Crimestoppers Trying to Solve Theft of Snowmachines

Northwestern Ontario Crimestoppers is asking for the public's assistance to help locate a couple of snowmachines stolen in Fort Frances.

The two Arctic Cats were on a trailor located in a storage and display lot at the West end of Fort Frances and were stolen the night of December 8th.

One of the sleds was an Arctic Cat 2002 ZL 6 600 with black and orange coloring.

The other was an Arctic Cat 2006 SAB 700 Fire Cat.

Southern Ontario Hunter Charged for Killing Wolf

A southern Ontario man has been fined a thousand dollars for illegally hunting a wolf north of Kenora.

MNR Conservation officers say they came across a hunting camp on the Seguise Road back in October and noticed a wolf carcass behind the camp.

A hunter admitted he had shot the wolf earlier in the day, but did not have the proper game seal to affix to the animal.

He told the Conservation officers he was waiting for someone in his hunting party to put their game seal on the wolf.

The MNR says its illegal for hunting party's to kill wolves.

Neil Whitmore from Rockwood, Ontario has been fined a thousand dollars.

His rifle was also seized until the fine is paid.

Thunder Bay Man Killed in Accident near Ignace

One person is dead and three other people have been sent to hospital as a result of a two-vehicle collision near Ignace.

The OPP say the collision took place yesterday afternoon around 5:00 when a westbound Ford F-150 crossed into the eastbound lane and ran into a 2007 Pontiac G-6.

The driver of the Pontiac, a 32 year old man from Thunder Bay was killed and his two year old daughter was taken by air ambulence to Winnipeg for treatment of her injuries.

A 69 year old man who was driving the pick-up and his 17 year old passenger from Hawkstone, Ontario were taken by ambulence to hospital in Dryden.

The Trans-Canada was closed about 10 kilometers east of Ignace for about seven hours while the OPP conducted their investigation and the wreckage was removed from the highway.

OPP Re-Open Highway 17 near Ignace

Highway 17 10 kilometers east of Ignace is now open to both lanes of traffic after being closed most of the night due to a fatal motor vehicle collision.

The OPP say the highway was closed initially around 6:00 last night and wasn't opened to one lane for another six hours.

Police say the accident took place about 10 kilometer east of Ignace.

No other details are available at this time.

Public School Board Looks At School Safety

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board says it will have to review safety measures in place at its elementary schools in the wake of the Newtown, Connecticutt shootings.

Last week, premier Dalton McGuinty says he wants to spend 10 million dollars to improve security systems.

Director of Education, Jack McMaster says they are willing to work with the province to improve school safety.

McMaster says some of their newer schools already have things like security cameras in place, but some older schools might need upgrades.

Canfield looks forward to the New Year

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield says he's bullish on the city's economy heading into the new year.

Canfield believes the city has the infrastructure in place to take advantage of some exciting new initiatives.

Canfield says Weyerhaeuser is also talking about expanding its Trus-Joist operations to five days a week, which is also exciting news.

City of Dryden Trying to Trim Tax Increase

There's more talks of service cuts in the City of Dryden.

The first draft of the 2013 operating and capital budget was presented to council last week, which outlines a tax increase of as much as seven percent.

However, Mayor Craig Nuttall says he and council are going to look at other options instead of increasing taxes by that amount.

Nuttall adds that a tax increase that keeps pace with the cost of living of 2 or 3 percent seems to be do-able.

Ice Candle Festival To Light Up Cemetary

Lake of the Woods Cemetary will be shining brightly tonight.

Over five thousand ice candles are expected to be placed at gravesites this afternoon in the annual festival of lights.

Barb Manson is one of the organizers and says they will have a special ceremony this afternoon to kick things off.

Manson says the ice candles will stay lit for about three days.

Midget Thistles Extend Winning Streak

The Kenora Triple "a" Midget Thistles will go into the Christmas break on a four game winning streak.

The Thistles won back to back games at home over the weekend against the Interlake Lightning.

Saturday night, the Thistles got by the Lightning 5-3 at the Kenora Rec. Center.

The same result Friday night as the Thistles scored four unanswered goals in the third period to come back for a 5-3 victory.

The Kenora midgets will have almost two weeks off before their next game.

They had to Thompson for a pair of games against the Norman North Stars starting January 4th.

Local Drum Ceremony Supports Theresa Spence

Local support is growing for a Northern Ontario chief on a hunger strike.

Local Aboriginal groups gathered today outside market square and held a drum ceremony to commemorate Attiwapiskat chief Theresa Spence.

Spence has been on a hunger strike in Ottawa for 9 days with demands to meet with Prime Minister and the Governor General to discuss the level of poverty in aboriginal communities.

Spence says nothing has been done to improve the poor living conditions on the Attwapiskat first nation after declaring a state of emergency over a year ago.

Rainy River Resources Pulls Back From Pickle Lake Project

Rainy River Resources had decided not to take controlling interest of an exploration project north of Pickle Lake.

The company had been in partnership with Northern Superior Resources for the past two years in the  

Ti-pa-haa-kaa-ning project with an option to assume 51 per cent.

President Raymond Threlkeld says while drilling identified good potential in the project, they've decided to focus efforts and resources in developing its gold project south of Kenora.

Idle No More and Save ELA Hold Rally

Greg Rickford seems to be followed by protesters where ever he goes these days.

Yesterday, the Kenora M.P. held an open house at his constituency office in Kenora, but there were more people outside his office than inside.

A couple of different groups held rallies in support of different causes.

Peter Kirby with the coalition to save the ELA says they are continuing their battle to keep the outdoor laboratory open.

Similar protests have taken place in Red Lake and Dryden this week.

First Canada to Take over Kenora's Transit Service

The City's Transit Service has become a million dollar business.

Starting in the new year, First Canada will take over the municipal transit contract at a cost of 1.1 million dollars over five years.

The city's fleet manager Mike Mostow says the contract could increase or decrease depending on the cost of fuel.

First Canada currently operates school buses in the Kenora area and will take over the transit service from Excel Coach Lines.

911 Costs Going Up

9-1-1 phone service is going to cost the City of Kenora a little bit more in 2013.

City council has approved a contract extention with the Ontario Provincial Police to handle the emergency phone system.

It will cost 86 hundred dollars next year.

Fire Chief Warren Brinkman says the contract is based on population size, and in the last census, Kenora's population grew.

The new five year deal will take effect starting February 17th.

Hospital Looking At Patient Advocate Program

The Lake of the Woods District Hospital is researching a new pilot program for patient advocacy.

The idea came about from a presentation seen by board chair Fred Richardson about a program in Kingston.

Hospital CEO Mark Balcaen says the program would benefit patients who need help understanding the health system.

Balcaen adds that the hospital is going to do research on if the program would work on a voluntary basis.

Thunder Bay Storm makes Top 10 List

Thunder Bay has the dubious distinction of making it to the top 10 list of weather events in Canada for 2012.

Meteorologist Geoff Coulson of Environment Canada says they are calling this year, the year of the flood.

Back on May 28th, a severe thunderstorm flooding dozens of basements and overwhelmed the

city's water treatment plant.

Coulson notes the event shattered weather records and was one of a kind.

Thomas Aquinas Boys Hockey Team Wins Again

The Thomas Aquinas Saints boys hockey team will head into the Christmas break on a bit of a winning streak.

The Saints upended the Fort Frances Canadians last night 6-2 in an exhibition game.

Rory Keith led the scoring attack with a hat trick.

The Saints finish the first half of the season with a record of 10 wins, four losses and a tie.

T.A. is preparing to head to New Mexico for a tournament on January 1st.

Snowmobile Goes Through Laurenson's Creek

A not so subtle reminder to check the ice conditions before you venture out on local lakes and rivers.

This morning, a snowmachine when through the ice on Laurenson's Creek in the area of the 8th Avenue Bridge.

Constable Dave Cain says the recent warm weather has created variable ice conditions.

Cain says fortunately the snowmobiler managed to get himself out of the water to safety

New Paramedics to be Hired in Kenora

The Kenora District Services Board is beefing up staff at the new land ambulence base in Kenora.

The DSAB is doing away with an on-call paramedic crew.

Director of EMS Andrew Tickner says instead, the board has approved 4 new positions to create a second on-site overnight crew.

In addition to the positions in Kenora the KDSB is adding 1 new overnight position in Sioux Lookout.

The KDSB hopes to have everything in place by the end of January.

New Zoning By-Law for Sioux Narrows/Nestor Falls

Nestor Falls residents are going to have to get used to a few more rules and regulations.

This week, the Town of Sioux Narrows/Nestor Falls approved a new Zoning By-Law.

This is the first time Nestor Falls has ever had zoning regulations.

Mayor Bill Thompson says he's been trying to explain to residents the benefits of the new by-law.

Another key componant of the by-law restricts how close property owners can build to the lake.