Details of Joint Drug Investigation to be released

Provincial police say they'll be giving details of a complex joint drug investigation today in Thunder Bay.

Investigators say the case involves trafficking of prescription medication and illegal drugs from southern Ontario to several communities in northwestern Ontario.

Police say O-P-P chief superintendent Mike Armstrong, and representatives of the Thunder Bay, Nishnawbe-Aski and Anishinabek police forces and the R-C-M-P will be present for today's announcement.

Prescription painkillers have been a major problem in some northwestern Ontario, with some community leaders estimating up to 80 per cent of adults are hooked on OxyContin or Percocets.

Justice Minister Rejects Hand Gun Ban

The federal government doesn't seem interested in a wholesale ban on handguns.

There have been renewed calls for banning the firearms following a spate of shootings in the Toronto area.

Yestererday, Justice Minister Rob Nicholson was in Kenora and poured cold water on any sort of handgun ban.

Nicholson says the real problem is handguns which are making their way into Canada illegally.

He says the government is taking a tough stand on gun crimes, introducing new mandatory sentences for anyone convicted.

Government Defends Decision to Close ELA

The Federal Government continues to hold stead fast to it's decision to close the Experimental Lakes Area near Kenora.

House leader, Peter Van Loan was in northwestern Ontario recently and says he's heard the concerns over the move.

He says the government is putting its money toward remediating lakes at risk, instead of raw research.

Dissaproval has come from across the world over the Federal Government's decision to cut the funding for the outdoor research lab.

Job Symposium for Aboriginal Youth

Aboriginal youth in the Kenora District are getting a chance to learn more about future job opportunities in Northwestern Ontario.

The federal government has pledged 46-thousand dollars to host a an Aboriginal Trades and Employment Symposium in the fall.

Mary Tait says the event will focus on some of the jobs that are available in the mining and resource sector in this region.

Tait says reps from various mining companies will be on hand to outline what is needed to work in the budding industry.

Logo Contest Launched

There's a big cash prize up for grabs for a creative mind.

The Kenora District Interactive Digital Platform is in need of a new logo and tag line.

James Harvey says the public will get to vote on line for the submission they

like the best.

The artist with the best submission will recieve 500 dollars!

Housing Prices on the Rise

House prices in northwestern Ontario have gone up by 26 percent over the past four years.

That's according to the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation.

MPAC released its first ever report today, and it shows housing prices have increased more in northern Ontario than any other part of the province.

For the province as a whole, housing prices have gone up an average of 17 percent since 2008.

Police Confirm One Dead in Whitefish Bay Shooting

One person is dead following a shooting incident on the Whitefish Bay First Nation southeast of Kenora.

The OPP confirm that 61 year old Charles Minshall was shot early Sunday morning.

Minshall lived in a residence attached to the store.

The Treaty Three Police and the OPP responded after they received a report of gunfire in the area of the store.

Minshall was pronounced dead at the scene.

A post-mortem exam will be conducted later today at Lake of the Woods District Hospital.

Police say they don't have a suspect in custody, but are asking anyone with information to contact the Treaty Three Police Crime Unit, the OPP or Crimestoppers.

OPG ready to wean Atikokan Plant off Coal

The switch from coal to biomass at Ontario Power Generation's plant in Atikokan will begin this fall.

Work on the 200-million dollar conversion will result in the plant actually stopping the use of coal this October.

Plant Manager Chris Fralick say the existing workforce of 85 will remain on site.

The plant will begin burning biomass in 2014.

Red Lake OPP lay Sex Assault Charges

A 25-year-old Cochenour man faces a long list of charges after a 50-year-old woman was sexually assaulted.

Red Lake Provincial Police say the two knew each other and the incident occurred at a Cochenour home.

OPP say the accused faces counts of break and enter, overcoming reistance to commit and offence, forcible confinement and sexual assault causing bodily harm.

The victim was transported to hospital and released.

The accused remains in custody and no names have been released.

More Fire Crews Heading to Northwestern Ontario

Badly needed help for weary firefighters in Northwestern Ontario.

20-firerangers from Saskatchewan and 20-from New Brunswick are joining local crews on the fire lines.

Waterbombers from Quebec and Newfoundland have also been called in.

20-firerangers from Minnesota arrived last week.

Five new fires were reported yesterday, bringing the number of active fires up to 70.

OPP Says Phone Scams on the Rise

The OPP say they have been getting complaints about an increasing number of telephone scams in recent weeks.

In one incident, a local resident agreed to donate 250 dollars to a charity they figured was worthwhile, and provided their credit card number over the phone.

Only after making the transaction did they contract police to ask whether the call was legitimate.

An officer was able to work with their financial institution to stop the payment from going through.

Police say local residents have also complained of phone calls about securing winnings or vacation packages.

The OPP remind you that if it seems to too good to be true, it likely is.

Cargo North Ready to Launch New Service

A new service is coming to Northwestern Ontario.

Cargo North President Frank Kelner announced the purchase of a new aircraft which will provide air cargo services.

Kelner thinks that this new addition, a Basler Turbo 67, will help a lot of businesses and companies.

The launch date is expected to be November 1.

Kelner says he has obtained 2 more planes by 2013.

LOWBIC Website Garners Award

Lake of the Woods Business Incentive Corporation is showing off some new hardware.

Executive Director of LOWBIC, Ryan Reynard says their website was singled out at a recent conference.

Reynard adds that the website is often the first point of contact for a number of would-be entrepreneurs in the area.

The award was handed out at the annual general meeting of the Ontario Association of Community Future Development Corporations.

Cocaine Bust in RIDE Stop

OPP RIDE Check Stops nab more than just drunk drivers.

Over the weekend, the OPP pulled over a vehicle on Railway Street during a RIDE program.

During one check, officers managed to seize almost a gram of cocaine.

44 year old Jordan Chesterfield of Winnipeg has been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking and obstructing police.

He's scheduled to appear in Kenora Court at the end of August on the charges.

MNR Monitoring Fire on Lake of the Woods

Smoke continues to waft into town from fires burning in the far north.

While there wasn't a lot of fire activity in the region, the MNR says it is currently monitoring a blaze on an island at the south end of Lake of the Woods.

They are letting the fire burn itself out saying it is beneficial for the renewal of the eco-system.

Kenora District Fire Number 73 is burning about 50 kilometres south of Kenora in the Miles Bay area, just north of Comegan Island.

Smoke From Northern Fires Drifts into Kenora

Smoke from fires in the remote north continues to filter into our area.

This despite a relatively quiet weekend on the forest fire front with only one new fire reported yesterday in the Thunder Bay District.

Rain in some parts of the region knocked down the fire hazard.

The reprieve is expected to be short lived though as the weather is forecast to be clear and warm and put the fire hazard back into the high level by mid-week.

Food Bank Shelves Almost Empty

The cupboards are almost bare at Kenora's foodbank.

A campaign is being launched next month to try and replenish supplies.

Making Kenora Home is holding its annual Hunger Doesn't Take a Vacation campaign.

Dan Jorgensen is a spokesperson for the group and says the situation is critical.

Organizers of the Wednesday Farmer's Market say they will be collecting non-perishable food items this week to help out.

Respite Care Program being expanded

A respite support program introduced in the region two years is being continued.

Carol Ness of Thunder Bay-based Wesway says a pilot project that helps families who care full-time for seniors recently received additional funding through the North West Local Health Integration Network.

Ness says there's been so much demand that they have a waiting list.

Re-Design of Driver's Licences Encouraged

The war on tobacco is taking a new twist.

A northwestern Ontario health official Klaus Larsen says as a way to discourage the sale of tobacco to underage teens, they want the Ontario government to redesign driver's licences.

He says they want to easily show when a person under of 19 will reach the age of majority.

Larsen says other provinces already use the licence system they are proposing.

Dingwalls Win Bronzeback

A big comeback for Jeff and Scott Dingwall at the 6th Annual Bronzeback Classic.

The Dingwalls were fourth after the first day weigh-ins, but walked away with the first prize money of 35 hundred dollars yesterday.

They pulled in more than 16 pounds of bass on day two for a total of 31.56 pounds over the two day tournament.

Over at the Tom Nabb Soccer complex, the Vanz Thunder claimed the B-side crown at the Kenora Ladies Soccer Tournament.

The Thunder took a 2-0 decision over Portage La Prairie in a weather shortened game.

Casey's won the c-side final with a 3-1 win over Moncrief United.

In the A-side final it was a team from Winnipeg taking top honors beating Brandon 2-1.