Gang Member Arrested in Dryden

A Native Syndicate gang member has been taken off the streets.

On Monday, Nishnawbe-Aski Police executed two arrest warrants surrounding a 51-year-old Cat Lake man who has been involved with the gang since 2003.

The warrants were originally issued by Dryden Police in September.

Police say that the man currently has 16 outstanding breaches of court orders.

Thomas Aquinas Gets Top Marks

St. Thomas Aquinas High school is receiving high praise.

The shool is receiving the Dr. Bette M. Sthephenson Award for Recognition and Acheivement.

Teachers Nancy Prouty explains how the school earned the award.

The school will receive the award at a ceremony in Toronto on Novermber 15th.

SIU To Look Into Red Lake Fatality

The Ontario Special Investigations Unit has been contacted about a fatality in Red Lake.

A man had barricaded himself in a home early Sunday morning.

When an OPP Tactical and Rescue Unit finally entered the house early yesterday morning the man was found dead inside.

While foul play is not suspected, the SIU is contacted anytime there is a fatality that involves an interaction with police.

Health Unit Releases Strat Plan

The Northwestern Health Unit wants to help solve area health concerns.

The health unit released its 4 year strategic plan this week.

CEO Mark Perrault says the plans includes suggestions for a healthier lifestyle.

Perrault adds they can measure results amongst children using surveys done in schools and get more on-demand results.

Perrault adds that the Strategic Plan will be released at an open house in December. 

Hospital Wait Times Near Provincial Average

The Lake of the Woods District Hospital is keeping up with the provincial average for emergency room wait times.

Last week the province said that wait times were down at hospitals across the province.

Cindy Gasparini from the Lake of the Woods District Hospital says that wait times for severe and urgent care are lower in Kenora against the provinicial average.

Gasperini also adds that at the same time the wait times for less urgent care are slightly above the average.

Closed Meeting Investigator Called on for Norman Park

Former members of city council are being put on notice.

A closed meeting investigator has been contacted by a local resident to look at whether a previous city council acted properly when it removed a covenant on Norman Park.

Former mayor Joyce Chevrier says she's concerned the decision was made behind closed doors, when it should have been made in an open meeting.

Chevrier is upset the city took a covenant off of Norman Park, indicating that no commercial development could take place on the property.

Wynne Enters Race to become Ontario's new Premier

Kathleen Wynne says Ontario needs a premier who can fix the government's contentious relationship with the province's teachers over wage freezes.

In launching her leadership bid last night, the former cabinet minister told the crowd of supporters that she's got what it takes to do just that.

Wynne says she can offer the party her ability to find common ground on difficult issues.

Glen Murray, the former minister of training, colleges and universities, is also in the race to succeed Premier Dalton McGuinty.

So far the former Aboriginal Affairs minister seems to be the candidate to beat in the provincial Liberal leadership race.

In our on-line poll this week, we asked who you preferred as Ontario's new Premier, Kathleen Wynne or Glen Murray.

Currently 60 percent favor Wynne, while just 40 percent would support the former Winnipeg mayor.

You can cast your vote on-line at 895 The Lake.ca

Con College Reaches Agreement with More Partners

Confederation College is continuing to partner with other colleges in the province to share courses.

Three more colleges were added to the list Monday in Timmins, Sudbury and Peterorough.

President Jim Madder says it will give more students a chance to take programs and not leave their home communties

Madder says Confederation College is bringing its mining program to the table for this agreement.

NorWOSSA Play-offs Begin Today at Thomas Aquinas

The NorWOSSA Play-offs begin today at Thomas Aquinas.

T.A. is playing host to the single A girls basketball and boys volleyball championships.

On the schedule today, the host Saints senior girls will take on Sioux Lookout at noon, while the Thomas Aquinas junior girls will face Atikokan at 2:00.

Both the Saints junior and senior boys volleyball teams have earned byes into tomorrows gold medal games.

The NorWOSSA Double "A" playoffs will take place Thursday at Beaver Brae

Stand-Off in Red Lake Ends Tragically

Provincial police in Balmertown say a standoff ended tragically this morning.

A tactical response unit entered a home just before 5:00 o'clock this morning only to find a man inside dead.

O.P.P. spokesperson Dave Lamme says they were alerted to the situation just before 8:00 o'clock yesterday morning and tried to contact the man inside numerous times.

Police say they did create a permieter around the residence and evacuated homes nearby.

Police say no fould play is suspected and that they will release the name of the man once family are notified.

Morson Man Faces Hunting Fines

A area man has been fined 15-hundred dollars for having illegally killed deer in his possession.

Randy St. Pierre of Morson was fined after pleading guilty to the charge in Ontario Court of Justice earlier this month.

St. Pierre was charged last November after Ministry of Natural Resources Conservation Officers two deer hanging outside his home without tags.

Long Gun Records Destroyed

It's the end of an era for federal long-gun registry records.

Kenora MP Greg Rickford has confirmed that as of October 31, there are no records for anyone who lives outside the Province of Quebec.

Rickford says this is great news for all Northern Ontarians who wanted the registry dismantled.

Rickford adds that the registry had cost 2 billion dollars.

Three Youth Arrested in Break-In

Three youth have been arrested in connection to a break-in to a restaurant on Lakeview Drive.

The OPP were called out early last Thursday morning after a break and enter was reported at Casey's.

Police say a quantity of alcohol was stolen from the business.

Officers managed to locate three suspects a short time later.

All three appeared in Kenora Court Friday on charges of break, enter and theft and possession of property obtained by crime.

OPP Investigate "Suspicious Death" in Fort Frances

Yellow police tape remains up around a section of a Fort Frances motel where the body of a man was discovered last week.

An employee at the Mid Town Motel discovered the body early Friday morning.

The man's name has not yet been released.

On the weekend, investigators were seen in and around the room where his body was found gathering evidence into the death OPP have deemed suspicious.

Former Winnipeg Mayor Enter Race to Become Ontario Premier

Former Ontario cabinet minister Glen Murray is officially in the race to succeed Dalton McGuinty.

The former minister of Training, Colleges and Universities made it official yesterday. The Toronto-Centre M-P-P told a news conference at Maple

Leaf Gardens he has the experience and ideas to take the reins of the party, which has struggled since forming a minority government.

So far, the only other contender for the job is former Municipal Affairs Minister Kathleen Wynne, who gave up her cabinet post earlier this week.

She's expected to formally announce her intentions today.

Province Says Mental Health Workers employed in NWO

Northwestern Ontario is welcoming 20 new mental health workers.

Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro says they will work in schools, including the Kenora Catholic District School Board and the Keewatin-Patricia District Board.

Mauro says mental health has always been an important issue, and there seems to be an increase demand for support services. 

The new mental health workers are a part of the 600 that have been hired in the province to help children, young people and their families get quick and easy access to support.

NAPS Lay Additional Trafficking Charges

Nishnawbe-Aski Police have charged a second person involved in a drug trafficking attempt.

An investigation lead police to another seizure of Morphine pills, worth 1800 dollars.

Police say 25-year-old Star Kenequanash of Cat Lake First Nation is charged with possesion of a controlled substance.

Police had arrested 45-year-old Harry Wesley before, and charged him with two counts of posession for the purpose of trafficking.

Thistles Sweep Parkland at Home

The Kenora Triple A Midget Thistles have finally put back-to-back wins together.

The Thistles swept the Parkland Rangers this weekend in a pair of games at the Kenora Rec. Center.

Saturday night, the Thistles cruised to a 9-0 win over the Rangers.

Evan Mignault and Nolan Ross each had a pair of goals for the Thistles in the win.

Friday night, the Thistles got by Parkland 4-1.

Jaryd Wiebe scored twice for the Thistles in that contest.

The Kenora Midgets have now moved a game above the .500 mark for the first time this season.

Gravelle Upset at Rickford Over Snowmobile Trails

Nickel Belt MP Claude Gravelle wants answers from Kenora MP Greg Rickford.

Gravelle wants to know why Rickford avoided the topic of providing funding for snowmobile trails in Northwestern Ontario.

Gravelle says he's frusturated with how Rickford is handling the situation.

About 168,000 Ontarians belong to a snowmobiling club, generating around 1.2 billion in revenue.

Whitecap Pavillion Skating Rink

This winter you can go skating underneath the Whitecap Pavillion.

The Lake of the Woods Economic Developement Commission passed the motion to create the skating rink yesterday.

Special Events Coordinator Mark Duggan they hope to open the rink by mid-December.

The rink will be used as a skating only surface.