Strange Twist Halts Second Degree Murder Trial

A strange and bizarre twist has come to light involving one of the defense lawyers in the second degree murder trial of Kenneth Ivall and Angela Duchesne.  

Thunder Bay Lawyer Chris Watkins, who is representing one of the accused, says lawyer David Gibson who represents the other defendant has been appointed as a judge.

The appointment has put an abrupt halt to the trial until the situation can be cleared up.  

Watkins says there is a possibility of the case being declared a mistrial.

Mount Evergreen Open for PD Day Tomorrow

Mount Evergreen is ready for PD day at local schools tomorrow.

The hill will be open during the day and is offering a pancake breakfast and movies at 8:00.

Blair McCallum says they have also sent out the ski coupons for students in grades 4,5, and 6.

With the coupon the student can receive a lift pass for $5, rentals for $5, and a lesson for $5 if booked in advance.

For more information on events taking place tomorrow at the ski hill visit their website at www.skikenora.com.

Teenagers Plan Flash Mob on Main Street Tommorrow

Traffic on Main Street between 2nd and 3rd Street South will be closed tomorrow afternoon as a flash mob takes to the streets.

The flash mob was organized by local teenagers Autumn Kakeway and Chevon Redsky who felt there was more that youth could do to support the Idle No More movement.

Redsky says she felt that youth weren't doing enough to support the movement and felt the need to act once she heard about the idea.

The event will start at 1:00 and run for an hour, at that time OPP will close off traffic.

Exam Schedule Changes due to Bus Cancellations

The cancellation of school buses has resulted in the juggling of the
exam schedule at local high schools.

Beaver Brae says all exams have been cancelled today.

Instead they will be written on Monday, using the same schedule as
today.

The second term won't begin until Tuesday.

Over at Thomas Aquinas, it will be a regular exam day.

Any students who are unable to get to school today can write
the test tomorrow at 9 AM instead.

But because tomorrow is a PD day, no school buses will be operating and students will still have to find their own way to the school.

KDSB Outlines Homeless Funding Priorities

Supporting homeless shelters, victims of violence and those having trouble paying their hydro bills.

Three priorities set by the Kenora District Services Board this year following a provincial move to integrate services.

Director of Integrated Social Services Dianne Apland says another priority is creating a long term homelessness strategy for each community they serve.

Apland says currently there's no provincial funding attached to the 10-year plan.

EFTO Responds to Repeal of Bill 115

The local president of the Elementary Teacher's Federation of Ontario is voicing her thoughts on the repealing of Bill 115.

Anne Saltel feels that the government knew all along that it was a flawed peice of legislation, and now that they've got what they want out of it, they will repeal it.

She adds she is still deeply angered by it.

Saltel says the union is still urging it's teachers not to participate in extra-curricular activites, but it's completely up to them.

NOMA Wants Feedback on Endangered Species Act

The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association is upset it won't be getting a say in the Endangered Species Act.

NOMA has been excluded from being a part of an appointed panel that will provide recommendations to the Ministry of Natural Resources on how to improve the act.

Vice President of NOMA, Dave Canfield says the government simply isn't listening to them.

Canfield says the changes seem to be putting up more red tape and scaring away companies from Ontario.

Witnesses Admit to Assault on Ed Wilson

Testimony is schedueld to resume today at the second degree murder trial of Kenneth Ivall and Angela Duchesne.

One of the people who intiated the assault on Ed Wilson the morning of March 21st, 2009 was on the
stand yesterday.

Matt Bruce says he went to the Tower Motel with a couple of friends and had a beer before deciding
to leave.

As he exited the building, he noticed a man slap Angela Duchesne hard across the face.

Bruce says Wilson seemed to grabbing onto the woman and was worried the situation was
going to escalate, so he punched Wilson in the face.

After that, he says a friend of his escorted Wilson away, down the west side of the motel.

He says at that point, Wilson appeared to stumble and fell on the ground.

As he was trying to get up, Bruce says someone else came in and gave a soccer-style kick
to Wilson's head.

He says the kick seemed to knock-out Wilson.

He says he didn't hear about Wilson's death until the next evening when police came to interview him

School Bus Service Cancelled This Morning

The extreme cold is taking its toll on school buses this morning.

The Northwest Student Services Consortium says all school buses
have been cancelled, including First Student service in Kenora.

Buses in Vermillion Bay, Dryden, Red Lake and Sioux Lookout have
also been cancelled today.

All schools remain open.

First Student says municipal transit services in Kenora are operating today.