Suit against Nault dismissed

A lawsuit against former Indian Affairs Minister Bob Nault has been dismissed by
an Ontario Court Judge.

The Pikangikum First Nation brought the suit forward after a third party manager
was imposed on the community back on 2001.

Justice John Wright says Nault didn't actually ask for a third party manager,
instead he had lobbied his own department to discuss a co-management sitution.

The band argued that the imposition of a third party manager held up millions of
dollars worth of projects on Pikangikum, but Justice Wright says dismissed the bands
claims.

He says despite Nault's opposition to a third party manager, the decision to impose
one was appropriate.

Snowfall Warning Issued for Kenora

It looks like Kenora is going to ring in the new year with a big dump of snow.
A snowfall warning has been issued for the area, with as much as 20 centimeters
expected to fall in the next day or so.

Alicia Young is a meteorologist with Environment Canada and says Colorado Low is
heading our way.

Snowfall is expected to start this evening and continue until at least tomorrow morning.

Gravelle supports replacing NWO Emergency Field Officer

Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle is backing calls in support of the emergency field officer in northwestern Ontario.


Gravelle says he's against his government's plan not to replace the current officer who retires soon.

Gravelle says he's lobbying Community Safety Minister Jim Bradley to have the decision reversed.

A number of communities across the region, including Kenora has passed resolutions demanding
the government fill the vacancy.

Canfield wants to kick-stat Common Ground Talks

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield says he's eager to the see the Common Ground

Initiative on Tunnel Island get back on track in 2011.

The City of Kenora, Treaty Three and three area first nations are the main partners
in Common Ground, but development of a management plan has been on hold
for the past year and a half.

Canfield says its time for all the parties to sit down and get the process moving
again.

Negotiations over a management plan broke down over whether to include a
dispute resolution mechanism or not.

Kakegamic murder Conviction upheld

A man who was sentenced to life in prison for sexually assaulting and strangling a teenage girl in Kenora has had an appeal quashed.

James Kakegamic was convicted in 2005 of the first-degree murder
of 16-year-old Jocelyn McDonald in 2000.

Kakegamic, who was 22 at the time of the killing and is now serving a sentence of life with no chance of parole for 25 years, appealed his conviction.

He argued that the trial judge's private conversations during jury selection with potential jurors to discuss their personal reasons for not being able to serve meant he was improperly excluded from his own trial.

The Court of Appeal for Ontario agrees he was improperly excluded, but in dismissing the appeal, the court says Kakegamic suffered no prejudice because of that.

McDonald was last seen at a party in Kakegamic's apartment in
Kenora in October 2000 and her remains were discovered March 2001 near the apartment complex.

Still no Visitors are allowed in the Hospital

Hospital officials are still not letting Visitors into the Lake of the Woods District Hospital.

That announcement wqas made before Christmas, and there still has been no changes made to that statement.

The only way any visitors are being let in is if you are going to visit someone who is in Palative Care or if someone is giving birth.

Northwest Local Health Intergration Network is taking a step towards electronic health records.

The Northwest Local Health Integration Network is taking the first step towards creating electronic health records.

A pilot project called "Doorways" will mean information will follow mental health and addiction patients.

Spokesperson Dan Muraw says it's a vast improvement from the old system.

The project will include agencies in Thunder Bay before being expanded elsewhere.

MPP Howard Hampton says don't be Fooled by Deficit Plan

Kenora-Rainy River M-P-P Howard Hampton says the public shouldn't be fooled by the province's plan reduce the deficit.

The plan, announced last week, included eliminating some government agencies.

Hampton says it's nothing more than window dressing.

Hampton says none of the agencies targeted for closures will have any impact on the public.

Year End in Politics not so Productive

Thunder Bay-Rainy River M-P John Rafferty says he was hoping the past session of Parliament would have been a little more productive than it was.

Rafferty says too many pieces of legislation are being slowed from becoming law.


Rafferty says an affordable housing bill and his own private members bill on workers pensions are among two pieces of legislation he would have like dealt with quicker.

AGING AT HOME-FUNDING

Three long term care facilities in the Kenora and Rainy River Districts will be getting funding

to expand home-care services.


The Northwest Local Health Integration Network has promised 420 thousan dollars to extend

their Aging At Home initiative.


Laura Kokochinsi is CEO of the LHIN's and says the service is badly needed in the region.

The Pinecrest Home for the Aged will be getting 240 thousand dollars to provide home support

services for 20 people.


Kevin Queen is CAO of Pinecrest and says the money should ease the demand for beds in the

long term care facility.


Patricia Region Senior Services will be getting 60 thousand dollars under the program, while

Northwest Independant Services will receive 120 thousand dollars for a program in Rainy River.

Keeping Track of Santa Clause

NORAD will once again be tracking Santa's Progress for his Christmas Journey.

Both the Canadian and U.S. military defence oraganization will be teaming up with Google to keep an eye on Jolly Old Saint Nick.

To keep Santa safe NORAD will be using 4 CF-18 fighters to escort Santa into North American Airspace.

You can currently track Santa's progress at www.noradsanta.org as well as google earth.

Lighting of the Candles

A Christmas eve tradition will take place once again this afternoon.
Thousands of ice candles at Lake of the Woods Cemetary will be lit up.

Barb Manson is the city's parks supervisor and says before they begin lighting

the candles, local residents can drop by the cemetary for a special ceremony.
Manson says in addition to the hundreds of ice candles local residents purchased

at the cemetary,just as many will be placed by local residents who made their own.

OPP Hwy Tips

The OPP are reminding the motoring public to take it easy on area highways this winter.
Constable Carol Michtics says has these safety tips.
Michtics recommends calling for road conditions before heading out on the road.
The MTO's road conditions hotline is 1-800-268-4686.

Thistles End Their First Half of Season with Another Loss

The AAA Midget Thistles have lost their 15th game of the season.
They took to the ice last night after two alumni games last night at the Thistle arena.
The Thistles were down 3-0 going to the third period scoring two in an effort to make a late comeback, against the Eastman Selects.
Bowen Alcock scored a Power Play goal then potted another with 38 seconds left in the third.
The Eastman Selects scored another with one second to go to win 4-2.
The Thistles go into the Christmas break with a record of  11-15-0-2 for a total of 24 points.

Kenora sees Building Boom in 2010

The City of Kenora has seen a bit of a building boom this year, but it won't set any records.

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield says through the month of November there was over 28 million
dollars in building permits taken out.

Canfield says while it was an impressive year for construction, he suggests next year will be a little
quieter.

Some of the projects undertaken this year include the new fire hall, the Discovery Center in
Norman, the Headwaters Condo project and phase two of Downtown Revitalization.

Gas prices going up

You might get a bit of a surprise if you plan to fill up your car today.


Gas prices have jumped by six cents a liter in the past day.

Most service stations are now selling a liter of unleaded at 112.9 cents.

That's up from a dollar six yesterday.

The average price of gas across Canada today is a 109.2 cents a liter.

Kenora Midget's Alumni Reunion

Some familiar faces will be in the line-up today as the Kenora Triple "A" midget program

celebrates 25 years as a hockey club.

A pair of alumni games are scheduled this afternoon at the Kenora Rec. Center, prior to the
the Thistles game this evening.

Exhibition games featuring alumni midget players will take place at 4:00 and 5:30.

The Midget Thistles will take to the ice at 7:30 for their final league game of 2010, when they
take on the Eastman Selects.

Confederation College Expanding

Confederation College is expanding.

Starting next year it's regional campus network is going to include Red Lake and Wawa.

President Pat Lang says the expansion shows a commitment to the region


As of February, both campuses will offer full time programs in Office Administration along with construction and mining .

Wanted: President for NOMA

Dennis Brown says he's willing to stay on as the president of the
Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association if no-one else wants
the job.

The Atikokan mayor was appointed to the position on an interim basis
last month.

Brown says the NOMA executive will meet next month elect a new board
of directors.

Brown took over as president of NOMA last month after Anne Krassilowski was
defeated for the mayor's chair in Dryden.

Natural Gas Rates dropping in the new year

Finally some good news for cash-strapped homeowners in northwestern Ontario.


Union Gas says the cost of natural gas will be decreasing slightly to start the new year.

The Ontario Energy Board has approved a 2.3 cent per cubic meter drop in the
price consumers pay for natural gas.

Union Gas says for the average homeowner, the price to heat your home next year will
drop by about nine dollars.