Friday, February 22, 2013

Final Arguments Made in Murder Trial


The crown and the defense have painted very different pictures of what took place the night Ed Wilson died on March 21st, 2009 in Norman.

Final arguments were presented to the jury yesterday.

Crown Attorney Mary-Ann Mousseau rejects defense arguments that Kenneth Ivall was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

She says he was enraged by the fact that Ed Wilson had struck him outside the Tower Motel.

She also says Ivall wanted to avenge a sexual assault that Wilson was alleged to have made against
Angela Duchesne when she was 16 year old girl.

The defense meanwhile suggests that Duchesne orchestrated many of the events that fateful night, including
the beating of Ed Wilson by a number of men outside the Tower Motel.

Defense lawyer Chris Watkins says Duchesne manipulated and lied to police and destroyed evidence
and suggested the jury should disregard any statements that she made during the trial.

Watkins says while his version of events may not match the crown's he says they fit the facts just as well.

Justice Terrance Platana has dismissed the jury until Tuesday morning, when he plans to make his final
instructions to them, before they begin their deliberations.

Campbell Urges Province to Help Save ELA


A last-ditch plea to save the Experimental Lakes Area.

Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. Sarah Campbell used her podium at
Queen's Park to appeal to the provincial government to take action
before its too late.

Campbell says to date, the province hasn't done done much to help cause.

The clock is counting on the closure of the ELA.

It's scheduled to close its doors in just over a month.

KDSB Ready to Tackle Homlessness


It's going to cost a few bucks but it's something that's needed in the Kenora District.

The Services Board has been told to come up with a long-term plan to address the homelesness and housing issues facing the region.

Chief Administrative Officer Dan McNeil says a number of groups will be involved.

The province has asked for the plan but has provided no funding.

A final report is due by January 1st, 2014.

Province Announces Funding for Addictions


The provincial government wants to improve access to addiction services for First Nations communities.

Ontario will provide 1.5 million dollars in ongoing annual funding to support five new Community Wellness

Development Teams, and to increase the use of tele-medicine equipment in treatment centers.

This will allow health care providers to conference with patients in remote communities to enhance addictions treatments.

Rainy River Resources Outlines New Gold Zone


Rainy River Resources continues to build on the potential of its gold mine south of Kenora.

It's out with the latest findings from a drill program conducted in an area identified as the Intrepid zone.

The company says the results continue to support the belief that the zone is similar to a main deposit found in the heart of its project.

It hopes to better define the size of the zone by the middle of this year.

Hope And the City Tickets On Sale this Weekend


Hope in the City is celebrating its third year in Kenora and
tickets for the much anticipated event go on sale tomorrow.

Ashley Hoffmeister is one of the organizers and says its chance
to women to dress up, go out on the town and have some fun.

Hope in the City is a fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society.

Tickets for the May 11th gala go on sale tomorrow at 11:00 at the
Discovery Center.

Northern Ontario Wheelchair Curling Playdowns

A wheelchair curling team from Kenora is ready to go back to the National championships.

Kenora Skip Wayne Ficek says his team is ready for the Northern Ontario playdowns this weekend at the Kenora Curling Club.

Ficek says his team is ready to go after a rebuilding year in 2011.

The playdowns start this afternoon with the first draw at 1:30 with teams in action.

The finals will take place on Sunday.

Saints Advance To Northland Cup Final


The Thomas Aquinas boys hockey team is heading to the final of
the first ever Northland Cup.

The Saints edged the Dryden Eagles 4-3 last night at the Rec. Center to
win their one game semi-final.

Daniel Thomson scored the game winner in overtime.

T.A. will host game one of the Northland Cup Final Tuesday night against
either Beaver Brae or Fort Frances.

Their semi-final will be played tomorrow night in Fort Frances.