Chamber Hands Out Annual Business Awards

A glittering gala for Kenora's Business Community.

A total of eight awards were handed out in the annual Kenora and District
Chamber of Commerce Business Awards Banquet.

Laura Moore was a double winner, picking up the Entrepreneur of the Year and Business Improvement Awards.

Other winners last night were the Royal Bank for Customer Service Excellence for
a large business, the Bijou Restaurant for best new business, and Bareheart Boutique
for Innovative Small Business.


Restaurante Pizzaria Italia won the Tourism Hospitality award, while
Bruce Anderson Carpentry too the Customer Service Excellence award for
a small company, while Haily Yanshishyn was named Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

Pathologist Presents Findings at Murder Trial

Some rather gruesome evidence has been presented at the second degree
murder trial of Kenneth Ivall.

Dr. Michael Pollanen is Ontario's Chief Forensic Pathologist and he presented
some of the photographs from Ed Wilson's autopsy yesterday.

Wilson's face was very badly beaten and Pollanen says he found numerous
lacerations, abrasions and bruises on his face.

Dr. Pollanen says blunt force trauma to Wilson's face and head caused extensive bleeding and that led him to choke on his own blood.

Crown Attorney Mary-Ann Mousseau asked the pathologist whether there was a single fatal blow that caused his death.

Pollanen answered that would have been a simplification of this case.

Ed Wilson died as a result of the multiple injuries he sustained.

He did confirm that Wilson was dead before he was run over by a train.

He adds that if he had received proper medical attention, there is no reason
why he should have died from his injuries.

Valleyview to get a Makeover

Valleyview Public School is expanding.

The Keewatin Patricia District School Board announced plans including 4 new classrooms, an expansion to the gymnasium, and a new playground area.

Director of Education Jack McMaster says it's a great announcement.

Work on the new classroms will begin this spring with work on the gymnasium starting in the fall.

Canfield Likes Look of New Cabinet

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield says he's excited about the prospects of
working with some of the ministers in Kathleen Wynne's new cabinet.

Canfield says in particular he's glad to see Michael Gravelle re-assigned as the Minister of Northern Development and Mines.

He's also pleased that Glen Murray has been named the new minister for Transportation and Infrastructure.

Canfield says Murray's knowledge of the Kenora area will really help in any future funding discussions for roads and bridges with the province.

Valley Throws Support Behind Justin Trudeau

The President of the Federal Liberal Association in the Kenora riding has joined the Justin Trudeau team as an organizer.

Roger Valley says he strongly believes that Trudeau will become the next party leader and the next Prime Minister.

Valley says it's nice to be part of something new and exciting.

Valley is hoping that Trudeau will make an appearance in our riding.

He has confirmed that Bob Rae will meet with supporters in Dryden on March 12th.

Red Lake Cab Driver Charged with Drunk Driving

A taxi driver in Red Lake has been charged with impaired driving.

Provincial Police say last week, a taxi was exiting the Ice Road at the Government Docks when it hit a snow bank.

An officer stopped to check on the driver, and noticed that he was under the influence of alcohol.

As a result, police have charged 56-year-old Michael Desmeules.

JM Judo Club Claims Five Medals in Winnipeg

Three gold medals for the Jaffray Melick Judo club at the recent Winnipeg
Inter-City Championships.

Kerwin Klywak won his 30-kg under 13 age group, while Noah Sullivan placed first in the 46kg Under 18 division, while Luke Hetherington was tops in the 73-kg Under 21 division.

Heatherington also claimed the silver medal in the senior men's 73 kilo event.

The tournament drew 200 competitors from across Saskatchewan, Manitoba
and northwestern Ontario.

OPP Charge Driver of Mini-Excavator

Charges have been laid following an incident last week including a mini-excavator.

The charges stem from an incident last Thursday on Darlington Drive where several vehicles were damaged by a mini-excavator operated by 64 year old John Contini.

Kenora OPP have charged Contini with mischief under $5000, mischief endangering life, unauthorized possession of a weapon, and knowledge of unauthorized possession of a weapon.

Contini will appear in Kenora Court on February 27th.

McMaster Announces Resignation

After more then 20-years with the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board, Jack McMaster says he will retire on July 31.

McMaster is the Director of Education with the school board, and says that he knows the board will be in good hands in the future.

McMaster says he hopes to still stay involved with the schools.

There's no word yet on a replacement.

Duchesne Takes the Stand at Murder Trial

A key prosecution witness is on the stand at the Second Degree Murder Trial of Kenneth Ivall.

Angela Duchesne took the witness stand yesterday.

Duchesne says she had met Ed Wilson previously when she was just
16 years old.

She says she sold him crack cocaine.

She says they drove in his truck and at one point he began pawing at her, but she managed
to fight him off.

She adds that she described Wilson to Kenneth Ivall as a creep and stalker-type guy.

In the early morning hours of March 21st, 2009, she says she saw
Wilson again outside the Tower Motel.

She remembers Wilson striking Ken Ivall, and then hitting her.

She also witnessed Wilson being assaulted by a group of people.

Later she found him lying in the middle of A Street West and slapped and
kicked him.

She says she and Ivall dragged his body to a nearby trail that leads up to
the train tracks, where she say Ivall repeatedly stomp Wilson on the head.

She admits to frequent black-outs that night and doesn't remember moving Wilson's body onto the train tracks.

Today, a pathologist will be on the stand.

Prosperity Trust Fund Comes Up Short

Yet another financial challenge for the City of Kenora.

Figures released for 2012 show the return on investment on the
KMTS Citizen's Prosperity Fund was way down.

Councillor Ron Lunny says instead of averaging a five percent return, like
they've done in the past, last year, the figure was 1.7 percent.

He says that means there will be less money to help offset taxes this year.

Lunny says over the past couple of years the city had set a target of 1.1 million
dollars from the KMTS Prosperity Fund to be used to offset taxes.

Local Bishop Reacts to Pope's Resignation

The Catholic Bishop that represents northwestern Ontario, Bishop Fred Colli says he is surprised that the Pope is resigning.  

Colli  calls it a courageous move from a man who has done something no other pontiff has done for 600 years and will be missed.

Colli hopes the resignation sets an example to other leaders in the church about when to call it quits.

Gravelle Pleased with New Cabinet Post

Michael Gravelle can barely contain his excitement in being named to the new Kathleen Wynne cabinet.

Gravelle says to be back as Minister of Northern Development and Mines is what he had hoped for.

He says that he will be devoting a lot of attention to the Ring of Fire  which the premier has made a priority.

Gravelle was shuffled out of the Natural Resources porfolio earlier this week.

Student Summer Jobs Grants Now Available

Kenora MP Greg Rickford is encouraging employers to apply for funding to help create student jobs.

Funding is available for not-for-profit organizations, public-sector employers and small businesses.

People between 15-30 years-old who are full time students and intend on returning to school the following year qualify for these job opportunities.

Rickford says this opportunity allows area businesses to provide meaningful jobs for students, and strengthen the local economy.

Officer Charged with Impaired Driving

A Treaty Three Police officer has been suspended from active duty for
for impaired driving.

Treaty Three Police say they were contacted on Saturday afternoon about one of their vehicles which was parked on an ice road on Lake of the Woods, about 1.6 kilometers from the Sabaskong First Nation.

Police say they found the occupant of the vehicle to be intoxicated.

He was arrested and taken to the Kenora Detachment of the OPP for a
breath test.

49 year old Constable Garland Kejick has been charged with impaired driving.

He is due to appear in Kenora Court on March 7th.

Campbell Receives Special Valentine's

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell has a present for Premier Kathleen Wynne.

Campbell received dozens of paper valentine hearts yesterday during a rally held by the union representing the children aid society in Kenora-Rainy River.

Campbell says Kenora-Rainy River Child and Youth Services is severely underfunded.

The province has slashed 67-million dollars from Child Welfare agencies and Campbell will hand over the valentines to the Premier.

NAPS Continue to Crackdown on Drugs

The fight against drug trafficking in the far north continues.

Nishnawbe-Aski Police have seized 67-hundred dollars worth of marijhuana and oxycodone from an Attawapiskat home.

Officers also found a debt list, a small amount of cash and drug paraphernalia.

Police say 33-year-old Pauline Edwards and 42-year-old Dennes Iahtail both face charges.

Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet Tonight

Tickets are still available for tonight's Kenora and District Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting and awards banquet.

Manager Carol Leduc says it will be a great evening for all attending, with guest speaker Michael Hlinka.

Leduc says they are also presenting eight awards that recognize customer service, new business, and entrepreneurs.

Tickets can be purchased at the Chamber of Commerce office for 75 dollars.

Saints Beat Eagles

The Thomas Aquinas boys hockey team has bounced back from a pair
of losses in league play.

The Saints doubled up the Dryden Eagles last night 4-2.

Tanner Kapera, Daniel Thomson, Justis Kennedy and David Snyder each
scored for the Saints.

Their last regular season game is tomorrow night against their cross-town rivals from Beaver Brae.

Broncos Girls lose in a Shootout

A rare loss for Beaver Brae's girls hockey team.

The Broncos dropped a 3-2 decision to Dryden last night in a
shootout.

Ainsly Lindquist and Kaitlyn Sparkman both scored for the Broncos.

Beaver Brae is back in action tomorrow at 1:30 in Keewatin against Fort Frances.