Super Bowl RIDE Program

Police forces across the province are encouraging football fans
to enjoy this weekend's Super Bowl -- but to do so responsibly.

Police say RIDE programs will be enhanced, beginning today,
through Monday.
   
Additional officers will be dedicated to establishing RIDE spot checks and patrol officers will be paying special attention to areas where Super Bowl celebrations are occurring.
   
And police are reminding Super Bowl party hosts that they are
responsible for their guests.

Saints Lose, Broncos Win

The Thomas Aquinas boys hockey team had its 15 game winning streak snapped, but the
Saints still picked up a point last night.

T.A. lost a 4-3 decision to the Eagles last night in Dryden.

The game went to a shootout and the Eagles won in the seventh round.

The Saints are back in action tonight with a big match up against their cross-town rivals
from Beaver Brae.

Meanwhile, Beaver Brae's girls hockey team doesn't seem to be showing any
signs of rust after being off for a couple of weeks.

The Broncos upended the Red Lake Rams 6-2 last night at the Kenora Rec. Center.

Maddie Trudeau led the way with a hat trick, which included two goals on the power play.

New Sawmill Announced in Atikokan

Resolute Forest Products plans spend 50-million dollars on building a new random-length sawmill in the Atikokan area.

The company expects to open the mill early next year, creating 90 jobs.

Atikokan Mayor Dennis Brown says its great news for the entire region.

The company says its reviewing potential sites, but plans construction for later this spring.

Madsen Public School Re-Opened

The Northwestern Ontario Student Services Consortium has re-opened the Madsen Public School in Red Lake.

The school was closed this morning due to a scheduled black out in the area by Hydro One.

Classes are running their regular schedules this afternoon.

Boil Water Advisory for Hudson

A boil water advisory has been issued for Hudson, due to low pressure in the distribution sytem.

Residents are reminded that all tap water should be boiled for one minute if it's used for consumption.

The advisory will remain in effect until further notice.

Wasacase Returns as Police Board Chair

No change this year for the Kenora Police Services Board.

Colin Wasacase was acclaimed to another one year term as
chairman.

Glenda McMillan will also stay on as vice-chair.

The police board held its first meeting of 2013 yesterday.

STR Working to Open Trails

Sunset Trails Riders are still working to set up all of their trails for the season.

Bruce McGregor with STR says they have been battling the conditions on some trails.

He says they haven't been able to get their groomer out on the lake trails because the ice still isn't
thick enough.

McGregor adds safety is the first priority in setting up the remaining trails and they hope to open them all up as soon as possible.

Infrastructure Funding for Small Communities Sought

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty wants to bring some financial help to municipalities trying to fix up aging infrastructure.

Rafferty says he plans to introduce a motion in the House of Commons sometime in February that address the needs of small communities.

Rafferty is hoping something can be put in place for next year's federal budget.

MNR Considering Year Round Fire Permits

The Ministry of Natural Resources is supporting a call for a year-round permitting system for open-air burning in northwestern Ontario.

Municipal leaders in the Rainy River district gave approval to the concept at their meeting on the weekend.

The idea arose after an early start to last year's forest fire season forced several municipalities to impose fire bans.

Currently, permits are only needed between April and October.

Marnie Brown of the MNR says extending permitting requirements allows for greater control on burning outside the normal burning season, especially in drought-like conditions.

Forestry Announcement Expected Today for Atikokan

Atikokan will get a visit by the president of Resolute Forest Products today.

Richard Garneau is scheduled to make an announcement that Mayor Dennis Brown says in an email will mean jobs and industry for his community.

The nature of the announcement has not been disclosed, but there's speculation in the community that Resolute plans to construct a new sawmill on the site of the former Buchanan own mill at nearby Sapawe.

Bariatric Surgery Soon to be offered in NWO

Weight loss surgery will soon be a procedure offered to patients in northwestern Ontario.

Health Minister Deb Matthews announced 300 thousand dollars for bariatric surgery at the Thunder Bay Health Sciences Center.

Deb Matthews says the money will allow 100 patients with severe obesity to be treated.

Matthews also announced an undisclosed amount of money to the company Regen Med.

Classes Cancelled at Madsen Public School

There will be no school Thursday for students at the Red Lake Madsen Public School.

The school will be closed due to a planned power outage in the area.

Classes are set to resume on Friday.

School buses to other Red lake/Ear Falls schools will not be affected.

Kenora O.P.P See Increase in Overtime Hours

Figures released by the Kenora OPP shows there was almost 400 hours of overtime racked up by officers last month.

That was almost four times higher than the month of November.

Staff Sergeant Paul Van Belleghem says a murder investigation in Lakeside took up a huge amount of their resources.

Van Belleghem says the province picks up the cost for any specialist units that have to be brought in, but the municipality has to pay the rest.

Canfield Eager to Work With new Premier

Kathleen Wynne seems to have a number of cheer-leaders in northwestern Ontario.

Kenora Mayor Dave Canfield says he's glad Wynne won the Liberal leadership over the weekend.

He says she's been very responsive to the concerns of municipal leaders in this region.

Canfield is hoping Wynne will make the trip to northwestern Ontario for the NOMA
annual conference in April.

Vehicle Impounded for Speeding

OPP are cracking down on speeders.

Last week an officer from the Upsala Detachment found a driver going west bound on Highway 17 at an excessive speed.

In the end the Police officer charged the driver for going 55 kilometres an hour over the already 90 kilometre speed limit.

The 44 year old man's vehicle was impounded for seven days, and he was charged with speeding.

Treaty Three Police Investigate Fatal Accident in Fort

A 61-year-old old woman has died following on the Couchiching First Nation.

Treaty 3 Police says the unnamed woman was struck by a truck in the area of the Health Access Centre.

She was taken to LaVerendrye Hospital where he succumbed to her injuries.

Treaty 3 Police continue to investigate.

Dryden to Host Northwest Response Forum

A three-day conference about disaster management and relief efforts will be taking place this spring.

The Northwest Responce Forum is being held at the Center from April 9-11 in Dryden.

Reagan Breeze is one of the organizers and says there will be a number of public speakers.

The event is open to emergency prepareness officers, first responders, businesses, educators and policy makers.

More FedNor Funding for the Region

More Fednor funding for Northwestern Ontario.

Minister Tony Clement has announced that over 379 thousand dollars will go to replacing aging water mains in the Town of Rainy River.

In addition, Lake of the Woods Township will have access to over 20 thousand dollars to make upgrades to its community hall.

Saints Extend Winning Streak

15 wins in a row and counting.

The Thomas Aquinas boys hockey team continues to roll.

T.A. upended the Fort Frances Muskies 5-3 last night at the Kenora Rec. Center.

Tanner Kapera scored a pair for the Saints, who improved to 5-1 in league play.

Thomas Aquinas is back in action tomorrow night against Dryden and again
Friday night against Beaver Brae.

Warketin Returns as LHIN's Chair

No change at the top of the Northwest Local Health Integration Network.

The Board of Directors has reappointed Joy Warkentin as Chair.

She was first appointed Chair in August 2011.

Warkentin says she looks forward in building on the successes of the LHIN.

She says it's a critical time for our health care system and she's commited to improve access to care and overall patient experience.