Kenora Mill Demolition

It's the end of an era.

Abitibi Consolidated's sulphite plant was pulled down this morning.

Hundreds of people gathered to check out the action, Former Mill employee Rob Lindstrom says it was sad to see one of Kenora's oldest mills be dismantled.

The old recycling plant and a couple of warehouses are the only other remaining buildings still standing on the mill property.

For video coverage of the demolition log onto http://www.cjrl.ca/ and click on Photos.

Invasive Species Hit Squad

Boaters appear to be getting the message about the impact invasive species can have on area waters.

An initiative between the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters and Ministry of
Natural Resources helped monitor invasive species across Northern Ontario this Summer.

Spokesperson Rylee Nixon says most visitors are obeying the rules.

Nixon says during her work this summer, she did find presence of rusty crayfish in Lake of the Woods and spiny water fleas in Rainy Lake, with reports of sea lamprey in Quetico Provincial Park.

Nursing Program Accredited

A nursing program offered jointly by Lakehead University and Confederation College has received accreditation from the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing.

L-U's Director of Nursing Karen Poole says the 7-year accreditation for the Collaborative Nursing Program comes at a time when the 2-instituations are looking at record enrollments.

Poole expects the numbers to increase with the program now being accredited.

School Buses

The start of school is one week away.

The Northwestern Ontario Student Services Co-Operative Transportation is in full gear preparing to get kids on the bus across the District.

Manager Judi Green says they have spent the Summer dealing with expanded service.

Green says for the most part, parents won't see much change this year.

Metis Memorandum of Agreement

Listening closely to the needs of Ontario's Metis population is top of mind at the Annual General Assembly underway in Sudbury.

Metis Nation of Ontario president Gary Lipinski says his leadership has been actively working on a strategic plan which reflects concerns brought forward over the past year.

Yesterday, the Metis signed an agreement of understanding with the province's Ministry of Education.

New NAN Officers

The Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service is expanding.The Service has welcomed 11-new officers to the force.

5-of the new recruits are from Thunder Bay, 1-from Constance Lake First Nation and 1-from Moose Factory.

4-of the officers are from the Toronto area.

They will be stationed in various NAN communities in Northern Ontario.

Pickle Lake House fire

A house fire has claimed the life of one man in the remote community of Pickle Lake in northwestern Ontario.

The OPP say the blaze broke out Saturday night around 8:30.

The home was completely engulfed in flames by the time fire fighters arrived at the scene.

Initially, police were told that everyone managed to get out of the burning building, but it was
later discovered one person was missing.

After the fire was extinguished the body of a man was found inside the burned out house.

So far, a positive identification of the victim has not been made.

The Ontario Fire Marshall's office has been called in to investigate the cause of the fire.

Hunter Fined

An American hunter has been fined 37 hundred dollars for illegallyhunting deer in the Trout Lake area west of Kenora.

The Ministry of Natural Resources says Thomas Terounzo of Vermont trespassed onto private property while hunting just off of Highway 596 last November.

He walked around a gate and past three "private property" signs to shoot a white-tailed deer.

The MNR says he shot the deer while pointing his rifle towards the highway, and his bullet
passed through the deer and across the road towards several homes in the area.

He has been fined 25 hundred dollars for careless hunting, a thousand dollars for trespassing while hunting and 200 dollars for failing to wear hunters orange.

Mill Demolition Update

Another building on the old Abitibi-Consolidated mill site is scheduledto come down today.

The old sulphite plant is one of the last buildings standing along 9thStreet North.

Crews have been working over the past couple of days, getting it readyto topple it.

The old recycling plant and a couple of warehouses are the only otherremaining buildings still standing on the mill property.

Ontario Doctor Shortage

The province is increasing the money going into a program toattract doctors to underserviced communities.

The province's free tuition program now offers up to 40-thousanddollars to doctors who agree to work in hard-pressed communities.

The free-tuition will be available to doctors in allmunicipalities -- except in the Ottawa and the greater Toronto area.