Broncos bow out in the Consolation Final of Winnipeg Soccer Tournament

Some positives for Beaver Brae boys soccer team.

The Broncos were in Winnipeg this weekend for the St. John Ravenscourt Tournament.

Beaver Brae lost out in the Consolation final after a 2-1 loss to River East.

Jordan Spencer scored the Broncos lone goal of the game, his fourth of the tournament.

Beaver Brae finished with a record of one win, two losses and a shootout loss.

The NorWOSSA double "a" regular season starts on Wednesday.

NOMA Passes 23 Resolutions

Delegates from the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association are giving the Provincial Government a list of things they'd like to see changed.

They passed 23 resolutions that will be sent to the Province; including providing payments in lieu of municipal land tax and reversing the decision to close the Travel Information Centres in Kenora, Rainy River and Fort Frances.

NOMA members also approved a resolution in support of construction and operation of a ferrochrome processing facility in Exton in the Greenstone District.

Four Arrested in Pickle Lake Bust

Four Pickle Lake residents have been arrested following a drug bust.

Ontario Provincial Police, RCMP and Thunder Bay Police executed five search warrants in Pickle Lake.

Police seized 564 oxycodone pills and nearly eight thousand dollars cash as well as drug paraphernalia and 2-firearms.

Police say 63 year-old James Marino faces 11 charges including trafficking, possession of stolen property and unlawful storage of firearms.

72 year old David Lockwood, 22 year old Albert Shingebis and 50 year old Ida Crane each face three charges.

Gold Exploration Explodes in Northwestern Ontario

As many as eight new gold mines could open in the Kenora Mining District in the next four years.

That's according to MNR Geologist Andreas Lichtblau.

He says Coventry Resources is getting close to opening a new mine in the Cameron Lake area southeast of Kenora.

Lichtblau says as many as three new gold projects could start up in Red Lake in the next couple of years, two in the Dryden area and two in the Rainy River District.

Campbell Defends Abstaining on Budget Vote

Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. Sarah Campbell is defending her decision to abstain from voting on the provincial budget this week.

Campbell addressed delegates at the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association Convention yesterday and says there just wasn't any support for another election.

Campbell suggests Ontario is better off with a minority government, as long as all the party's try to work together.

Sturgeon Fishery Rebounding on Lake of the Woods

There's some good new regarding the Sturgeon fishery in Lake of the Woods and Rainy River.

Fisheries officials in Ontario and Minnesota says short-term goals established several years ago have been reached.

Tom Mosindy of the Ministry of Natural Resources says there's still work to do.

Mosindy says they now have males as old as 30 years and females at least 50.

Four arrested in theft of Vehicle from Sioux Narrows

The OPP say they have arrested four youth in connection to a stolen vehicle from the Sioux Narrows area.

Police say a 2007 Jeep Compass was taken from the driveway of a home last Thursday night.

On Friday morning, the same vehicle was seen driving just east of Kenora on Highway 17.

Officers located the vehicle abandoned at a business on the east highway and began searching for the culprits.

Three of four suspects were initially apprehended.

The OPP say two 18 year old men, a 16 year old and a 15 year old boy have all been charged with possession of property obtained by crime and various bail violations.

Ontario Jury Pools on Trial this week

The makeup of juries goes on trial before

Ontario's top court this week as two killers fight their guilty verdicts.

Lawyer Julian Falconer argues aboriginals have been unfairly shut out from juries for years.

The two aboriginals, including Clifford Kokopenace of Grassy Narrows are asking the Court of Appeal for new trials because on-reserve First Nations people were excluded from the juries that convicted them.

Kokopenace was convicted of manslaughter in Kenora Court back in 2008. 

Colleges Minister Bullish on Lakewood Project

Ontario's Minister of Colleges, Training and Universities has had a first hand look at the Lakewood School Proposal.

Glenn Murray was in town on Friday for the NOMA conference and had a chance to sit down with the Lake of the Woods Economic Development Commission.

Murray says he likes the concept of transforming the elementary school into an adult education center.

As for funding the project, Murray says there is money within the budget for colleges and universities.

Tourist Information Closures Raised at NOMA Bearpit

The closure of three tourist information centers in northwestern Ontario and the Ring of Fire.

Those two issues dominated the Bear Pit Session with four members of the McGuinty Government on Friday at the NOMA conference in Kenora.

Natural Resources Minister Michael Gravelle says while they are sympathetic about the closure of the Tourism Centers, he's not making any promises to re-open them.

On the Ring of Fire, Aboriginal Affairs Minister Kathleen Wynn re-assured municipal leaders that the government is moving forward, but much of the work is being done behind the scenes.

Municipal infrastructure, the Far North Act and the Northern Institute were other subjects raised during the bear pit session.

Flavour Gone Supports Private Members Bill

Youth advocates in Northwestern Ontario believe they have something to cheer about.

NDP Health Critic France Gelinas has introduced a Private Member’s Bill asking for a ban on all flavoured tobacco products in Ontario.

Roberta Lappage represents ‘Flavour…GONE’ and says this is a step in the right direction.

Lappage the bill will help stop big tobacco companies from producing new and enticing products for youth.

Dryden Pharmacist Charged with Trafficking

A Dryden pharmacist has been charged with drug trafficking.

Few details have been released but Ontario Provincial Police say the arrest follows a 2-month investigation.

51-year-old Robert Button has been charged with trafficking in a controlled substance.

He remains in custody and he will appear in court in Sioux Lookout today.

LHIN's Talks Health Care Funding at NOMA

The Northwest Local Health Integration Network says there may be health care shortages in this region, but it's not because of a lack of funding.

Joy Warkentin is the chair of the board of the LHIN's and says they just need to find better and more efficient ways of spending the money they get.

Warkentin says while northwestern Ontario has two percent of Ontario's population, it takes up five percent of the Health care budget.

Hudak Urges Action on the Ring of Fire

The province should be doing more to move the Ring of Fire forward.

That's the feeling of PC leader Tim Hudak.

Speaking this morning on the CJRL morning show, Hudak says the premier needs to be leading the charge.

Hudak is one of the guest speakers today at the NOMA convention in Kenora.

He'll also be speaking with party faithful at a Conservative Party breakfast this morning.

Budget Cuts affect Con College

Recent budget cuts are going to affect Confederation College's ability to extend service to local communities.

President of Con College, Jim Madder spoke to delegates this morning at the NOMA conference.

He says one of their recent success stories has been a dual credit program offered through local high schools.

Madder says there is increasing demand for trades in the region, and the college will continue to work with local business to meet the need.

Property Tax System needs to be overhauled: Hume

The property tax system is broken and needs to be fixed.

That was the message this morning at the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association Conference taking place in Kenora.

Gord Hume was the keynote speaker and says property taxes are simply inadequate to address the infrastructure deficit municipalities are facing.

Hume is suggesting some sort of revenue sharing arrangement with the upper levels of government, either a percentage of the HST for municipalities or a portion of the income tax the federal government collects.

Drug bust in downtown Kenora

A 26 year old Kenora man has been arrested after the OPP's Street Crimes Unit witnessed a drug deal going down.

Police say two men were arrested in the downtown area yesterday and eight grams of marijuana was seized.

Christopher Kitt has been charged with trafficking in a narcotic, possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of property obtained by crime.

He is being held in custody pending a show/cause hearing.

A second man was also charged with possession of a controlled substance.

Update your Immunizations

Northwestern Health Unit says a lot of residents in the Kenora and Rainy River districts don't have their immunization records up to date.

The Health Unit's Donna Stanley says a call to the Health Unit can change that.

Stanley says as adults we're quick to ensure our children receive their shots, but don't keep our own up to date.

Get ready for Culture Days

Getting folks excited about Canadian culture is the focus of a series of information sessions across the region.

The event is in preparation for Culture Days this September across Canada.

Ontario Culture Days Manager Aubrey Reeves says they will be offering free webinars to anyone interested.

Culture Days is a 3-day event that highlights our artists, musicians and cultural groups.

FedNor Critic Concerned with cuts to program

The NDP's new FEDNOR critic is quick to call for its protection.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River M.P. John Rafferty says it's too important of a program for communities across northern Ontario.

Rafferty is accusing the federal government of cutting funding for the economic development agency.

Delegates at the NOMA conference in Kenora will get an update on FedNor later today.