Police Investigate Assault in Whitedog

A man is in Kenora hospital following an early morning assault on the Whitedog First Nation.

Treaty 3 Police and the Ontario Provincial Police say the man was attacked with a weapon and is now at Lake of the Wood District Hospital with life threa
tening injuries.

Police say that a 27 year old man is already in custody as part of the investigation.

He will appear in Kenora court tomorrow to answer to the charge of aggravated assault.

The investigation is ongoing.

School Board Grappling With Higher Utility Costs

The cold, snowy winter is making it difficult for some local agencies
to make ends meet.

The Kenora Catholic District School Board says it's natural gas costs are up this year because of the cold.

Operations manager Andrew Poirier says all their utility costs are up this year.

Poirier adds that the 10 percent increase in the city's sewer and water rates
also hit them hard, because students use a lot of water.

Two Sledders Found Safe and Sound in Eastern Manitoba

All the snow is even making it hard for snowmobiles to get around.

The RCMP in eastern Manitoba were advised of a pair of stranded snowmobilers Monday morning on George Lake northwest of Lac Du Bonnet.

Police say a 39 year old man and a 38 year old woman were sledding in the back country when they became stuck in several feet of slush.

Because of the lake conditions, the RCMP brought in a helicopter and managed to rescue the
two sledders.

They were checked out by emergency service personnel and declared to be in good health.

Kenora Officer Faces Police Service Act Charge

A Kenora OPP officer isn't out of the woods yet.

Constable Troy Bender was fined 11 hundred dollars for careless driving
just before Christmas in connection to an accident that resulted in the
death of a 42 year old Grassy Narrows woman.

Gloria Assin was being transported to the Kenora Detachment in September of 2012 when the cruiser was hit by a semi.

While criminal charges against Bender were dropped, he now faces a
charge of discreditable conduct under the Police Services Act.

No date for the hearing has been announced.

Rickford Applauds Pikangikum Pilot Project

Kenora MP Greg Rickford is applauding a new program to help at-risk youth in Pikangikum First Nation.

The Federal Government has invested nearly 2.4-million dollars over 5-years in the crime prevention program 'Project Journey'.

Rickford says the initiative will give youth the tools and opportunities they need to steer clear of crime and live in a safe community.

The program will be led by Provincial Police in Red Lake, and will prevent and reduce youth crime and anti-social behaviours among aboriginal youth between the ages of 6 to 18.

Rickford says each year, the project will engage 75 to 100 youth in primary activities with an additional 50-youth participating in secondary activities.

Crimestoppers Looking for Help In Solving Nestor Falls Break In

OPP are turning to Crimestoppers for help in solving a break-in at Nestor Falls.

An unnamed business on Highway 71 was broken into sometime between 6 p-m Saturday February 8 and 1 p-m the next day.

An amount of money and some small items were taken.

Anyone with information can call Crimestoppers.

Another Alberta Clipper Heading Our way

Environment Canada says we can expect 5 to 10 centimeters of snow over the next couple of days.

Meterologist Ria Alsen says it's thanks to an Alberta Clipper that's making it's way into the region.

Alsen says while the Kenora area will just get brushed by the system, areas west of the City there could be even more snow falling, particularly towards Lake Superior.

The snow is expected to start falling tonight and won't let up until Friday afternoon.

Feds Promoting the New First Nations Education Act

The Federal Minister of Aboriginal Affairs is trying hard to sell his government's plan for First Nation Education.

Bernard Valcourt met with the Chief of the Fort William First Nation and Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Harvey Yesno yesterday morning in Thunder Bay.

Valcourt says he's heard their concerns and feels the plan will allow adequate funding and First Nation say in the education system.

Valcourt was a guest speaker at a luncheon put on by the Chamber of Commerce.

Bronco Girls End the Regular Season on the Offensive

Beaver Brae's girls hockey team has put an exclamation mark on the NorWOSSA regular season.

The Broncos played their final game yesterday and trounced Sioux Lookout 12-0.

Hannah Rose scored three goals, while the line of Rylee Smith, Hilary Moncrief and Kate Charlebois accounted for nine goals and 12 assists.

Beaver Brae is back in action Friday night in Fort Frances for game one of their best-of-three play-off series against the Muskies.

Crews Continue Battle Against Snow and Water Lines

Kenora Mayor Dave Canfield is asking for patience when it comes to winter operations.

Canfield says the city is working at it's maximum amount to keep up with the snow fall.

He said that they will continue working the maximum amount of allowed hours, noting the city is spending around $60,000 over budget weekly on snow removal.

Also today the city sent out an advisory regarding frozen and broken water lines.

The city is asking anyone that may be susceptible to freezing lines to keep taps running in hopes of prevent any further problems.

Kenora Airport Gets Funding

The Kenora Airport is getting some funding to improve communication to pilots.

The federal government is providing 36 thousand dollars for a Runway Condition Reporting System.

Airport manager Mike Zroback says it will allow them to provide almost instantaneous landing conditions via computer.

 Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford announced the funding from the Airports Capital Assistance Program
this morning.

Search Warrant Leads to Drug Charges

Kenora OPP have taken 17 grams of cocaine of the streets.

Police executed a search warrant on Friday were they seized the drugs, valued at 14 hundred dollars, along with some cash.

34 year old Clayton Ogden and 32 year old Derek Ogden both of Kenora are now facing charges.

Clayton is charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking while Derek is facing possession of cocaine.

Both men will appear in Kenora Court next month.

School Buses Rolling This Morning Despite Snow

Kenora residents are digging out again today after yet another Alberta Clipper.

The Kenora Airport is reporting 12.6 centimeters of snow yesterday, making it the largest snowfall for February 17th.

In the meantime, the Northwest Student Services Consortium says it's buses will be running as usual this morning despite all the snow on Family Day.

The buses may be running slightly behind scheduled in some areas though because some side roads, particularly in the Kenora area still have not been plowed.

Campbell Gears Up for New Session At Queen's Park

Kenora Rainy River M.P.P. Sarah Campbell is being regional concerns back to Queen's Park.

Today marks the return of the legislature after the winter break.

Campbell says she has been out and about listening to residents.

Campbell says she will continue to hold transportation minister Glen Murray to his promises.

OPP To Launch New Program on Pikangikum

The Deputy Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police will be in Thunder Bay today to discuss a new partnership with the National Crime Prevention Center.

Sergeant Shelley Garr of the OPP says it's called Project Journey and it will help the youth of Pikangikum.

The project is aimed at Aboriginal youth-at-risk between the ages of 6 and 18 years of age.

The program will be unveiled at 10 o'clock at the OPP Northwest Region Headquarters.

Police Confirm Four Fatalities in New Osnaburgh Fire

The Nishnawbe-Aski Police Force are confirming that a house fire in the community of New Osnaburgh, is responsible for four deaths.

The service along with several other agencies have located four bodies.

The investigation is ongoing with post-mortem examinations taking place in Toronto later this week.

Job Fair Returns to Kenora

Need a job? Tired of the one you have? Or just interested to see what's out there?

If you said yes to any of those questions then the 3rd Annual Employment Outreach Career Fair is for you.

Josee Mantle is with the Kenora District Services Board and says the job fair will be hitting Dryden, Sioux Lookout and Kenora starting on February 25th.

Mantle says some 17 employers will be in attendance and those who attend should bring their resume.

Dates: Dryden February 25th 10-3 Dryden Training Center; Sioux Lookout February 26th 10-3 Legion; Kenora February 27th 10-3 Seven Generations Institute

Ontario Nurses Want Changes for LHIN's

A total of seven recommendations have been made to change the face of the Local Health Integration Networks.

The call for change is being made by the Ontario Nurses Association.

Vicki McKenna says they know there's a severe shortage of registered nurses.

McKenna adds health and safety procedures and regulations should be included in any accountability agreement.

Driven To Quit Challenge Deadline Looming

The deadline to enter the Driven to Quit Challenge is fast approaching.

You have until February 28th to register.

It's the Canadian Cancer Society contest that encourages smokers to quit the habit for at least the month of March.

Senior Coordinator at Smokers Helpline, Naomi McNeill says participants can win a new vehicle or cash prizes up for grabs.

Deadline to enter is February 28 and is made through the contests website or by calling the Canadian Cancer Society's smokers helpline: DriventoQuit.ca  or smokershelpline.ca

Province Hires Firm to Create ROF Development Corporation

Minister of Northern Development and Mines Michael Gravelle says his government is hiring the firm Deloitte LLP to help establish the Ring of Fire development corporation.

The firm will act as a neutral, third-party resource for First Nations, the provincial and federal governments and industry.

They will also work with Ring of Fire partners to set clear paths and timelines for decision-making and seek out the next steps.