Speed Racing on Highway 71

A 20 year old Nestor Falls resident has lost the use of his car for a week.

The OPP say they pulled over a vehicle over the weekend on Highway 71 for speeding.

Officers say the car was travelling more than 50 kilometers in excess of the posted speed limit of 80 kilometers an hour.

Under new provincial regulations, that's considered speed racing and police can impound the vehicle for a week.

To make matters worse, the driver was found to be drinking and has been charged

with impaired driving.

Tobacco Free Grant for Nestor Falls

The Town of Sioux Narrows/Nestor Falls is just the second community in northwestern Ontario to receive funding from a provincial anti-tobacco strategy.

More than 100 of the Play, Live and Be Tobacco Free Grants have been handed out across
the province.

Nestor Falls will be using the funding to help stage their annual Triple P race.

The race involves biking, running and canoing.

The inaugural Triple P fun race took place this past July at Bass Lake Park and attracted
participants and volunteers from across northwestern Ontario.

Organizers will get a cheque for 500 dollars for the event.

Americans Fined for Illegal Hunting

Two men from South Dakota have been fined a total of 34-hundred dollars for illegal bear hunting near Ignace.

John Gubbrud pleaded guilty to illegally hunting a black bear and providing hunting services to a non-resident without a licence.

James Walker was slapped with a 400-dollar fine for not carrying his hunting licence and failing to wear hunter orange.

Court heard that last September Walker harvested a black bear in an area for which his licence was valid.

A Conservation Officer learned that Gubbrud, who was working for an Ontario Tourist Camp, led Walker to the area, even though it was outside a legal Bear Management Area.

Victims of Crime Funding

A local agency is getting support to help aboriginal people who are victims of crime.

Weechi-ti-te-win Family Services is receiving 192-thousand dollars from the province's aboriginal victims support grant program to fund a variety of initiatives.
Lori Flinders is a director of the agency and says all of the programs are bases on community needs.

David Zimmer, Ontario's Parliamentary Assistant to the Attorney General, made the funding announcement during a recent visit to the area.

Wabigoon Chief Defends Two-Feathers

The Chief of Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation believes they are nearing the final stages of the Two Feather Forest Products Value-added project.

Rueben Canton says its his hope that everyone involved can dot the I's and cross the T's.

Canton admits its been a long process.

Canton says were talking about a new project, with new ideas, and it takes some time for things to happen.

The project was first talked about in 2002 but really took shape in 2004.

Public School Board releases Strategic Plan

A comprehensive and aggressive Strategic Improvement Plan has been adopted by the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board.

The strategy holds students, teachers, staff, senior administration and the Board more accountable to student success.

Director of Education Jack McMaster says one focus is helping aboriginal students.

43-percent of the student population in the School District is aboriginal.

The Board also serves 1-thousand and 33 special needs students.

Bearskin Airlines Sold

A major announcement impacting the airline industry in Northwestern Ontario.

Exchange Income has signed a letter of intent to acquire Bearskin Airlines for 32.5-million dollars.

Bearskin has been a local fixture for over 47-years with service in several communities including Dryden, Sioux Lookout, Red Lake, Kenora, Fort Frances, Thunder Bay and Winnipeg.

President Harvey Friesen says the timing was right.

Winnipeg-based Exchange owns and operates CalmAir, Keewatin Air, and Perimeter Air.

No changes in staffing or service are expected and the deal should close around December 1st.

Public School Trustees Disappointed with OSSLT results

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board didn't beat around the bush last night in stressing that last year's High School literacy test results are real cause for concern.

31-percent of the 530-students writing the test for the first time failed the exam, while roughly 61-percent of the 293-students writing for a second time couldn't get the job done.

While Trustees were upset to see those numbers, they were shocked to learn that 36-percent of first time and second time writers didn't bother to show up for the test.

The results have been showing a steady downward trend the past 5-years.

Trustees stated that the Board may have to revisit their game plan to see what needs to be done.

While the numbers are sobering, a few bright spots came out of the report, primarily that the 4-year graduation rate of 78-percent and 5-year rate of 89-percent is right on line with other Provincial Boards.

Thomas Aquinas Opens NorWOSSA Season

A good start to the NorWossa Boys Volleyball and girls basketball season for the Thomas

Aquinas Saints.

All four teams are on the road this week.

Yesterday, the Saints were in Atikokan and swept the Voyaguers in all four games played.

Both the T.A. Senior and junior Boys upended Atikokan three sets to one.

In girls basketball, the Thomas Aquinas senior girls cruised to a 57-24 win.
Zoe Yeomans led the offense with 15 points.

The Saints junior girls also prevailed, 23-13 over the Voyageurs. Sami Burkhart
had 8 points for T.A.

Today, Thomas Aquinas court teams are in Rainy River.

Nestor Falls Second in Ultimate Fishing Town contest

The community of Nestor Falls is appealing to residents across northwestern Ontario to help it become Canada's Ultimate Fishing Town.

Nestor's Falls is second in the World Fishing Television network's contest behind Port Alberni, British Columbia.

Maureen Hanson of Hanson's Hideaway Lodge says they're want the entire district to vote for their bid.

WFN is handing out 25-thousand dollars to the winning community.

McGuinty Defends Far North Act

 Premier Dalton McGuinty is defending his decision to move ahead with northern land development legislation over the objections of First Nations leaders.

He says there's been``extensive consultation'' over the Far North Act, which is slated for a final vote later this week.

N-D-P critic Gilles Bisson says the dispute over Bill 191 could jeopardize McGuinty's plans to develop the Ring of Fire chromite deposit near James Bay.

Several First Nations chiefs say McGuinty failed to keep his promise not to pass the legislation without their approval and are warning that they'll use ``any means necessary'' to protect their treaty rights.

Green Light expected soon for New Forensics Lab

Work on a new OPP forensics lab in Kenora is expected to begin sometime this fall.

The lab is one of 14 the Government of Ontario is planning to build across the province.

Councillor Dave McCann say the project has been fast-tracked.

McCann says they are expecting confirmation from the provincial government sometime in the next week when construction might begin.

Respite Care Program Offered in Kenora

Thunder Bay based Wesway is expanding into the Kenora and Rainy River Districts.

The group has rolled out a Respite program that provides funding for caregivers who need a break from taking care of Seniors living at home.

Spokesperson Carol Neff says the program has been very successful over the past three years.

To find out more information call 1-888-623-2353.

OPP Investigate Break-Ins

The OPP are investigating a rash of break-ins that took place during the day on Monday.

A number of homes have been entered and searched.

Some cash and other miscelleaneous items were stolen.

Anyone with information about either incident is asked to contact the OPP or Crimestoppers.

OPP investigate armed robbery

The Kenora Detachment of the OPP is investigating an armed robbery this

took place early this morning on Lakeview Drive.

Police say the culprits entered a restaurant around 1 A.M. and forced their

way into the office.

They were able to get away with an undisclosed amount of

cash before the police could be called.

Members of the OPP's Criminal Investigations Branch and Street Crimes

Unit have been called in to assist.

Hampton Opposes Far North Act

The Ontario Legislature has resumed sitting and Kenora-Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton has a number of items on his agenda he wants to see addressed.

The NDP member says the key issue is the Government's proposed Far North Act.

Hampton accuses the Liberals of trying to convince Ontarians that First Nations are on side with the Legislation.

The Far North Act is due for third and final reading on Thursday.

Councillors say their farewells

Members of the current edition of Kenora City council have officially said their goodbyes.

Last night was the final regularly scheduled meeting of council befor the October 25th municipal elections.

Chris Van Wallenghem and mayor Len Compton are the only two members not seeking  re-election.

Van Wallenghem says its no easy task being a city councillor.

Council released a report last night, outlining their accomplishment's over the past four years.

It includes phase one and phase two of downtown revitalization, retro-fitting the Kenora Rec. Center and the rehabilitation of Highway 17 east and west into the City of Kenora.

Canoer Drowns in Quetico Park

The body of a Duluth man has been pulled from the waters of McAree Lake in Quetico Provincial Park.

Rainy River OPP had been searching for Darrell Cellers who had gone missing in the area since September 9th.

Investigation revealed that Cellers had been travelling through the park when hs canoe overtuned during windy conditions.

A post mortem exam showed that Cellers had drowned.

Far North Act Under Attack

First Nations leaders are warning of a showdown with the Ontario government over the Far North Act, which is slated for a third and final reading Thursday in the legislature.

Grand Chief Stan Beardy says the bill robs aboriginals of their treaty rights and doesn't give them a say in how their lands will be developed.

The Far North Act would block up to 42 per cent of Ontario's land mass from development, protecting 225-thousand square
kilometres of boreal forest.

Good Turn-out for Day One of Blood Donor Clinic

A good first day, but more donors are still going to be needed today at day two of the Canadian Blood Service Blood Donor Clinic in Kenora.

A total of 146 people came out yesterday and donated 123 units of blood.

CBS spokesperson Harvey Heather says that was about 12 people more than they had

expected.

However, he adds they still have about 50 appointments available today.

The Blood Donor Clinic will run from 9:30 to 12:30 today at St. Thomas Aquinas School.