories including Entrepreneur of the Year, Young Entrepreneur and business improvement.

Business commentator Michael Hlinka is this year's guest speaker.

The Chamber will be holding its business awards dinner on February 13th
at the Best Western Lakeside Inn.

Treaty Three Police Warn of High Risk Offender

The Treaty Three Police are warning residents in the Whitedog area about

the release of a high risk offender into their community.

Police believe 44 year old Danny Lee Michaud is a high risk to re-offend.

They says he has previous convictions for failing to comply with a probation

order, break and enter, carrying a concealed weapon, pointing a firearm

aggravated assault, sexual assault and manslaughter.

Police say Michaud has a long list of conditions he must comply with,

including reporting to the Treaty Three Police Detachment on Wabaseemung every Friday.

Second Degree Murder Charge Laid in Grassy Fatal

A second degree murder charge has been laid in connection to the
death of a 48 year old Grassy Narrows man late last year.

The OPP and Treaty Three Police say a 17 year old youth has been arrested
following the death of David John Necanapenace.

Necanapenace died in Winnipeg hospital from injuries he sustain in
an assault on Grassy Narrows back in November.

Police cannot release the name of the suspect due to the Canada Youth
Justice Act.

Witnesses to Assault on Ed Wilson give Testimony

Testimony at the second degree murder trial of Angela Duchesne and
Kenneth Ivall is focusing on an assault at the Tower Motel on Ed Wilson.

Over the past couple of days a couple of witnesses have describe the
assault on Ed Wilson in the early morning hours of March 21st, 2009.

Earlier today, Tim Fleury was on the witness stand.

He drove a couple of friends to the Tower Motel around 2:00 in the morning.

He says when they arrived, they witnessed an argument between a man
identified as Ed Wilson and another woman.

Fleury says Wilson struck the woman with the back of his hand.

At that point he says someone then punched Wilson once or twice knocking him to the ground.

Fleury says he never got out of his truck and didn't see the whole
altercation take place.

But he did see Wilson try to get up and run around the southwest corner
of the motel.

At that point he says he didn't see what happened to Wilson, but he says
it was only about a minute later that some of the assailants ran back to
his truck and the then drove away.

The trial is scheduled to resume this morning.

Kenora Mental Health Association Receives Accreditation

A new standard for the Canadian Mental Health Association Kenora Branch.

The branch announced they have received their accreditation

Executive Director Anita Webb says it was a lot of hard work to get to this point.

Webb adds they starting working on the accreditation in 2010.

New Tourism Website Up and Running

Another way to promote events and activities in northwestern Ontario.

GONWO.ca is now up and running with information on attractions, businesses and activities.

Project lead Catherine Dashney says the on-line portal is the first of its kind.

She says seven communities are involved including Kenora and a mobile application will soon be introduced.