By-Pass Closed Again Temporarily

The OPP have reclosed a section of the Kenora By-pass.

Police say the closure is just west of the Highway 17 and the 596 intersection.

Crews are cleaning up after this mornings tractor trailer fire.

The highway is expected to be closed for about hours.

Traffic is being re-routed through Kenora.

Police Searching for Missing Windsor Man

Local residents are being asked to be on the lookout for a missing Windsor man.

It's believed that 30-year-old Brandon Wheeler may be in the Dryden-Kenora area as reports say he may be travelling west to Alberta.

Windsor Police say Wheeler may be under distress and they are concerned about his safety.

Wheeler is driving a green 2010 Jeep Wrangler, with Ontario plates ALPD512.

The Jeep has a soft top and very large tires with a customized bumper.

He's described as 6-foot-4, skinny and muscular and usually wears a leather jacket, t-shirt and jeans.

Anyone with information is asked to contact local police or Crime Stoppers.

OPP Deploy Spike Belt in Ignace Car Chase

A Quebec man faces charges following a police chase in the Ignace area.

Provincial Police tried to stop a speeding eastbound driver on Highway 17 last Friday.

The driver refused to stop but his trip eventually ended about 40-kilometre east of Upsala when officers from the Thunder Bay and Upsala Detachment's deployed a spike belt.

38-year-old Jean Guy Bergeron has been charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle and flight from police.

New Report Links Alcohol Consumption to Cancer

Contrary to popular opinion, alcohol can cause Cancer.

Dr Mark Henderson is vice-president of the Northwest Region Cancer Program and says although the risk is real it's not on par with some other health factors.

Henderson the more someone drinks the more risk they have.

He notes alcohol can cause mouth, liver, and even breast cancer.

NOTO Names New Executive Director

An organization representing hundreds of tourist outfitters in northern Ontario has a new leader.

Laurie Marcil has been appointed executive director of Nature and Outdoor Tourism Ontario.

She has been in that position in an acting capacity for the past year and is pleased to be
taking on the job on a full-time basis.

Marcil suggests the long, cold winter could have an impact on the start of the tourist
season in the Northwest because the ice isn't out of most lakes yet.

OFAH Concerned About Moose Tag Draw

The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters wants the Ministry of Natural Resources to do a more comprehensive study of moose in Ontario.

The province is giving out fewer hunting tags this season because of population declines.

OFAH's Mark Ryckman says more needs to be done to explore all of the reasons for that decline.

Ryckman says if hunting isn't the sole reason for the decline in numbers, the cut in moose tags isn't going to have much an impact if other factors continue to go ignored such as predation by wolves or bears.

Carbon Monoxide Kills Two in Nipigon

A Nipigon couple is dead of what police say is carbon monoxide poisoning.

OPP say the 60 year old man and his 45 year old wife were found in their home Monday afternoon.

The deceased have been identified as Yvan Gaujean and Claire Limag-Gaujean, both residents of Nipigon.

Sgt. Randy Bye says that their 8 year old son survived and was taken to hospital for treatment.

Police aren't certain what the source of the deadly gas was, but plan to investigate.

Smokers Butt Out in Driven to Quit Challenge

Smokers in the region seem to be driven to quit the habit.

In the northwest region, 513 people joined the Driven to Quit Challenge.

Senior Coordinator for Smokers' Helpline, Naomi McNeill says we saw the largest number of smokers enter the contest this year.

There were a number of winners from the region coming from Dryden, Emo, Rainy River and Sioux Lookout.

Two Broncos Named to Seniors Bowl Roster

Two members of Beaver Brae's football team will be heading to Winnipeg next month
for the annual Seniors Bowl.

Kyle Kowalik and Hudson Boucha were added to the roster for the May 24th all-star game.

Both have been defensive stand-outs for the Broncos over the past couple of years.

The game will be played at Investors Group Field.

Traffic Moving Again on Kenora By-Pass

Traffic is rolling along the Kenora By-Pass again.

Highway 17-A was closed overnight due to a fire involving a semi-tractor trailor unit.

The smoking remains of the trailer still remain on the side of the highway, just west of the Highway 596 intersection along with a couple of emergency vehicles, police and fire trucks.

It's believed the rig was hauling a load of paint.

The cab itself was disconnected from the burning trailor and no one was injured.

The highway is listed as open to one lane in the area.

NOCA Men's Playdowns Coming to Kenora

The 2015 Northern Ontario Curling Playdowns are coming to Kenora.

The Keewatin Curling Club was announced as the host yesterday.

President Hayley Smith says they will converting the Kenora Rec Centre for the event.

The conversion will see 4 curling sheets set up in the arena.

One of the main attractions will be the expected appearance of Brad Jacobs' Olympic gold medal team.

The Playdowns take to ice ice February 4th - 8th next year.

Valleyview Celebrates Earth Day

Earth Day Celebrations are taking place at Valleyview School.

Principal Jason McDonald says they are hosting an environmental fair in the gymnasium.

He says lots of topics are being dicussed with the students.

McDonald adds the public is invited to attend the fair between 5 and 7 tonight.

SNNF Raises Mill Rate One Percent

Residents of Sioux Narrows/Nestor Falls shouldn't have to dig much deeper to pay their  property tax bill this year.

The town has passed it's 2014 budget with a one percent increase.

Mayor Bill Thompson says most homeowners will actually see an overall decrease, once everything is factored in.

He says education taxes will be going down about three percent

Thompson says one of the other things they were able to do with their budget is put more money into reserves for future projects.

More Ministers Confirmed for NOMA

The Premier and four members of her cabinet are now confirmed for the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association Conference in Fort Frances.

Transportation Minister Glenn Murray, Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Bill Mauro, Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle and Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Zimmer wil answer questions from the region's municipal leaders during Friday's so-called Bearpit session.

Premier Kathleen Wynne will speak to delegates during a Thursday evening dinner.

The NOMA conference officially begins Wednesday evening.

Goldcorp Backs Away from Osisko Takeover

Goldcorp is giving up on its bid for Osisko Mining.

The mining company says it will not raise its offer of 3-point-6 billion dollars that expires tonight.

It decision come on the heel's of last week's announcement that Yamana Gold and Angico Eagle Mines are joining forces to acquire Osisko for 3-point-9 billion, creating a new company called New Osisko.

Canfield Cool To Municipality Taking Over Winter Road Maintenance

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield doesn't think many municipalities will jump at the chance of taking over winter road maintenance of provincial highways in the region.

It's an idea being floated by Transportation Minister Glenn Murray.

Canfield says municipalities know all too well the impact of provincial downloading.

Canfield says money given by the province often diminishes, forcing local taxpayers to pick up the tab to maintain the service.

Moose Tags At A Premium In Kenora WMU's

Local hunters hoping to bag a moose this year might have a tough time.

The MNR has reduced the number of tags for both bull and cow moose.

Overall, northwestern Ontario is looking at an 88 percent reduction.

In Kenora Wildlife Management Unit 7-B, there will only be 17 tags available down from 25 last year.

Just north of the city in Wildlife Management Unit 6, the number of tags has dropped to
just 21 this year, compared to 40 last year.

The MNR blames a declining moose population for the drastic reduction in tags.

Whitefish Bay to Participate in Treasury Gold EA

Treasury Metals continues environmental work on its Goliath Gold Mine project, about 20-kilometres east of Dryden.

Whitefish Bay has received 45-thousand dollars from the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency to participate in the environmental assessment.

The money will help the area First Nation community provide input on the draft plan as well as consult with mining and government officials.

Treasury Metals continues preliminary work on an open-pit and underground gold mine.

Once operational it could have ore production capacity of 25-hundred tonnes per day with an anticipated life of 10 to 12 years.

Jury Roll Issue Delays Another Trial In NWO

A murder trail in Thunder Bay that was supposed to start today is on hold.

22 year old Sheldon Wabason was supposed to go on trial for second degree murder in the 2011 death of 54 year old Robert Topping.

Wabason's lawyer Delmar Doucette says the judge in the case has stayed proceedings for one year.

Doucette says there aren't enough First Nations people represented on the local jury roll

Court Information Now Available On-Line

Need to know where and when you need to go to court?

A new online service now makes it easier for people to find out.

The website allows court users to search for basic information about next-day court appearances, including
the case number, names of the parties involved, and the time, location and reason for that appearance.

Before this information could only be accessed by calling or visiting the courthouse in person.