Midget Thistles on the Road This Weekend

The Kenora Triple "A" Midget Thistles will get lots of time on the road this weekend.

The Thistles are kicking off a 3 game road trip tonight with a stop in Portage La Prairie against the Central Plains Capitals.

Game time is 8:00.

Tomorrow, the Kenora Midgets head further west for a stops in Brandon to face the Wheat Kings.

The puck drops for that game at 7:30.

The Thistles then hit the road again for a stop in Dauphin on
Sunday when they take on the Parkland Rangers.

That game gets underway at 2:30.

Supreme Court to Hear Kokopenace Case

The Supreme Court of Canada has agreed to review the case of the Crown versus Kokopenace.

Clifford Kokopenace had his manslaughter conviction overturned back in 2008 because of a lack of aboriginal jurors at his trial.

The provincial government has appealed the decision all the way to the Supreme Court, but has also been working to address the problem of first nation representation on jury rolls.

The Nishinabe Aski Nation says it has asked for intervenor status in the landmark case.

Campbell Introduces Private Members Bill Targeting Energy Retailers

A private members bill has been introduced at Queen's Park to prevent fixed price contracts for residential customers.

The Bill was introduced yesterday by Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. Sarah Campbell.

She says the bill is really aimed at unscrupulous electricity retailers.

Campbell says a recent report by Ontario's Auditor General found that approximately 15 per cent of the province’s customers are currently signed up with a private retailer and are paying 35 to 65 per cent more for the electricity.

Committee Created to Tackle FASD

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is gaining a strong voice in Northwestern Ontario.

Jack Martin is a director for Creighton Youth Services and says service providers from across the region have formed a committee which will join a lobby group in Southern Ontario.

Martin says the committee has very specific goals.

Martin says FSAD is a lifelong illness and that early detection can prevent people from falling into substance abuse and mental health issues.

He adds that only recently was FASD recognized provincially and they had to go to Western Canada for expertise on the subject.

Bad Weather, Icing Blamed for North Spirit Lake Air Crash

The Transportation Safety Board has ruled that operational pressures, bad weather, and a lack of experience factored in a fatal plane crash in northwestern Ontario.

Spokesperson Peter Hildebrand says the pilot and three passengers died when the Keystone Air Service aircraft went down in a snowstorm about 2-kilometers shy of the runway at North Spirit Lake on January 10th, 2012.

Hildebrand says the aircraft was forced to circle for several minutes resulting in the build-up of ice.

He says the plane stalled during the final approach at an altitude from which recovery wasn't possible.
36-year-old Brian Shead from Winnipeg
was the only survivor of the crash.

Red Cross Raffle Tickets Now On Sale

The Red Cross needs your help to continue offering disaster relief services.

The organization has launched its Northern Raffle and hopes to sell over 4-thousand tickets.

Disaster Manager Coordinator Dave Wright says money raised stays local.

Tickets can be purchased Canadian Red Cross Offices across the region.

Horwath Critical of Government Handling of Ring of Fire

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says the Provincial Government has dropped the ball when it comes to the handling of the Ring of Fire.

Cliffs Natural Resources has announced it will suspend indefinitely its chromite project in Northern Ontario by the end of the fourth quarter of this year.

Horwath says she's not surprised by the company's decision.

The announcement will mean the loss of around 40 jobs.

Bronco Girls lose on the Road

The Fort Frances Muskies look like the team to beat this year in the NorWOSSA girls hockey league.

The Muskies shut down the Beaver Brae Broncos 10-0 last night in Fort Frances.

The Broncos will get a chance to work on their game this weekend as they welcome the Baudette Bears to town for a pair of exhibition games.

The first game is tonight at 7:00 at the Keewatin Arena.

The same two teams will square off again tomorrow at noon in Keewatin.

Meanwhile both Thomas Aquinas and Beaver Brae boys hockey teams are in Dryden this weekend for a high school tournament.

The Subway-Dingwall Ford Invitational gets underway this morning.

The Saints will play their first game at 11:30 against the Murdoch McKay Clansmen from Winnipeg, while the Broncos will take on John Taylor at 1:00.