Thursday, September 19, 2013

Province Announces Committee for Aboriginal Jury Pools

The Province is announcing the 11-people who will sit on a First Nation Juries Review Committee.

Deputy Grand Chief of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation Alvin Fiddler will be a co-chair of the committee and will work towards implementing the recommendations in Justice Frank Iacobucci's report on Ontario Juries.

Former Treaty Three Grand Chief and Lawyer Diane Kelly as well former Kenora Judge Erwin Stach will also sit on the panel.

Ontario's Attorney General John Gerretsen made the announcement this morning and is holding its first
meeting today.

Soccer Association Seeks Volunteers for One More Night

Lake of the Woods Soccer Association is hoping to complete the removal of the rink boards at the Jaffray Mellick Arena today.

Over the past two days, volunteers have been working diligently to take down the glass and the boards.

The only thing remaining now is the wood framing that formed the supports for the boards.

Volunteers who have a battery operated drill or impact driver is asked to come  out this afternoon at 4:00 to help finish the job.

Beausejour Man Faces Fraud Charges

A former funeral home manager in Beausejour, Manitoba faces a number of fraud charges following a lengthy investigation by the RCMP.

53 year old Harvey Giesbrecht faces 25 counts of fraud due to financial
irregularities at Russel's Funeral Home.

The Mounties say Giesbrecht is alleged to have collected payment for
prearranged funerals but failed to use the money for that purpose.

He faces 18 counts of fraud under five thousand dollars and seven courts
of fraud over five thousand dollars.

He's due to appear in Beausejour Court October 22nd to face the charges.

EQAO Test Results Released

Room for improvement.

The Education Quality and Accountability Office has released its annual
grade three and grade six reading, writing and math results.

Sean Monteith is the director of education with the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board and says overall their marks are down compared to last year.

Monteith says they are particularly concerned with their math scores.

Just 38 percent of grade six students met or exceeded the provincial average.

Council Supports New Marina Development

Kenora city council is planning to lend its support to the development
of a new marina in Cameron Bay.

Council has agreed to seek funding from FedNor and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund to extend sewer and water services to the development.

The city is also ready to pony up 360 thousand dollars of its own money
for the project.

The city's share of the funding would come from sewer and water reserves.

Winnipeg Sport and Liesure is currently working on developing a 200 slip marina in Cameron Bay.

Take Back the Night Tonight

An annual march through downtown Kenora takes place this evening.

Take Back the Night will start this year from the Whitecap Pavillion.

Jennifer Dennis from the Kenora Woman's Action Network says everyone is welcome to come out and march in support, men, women and children.

The Grassy Narrows Women's Drum group will start things off at 5:00 this evening, followed by the actual march at 5:30.

Transfer Station Closed to Construction Waste

Anyone wanting to dump construction waste is going to have a little
longer drive today.

The City's Waste Transfer Station says one of its trucks is out of service
for repair.

That means anyone who needs to dump construction materials will have
to make the trek out to the Jones Road Landfill site.

City spokesperson Heather Kasprick says you can still weigh the waste at the Transfer Station and pay for it there, but you will have to transport it yourself.

Saints Sweep Season Opener, Broncos Split

A pretty good start to the NorWOSSA Court Sport season.

Thomas Aquinas made it a clean sweep over Pelican Falls in their
home opener yesterday.

The both the Saints junior and senior boys volleyball teams shut out the
Timberwolves in three straight sets.

In senior girls basketball action, T.A. cruised to a 39-2 win.

In Dryden, the Beaver Brae split its games with the Eagles.

The Bronco junior boys needed five sets to subdue Dryden, while the
Beaver Brae senior squad lost in three straight sets.

On the basketball court, Maddie Gan had 11 points as the Bronco junior
girls edged the Eagles 32-29.

Beaver Brae's senior girls weren't as fortunate, dropping a 27-19 decision
to Dryden.