OPP Investigate Hit and Run

The Kenora OPP are investigating a hit and run in the Veterans Drive area on Wednesday around 11:30 in the morning.

Police say a cyclist was hit by a grey GMC or Chevrolet pick up truck which then took off.

The cyclist suffered minor injuries in the accident.

The vehicle is missing a side mirror.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to call the OPP or Crimestoppers.

Justice Sinclair Addresses Residential School Abuse

After five years listening to the abuse in Canada's residential school system, the chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission admits he's still shocked by some of the revelations coming out of the hearings.

Murray Sinclair is chair of the Commission and says at least six thousand
aboriginal students never made it out of the residential school system alive.

Instead, Sinclair says the residential school system continued to operate
in Canada for another 67 years after the first revelations about wide-spread abuse were raised.

Sinclair was in Kenora last night as part of a series on the exhibit called We Were Taught differently put on by the Lake of the Woods Museum.

Work Schedule Released for Whiskey Jack Forest

A large section of the Whiskey Jack Forest north of Kenora will be off-limits to logging activity this summer.

The Annual work schedule has been released and an Individual Environmental Assessment will prevent work from taking place in the Grassy Narrows Traditional Land Use Territory.

District manager with the Ministry of Natural Resource Deb Weedon says they hope to begin work in the area within four months time.

In the interim Weedon says forest management activities are taking place in lands outside of the IEA guidelines.

Cancer Society Releases New Data on Skin Cancer

Some alarming news regarding skin cancer rates.

New data indicates skin cancer is the most common cancer in Canada with an estimated 6,500 new cases expected to be diagnosed this year.

Canadian Cancer Society spokesperson Kelly Cull says people are spending more time in the sun or tanning beds and not using sunscreen.

Cull says skin cancer is one of the most preventable types of cancer.

During the summer, the Canadian Cancer Society will begin an awareness campaign to talk about the dangers of tanning - they will target adults between 15 and 39.

Hudak Expected to Skip NWO

Don't expect to see PC leader Tim Hudak in northwestern Ontario before the televised election debate next week.

And local party organizers won't say if Hudak will visit here before the June 12th vote.  

A Conservative spokesperson says that party organizers in southern Ontario are going to be sizing up their leader's performance on Tuesday against the Liberal's Kathleen Wynne and Andrea Horwath of the NDP.

After that Parks says they will try to determine what areas of the province a visit will give them, the biggest bang for their buck

Northwest OPP Officer Faces Theft Charges

The OPP are charging one of their own with several criminal offences.

It stems from an investigation into incidents occuring between October 2012 and March 2014.

Detective Constable Rory Thompson based out of Thunder Bay, is a ten year member of the force is charged with 8 counts of theft under 5-thousand, and one count of fraud under 5-thousand.

Thompson has been suspended with pay and will appear in court on July 11th.

NOSM Researchers Look Aboriginal Infections

A researcher at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine is making a name for herself.  

Dr. Marina Ulanova is leading a team trying to develop a vaccine for a bacterial infection that strikes mainly Aboriginal people in northwestern Ontario.  

She says the reseach is at the next stage with volunteers from First Nation communities

Ulanova says the research shows the school is carrying out its mandate to improve the health of people living in the north.

Northwest Resident Killed in Jamaica

A tragedy in Jamaica where a Thunder Bay man died in a cliff diving accident near Negril.

Jamaican police say 26-year old Taylor Rankin was killed after jumping from a cliff at the popular tourist spot outside of Rick's Bar and Grill.

The accident happened on Tuesday afternoon.

Muskies Win NorWOSSA Soccer Gold

Plenty of gold for the black and gold.

Fort Frances dominated the NorWOSSA Double "a" soccer championships in Kenora yesterday.

The Muskies won both boys and girls titles at the Tom Nabb Soccer Complex beating Dryden in both finals.

Beaver Brae's boys and girls teams bowed out in the semi-finals.

The Broncos lost 3-1 to Dryden in the boys semi and 1-0 in the girls play-off.

Meanhile, a quick turn-around for the Thomas Aquinas girls soccer team.

The Saints are en route to Terrace Bay today for the NWOSSA championships.

T.A.'s first game is 6:30 this evening in game one of the best-of-three final.

The Thomas Aquinas boys will play their first game of the NWOSSA championship
tomorrow morning at the T.A. field at 9:30.

Koch Retires from CFL

Kenora's Kyle Koch has officially called it a career.

The Toronto Argonauts announced last week that the 6'2' offensive lineman has retired.

The Argos acquired the rights to Koch last September after he had been released by the Edmonton Eskimos.

He spent seven years in the CFL and was initially signed as a free-agent by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in
2007.

Koch played his college career with the McMaster Marauders and his high school football with the
Beaver Brae Broncos.

Broncos bow out of NorWOSSA play-offs

A tough day on the pitch for the Beaver Brae soccer teams at the Norwossa double "A" playoffs.

The Bronco Boys fell 3-1 to Dryden in this mornings semi final.

Tyler Kinger scored Beaver Brae's lone goal on a penalty kick.

Meanwhile the girls squad also fell 1-nil against the Eagles.

Both Dryden squads will take on Fort Frances this afternoon in the gold medal games.

NWHU Launches Do One Thing Campaign

The Northwestern Health Unit is targeting youth in the region.

Medical Officer of Health Doctor Kit Young Hoon launched the Do On Thing Campaign this morning.

Young Hoon says social media is a key aspect, as they will be using Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest to interact with the community.

She adds that the main goal of the campaign is to reduces heart attacks, strokes, and cancers which are the leading causes of death in the region.

Included in the Do One Thing Campaign is a 21 day challenge, which can be found here, to help promote healthy lifestyle choices.

The campaign will run for 3 years.

Community Foundation Ready To Launch Fundraising Challenge

10 thousand dollars in 10 hours.

That's the fundraising goal of the Kenora and Lake of the Woods Regional Community Foundation this month.

Darlene McGillvray is the executive director and says they will be trying to raise the month on May 30th as part of their 10th anniversary celebrations.

The 10 hour challenge will be held at both the Copperfin Credit Union and Lake of the Woods Brewing Company.

Dryden Residents Pushing For Zero Tax Increase

The City of Dryden is out with its 2014 budget.

The 25.3-million dollar budget follows 4-million dollars in savings found by staff, including 900-thousand dollars in department cost savings.

Chief Administrative Officer Andre Larabie says they did their best to reduce operating costs.

However, residents attending a public meeting last night demanded Larabie to go back to the table and find more savings.

They were quite vocal on a zero percent increase.

Justice Murray Sinclair To Speak At Seven Generations

The chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is making a return
appearance in Kenora.

Justice Murray Sinclair will be the keynote speaker this evening at Seven Generations
in the gymnasium in the old Lakewood School.

The Museum is reprising it's exhibit We Were Taught Differently, about the
aboriginal experience in the residential school system.

Sinclair will  be making his address at 7:00 this evening.

Kenora Drug Unit Arrests Two Men

A couple of Kenora men face drug charges following an investigation by the Community Drug Action Team and the Kenora Drug Unit.

Police say they witnessed what looked to be a drug transaction on Monday.

The OPP say a small amount of hydromorphone pills were seized.

25 year old Harley McLeod has been charged with trafficking a controlled sustance and possesion of property obtained by crime under five thousand dollars.

He's being held pending a bail hearing.

A 54 year old man faces a charge of possession of a controlled substance and breach of probation.

TSB Looks Into Red Lake Airport Accident

The Transportation Safety Board says no further action will be taken after a scary incident in Red Lake.

A Sky Care aircraft belly-landed at the Red Lake Airport last Friday.

Reports say 9 residents of Pikangikum were on board.

A letter from the First Nations community indicates that one person was transported to hospital, while another one suffered a knee injury.

The letter also indicates a lack of response from emergency personnel and states no one attended to the passengers to see if they were all right.

The TSB says the incident was reported and investigators have taken a look at the matter.

Highway 17 Near Wawa Closed

Long distance drivers take note.  

Highway 17,  18 kilometres south of Wawa remains closed.  It's so road repair work can take place.

OPP say traffic is being detoured on to Highway's 101 and 129 and they advise that long distance truck traffic may wish to take Highway 11 from North Bay to Nipigon.

The Highway should reopen today.

The Names of Weekend Accident Victims Released

The OPP have released the names of two men killed in a collision on Highway 17 east between Kenora and Dryden.

37 year old Adrian Chapados of Saskatchewan was the driver of a Ford Mustang and was pronounced dead at the scene.

18 year old Frisco McRae of Quebec was taken by ambulence to hospital in Dryden, but later died from his injuries.

The accident took place near Eagle River shortly after 6:00 Sunday morning and closed that section of the
Trans-Canada for much of the day.

The occupants of the semi were not injured and the OPP say no charges have been laid.

No Clear Cut Winner in Northern Leaders Debate

Just who won Monday's northern ontario leaders debate?

Liberal Kathleen Wynne and NDP Andrea Horwath went head to head on a number of issues.

Lakehead University Professor Laure Paquette says to her there wasn't a clear winner.

Paquette adds that the NDP's Andrea Horwath had more reason to go after the Liberals since she had to show how different their platforms are.