Large Maijuana Seizure in Kenora

The Kenora OPP have seized over 180 pounds of Marijuana.

Police say they stopped a tractor trailer unit on Highway 17 yesterday afternoon for a violation.

Upon investigating the trailer police found the marijuana, valued at $450,000.

Also seized was $1,000 in cash.

As a result 43 year old Nicusor Cioanca of Mission, B.C has been charged with Trafficking Marijuana, Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking, and Possession of Property Obtained by Crime.

The accused answered to the charges in court today.

The investigation is continuing.

Suspicious Death in Machin Township

Police in Dryden are investigating a suspicious death in the municipality of Machin.

Yesterday afternoon Dryden Provincial Police responded to calls of a body in the Mutrie Township.

Police identified the body as 44 year old Randal Lichty from Machin.

A postmortem will take place at the Lake of the Woods District Hospital.

Anyone with information are asked to call the OPP at 1-888-310-1122

Rally For Safer Roads This Weekend

Local residents are going to take to the street to protest the state
of winter road conditions in northwestern Ontario.

A rally is being planned for this weekend in Vermillion Bay.

A Facebook page has also been set up to encourage people to
attend the Rally for Safer Roads.

Already this month, the Trans-Canada Highway between Kenora and
Vermillion Bay has been shut down three times because of multiple-vehicle
accidents.

The rally is scheduled to take place this Saturday from 10 till noon at the intersection of Highway 105 and Highway 17.

OPP Investigate Fatal Accident Near Fort Frances

The OPP are continuing its investigation into the death of two people in
an accident near Fort Frances.

Police say a westbound vehicle collided with a transport about 15 kilometers
east of the border community on Highway 11 yesterday afternoon around 4:40.

Both the people in the Chrysler, a man and a woman were killed, while the
driver of the semi was not injured.

Highway 11 was closed for about three years hours due to the accident.

The names of the released have not yet been released.

Rickford Responds to Auditor's Report

The federal government is taking steps to address emergency preparedness on first nation communities.

That according to Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford.

He was responding to the auditor general's report, which suggested the
department of Indian Affairs hasn't set aside adequate resources to
deal with emergencies in aboriginal communities.

Rickford says the federal government is also working out a clearer response plan in the case of emergencies, for departments at both the federal and provincial level.

North Spirit Lake Crash Results in Aviation Changes

It may be hard to fathom but some good has come out of a tragic plane crash in northwestern Ontario.

Four people died when a Keystone Air Service plane went down near the North Spirit Lake airport.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has completed its investigation and Peter Hildebrand notes the airport made a big change following the 2012 crash.

Hildebrand says Keystone Air has revised its operational manuals, implemented new icing policies and amended its flight training record-keeping procedures.

Energy Minister Releases Long Term Plan for Ontario

Ontario Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli is out with the new long term energy plan.

Chiarelli says the plan forecasts 70 billion dollars in savings by 2030.

He says all rate payers can expect a decrease.

Chiarelli says the plans will save 15 billion dollars by deferring the construction of two nuclear reactors.

CP Holiday Train Makes Whistle Stop in Kenora

The Salvation Army has capped off a busy weekend of donations with a stop by the CP Holiday Train.

CP presented the Army with a cheque for 6 thousand dollars.

Mayor Dave Canfield says it's another key step in ending hunger.

Salvation Army Business Manager Sandra Poole took the opportunity to again thank the community for their generosity.

Kenora Figure Skaters Excel in Winnipeg

A good weekend for Kenora Figure skaters.

A dozen members of the Kenora Figure skating club were in Winnipeg
for the Superskate competition.

Local skaters claimed six gold medals, four silver and five bronze.

All of the Kenora skaters also finished in the top seven in each of their
events.

It was the first competition of the season for the local figure skaters.

November Unusually Cold

It's not winter yet, but it sure felt like it last month.

This past November was the coldest in more than 15 years.

Bill Laidlaw from Signal Weather Services says the average
temperature was -6.7 degrees.

The coldest November on record was in 1995.

Laidlaw says the normal average daily temperature in November in Kenora
is -4.9 celcius.

MTO Boasting About Summer Road Works

The Ontario government is boasting about its work on northern Ontario roads this year.

The government says 55-hundred construction jobs were created and several projects were completed.

Some of the major work included the resurfacing of Highway 72 and 516 in Sioux Lookout.

The government also replaced several bridges between Kenora and Ignace, including the Little Wabigoon River bridge, Melgund River bridge and the Nugget Creek bridge.

Parachutist Rescued in Thunder Bay

A daring rescue in Thunder Bay over the weekend.

City Fire crews spent more than 8-hours attempting to rescue a 24-year-old man after he got stuck on Mt. McKay.

Officials say the man was attempting a speed-wing parachute jump when something went wrong and he crashed into rugged terrain.

The rescue effort was hindered by dark and slippery conditions.

The man is now in hospital with multiple injuries.

Festival of Trees A Big Hit

Kenora residents were in a giving mood this weekend.

The 10th Annual Festival of Trees had 30 trees up for auction.

Darlene McGillivray from the Kenora and Lake of the Woods Regional
Community Foundation says they managed to raise a lot of money during
the three day festival.

She says they raised almost 30 thousand dollars during their 10th annual
event.

McGillivray says they also benefited from a five thousand dollar contribution
from proceeds from this summer's Air Show.

New Child Care Agreement for Off-Reserve Aboriginals

30 years in the making.

The Kenora and Rainy River District Child and Family Services are signing an agreement with the Weechi-it-te-win Family Services to serve off reserve aboriginals.

KRRDCFS Executive Director Bill Leonard says this move has been a long time coming and is actually encouraged by provincial legislation.

The WFS will begin serving off reserve members once the agreement is signed on Friday.

Public School Board Launches Safe Welcome Initiative

School administrators can now reject visitors from accessing schools before they ever enter the building.

The Safe Welcome program is being launched this morning
at all Elementary Schools in the Keewatin Patricia District School Board.

Shelley St. Hilaire is the Safe and Supportive Schools principal and says certain factors are keeping it out of high schools.

The program includes visitors buzzing a video intercom to speak with administrators before entering the school.

Stand Off Ends Peacefully On Lac Seul

A 28-year-old man has been arrested following a 14-hour standoff at a home in Frenchman's Head on the Lac Seul First Nation.

Lac Seul Police were notified of a domestic dispute shortly after midnight Sunday and Provincial Police in Sioux Lookout provided support.

OPP say the man barricaded himself inside his home and wasn't responding to police requests to exit the residence.
Police say there were also fears that the man had firearms in the residence.

Roadblocks were set up within the community and nine area homes were evacuated as a precautionary measure.

Crisis negotiators were brought in and the man was arrested around 3:20 Sunday afternoon without incident.

The unidentified man is in custody and the investigation is ongoing.

Residents that were evacuated were allowed back in their homes and the roadblocks have been taken down.

Province Launches Open Government Consultations

The term "open government" may seem like a contradiction in terms to some, but the province's government services minister wants to change that.

John Milloy says his open government team is stopping in Thunder Bay this evening to get your views on what  can be done to make the government more open.

Tonght's forum is one of several taking place this month across the province.

CP Holiday Train Crosses Northwestern Ontario Today

It's a sight to behold.

The C.P. Holiday train will be crossing northwestern Ontario today with
several stops.

Salem Woodrow is the trains Spokesperson and says they have a photo contest to go along with the festivities.

The train collects donations for local food banks, and includes a visit by Santa and live music.

The Kenora stop is scheduled for 3:45 this afternoon behind the Real Canadian Wholesale Club.

Thistles Split Against the Capitols at Home

The Kenora Triple "a" Midgets continue to play .500 hockey.

The Thistles split a pair of games over the weekend at home against the
Central Plains Capitals.

Ben Hendrickson scored a pair of goals in a 4-3 loss yesterday at the
Kenora Rec. Center.

Hendrickson also notched a hat trick Saturday night in a 5-1 win over
the Capitols.

The Thistles now have a record of 10 wins and 10 losses this season.

Sharks Enjoy Weekend Meet in Winnipeg

A strong weekend for a number of members of the Kenora Sharks Swim Club in
Winnipeg at the Prairie Winter International Meet at the Pan Am pool.

Gabe Mastromateo led the medal parade with five gold medals and a bronze.

Mastromateo also was a member of the Sharks gold medal winning 12 and under boys medley relay team.

Other gold medalists over the weekend included Alex Illman and Natalie Peterson