Union Gas Provides Winter Warmth Program

Low-income families can get some help paying their natural gas bills.

Union Gas is kicking off their Winter Warmth program.

Andrea Stass says the program offers up to 5-hundred dollars to low-income families.

Stass says families and individuals who might qualify for the program in Kenora can apply through the Thunder Bay Social Planning Council.

More program information is available online at union gas.com.

Federal Liberal Candidate Visits Kenora

Building Canada's skilled labor force.

That's a priority of federal Liberal leadership hopeful David Bertschi.

Bertschi was in town yesterday and says it's important to open up trade positions to keep up with the growing mining industry in Northwestern Ontario.

Bertschi says other industries are already bringing workers in from over seas to work in some trades that are seeing a lack of qualified workers in Canada.

OPP Investigate Death of 23 Year old Woman

The Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service have asked the O.P.P to investigate a suspicious death.

Police say that a 23-year-old female from Kasabonika Lake First Nation had died on Friday while in police custody.

No other details are available at this time.

Week of Action Against Poverty Launched

It's no ordinary book of advice.

Making Kenora Home is hosting a book launch during the Week of Action Against Poverty.

And Nan Normand says there is one major difference about the advice offered in the booklet.

She says its written by people on a limited budget and gives suggestions on how to live frugally.

Along with the book launch Making Kenora Home is also holding a flash song and the annual poverty challenge.

More information is available at:  makingkenorahome.ca.

A Strong Showing for the Sharks in Thunder Bay

 A good outing for the Kenora Sharks Swim Club.

The Sharks placed second overall at the Northwestern Ontario Regional
Championships in Thunder Bay over the weekend.

Despite their second place showing, the Sharks were actually named the
Best Performing Team at the swim meet.

Six of its members earned the highest point score for their age group.

Transport Driver Charged After 2 Vehicle Collision

One transport driver is being charged with failing to drive in a marked lane.

Ontario Provincial Police were forced to shut down Highway 17 west of Marathon last night around 10:30.

One big rig failed to make the turn at the end of a steep hill and overturned, while another following behind was unable to avoid a collision and wound up striking the first transport and ending up in the ditch.

Two people were transported to hospital, treated and released.

O.P.P. had to call the Ministry of Environment after diesel fuel from one of the big rigs was leaking into a nearby creek.

O.P.P Investigate Break and Enter

Kenora O.P.P are investigating a break and enter into a residence on the Jones road.

The incident happened on Friday between 8:30 AM and 12:30 PM.

The suspects were able to steal a 36" Sony TV, a Play Station 2, a Nintendo Wii, and a Nintendo DS.

Police are asking anyone with information about this incident to contact the O.P.P or Crimestoppers.

Duchesne Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter

A dramatic turn in the second degree murder trial of Angela Duchesne and Kenneth Ivall.

Angela Duchesne has pleaded guilty manslaughter in connection to the
death of Ed Wilson behind the Tower Motel on March 21st, 2009.

That revelation was made to the jury this morning, after they were brought back after a week off.

Justice Terrance Platana says Duchesne pleaded not guilty to a second degree murder charge on January 28th, but guilty to a charge of manslaughter that same days.

Her plea comes just days after her lawyer David Gibson had to remove himself from the case, because he had been appointed an Ontario Court judge.

The details of her actual plea agreement remain under a publication ban.

Justice Platana made it clear to the jury that Duchense guilty plea to manslaughter has no bearing on the case that continues before the court.

Kenneth Ivall remains on trial in connection to Ed Wilson's death.

The trial resumed this morning and will run for at least another four to five weeks at the Kenora Court House.

Elliott Seeks Top Job in OSSTF

A northwestern Ontario High School teacher is looking to become the new head of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation.

Paul Elliott of Fort Frances, who's currently on a leave of absence, has been a vice-president for the past four years.

Elliott feels he's got the skills to shape new relations with the province.

Elections will be held at Federation's annual convention in March.

Jury Returns in Second Degree Murder Trial

The jury will be back this morning at the second degree murder trial
taking place at the Kenora Court House.

The Jury was dismissed last week while the judge and the lawyers involved
in the trial Angela Duchesne and Kenneth Ivall continued to meet.

The trial was thrown off-course by the announcement that Duchesne's lawyer, David Gibson has been named an Ontario Court judge.

Duchesne has since found new legal representation and a decision will
be made as to how to proceed with the trial.

Justice Terrance Platana indicated last week, that he felt the trial could
stick to its original eight week timeline initially laid out by the crown and the defense.

OPP Offers Tips for Staying Warm in Cold Weather

Looking cool or staying warm.

That is a question being asked by the Kenora O.P.P after a recent cold wether spell hit the city.

Constable Dave Cain wants to remind people that looking cool is one thing but it's not worth risking frost-bite and hypothermia.

Cain also wants to remind people who take in outdoor activities such as snowmobiling or skating to dress for the day and to keep your skin covered.

OFIA Predicts Better Times for Forest Industry

Years of hard times in the forest sector may finally come to end in 2013.

That's the feeling of the Ontario Forest Industries Association.

President and CEO Jamie Lim says forestry is ready to make a comeback.

In the past couple of weeks, at least three companies have indicated they would be resuming lumber production soon, including Kenora Forest Products

Resolute Forest Products also announced a 50 million dollar investment in a new mill in Atikokan, and the
Hudson Sawmill also resumed production last week.

NAPS Launches Project Firefly

Preventing arson and promoting fire safety in Aboriginal youth.

The Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service are launching Project Firefly this week.

Constable Chris Carson says it's a training opportunity for police and other community-based agencies who will address the issue in their own communities.

The training includes the Tapp-C Program, which is an arson prevention program for children between 7-12 years old.

Northern Policy Institute Announces Board of Directors

The Northern Policy Institute has announced its first ever board of directors.

Just one person from the Kenora-Rainy River Riding is on the board.

Florence Bailey of Sioux Lookout has been appointed as a director.

Bailey, along with nine others from Northern Ontario will serve on the board.

The first meeting is scheduled for February 20 at Algoma University in Sault Ste. Marie,
where the members will elect a chair and vice chair.

Thistles, Broncos Win over the Weekend

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

In their final home stand of the regular season, the Thistles upended the Central Plains Capitals in a pair of games at the Kenora Rec. Center.

Yesterday Jaryd Wiebe scored a pair of goals en route to a 4-1 win.

Saturday, the Thistles doubled up the Caps 2-1.

The Thistles wrap up the regular season on the road next weekend with three games in western Manitoba.

Meanwhile, Beaver Brae claimed city bragging rights on Friday with a 3-2 win over Thomas
Aquinas in boys high school hockey action.

Hudson Mill Re-opens

The up and down ride of the McKenzie Forest Products Mill in Hudson is back on the upswing.

The Mill is back up and running and trucks are hauling green logs into the mill.

Sioux Lookout Mayor Dennis Leney says Buchanan Forest Products is in the early stages of getting the entire operation back on-line.

The mill has been closed since 2008, with a very brief stint on-line in 2010.
Leney says it's great news for the community.

Service Ontario Office Hours Cut

A handful of ServiceOntario counters in our area have been deemed "low-volume" by the provincial government.

The union representing Ontario Public Service workers says sites in Red Lake, Sioux Lookout, Ignace and Atikokan could see their hours reduced in the coming months.

The counter in Rainy River had its weekly hours chopped from 42.5 to 16 last November and the province has reduced hours in Wawa, Gore Bay and Hearst.

SeviceOntario helps folks with birth certificates, driver's licences, health cards and other government identification.

Timberstrand Mill Ramps Up Production

Ramped up production and new jobs.

That's the benefit Kenora is seeing from the increased production at the Weyerhaeuser Timberstrand Mill.

Weyerhaeuser's manager of Public Affairs Wayne Roznowsky says they hired new staff inside the mill and there might be more positions outside of the mill.

Roznowsky adds that the mill is now running at 5 days week.

Hunter Fined for Shooting At Moose

A Slate Falls First Nations man has been slapped with a 35-hundred dollar fine for careless discharge of a firearm and unlawful possession of wildlife.

Court heard that a conservation officer responded to complaints of unsafe hunting last January.
The man was hunting on Vermillion River Road, a well-used forest access road north of Sioux Lookout.

An investigation found that Charles Vincent Jr. fired three shots down the middle of the road at a cow moose.

Ornge Beefing UP Staffing Levels in NWO

Staffing shortages in northwestern Ontario are being addressed by Ornge Air Aumbulance.

New President and C.E.O., Dr. Andrew McCallum says they will be beefing up
staff at their Thunder Bay base.

McCallum says each of the three Ornge aircraft in Thunder Bay - a helicopter and two airplanes, will have their own dedicated crew of paramedics supporting
operations, 24/7.

McCallum says the 10 new hirings will address staff shortages that were created due to Summer holidays last year.