OPP Accolade Awards

Three local police officers will be honored this afternoon with an OPP Accolade Award.

The Organized Crime Enforcement Team in the north is being given the Jim Potts Award for its work in aboriginal communities.

Detective Constables Gerald Aubin and Dean Hodges from the Kenora Detachment of the OPP and  Scott Phillips from the Treaty Three Police are members of the team.

The award is being presented at the OPP's headquarters in Orillia this afternoon.

Broncos win once in Home Opener

A breakthrough for Beaver Brae's Junior Girls basketball team.

The Broncos won their first game of the year, a 28-23 victory over Dryden yesterday in their home opener.

Beaver Brae's other court teams are still searching for their first wins of the year.

The Bronco senior girls dropped a 31-21 decision to the Eagles.

In volleyball action, the senior boys were beaten three games to one, while the junior boys lost in three straight sets to Dryden.

The Eagles are coming off a second place finish at the Kenora Invitational Senior Boys Volleyball tournament over the weekend.

The Thomas Aquinas senior boys beat Dryden in two straight sets in the A-side final.

Thunder Bay Murder Autopsy Results

An autopsy shows a 16-year-old who was killed in Thunder Bay died of multiple blunt force trauma injuries.

The female victim was found on the morning of September 21st lying near a walking path in a wooded area near the Thunder Bay Expressway.

Two females, aged 15 and 14, have been charged with second-degree murder.

The accused are both in custody and are to appear in youth court Thursday morning.

The victim had come to Thunder Bay from Sachigo Lake First Nation at the beginning of September.

Drowning on Berens Lake

The OPP say they have located the body of a man who went missing while boating on Berens Lake near the Pikangikum First Nation.

Community members and peace keepers from Pikangikum began their search last Thursday.

The OPP's Marine Unit was contacted and an initial search of the area

located the victims boat drifting near an island with a damaged motor.

An MNR helicopter, the OPP's Emergency Response Team and an underwater search and recovery unit were also brought in.

They finally located the body of 37 year old Michael Dunsford on Saturday.

Police believe Dunsford drowned on the evening of September 22nd on Berens Lake.

Candidates talk about Economic Development

Economic development, retention of our youth, and openess in municipal government.

Those were some of the key themes from last night's opening all-candidates forum sponsored by the Kenora and District Chamber of Commerce.

Sharon Smith is a Keewatin resident and says there are lots of opportunities out there

to improve the local economy.

Councillor Charito Drinkwalter says its important for the city to create a positive environment for not only business, but for local residents.

Councillor Dave McCann stressed that the city has to be fiscally responsible.

Rod McKay is the manager of the mothballed Kenora Forest Products Mill and says

leadership is going to be important if the city wants to move forward.

For her part, councillor Wendy Cuthbert re-iterated her stand, that council needs to
hold the line on property taxes.

The second of four candidate forums will take place this evening in the Kenora Rec. Center's

Rotary Room and is sponsored by the Kenora Young Professionals group.

Mayoralty Forum

If nothing else, an all-candidates forum held by the Kenora and District Chamber of Commerce

shows there's lots of interest in the upcoming municipal elections.

A standing room audience listened to two of three mayoralty candidates and all 13 candidates for council at the first of four forums scheduled this week.

Economic development was a common theme from all candidates last night.

Former Kenora mayor Dave Canfield believes there are still opportunities in the forest sector.

Former city councillor Andrew Poirier also stated that the local economy would be his main focus
if he wins the October 25th election.

Kenora city councillor Jim Parson was not in attendance. But he did send his regrets through
Chamber of Commerce president Andy Scribilo.

Parson's wife Patti passed away last week after a short battle with cancer.