Keewatin-Patricia DSB and OSSTF Hold Contract Talks

Two days of contract talks are scheduled this week between the public school board and its high school teachers.

Negotiators with the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board are meeting today and tomorrow with the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation.

Union vice-president, Paul Elliott says this round of talks will determine whether teachers will take any job action this week.

The OSSTF also represents local occasional teachers, educational support staff as well as clerical, office and library workers.

OPP Lay Two More Impaired Driving Charges

Another weekend, another couple of impaired driving charges in the Kenora area.

The OPP say they stopped two vehicles in the Lakeside area.

In once case, the driver, a 35 year old Rat Portage man was not only charged with impaired driving, but also Uttering Threats causing bodily harm.

The OPP began its Festive RIDE program over the weekend to try curb the incidence of impaired driving over the holiday season.

Three Charged in McMunn Break-In

Three Winnipeg men have been arrested following a break-in to a gas station at McMunn on Highway 1 in Manitoba.

Falcon Lake RCMP say they were called to investigate an alarm at the McMunn Motor Inn around 4:00 Friday morning.

With help from an RCMP Canine Unit, three suspects were located.

Police say the men were aged 33, 31 and 21 year old and face several charges in connection to the break-in.

Treaty Three Concerned with Generic Oxy

Another First Nation Organization is weighing in on the federal government's decision to allow production of generic Oxycontin.

Harmony Redsky is a Health Policy Analyst with Treaty # 3 and says this decision will undo the work they have been carrying out to fight addictions to prescription pills.

Redsky adds that Treaty #3 will be bringing up their concerns with other first nations organization to try change the federal's government mind about licencing the generic drug.

LOW Water Resources Center Working Group to Meet

A steering group will be meeting this week to keep the ball rolling for a water resource center for Lake of the Woods.

A workshop was held earlier this month to find out if there was any support for such a concept.

Kelly Saunders is spear-heading the initiative and says their job now is to see if they can make the dream a reality.

There's about a half dozen people involved in the working group, which will be looking at the possibility of establishing a Water Resource Center in Kenora.

Campbell Launches Regional Collection Drive

Some incentive to shop local and help those less fortunate from Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell.

Campbell is organizing a collection drive across her riding.

Campbell says those who bring in food items, clothes or toys will be entered into a draw for gift certificates from local businesses.

In Kenora donations can be dropped of at Campbell's office in the Royal Canadian Legion Building.

Police Investigating Fatal Fire near Pickle Lake

The Ontario Fire Marshall's Office is investigating a fatal house fire on New Osnaburgh First Nation.

The Nishinabe Aski Police Service says human remains were found on the scene of the fire on Friday.

A post-mortem examination will be conducted at Lake of the Woods District Hospital in Kenora. 

The investigation is ongoing and further details will be released as they become available.

OPP Launches Seasonal RIDE Program

It's simple, don't drink and drive.

The Ontario Provincial Police began its annual seasonal RIDE program over the weekend.

Acting Sergeant with the Northwest Region Anne McCoy says it aims to catch drunk drivers in the act.

While the festive campaign runs until January 2, McCoy adds that RIDE checks are done year round.

Thistles Split Weekend Games

A split for the Kenora Triple "a" midget Thistles over the weekend.

Yesterday, the Thistles dropped a 4-1 decision to the top team in the Manitoba Midget Hockey League.

Chris Varrin scored the lone goal for the Thistles in the game. 

League, the Winnipeg Thrashers. Friday night, the Kenora Midgets downed the Eastman Selects 5-2 at home.

Nick Prouty led the scoring attack with a pair of goals.

Saints Eliminated in OFSAA Quarter Finals

The Thomas Aquinas Senior boys volleyball team are heading home empty handed from the OFSAA championships.


The Saints were upset 3 sets to 1 in their quarter final today against Ecole Secondaire Publique Louis Reil.

Louis Reil won with scores of 25-21, 23-25, 25-20, 25-20.

The Saints were on a roll heading into todays quarter final having not dropped a set in yesterdays round robin.

Winter Storm Closes Highway 17 east of Ignace

Ontario Provincial Police say the Highway between Igance all the way through to Nipigon is closed this morning because of a Winter Storm that has made driving conditions very difficult this morning.

Sargeant John Haley with the O.P.P. says caution should be the word of the day for motorists.

Haley says they've expanded their Highway closure to include Highway 17 between Nipigon and Schreiber.

There is no timetable as to when the Highways can expect to be re-opened but O.P.P. are monitoring the situation.

In the Kenora area, all school buses are running this morning as we received only a dusting of snow overnight.

McKay Won't Seek Conservative Nomination Again

The Conservatives will have a new candidate to represent them in the next provincial election.

Kenora Councillor Rod McKay ran for the party two years ago, but says he won't be seeking the nomination this time around.

McKays says he has too much on his plate right now, including the possible re-opening of the Kenora Forest Products mill in the spring.

Randy Nickle is the only declared candidate for the nomination right now.

The Conservatives will chose their candidate on December 1st in Dryden.

Campbell Hopeful Resolute Will Re-Open Fort Mill

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell is among who is still hopeful that operations in Fort Frances will get back to normal at a later date.

Campbell says she meet with Resolute representatives as early as yesterday, but indicated they weren't asking for any provincial assistance at this time.

Campbell says the company isn't marking a date as to when operations may resume, but says she did come away with a sense that it will happen.

Managed Alochol Program Being Explored

Local agencies are getting the low down about a new initiative to help people who live on the street.

Patty Hajdu from Shelter House in Thunder Bay has been explaining how their managed alcohol program works.

She says they have been operating a pilot project for the past six months with very good results.

Hajdu says people who enter their managed alcohol program are offered regular doses of wine every day and it works much like a methadone program for drug addicts.

Aboriginal Groups Opposed Generic Oxycontin

Native leaders across the region are upset the federal government is planning to licence a generic form of Oxycontin.

The Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service and the Chief of Treaty Three have added their voices to those opposed the decision.

NAPS Deputy Chief Bob Herman says it affects their service by increasing enforcement.

He adds at the same time, the federal government has cut their funding, meaning it will be more

difficult to keep up with the dealers. 

Grand Chief of Treaty Three Warren White says he's shocked by the federal government's decision and describes it as a step backwards.

Northwest LHIN's Announces 3.7 million in Funding

The Northwest Local Health Integration Network is delivering 3.7 million dollars to a variety of programs aimed at helping seniors, addicts and people living with chronic conditions.

St. Joseph's Care Group will be using 500 thousand dollars to provide a drug outreach program for pregnant and parenting moms in Thunder Bay, Kenora and Sioux Lookout.

Spokesperson Nancy Black says it's a unique program for Northern women age 16 to 24.

The Region's Brain Injury Service will be using money to bring two people living with physical disabilities out of the hospital and into the community.

Two Arrested in Golf Course Break In

Two teenagers are facing charges after a break and enter at the Kenora Golf and Country Club.

Wednesday night police arrived and found two suspects running from the scene.

Both have been arrested and charged with break and enter.

The youth were 14 and 15 years old respectively.

CP Holiday Train Returns next Month

Another Holiday tradition will be returning to northwestern Ontario next month.

The CP Holiday Train will be making several stops across the region.

The train will be in Kenora on December 5th.

Salem Woodrow from CP says there all donations will go to a great cause.

Woodrow adds other stops for the train include Dryden and Vermillion Bay on December 5th.

This year Brothers Dube and Miss Emily are the musical groups that will be on tour with the Holiday Train in Kneora. 

Saints Perfect So Far at OFSAA

The Thomas Aquinas Senior Boys volleyball team is perfect so far at the All-Ontario Single "a"

Championships in Belleville.

Yesterday, the Saints won all four of their round robin games, and didn't lose a set, recording wins ove Kings Christian High School, Woodland Christian, Chippewa Secondary School from North Bay and Toronto District Christian School. 

The Saints will finish first in their pool and now head to the quarter-finals this afternoon.

This is the tricky part of the schedule.

A win moves the Saints into the medal round, while a loss will send them home empty-handed.

The Saints will find out who they play later this morning.

The Quater-final will be played at 3:00.

Woman Survives Collision with Train

A close call for a 36 year old Kenora woman.

The OPP say two people were walking along the C.P. train
tracks last night around 7:00 near the intersection of
Railway Street and the 16th Avenue Rail Crossing.

One of the pedestrians was struck by a westbound train.

The woman was taken to Lake of the Woods District
Hospital with what police are describing as non-life
threatening injuries.