Martin Falls deals with epidemic of prescription drug addictions

With a quarter of its tiny population hooked on prescription painkillers, Marten Falls First Nation has decided to embark on a costly but proven method to get addicts free and clear.

Starting October 3rd, about 60 affected residents of the Northern First Nation will take part in a 3-phase program to substitute their addiction to Oxycodone and other addictive pills with controlled doses of Suboxone.

A team of health professionals will taper the drug over 30 days until clients can be taken off completely or continue on short-term, low-dose maintenance.

Drug and alcohol counsellor Liza Moonias says painkiller abuse on the reserve, 500-kilometres north of Thunder Bay, started to become a serious problem about 5-years ago.

She says 20-per cent of the reserve's adult population has since become addicted.

Greenstone lobbies for Ring of Fire Smelter

The Municipality of Greenstone feels it now has a leg up in attracting a Ring of Fire refinery.

Consultant George Smitherman says his study shows that the Town of Exton should be the top choice for Cliffs Natural Resources when it makes a decision on a smelter location

Cliffs hopes to make a decision by the end of the year.

Rainy River Resources Strikes Nickle

There's gold - now there appears to be nickel at Rainy River Resources gold project south of Kenora.
The company says it recently found what it believes to be a new nickel deposit.

Further exploration is planned to better define the size of the discovery.

OPP investigate Weagamow fire

Sioux Lookout OPP and Weagamow Lake First Nation Police are investigating a major fire.

Police received a report on MOnday that a winter road check point building had been burned.

OPP believe the structure may have been burned intentionally.

Police say the building was a North Caribou Band Office security trailer.

Anyone with information is asked to contact OPP or Crime Stoppers.

Three drug busts in Rainy River District

Three people in the Rainy River district will make future court appearances on drug charges.

A 60-year-old Fort Frances man was charged after O-P-P seized 3-thousand dollars worth of marijuana plants from a home in late August.

A week later, a marijuana grow operation was discovered in Barwick where police seized plants and dry marijuana, valued at over 23-thousand dollars.

A 47-year-old man was charged.

A day later a 44-year-old woman from Couchiching First Nation was charged after police stopped a vehicle and found 41-hundred dollars worth of cocaine inside.

Portraits of Honor Coming to Kenora

A national tribute to soldiers who have died during the Afghan mission will be making its way to Kenora after all.

A couple of local residents have been lobbying for the truck to stop in the city on its cross-country tour.

George Storm and Carole Davis have been spear-heading the effort.

The Portraits of Honor carvan will also be stopping in Vermillion Bay next week.

NOMA

The Vice President of NOMA has a sneaking suspicion the Northern Ontario Leaders Debate will draw Premier McGuinty.

Dave Canfield says even though the Premier has said he can't attend; he might find a way in the end.

Canfield feels any Premier needs to be engaged with the region since we have all of the resources.

OFIA

Northwestern Ontario's Forest Industry could make a come back.


That's according to Ontario Forest Industry Association Spokesperson Scott Jackson.

The O-F-I-A wants a promise from each provincial party that if they win the election; they'll scrap policies that create red tape for the industry.

Ontario Mining Association

The President of the Ontario Mining Association is predicting the current mining boom only has a 20 year shelf life.


Chris Hodgson says we need to strike while the iron is hot.

Hodgson adds in order for the region to provide a solid workforce more women need to consider careers in mining.

MS Kenora

The M-S Kenora will continue to be a landmark on the Harborfront.


The owners of the tour boat have announced that they will continue to operate on Lake of the Woods, after threatening to move last year.

Owner, Al Luby admits its been a difficult couple of years but they hope to provide more services next year, including daily trips to Coney Island.

OPP investigate Fatal Fire on Lake of the Woods

One person is dead and another in critical but stable condition as a result of a fire at a cottage on Lake of the Woods.

The OPP say the blaze took place just before 5:00 Monday morning on Ward Island.

The cabin was completely destroyed.

The Ontario Fire Marshall's office has been called into investigate.

Police have not released the name of the deceased, but say both people were residents of the United States.

Organizers of Northern Leaders debate still hoping Dalton shows

Organizers of this week's leaders debate on northern issues are still hoping the premier might make an appearance.

Andy Scribilo is the president of the Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce and believes there is a lot of pressure on Dalton McGuinty to take part.

The leaders debate will take place Friday morning in Thunder Bay.

Far North Act Under Attack at all-candidates forum

The Far North Act came under attack at last night's all-candidates forum in Kenora.

At least three of the candidates indicated that their party would either scrap it or re-write it.

Rod McKay for the Conservatives says they believe in opening up the north for development.

Charmaine Romaniuk from the Northern Ontario Heritage Party says their goal would be to make sure any minerals mined in the north would be processed here as well.

Sarah Campbell from the NDP, Anthony Leek from the Liberals and Jo Jo Holiday of the Green Party also attended the forum.

Saints Sweep Rams in NorWOSSA season opener

A good start to the season for the Thomas Aquinas Boys Volleyball and Girls basketball teams.

They made it a clean sweep over the Red Lake Rams yesterday.

The T.A. senior boys cruised to an easy three sets to none victory over the Rams, while the Saints Junior boys needed five sets to get by Red Lake.

In Basketball action, the Senior Saints upended the Rams 30-12, while the Junior girls held on for a 27-24 victory.

Broncos lose season opener on home Court

A disappointing start to the season for Beaver Brae's court Sport teams.

They were swept by the Dryden Eagles this afternoon at home.

The Broncos Senior boys volleyball team took the Eagles to five games, but came out on the losing end, while the Beaver Brae junior squad lost in three straight sets.

In girls basketball, Dryden earned a 28-20 win over the Broncos.

Kaitlyn Sparkman led the offense with 7 points.

The Beaver Brae junior girls dropped a 41-30 decision. Riley Smith was the game's high scorer with 11 points.

Canada's Inflation Rate

Canada's annual inflation rate jumped to 3.1 per cent last month as consumers paid more for many items, including gasoline and food.

Statistics Canada says, on a month-to-month basis, consumers paid 3-10ths of a per cent more last month than in July.The surprisingly strong jump reverses a recent trend to more moderate inflation, which had seen the rate fall from 3.7 during May to 2.7 per cent in July.

But gasoline was 22.8 per cent more expensive last month than in August 2010. Food cost 4.4 per cent more

Fertility Treatments

Canada's fertility doctors are looking at barring obese women from having fertility treatments.

It's in light of some research showing obese women who have in-vitro fertilization treatments have higher risks of complications.

The idea is being discussed among the fertility doctors who are meeting at a conference this week in Toronto

Vote

A sure sign that the Provincial election is fast approaching!

Advance polls open in several communities today according to Kenora-Rainy River Returning Officer Ian Simpson.

Kenora residents can also start voting today at 227 2ND STREET SOUTH .

Voters should bring their photo ID and the Notice of Registration Card.

Youth Action Committee on Drugs

Kenora City Council is being asked to support yet another committee.

A couple of members of the Youth Action Committee on Drugs made a deputation this week suggesting the formation of a youth council.

The council would be made up of youth between the ages of 14 and 20 and would have an elected board of directors.

Air Canada

The skies are clear for Air Canada in its labour dispute with its flight attendants.

A threatened strike was averted after a tentative agreement was reached late yesterday between the airline and its 68-hundred attendants.

CUPE is happy with the deal and recommends members accept it when they vote on it next month.

The union says even though the agreement was reached with back-to-work legislation looming, it achieved about 80 per cent of what it wanted.