Police arrest Kenora man for Grow-Op

A 50 year old Kenora man faces drug charges after the OPP uncovered a grow-op just off Highway 71.

The Kenora Drug Unit teamed up with the OPP's Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau, and ERT team and the Rural Agricultural Crime team on Monday.

They executed a search warrant on a piece of property located in Kirkup Township.

Police say they seized 26 marijuana plants, 870 grams of dried marijuana, 800 grams of marijuana shake and other drug paraphenalia.

The drugs have a street value of about 44 thousand dollars.

Stan Denkiewicz has been charged with production of a controlled substance.

Health Units tracking bed bugs

Don't let the bed bugs bite!

That's what the Northwestern Health Unit is trying to prevent has it has received Provincial funds to study the rate of bed bug infestations in our area.

Health Promoter Valdine McEwen says they need the public's assistance.

A questionnaire on bed bugs can be found on the Health Unit's web site.

Candidates in Kenora-Rainy River get thumbs up from health group

The Heart and Stroke Foundation says health needs to become a bigger election issue.

The Foundation has talked to all the candidates in northwestern Ontario and says the main party's support their proposals to create a healthier population.

Wendy Savoy says there are serious health concerns in this region that need to be  addressed.

Savoy says their proposals include more food education, and more funding for physical education in the schools.

Big Trout Lake complains of more mining activity

Its like deja-vu all over again for the Big Trout Lake First Nation.

The band is upset that the mining company God's Lake Resources has started some exploration work in K.I.'s traditional land use area.

John Cutfeet is a spokesperson for the band and says the provincial government continues to ignore concerns.

Cutfeet says to add insult to injury, the exploration work is being done on an old burial site.

Nurses at the Northwest CCAC could hit the picket line next week

There could be pickets in front of Northwest Community Care Access Centre sites across northwestern Ontario next week.

The 88 members of the Ontario Nurses Association have joined with their counterparts at nine other CCAC's to support strike action October 3 to back contract demands.

The workers provide health and home care services to the seniors in their own home.

Mediated talks are planned for today and tomorrow.

Bronco Court teams lose on the road

Beaver Brae's court sport teams are still searching for their first wins of the year.

Yesterday the Broncos were in Fort Frances, but the Muskies were not good hosts, winning all four of the games played.

The closest contest was the senior girls basketball game, where Beaver Brae was edged 11-10.

In junior girls action, the Muskies prevailed 38-23 over the Broncos.

It was the same story in boys volleyball action, with Fort beating Beaver Brae's senior boys three sets to one, and then blanking the junior squad three games to none.

Tomorrow, the Broncos host Dryden.

Treaty Three Economic Conference Begins tonight

Municipal, first nation and business leaders are gathering in Kenora for a three day conference on the local economy.

Grand Council Treaty #3 is hosting the Area Economic Opportunities Conference starting tonight.

Issues such as tourism, mining, forestry and arts and culture are some of the topics up for discussion.

The conference is taking place at the Minis Hall at the Super 8.

OPP Investigate a Rash of Thefts

The OPP are investigating a number of mischief and theft complaints over the past few days.

In one incident, police say a couple of Yamaha scooters were stolen from a garage on 5th Avenue South.

One of the vehicles has since been recovered, but the OPP say they are still on the lookout for the other one, which is black and grey in color.

Other incidents under investigation include the theft of items from unlocked vehicles, damage to vehicles and also damage to election signs.

Beware of Concussions

Canada's Leading Expert in Concussions is hoping he leaves medical personal with more knowledge on the issue.

Brain Injury Services of Northern Ontario invited Dr. Charles Tator to speak at their conference.

Tator feels the general public need to learn more about the signs of a concussion.

Support Shown for Cross-Town Snowmobile Corridor

There seems to be considerable support for a cross-town snowmobile corridor through the City of Kenora.

About 50 people attended a public meeting last night on the proposed route.

Shawn Clifford is a spokesperson for the Sunset Trail Riders and says most of the comments they received back were positive.

The final day for comment on the Cross-town corridor is October 11th.

City council is expected to move the proposal forward at its next open meeting.

Fire season winding down in the Northwest

The fire season is slowly starting to wind down in northwestern Ontario.

There are still 38 blazes listed as active today.

Five are under control and two other are being held.

The other 31 are being observed, with no active fire activity noted.

In the meantime, fire crews are starting to pack up their gear, including hose lines and bring it back to their respective fire bases in the region.

With the recent warm weather, the fire hazard has climbed into the moderate range across the region.

Three Grassy and Wabaseemung Residents return from Japan

Three members of the Grassy Narrows and Wabaseemung First Nation have returned from a once in a lifetime trip to Japan.

Grassy Chief Simon Fobister was joined by two other people to visit Minnimata, which is a community devastated by mercury poisoning.

Fobister says there are a number of parallels between the the Japanese city and area first nations affected by mercury poisoning.

He says the big difference is that the Japanese have received much better compensation and are getting better medical treatment.

CCAC Strike Vote

Unionized employees with the Northwest Community Care Access Centre are taking a strike vote this week

The 88-members of the Ontario Nurse's Assocation are among those at ten C-C-A-C's across Ontario that could be in a strike position October 3.

Mediated talks are planned for this week.

Workload and wages are among the issues.

The Kenora Catholic District School Board

The Kenora Catholic District School Board says its seen an increase in enrolment this fall.

While the numbers won't be finalized for another month, director of Education Phylis Eikre says their numbers are up by about 60 students.

She says a large part of the increase is due to the addition of all-junior kindergarten classes at Pope John Paul.

Current enrolment at the separate school board is 15 hundred and 89 students.

Mill Auction

An auction of equipment from the former Atikokan Forest Products Mill is expected to go today.

A company had expressed interest in buying the mill, but was unable to secure a wood supply from the province.

The mill, which has been down for the past three years, was placed into receivership at the beginning of the year.

Debate

Party leaders will square off tonight for the first time in this campaign race. With the October 6th election looming, Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty, Tories' Tim Hudak and N-D-P's Andrea Horwath are prepping themselves for tonight’s televised debate. The 90 minute debate starts at 5:30 PM on CTV or at CTVNews.ca

Cigarette Packages

Ottawa has finally approved bold new labels for cigarette packages. Tobacco companies have until March to switch up the packs but feel the new campaign will have little effect.
The new labels will cover 75 per cent of cigarette packages outlining the risk of smoking. All cigarette packages will now include graphic pictures like that of a cancer-infected mouth, and of Barb Tarbox. She was an anti-smoking activist before dying of lung cancer at the age of 42.

Health advocates have praised the campaign, but were suspicious about the government's resolve to implement it.

NOACC wraps up fall meetings

The Northwestern Associated Chambers of Commerce has wrapped up its fall convention in Thunder Bay.

NOACC president Andy Scribilo says their goal is to get business leaders across the region more involved.

As part of the NOACC convention, Scribilo took part as one of the questioners in the northern leaders debate in Thunder Bay.

Police Investigate Cat Lake fatality

Nishnawbe-Aski Police are investigating a sudden death in Cat Lake First Nation, north of Sioux Lookout.

Police were assisting Sunday in the search for 83-year-old Charlie Gray who was overdue from a hunting trip.

Officers located Gray near his boat and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police don't suspect foul play.

An autopsy is scheduled for tomorrow at Lake of the Woods District Hospital.

Public meeting on Snowmobile Corridor tonight

Local residents will get a chance to comment on a new cross-town snowmobile corridor in the city.

An open house is being held this evening at the Operations building on Barsky's Hill.

The city has been working with the Sunset Trail Riders Snowmobile Club on an alterate route that will avoid residential areas, but will still connect the south side of the city to the north side.

The open house will run from 6:30 to 8:00 this evening.