Midget Thistles score 3 of 4 Points

A strong weekend for the Kenora Triple "a" Midget Thistles.

The Thistles took three of a possible four points from the two top teams in the
league over the weekend.

Saturday afternoon, the Kenora Midgets dropped a 2-1 decision to the Winnipeg Wild in a shootout.

Friday night, the Thistles upended the Winnipeg Thrashers 4-2 at the Rec. Center.

The Thistles next game is against the Central Plains Capitals on February 2nd and 3rd at the Thistle Arena.

Senior Thistles Sweep Williston State

The Kenora Senior Thistles have put together a five game winning streak
as it prepares to host the Renwick Cup.

Over the weekend, the Thistles swept the Williston State Tetons in a pair of
games at the Kenora Rec. Center.

Yesterday, the Thistles doubled up the Tetons 4-2.

It was the same situation Saturday night at the Thistles got by Williston State
by the same 4-2 margin.

Extracurricular High School Sports Start Back Up

Extra-curricular activities resumed for local high school teams over the
weekend.

Beaver Brae hosted stage one of the Northland Cup for junior boys basketball.

Both the Broncos and Thomas Aquinas Saints registered a pair of wins.

Beaver Brae got by Atikokan 36-31, and then edged Fort Frances 29-21.

It was also a good outing for T.A. as the Saints beat Sioux Lookout 49-44 and
came back with a 44-31 win over Ignace.

Stage two of the Northland Cup will take place in Sioux Lookout.

Traffic Re-opens After Idle No More Flash Mob

The flash mob has dispensed and traffic is back to normal on Main street this afternoon.

Organizer of the flash mob Autumn Kakeway says she is happy with the turn out at the youth led Idle No More demonstration.

Kakeway adds that it's important for the younger generations to support the movement.

She says the Idle No More movement has to continue in order to protect the environment for all Canadians.

Local Liberal Says Anyone Can Win Leadership Convention

The president on the Kenora-Rainy River Riding Association is excited for the new premiere to be selected this weekend.

Anthony Leek is at the convention and says even though Sandra Pupatelo and Kathleen Wynne emerged as the pre-convention favorites at this point anyone can still win the delegate vote.

Leek says we will have a better idea of who the front runners after are the first round of voting.

Wynne Local Favorite in Liberal Leadership Race

One of the front-runners in the provincial Liberal leadership race is promising to resume the Legislation with weeks, if she wins this weekend.

Kathleen Wynne says she'll have MPP's back in their seats at Queen's Park February 19.

They've been off since the middle of October when Premier Dalton McGuinty prorogued the legislature.

In our on-line poll, Kathleen Wynne seems to have the most support locally.

56 percent of respondants believe she will Ontario's next premier, while
44 percent believe Sandra Pupatello will win tomorrow's Liberal Leadership vote.

Fate of Second Degree Murder Trial Could be Decided Today

We could find out later this morning if a second degree murder trial at the
Kenora Court House will be able to continue.

Yesterday, David Gibson, who is the lawyer for Angela Duchesne announced that he had been appointed as an Ontario Court Judge.

Justice Terrance Platana brought the proceedings to a halt saying
that Gibson can no longer continue on as the council for Duchesne.

Duchesne and Ivall have been charged in connection to the death of
Ed Wilson on March 21st, 2009.

Justice Platana will be meeting with council to decide the next steps this
morning.

Copperfin Aiming to Merge with Superior Credit Union

Staying competitive and offering better financial support.

That's the message Copperfin Credit Union is offering it's members as they prepare to merge to Superior Credit Union.

CEO Dennis Alvestad says meany services they offer will benefit as they grow the credit union.

Alvestad says some legal work needs to be done beofre the credit unions ask for their members support in April.

Idle No More Flash Mob to Close Section of Main Street

Area first nations youth are getting involved in the Idle No More movement.

Autumn Kakeway and Chevon Redsky have organzied a flash mob taking place tomorrow afternoon.

Redsky talks about the plans for the event.

The flash mob will close down Main Street between 2nd and 3rd Street South between 1:00 and 2:00.

Rainy River Resources Gets Funding for EA

Funding has become available for the Rainy River Gold Project.

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is providing over 122 thousand dollars which will go to support public participation in the federal environmental assessment.

The proposed underground project will produce about 20,000 tonnes of ore per day.

The gold project is about 80 kilometers south of Kenora.

Senior Thistles back on the Ice this Weekend

The Kenora Senior Thistles continue their home series this weekend when they welcome the WiIliston State Tetons to town.

Coach Brian Olson says the Tetons have a strong team.

Olson adds the Thistles split their first series with the Tetons in December.

The first game of the series is Saturday Night at 7:30 and game two is Sunday afternoon at 1:20.

Strange Twist Halts Second Degree Murder Trial

A strange and bizarre twist has come to light involving one of the defense lawyers in the second degree murder trial of Kenneth Ivall and Angela Duchesne.  

Thunder Bay Lawyer Chris Watkins, who is representing one of the accused, says lawyer David Gibson who represents the other defendant has been appointed as a judge.

The appointment has put an abrupt halt to the trial until the situation can be cleared up.  

Watkins says there is a possibility of the case being declared a mistrial.

Mount Evergreen Open for PD Day Tomorrow

Mount Evergreen is ready for PD day at local schools tomorrow.

The hill will be open during the day and is offering a pancake breakfast and movies at 8:00.

Blair McCallum says they have also sent out the ski coupons for students in grades 4,5, and 6.

With the coupon the student can receive a lift pass for $5, rentals for $5, and a lesson for $5 if booked in advance.

For more information on events taking place tomorrow at the ski hill visit their website at www.skikenora.com.

Teenagers Plan Flash Mob on Main Street Tommorrow

Traffic on Main Street between 2nd and 3rd Street South will be closed tomorrow afternoon as a flash mob takes to the streets.

The flash mob was organized by local teenagers Autumn Kakeway and Chevon Redsky who felt there was more that youth could do to support the Idle No More movement.

Redsky says she felt that youth weren't doing enough to support the movement and felt the need to act once she heard about the idea.

The event will start at 1:00 and run for an hour, at that time OPP will close off traffic.

Exam Schedule Changes due to Bus Cancellations

The cancellation of school buses has resulted in the juggling of the
exam schedule at local high schools.

Beaver Brae says all exams have been cancelled today.

Instead they will be written on Monday, using the same schedule as
today.

The second term won't begin until Tuesday.

Over at Thomas Aquinas, it will be a regular exam day.

Any students who are unable to get to school today can write
the test tomorrow at 9 AM instead.

But because tomorrow is a PD day, no school buses will be operating and students will still have to find their own way to the school.

KDSB Outlines Homeless Funding Priorities

Supporting homeless shelters, victims of violence and those having trouble paying their hydro bills.

Three priorities set by the Kenora District Services Board this year following a provincial move to integrate services.

Director of Integrated Social Services Dianne Apland says another priority is creating a long term homelessness strategy for each community they serve.

Apland says currently there's no provincial funding attached to the 10-year plan.

EFTO Responds to Repeal of Bill 115

The local president of the Elementary Teacher's Federation of Ontario is voicing her thoughts on the repealing of Bill 115.

Anne Saltel feels that the government knew all along that it was a flawed peice of legislation, and now that they've got what they want out of it, they will repeal it.

She adds she is still deeply angered by it.

Saltel says the union is still urging it's teachers not to participate in extra-curricular activites, but it's completely up to them.

NOMA Wants Feedback on Endangered Species Act

The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association is upset it won't be getting a say in the Endangered Species Act.

NOMA has been excluded from being a part of an appointed panel that will provide recommendations to the Ministry of Natural Resources on how to improve the act.

Vice President of NOMA, Dave Canfield says the government simply isn't listening to them.

Canfield says the changes seem to be putting up more red tape and scaring away companies from Ontario.

Witnesses Admit to Assault on Ed Wilson

Testimony is schedueld to resume today at the second degree murder trial of Kenneth Ivall and Angela Duchesne.

One of the people who intiated the assault on Ed Wilson the morning of March 21st, 2009 was on the
stand yesterday.

Matt Bruce says he went to the Tower Motel with a couple of friends and had a beer before deciding
to leave.

As he exited the building, he noticed a man slap Angela Duchesne hard across the face.

Bruce says Wilson seemed to grabbing onto the woman and was worried the situation was
going to escalate, so he punched Wilson in the face.

After that, he says a friend of his escorted Wilson away, down the west side of the motel.

He says at that point, Wilson appeared to stumble and fell on the ground.

As he was trying to get up, Bruce says someone else came in and gave a soccer-style kick
to Wilson's head.

He says the kick seemed to knock-out Wilson.

He says he didn't hear about Wilson's death until the next evening when police came to interview him

School Bus Service Cancelled This Morning

The extreme cold is taking its toll on school buses this morning.

The Northwest Student Services Consortium says all school buses
have been cancelled, including First Student service in Kenora.

Buses in Vermillion Bay, Dryden, Red Lake and Sioux Lookout have
also been cancelled today.

All schools remain open.

First Student says municipal transit services in Kenora are operating today.