Murder Trial Underway in Kenora Court

The second degree murder trial for a 26 year old Deer Lake man is underway in Kenora Court.

Jason Miller has been charged in the death of 27 year-old Joey Crow.

Nishnawbe-Aski Police were called to the nursing station in Deer Lake on July 10th, 2010 and officers found Crow's body.

27-year-old Neilson Meekis was transported to Hospital in Thunder Bay for treatment.

Meekis took the stand Wednesday.

Miller is represented by Winnipeg lawyer Greg Brodsky.

Broncos lose in NorWOSSA semis

Not a good day for Beaver Brae at the NorWOSSA championships taking place in Fort Frances.

All four Bronco teams were eliminated in semi-final action earlier today.

The Beaver Brae Junior Boys basketball team was upended 43-23 by Dryden this morning, while the Bronco senior boys dropped a 61-40 decision.

Things weren't any better for the Beaver girls volleyball teams.

The Broncos junior squad lost in three straight sets to Fort Frances, while Beaver Brae's senior girls were also ousted in three straight by the Muskies.

Tomorrow, the NorWOSSA single "a" championships take place at Thomas Aquinas, with both the Saints senior boys basketball and senior girls volleyball teams earning byes into Friday's gold medal games.

NorWOSSA "AA" Championships Today in Fort Frances

Beaver Brae's boys basketball and girls volleyball teams have their work cut out for them.

All four teams will see action in the semi-finals taking place in Fort Frances today at the  NorWOSSA Double "a" championships.

Up first at 10:00 are the junior semis.

Beaver Brae is taking on Dryden in basketball, while the Broncos will face Fort Frances in volleyball.

At 11:30 the Bronco senior boys basketball team will take on Dryden, while the senior girls will see

Beaver Brae battle the Muskies for the right to play Dryden in the volleyball final tonight.

Drummond Report

The highly anticipated final report from economist Don Drummond is out today.

It's expected show how the provincial government can cut its $16-billion deficit.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell is worried that the Liberals have taken upon themselves to listen to one expert than hold traditional pre-budget consultations.

Campbell says the government has essentially shut out the opposition and the public from the budget process.

Dilico Anishinabek Family Care

Dilico Anishinabek Family Care is trying to empower area First Nation leaders with knowledge on how to help their residents deal with addictions.

A two day conference on drug addiction kicked off this morning (Tuesday) in Thunder Bay and Spokesperson Rose Pittis says they've provided conference goers with takeaway tools.

Pittis says the emphasis is trying to heal internally.

Northwestern Ontario Man Killed in Winnipeg

A Northwestern Ontario man who was only months away from becoming a father is Winnipeg's fourth homicide victim of 2012.

18-year-old Wahb Mandamin was stabbed early Tuesday near the Canad Inns Polo Park hotel.

Mandamin was in Winnipeg from the Shoal Lake First Nation for his girlfriend's ultrasound appointment.

Those close to Mandamin said he was staying at the hotel when a fight broke out.

Mandamin's father, the chief of Shoal Lake First Nation, has come to Winnipeg searching for answers to what happened.

The Kenora Genealogical Society

The Ontario Heritage Trust has singled out a local group for its work at Lake of the Woods Cemetery.

The Kenora Genealogical Society was presented certificates for their work in cataloguing all the grave sites at the Cemetery.

Gloria Harvey says they have also been able to make that information available on-line.

Harvey says their next task is to microfilm all the back copies of the Daily Miner and News for the Kenora Public Library.

Cat Lake First Nation Drug Bust

Nishnawbe Aski Police are cracking down on prescription drug abuse and recently searched the Cat Lake First Nation.

Police seized eight Oxycodone pills that cost almost four thousand dollars on the street.

A 55 year old man is charged with Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking and breach of undertaking.

Rates of Sexually Transmitted Diseases on the rise

The Northwestern Health Unit is out promoting the importance of being tested for sexually transmitted infections.

Manager of Sexual Health Gillian Lunny says a lot of focus is one those aged 15 to 24 in campaign they're calling Positive? Me?

“It’s what we’re using through our social media ads, posters and our locker swag that we’re are providing all public high school students with. It’s to help promote the idea that everyone needs to be tested if they’re putting themselves at risk.”

Lunny says our region has some of the highest rates of Chlamydia and gonorrhea in the province.

Broncos and Saints Match Up on Valentine's Day

Don't expect a St. Valentine's Day lovefest at the Kenora Rec. this evening.

Kenora's high school hockey teams will be doing battle tonight at the Thistle Rink.

First up is the Beaver Brae girls against Thomas Aquinas.

The Broncos are coming off a 3-2 loss yesterday to the Dryden Eagles.

Game time is 4:30.

Following that game, the Beaver Brae Boys will take on their cross-town Rivals from Thomas Aquinas.

Game time is 7:30.

Tourism Offficials Looking Forward to Cross-Border Changes

Tourism officials in northwestern Ontario feel there's some resolve to their complaints about access at the Canada-U.S. border.

The federal government has informed them of a plan to implement measures that help Americans with minor criminal offences enter Canada.

Tom Pearson, president of the Northwestern Ontario Tourism Association, says it's good news.

Many area lodges claim to have lost thousands of dollars because American visitors with often years old offences were being turned back at the border.

Community Foundation gets some cash

The Kenora and Lake of the Woods Regional Community Foundation is used to giving a helping hand.

But now the local charity group is getting some financial assistance from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

Executive Director, Darlene McGilvary says they will be getting 11 thousand 800 dollars to purchase

some new software.

McGilvary says the software will allow them to improve tracking of donor contributions, grant disbursements

and investment growth.

Right to Play

Some 100-youth from 7 Northern First Nations will be in the Dryden area this weekend for the "Right to Play" event.


City Manager Joe van Koeverdan says youth, aged 9 to 16, will be taking part in a number of recreational avtivities as well as a Winter Games.

The kids, "Right to Play" staff and community chaperones will be housed at Camp of the Woods for the 3-day event.

Van Koeverdan was introduced to the initative at the National Canoe and Kayak Championships and worked with Andi Kidd on bringing the event to Dryden.

Northern Ontario Ridings

NDP Members of Parliament are lobbying the federal government to maintain the 10 ridings in northern Ontario.

The M.P.'s are worried that riding re-distribution might result in fewer members in the House of Commons.

Nickel Belt M.P. Claude Gravelle says they've seen representation in northern Ontario shrink since 1995.

Gravelle says he plans to introduce a private members bill in the House of Commons this week guaranteeing northern Ontario at least 10 Members of Parliament.

Shoal Lake #39 First Nation

The federal and provincial levels of government need to get more involved with the
Shoal Lake #39 First Nation.

That's the feeling of Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. Sarah Campbell.

She met with band members yesterday and says more comprehensive talks need to
take place.

In recent weeks, Shoal Lake has blockaded the OFSC snowmobile Trail to the Manitoba
border, and has also demanded that the City of Winnipeg pay the community for the water it takes from Shoal Lake.

2012 Municipal Budget

The 2012 municipal budget has passed with very little debate from members of Kenora City Council.
Council has approved a one percent increase in the mill rate, which amounts to about 21 dollars a month for the average homeowner.

Councilor Rod McKay says he would still like to see about a half a million dollars trimmed from the capital side of the budget.

McKay says there are four items in the capital budget he wants to re-visit, including 170 thousand dollars to renovate the entry into the Kenora Rec. Center and also a front end loader for the facility.

Impaired Driver

Police didn't have to go very far to arrest this impaired driver.

Kenora OPP says a vehicle struck a Treaty Three Police cruiser in Nestor Falls early Sunday morning.

Officers stepped out their car and arrested the driver.

The accused was turned over to Provincial Police.

A 29-year-old Manitou Rapids woman faces impaired driving charges.

She was one of four people arrested on the weekend for drinking and driving.

Bronco Sports

Beaver Brae won just one game against the Dryden Eagles in their final games of the regular season.

The Broncos junior boys returned to their winning way with a 39-26 victory
over the Eagles.

The Bronco senior boys basketball team dropped a 48-32 decision to Dryden while the Beaver Brae senior girls lost three sets to none to the Eagles.

The Bronco junior girls also lost three sets to one.

The NorWOSSA play-offs take place in Fort Frances on Wednesday, where all four Beaver Brae teams will be involved in the semi-finals.

Resolute Forest Products

Resolute Forest Products, formerly known as AbitibiBowater, is giving more time for Fibrek to consider its hostile offer for Canadian pulp producer.

It has extend today's deadline to February 23, setting up a potential bidding war with Mercer International who is also interested in Firbrek.

Resolute's offer of 130-million dollars is about 30 per cent lower than Mercer's bid.

WiFi in class

The union representing Ontario's Catholic teachers is joining a growing list of opposing the use of wireless Internet technology in the classroom.


The Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association suggests up to one million Canadians may have "severe and immediate" reactions to WiFi.

Several schools in southern Ontario have already returned to hardwiring computers in their classrooms over WiFi concern.