Flavoured Tobacco Remain on Market for Youth

Legislation to stop their sale is in place, but that's now stopping many Ontario youth from having access to flavoured tobacco products.

A new study finds 57-thousand grade 6 to 12 students admit to using the products.

Director of Ontario Campaign for Action on Tobacco Michael Perley says companies have found loopholes to continue selling the product.

Perley says while the rate of use in Ontario is lower than other provinces, it still translates into health risks for far too many kids.

Bruce Cockburn Talks Environment

An environment message from Bruce Cockburn as he travels through northwestern Ontario.

He's helping the group Environmental Defence with its campaign to remove toxic chemicals found in many common household products.

Cockburn says its an issue that impacts everyone.

Cockburn performed concerts in Dryden, Fort Frances and Thunder Bay.

Fire Prevention Week in Kenora

Making sure it's not to hot in the kitchen.

It's fire safety week and the theme this year is prevent kitchen fires and get cooking with fire safety.

Larry Cotham is a fire captain and says they will host private extinguisher training sessions.

Cotham says kitchen fires are the number cause of fires in Ontario.

OPP Set to Create New Building Model

A new billing model is being created by the Ontario Provincial Police.

Kenora Mayor Dave Canfield says the model is needed to level out the varying costs of OPP service.

Canfield says the model would come with a base cost and would allow municipalities to customize services to match their specific needs

He adds it is a needed process to level out policing costs throughout communities province wide.

Something northern leaders have been fighting to get for 12 years

2 People Face Charges for Driving Offenses

Dryden Police have a 25-year-old Thunder Bay woman in custody after a vehicle chase early Sunday morning which started  in Dryden and ended in Ignace.

Provincial Police helped by setting up a spike belt to stop the vehicle, and one cruiser almost went off the road during the chase.

As a result, Anita Lawson has been charged with several offenses including impaired driving, dangerous driving, assaulting police with a weapon and running from police.

Meanwhile, A Thunder Bay man charged in connection with the city's second murder of the year is due back in court in a week.  

32 year old Sheldon Yesno made a brief court apperance Monday.  

He's been charged with Second Degree Murder in connection with last week's death of 38-year old Richard Vrastak who died from injuries he sustained after being hit by a mini van on South Algoma Street. 

Stdent Services Consortium Plan Evacuation Drills

The Northwest Student Services Consortium is planning bus evacuations drills for all the communities they serve.

The first day of drills gets underway tomorrow in Dryden and Vermillion Bay.

On the 18th drills will take place in Red Lake, Ear Falls, Sioux Lookout Ignace, Upsala, and Pickle Lake.

The Kenora and Sioux Narrows drills will take place on the 30th.

Parents will receive letters regarding the drills before they take place.

KDSB Working to Dispose of Social Housing Units

Another step in the possible closure of social housing units in Dinorwic, Hudson and Minaki.

The Kenora District Services Board has approved a motion to submit a request to the provincial government to dispose of the properties.

The 44-units are under utilized and deteriorating.

Officials say it will cost $2.5-million to maintain the current standards next year and cite additional heating costs.

The KDSB report to the province does include replacement options for the current tenants.

Kenora OPP Charge 2 People for Driving Offences

A busy time frame for Kenora OPP.

On Thursday morning police stopped a vehicle on First Street South.

Police determined the driver, 23 year Kirk Cameron, had been drinking and charged him with Impaired Driving.

Meanwhile, OPP had to close highway 17 near Bee Lake on Friday due to a collision.

Police say an Eastbound car crossed the centre line and struck a Westbound SUV.

An 18 year old Woman from Thunder Bay was charged with careless driving as a result.

Broncos Football Prepare for Packed Schedule

Getting ahead of the curve.

Beaver Brae head football coach Chris Penner says lots of work has to be done in a short period of time as they prepare for 3 games in the next week.

Penner says preparation has never been more important.

The Bronco's take on Lorette Thursday before meeting West Kildonan and St. John's next week.

In the meantime, the Junior Varsity team escaped Dryden on Saturday with a 6-6 tie.

The Broncos only had 14 players make the trip.

Kenora Thistles Search for First Win

The Kenora Triple "A" Midget Thistles continue to look for their first win of the season.

The Thistles opened their home season yesterday against the Winnipeg Thrashers.

Kenora took a 1st period lead on a goal by Tristan Salesse.

However that's all they would score as the Thrashers took the game 5-1.

Next up for the Kenora Midgets are the Brandon Wheat Kings on Friday at the Thistles Arena.

Kenora MP Optimistic for Highway 17 Twinning

Some hope that the twinning of the Trans-Canada Highway might begin in the next 12 months or so.

Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford was asked a couple of times Friday morning about where the project stood by members of the Kenora and District Chamber of Commerce.

Rickford feels there is some movement now with Shoal Lake #39 on the project.

Rickford says he had expected work on the project to begin this fall, but that's not going to happen.

OPP Offers up ATV Safety Reminders

Not everyone can operate an off-road vehicle in Kenora.

Kenora OPP constable Ronni Grosenick says their are laws in place just like there is for any vehicle.

Grosenick also says that there are road restrictions for ATV's including a total ban on Highway 17.

Visit the city portal for a map of all restricted areas.

New Treaty 3 Police Chief Starts Today

The interim chief for Treaty 3 Police Services begins his first day today.

Dan Davidson is taking over the retiring Conrad Delorande.

Davidson originally from the Morson area, has been with the OPP and stationed in Red Lake, Sioux Lookout, and Thunder Bay.

Canadian Cancer Society Launches Women to Women Campaign

Attention women in Northwestern Ontario, it's time to talk about boobies.

That's the focus of the Canadian Cancer Society's Women to Women campaign.

Northwest Spokesperson Maria Cabral says the goal is to get more women talking about breast cancer screening.

Cabral says the recommendation is that women age 50 to 69 get a mammogram every two years.

Shipwreck Discovered Near Sleeping Giant

A shipwreck from sixty-years ago has been found.

The Scotiadoc collided with another ship in 1954 and sank near the Sleeping Giant in Lake Superior.

Jerry Eliason is one of the members that found the ship and describes some of the steps involved in making the discovery.

The Scotiadoc, found at 750 feet, is the deepest shipwreck ever found in the great lakes.

KDSB Releases Homelessness Plan

The Kenora District Services Board is out with a 10-year homelessness and housing plan.

The issue sparked considerable debate yesterday at the KDSB table, with Sioux Lookout Mayor Dennis

Leney suggesting that a majority of the homeless in his community have homes in northern communities.

Manager of Integrated Social Services Diane
Apland says the homeless problem is a major issue across the district.

One recommendation to curb the problem is the creation of a Managed Alcohol program.

Leney says that's not the way to go and suggests the province must step up and notes there are 21 beds at the Kenora District Jail that aren't being used.

Harborfest Projecting Deficit in 2013

The final Harbourfest results aren't as low as initially projected.

Harbourfest chair Randy Nickle says they are still expecting a substantial deficit but the numbers are getting better.

Nickle says the biggest factor to the debt is the cost of the bands.

The final numbers should be known later this month.

National Youth Suicide Prevention Plan Needed

Partners for Mental Health have launched a national campaign to shine the light on youth suicide.

Michael Kirby is chair of the group and says there isn't a band-aid solution to the problem.

He says a number of first nation communities have been dealing with suicide epidemics.

Kirby says their campaign called Right By You urges the federal and provincial levels of government to work together to tackle the issue.

Military Veterans Protest Closure of Thunder Bay Office

Military veterans are standing up against the planned closure of some Veterans Affairs Offices in Canada.

The office in Thunder Bay is the only one in north
western Ontario.

Second world war vet Roy Lamore says refocusing some the government's current spending could help keep the office open.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada says closure of the Thunder Bay office will force veterans from northwestern Ontario having to access services in Kirkland Lake which has experienced its own staff cuts.

Province Announces More Money for Breakfast Programs

The provincial government is adding another three million dollars to a student nutrition fund.

Health Minster Deb Matthews made the announcement this week.

The funding will ensure more first nation students get access to healthy, nutritious food and snacks.

Until now, student nutrition programs in First Nations schools have been solely funded
by charitable organizations.

The new provincial money will support 200 new breakfast, snack and lunch programs.