OPP Host Public Initiatives

Students in Kenora are going to get more face to face lessons about everyday issues from OPP officers.

The Kenora Provincial Police have launched the new OPP KIDS program this week.

Officers will speak to students in the classroom regarding situation they see everyday like the uses of social media.

Detachment Commander Inspector Dave Lucas says the program is an example of how officers are working proactively to make a difference.

Some other topics of discussion include peer relationships, and mental health awareness.

Also some lessons on installing car seats.

The Kenora OPP are hosting a car seat clinic on Friday from 11 until 1 at the fire hall.

Technicians will be on hand to assist in the installation of the seats or inspect ones already installed.

No appointments are needed to attend.

Men Killed in English River Crash Still Unidentified

The OPP say they are still unable to release the names of four of the
people killed in a fatal collision on Highway 17 near English River.

Post-mortem exams are being carried out in Toronto and police say until
they get positive identifications, they won't be released the names of
the deceased.

The four adult males were in a pick-up truck that collided with a semi tractor-trailer  unit between Ignace and Upsala last Saturday night.

The driver of the transport was also killed in the crash.

First Ever Bark For Life a Modest Success

Call it Canines for Cancer.

The first ever Bark for Life fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society came up just a little short of its goal.

Just under two thousand dollars was raised on Saturday in the inaugural
event.

The Cancer Society had hoped to raise about 25 hundred dollars.

Almost a dozen people came out to walk their dogs and support the Cancer Society.

Kenora Cancer Patients Case Raised at Queen's Park

A Kenora man's attempt to get treatment for cancer has landed at
Queen's Park.

Sarah Campbell asked the Health Minister yesterday in Question Periods why Wes Bland wasn't approved for a PET scan in Winnipeg.

Deb Matthews claims it was a misunderstanding which has since been
cleared up.

Campbell is upset that northwestern Ontario residents still have to get prior approval from OHIP before they can get their test done in Winnipeg.

Control Board Adopts New Winter Regulations

Control water levels all winter long.

The Lake of the Woods Control Board has created it's new winter strategy following consultations last week with local stakeholder groups.

Executive Engineer Matt DeWolfe says they are happy with the current water levels.

The current level is 322.7 meters, which is just below normal for this time of year.

The strategy also includes the target winter level before the spring melt.

New MOU with Development Commission Signed

A bit of a change for the Lake of the Woods Development Commission.

City council has re-drafted the memorandum of understanding with
the Economic Development group.

Councillor Sharon Smith says the new agreement takes away some of
the staffing and operational issues the Commission used to deal with.

Under the new agreement, the Commission no longer has responsibility
for maintaining or booking the Whitecap Pavilion or the Discovery Center.

NAPS Investigate Two Shooting Incidents in the Far North

A 17-year-old is facing charges including attempted murder following a shooting in Wunnumin Lake First Nation.

Nishnawbe-Aski Nation Police Sergeant Jackie George says the incident happened on Friday evening, and believe the suspect is involved in more than one shooting.

A 25-year-old was taken to hospital with injuries, and is listed in stable condition.

The name of the victim has not been released.

Meanwhile, an armed man has been arrested in the remote northern community of Deer Lake.

Nishnawbe-Aski Police say they received a report of gun shots being fired in the community around 2 o'clock Friday morning.

22-year-old Quinton Meekis of Deer Lake was arrested and charged with careless use of a firearm, possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose and unauthorized possession of a firearm.

Flu Shot Clinics Open Today

A perfect opportunity to get your flu shot.

The first seasonal flu-shot clinic will take place in the City of Kenora
today.

The pharmacy at Ted's No Frills in the Kenora Shopper's Mall will be
administering the flu shots today from 9:00 to 5:00.

You are asked to call ahead for an appointment.

For a complete list of flu-shot clinics you can check the Northwestern Health Unit web-site and follow the links.

Beaver Brae Hosts One Day Volleyball Tournament

Beaver Brae's gyms were a bee-hive of activity yesterday.

A total of 11 grade seven and eight boys and girls volleyball teams
took part in a one-day tournament.

In the boys division, the Bronco boys went undefeated, while the
Thomas Aquinas Grade seven squad placed second.

In girls action, Beaver Brae and Whitefish Bay finished in a two-way tie
for first, while Thomas Aquinas was third.

Sharks Begin Competitive Swim Season

Some strong early season performances from the Kenora Sharks Swim Club.

The Sharks were in Fort Frances over the Weekend for the Boston Pizza Fall Frolic.

Joe Morrison won all eight of the events he competed in and was the overall points
leader for boys 12 and under.

Alex Illman had another strong meet winning eight races in the girls 11 and 12 year old
division.

In the 10 and under Girls division, Katie Kroeker had four place finishes, while Alexis From
won three races.

In the 10 and Under boys grouping, Evan McDonald led the way with four first place finishes.

Up next for the Sharks is their own swim meet in November.

Kenora OPP Officer Receives MADD Award

A 23 year veteran of the OPP in Kenora has been given an award by Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

Constable Steve Jacko has received the Terry Ryan Memorial Award for Excellence in Police Services.

The award recognizes officers who show exemplary service in reducing impaired driving.

Jacko was recently named in the OPP's top ten list for traffic statistics, and also received the Ontario Provincial Police Regional Commander’s Letter of Recommendation.

Fort Frances Derailment Cleaned Up

A rail car that toppled over Friday on Resolute Forest Products mill property in Fort Frances has now been emptied and hauled away.

Some of it's contents, hydrogen peroxide, spilled, but crews had it contained by Saturday.

The chemical is used in the bleaching process at the mill, but officials says it posed no risk to the public at any time.

Roads that had been closed during the incident have now been reopened.

Local Aboriginals Hold Solidarity March

Standing in solidarity.

A gathering took place Friday afternoon at the Whitecap Pavilion to support the aboriginal protest in New Brunswick.

Donna Anderson who organized the gathering says their message is simple.

They want the province of New Brunswick to respect the rights of first nations people.

Events like this have been held throughout the country since the RCMP converged on a fracking blockade by aboriginal people in Rexton.

English River Collision Claims Five Lives

Five people are dead following a four vehicle crash on Highway 17 between Ignace and Upsala.

Provincial Police say a westbound truck hit an eastbound transport around 10:45 Saturday night about 15 kilometers east of English River.

Four men in the truck and the transport driver all died in the crash.

The driver of the transport has been identified as a 43 year Sukhwinder Thandi  from Cambridge, Ontario.

The four men in the pickup truck haven't been positively identified.

Two other transports were involved in the crash but no one was injured.

The cause is under investigation.

Acting Treaty Three Police Chief Dives into New Job

The new acting chief of the Treaty Three Police Service is quickly getting
his feet wet.

Dan Davidson was involved in a press conference announcing a large drug
bust in Kenora last week.

He admits still learning the ropes after just one week on the job.

Davidson says one of his jobs is to fill some of their key vacancies, including
a new detachment commander for their southern base on the Couchiching
First Nation.

Forest Fire Season Winding Down

With snow on the ground, it's not too surprising there hasn't been much in the way
of forest fire activity in recent weeks.

Ministry of Natural Resources Spokesperson Deb MacLean says things have been quiet for a while now.

 MacLean says the last fire was in Red Lake, and was put out last Wednesday.

Two prescribed burns in the Sioux Lookout District continue to burn, and are being held at 45 and 15 hectares.

City Issues Reminder About Deer

The City of Kenora is offering some safety reminders when you come into contact with deer.

It's mating season for the animals and the city's deputy clerk,  Heather Kasprick says it's better to be safe than sorry.

Kasprick says humans don't aggravate deer anymore then usual but that the animals are much more likely to react.

She says it's mating season and the city wants to make sure people are taking extra precau
tuion.

New Gold Says It's Ready to Proceed with Rainy River Project

It has a new owner, but officials says plans for a new gold mine south of Kenora is still on moving forward.

New Gold has completed an acquisition of Rainy River Resources.

Director of Sustainability Kyle Stanfield says the project itself is still aiming for ministerial approval of the environmental assessment next year.

A final report of the environmental assessment is due out later this month.

Lakehead Tops National Rankings

A Northwestern Ontario University is the top in the province when it comes to undergraduate research.

Lakehead University in Thunder Bay was ranked number one in all of Ontario in this year's Canada's Top 50 Research Universities.

Vice President of Academics Dr. Rod Hanley says this is great news.

The school was considered based on the total amount of research dollars, intensity, and research output based on articles published in peer-reviewed literature.

Aussie Horseback Rider Arrives in NWO

He's travelled over 13-thousand miles on horseback in Australia, the U.S. and in Canada and now he has arrived in   northwestern Ontario.

Aussie Joe Guy is in the area as part of his long-rider trip.

Guy says he rides a different horse in every part of the country he travels in.

In this case the horse he's riding is from Manitoba and the owner will meet him in Thunder Bay to pick it up.