Girls High School Volleyball Finals Tomorrow

The Northland Cup for girls volleyball will be decided tomorrow in
Dryden.

The play-offs will begin tomorrow morning with both senior and junior
girls in action.

Thomas Aquinas will square off against their cross-town rivals from
Beaver Brae in the first game of the day at 9AM.

The winner will move onto the semi-finals, while the loser heads home.

In junior girls action, the Saints have a bye into the semi-finals.

Senior Thistles Back in Action this Weekend

The Kenora Triple "a" Senior Thistles will try to snap a two-game losing
streak.

The Thistles will take on the Manitoba Vipers at the Kenora Rec. Center
tomorrow night.

Thistle spokesperson, Bruce Johnson says they've already played the
Vipers twice, and they have been competitive.

Game time 7:30 tomorrow night at the Kenora Rec. Center.

Canfield Optimistic about Bridge Repair

A battle between the city and the province to help fund repairs on the West Branch Bridge over the Winnipeg River seems to be nearing an  end.

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield says he's optimistic infrastructure funding will soon be made available.

Canfield says the province seems to finally understands that it's been lagging behind.

Canfield says the province will be chipping in to fix or possibly even replace the deteriorating bridge.

Replacement costs have been estimated at 13 million dollars.

Employment Outreach Opportunity

The Kenora District Services Board is set to host to an upcoming Job Fair.

The Employment Outreach is slated to take place March 19th at the Best Western Lakeside Inn.

Josee Mantel with the Kenora District Services Board says it's great for young people.

At least 16 employers from across the area will be at the event.

Colli Bids Goodbye to Pontiff

Former Pope Benedict is officially retired.

He's the first pontiff to step down in over 600 years.

The Bishop for northwestern Ontario, Fred Colli says the former Pope did the right thing.

Colli says Benedict's resignation is a historical moment for the church.

EFTO Rejects Return to Extracurricular Activities

The governing Liberals say they're disappointed that public elementary teachers don't plan to resume extracurricular activities.

The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario says it wants to keep talking, but they need to see ``real actions'' from the government. Union president Sam Hammond says many teachers are
still upset over imposed contracts.

In January, the Liberals used controversial legislation to foist contracts on teachers that cut benefits and froze the wages of most instructors.

Dryden Pharmacist In Court to Face Trafficking Charge

The details surrounding trafficking charges against  a Dryden pharmacist aren't being made public.

Justice Peter Bishop ordered a publication ban this week on Rob Button’s preliminary hearing.

Bishop made the order following a request by the Crown and Defense.

Button was arrested in early 2012 and charges of one count of trafficking morphine were read into the court records.

Button, after the preliminary hearing, has opted for a trial by judge and jury.

The preliminary hearing continues March 26th.

Conservatives Looking to Support Forest Sector

Conservative MPP Vic Fedeli is hoping for all party support for his re-introduced Forest Industry Act.

Fedeli says the proposed legislation would amend the Building Code to allow for wood frame buildings to be up to six stories high instead of the current four.

The bill had passed two readings before the Ontario Legislature was put on hold by the Liberal Government
back in October.

Winter Carnival Blows into Town

The Kenora Winter Carnival looks to heal your winter blues.

The carnival kicks off tonight and Mark Duggan says they have some great free events planned.

The theme for the carnival this year is blast from the past and includes many events from the old winter carnival.

The events will take place all weekend and will feature fireworks displays both tonight and tomorrow
night starting at 7:00.

Big Games for Thistles and Saints Tonight

A couple of crucial games for Kenora hockey teams.

The Kenora Triple "a" midget Thistles will be trying to stave off elimination
in their best-of-five quarter final series against the Brandon Wheat Kings.

The Wheat Kings lead the series 2-0, with game three back on home ice
tonight for the Thistles.

Game time is 8:00 at the Kenora Rec. Center.

The Thistles will be hoping to force another home game tomorrow afternoon
at the Rec. Center.

Meanwhile, the first ever Northland Cup will be presented tonight in Fort Frances.

The Muskies are taking on the Thomas Aquinas boys hockey team in game two of
their home and home final.

The Saints and Fort tied game one of the total goal series 4-4 on Tuesday night.

Cameron Won't Seek NDP Nomination Again

The NDP in the Kenora Riding will be seeking a new candidate for the
next federal election.

Tania Cameron announced last night that she doesn't not plan to seek
the New Democrats nomination.

Cameron cited family considerations and changes in her career path for
her decision not to run again.

Cameron has been the NDP candidate in each of the past two federal
elections and placed second behind Greg Rickford in 2011.

The next federal election is slated for October of 2015.

Gravelle Promises Action on Northern Transport

The provincial government insists it will listen closely to northerners in the development of a transportation policy for northern Ontario.

Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle says its a priority for the Premier and for him, that they get the strategy right and know how important it is for the region's economy.

The Liberals identified plans to address the special transportation needs of the north in last week's Throne Speech

Campbell Demands Creation of Northern Committee

There are renewed calls to set up a Northern Committee at Queen's Park.

Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. Sarah Campbell responded to the throne speech today.

She says northern alienation is alive and well in her riding.

Campbell says premier Kathleen Wynne says all the right things in the throne speech
but doesn't give any concrete ideas on how to achieve them.

New Job Search Tool For Con College Students

Confederation College is now part of an online job bank called "Workbay".

Workbay Spokesperson Mary Hayes says they help match employers with future employees.

Hayes says it's taken a year to create the website with Northwest Employment Works and Confederation College.

Hayes describes the service as a dating site for jobs.

Muskies Beat Broncos In Northland Cup Opener

Fort Frances has drawn first blood in the Northland Cup girls hockey
championships.

The Muskies blanked Beaver Brae 1-0 last night in Fort Frances.

Game two of the home and home series moves to Kenora Sunday afternoon.

The Broncos will have to win by two or more goals in order to win the two-game
total goal series.

Former Saint Heads to CIS Men's Volleyball Finals

A former member of the Thomas Aquinas Senior Boys volleyball team
is making his second appearance at the Canadian University Championships
this weekend.

Dan Boutwell is a middle hitter for the top-ranked Brandon Bobcats.

He says the team seems to be peaking at just the right time.

The Bobcats won their first ever Can-West University title this past weekend.

The national championships start Friday at Laval in Quebec City.

Guilty Verdict Delivered at Murder Trial

The verdict has been delivered in the 2nd degree murder trial of Kenneth Ivall.

The jury found that Ivall was guilty in the beating death of Ed Wilson in the early morning hours of March 21, 2009.

Defense Lawyer Chris Watkins says they accept the verdict as the the jury has done a professional job during the over 6 week trial.

Watkins is advising Ivall to appeal the decision, which he says is a standard procedure in a case of this caliber.

Justice Terrence Platana will hand down his sentencing on June 14th after a pre-sentencing report is completed.

Ivall faces life in prison.

Jury continues to Deliberate in Ivall Trial

The jury in the second degree murder trial of Kenneth Ivall will resume their
deliberations this morning.

The jury was sequested yesterday afternoon after hearing a long series of closing instructions from Justice Terrance Platana.

He spent almost three and a half hours going over the charge.

Justice Platana told the jury they have three options when it comes to
a verdict for Ken Ivall.

He can be either found guilty or not guilty of second degree murder, and
he also offered up the option of a guilty verdict of manslaughter.

He also says if the crown did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that
Ken Ivall killed Ed Wilson the early morning hours of March 21st, 2009,
they would have to find him not guilty.

Justice Platana did indicate that the jury would have to be unanimous in
its decision.

Murray Supportive of Funding for Kenora's Bridges

It's starting to look like the city of Kenora will get some provincial help to repair the Winnipeg River West Branch Bridge.

New Infrastructure and Transportation minister Glen Murray says the city has presented a very good argument for funding.

The city made their presentations this week at the Ontario Good Roads Conference in Toronto.

Murray says he also engaged in very positive meetings with the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association about aging bridges and the twinning of Highway 17.

OFIA Paints Rosy Picture of Forest Industry

The Ontario Forest Industries Association is feeling bullish heading into
its annual general meeting.

The OFIA will be introducing three new members today, all from northwestern
Ontario.

Jamie Lim is president of the OFIA and says things are really starting to
look up for the forest sector.

Kenora Forest Products, Manitou Forest Products and AV Terrace Bay are
the newest members of the OFIA.

Lim adds that they are also looking forward to meeting with the new Natural Resources
Minister David Orazietti.