Northwest OPP Release Long Weekend Stats

Provincial Police are out with its statistics from the May Long Weekend.

Sergeant Shelley Garr says in the Northwest Region, they laid 281 speeding charges, 4 charges of distracted driving and issued 27 seat belt charges.

In one incident, a motorcyclist was arrested for impaired driving after
he fell off is bike while driving around the Round About in Kenora.

Police says the biker had been using drugs.

Garr says that fortunately there were no serious incidents in this region.

Good Turn Out for Event Center Meeting

More than just a second ice surface for the Kenora Rec. Center.

That was the thrust of a public meeting last night staged by the
Event Center Committee.

A number of ideas were thrown around to improve the Kenora Rec. Center.

Mike Dietsch is the co-chair of the committee and says the suggestions
presented last night will help them develop a concept they eventually will
take to city council.

Dietsch says their goal is to have a concept the can take to council in August of 2014.

Councillor Votes Against Resolution on Contraband Tobacco

Education over enforcement.

City council this week voted to stronger penalties against those caught producing and selling contraband tobacco.

Councillor Sharon Smith voted against the resolution calling for more education on the topic.

Some of the actions that council voted on include higher fines and giving more authority to seize products and impound vehicles.

Smith says there are a number of aboriginal communities looking to create a sustainable business by producing raw tobacco.

Smith says the government needs to start talking to these communities.

Hudak Proposes More Help with Ring of Fire

Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak believes the government is not taking advantage of the Ring of Fire.

Speaking with northern media recently, Hudak says the area can make Ontario just as financially strong as other provinces.

Hudak says he would put a cabinet minister in charge of the Ring of Fire who had have more authority over job and wealth creation in the province.

He adds that he will also work to create transit infrastructure.

Hudak suggests that Ontario needs a premier who will champion the project at Queen's Park.

OPP Launch New Recruitment Initiative

The Ontario Provincial Police are launching a recruitment campaign in northwestern Ontario.

Constable Erin Huckell says it's called the "Northern Policing Experience", and runs from May 25th to 26th.

Huckell says travel and accommodations for anyone wanting take part will be taken care of.

PARO Receives Funding for Programs in NWO

The Ontario Trillium Foundation is giving just over 352-thousand dollars to PARO Centre for Women's Enterprise.

PARO Executive Director Rosalind Lockyer says the three year grant will be used to provide training for would be young entrepreneurs in Northwestern Ontario.

Lockyer says the money will go along way with covering the costs of salaries, training opportunities and producing materials for their training programs.

Beaver Brae Earns Top 10 Finish in Provincial Envirothon

A group of students from Beaver Brae has a chance to attend the International Envirothon championships.

The high school's Envirothon team finished in the top ten in Ontario after two weeks
of competition.

Envirothon includes an on-line test that looks at a number of issues including
Aquatics, Forestry, Soils, and Wildlife.

The next stage of the competition includes an interview with a trip to Montana
on the line for the International Envirothon in August.