Saints win in Whitefish Bay

The Thomas Aquinas Boys Volleyball teams continue to roll along in league play.

The Saints were in Whitefish Bay, and won both games played against the WinterHawks.

The T.A. junior boys swept Whitefish Bay in three straight games, while the Saints lost their first set in league play, but still prevailed three games to one.

The Thomas Aquinas Senior Boys are coming off a weekend tournament win in

Portage La Prairie.

The T.A. girls basketball teams were idle yesterday.

Nestor Falls Runner Up in Ultimate Fishing Town Contest

Nestor Falls will have to settle for being a runner up in the World Fishing Network's Ultimate Fishing Town Contest.

Port Alberni, British Columbia collected the most votes last month to collect the 25 thousand dollar first prize.

Nestor Falls work didn't go unrewarded however.

The tiny community on Lake of the Woods will get a five thousand dollar cash award for  finishing second in the contest.

Concerns Raised over Abitibi's Plans to Sell northern Dams

The provincial government wants AbitibiBowater to continue honouring water and power agreements with local communities if it proceeds with a sale of its hydro-electric dams in Kenora, Iroquois Falls and Fort Frances.

Concerns about the dams were raised in August when it was revealed the company was again looking at selling off its hydro assets.

Natural Resources Minister Linda Jeffrey says she's received no formal request to sell the Ontario dams, but shares the concerns about how the sale will impact local mills and communities.

A pair of Honors for Broncos Gridiron stars

For the second week in a row, Beaver Brae running back Scott Morgan has been named the offensive player of the week in the Vidruk Division of the Winnipeg High School Football League.

Morgan had 144 yards rushing and a touchdown in last weeks 42-7 win over the Miles MacDonnel Buckeyes.

Jared Davis was also singled out for his play and was named the special teams player of the week for his 80 yard punt return.

The 3-1 Broncos face their toughest challenge of the season on Friday when they travel to Winnipeg to face the 4-0 Murdoch McKay Clansmen.

ER Study Ordered for Northern and Rural Ontario Hospitals

Fourteen medical professionals and experts have been assembled by the provincial government to look at issues surrounding emergency rooms in rural and northern Ontario.

Ministry of Health Spokesperson David Jenson says the group have been asked to make recommendations on improving small E-R's.

Jenson says concerns from a variety of groups and medical personnel led to the task force being set up.

Two killed in Couchiching Fire

The Treaty Three Police have confirmed that two people died in a house fire on the Couchiching First Nation.

Police are describing the fire as accidental.

A female occupant in the home managed to escape after the smoke detector went off.

However, a 36 year old man and a 73 year old died in the blaze.

An autopsy conducted earlier this week showed that both men died as a result of smoke inhalation.

The Ontario Fire Marshall's Office is continuing to investigate the fire.

Health Unit offers Stop Smoking Program

The Northwestern Health Unit is once again offering a program to help smokers quit for good.

STOP On-The-Road Workshops are being held in Dryden, Kenora and Fort Frances starting on October 18th.

On top of Counciling, Enforcement Manager Jennifer McKibbon says participants will receive a 5-week supply of free nicotine replacement therapy.

To take part call 1-888-404-4231.

Thumbs up for new Highway 17 Twinning Route

The Lake of the Woods District Property Owners Association is cautiously optimistic about new plans revealed for the twinning of the Trans-Canada Highway west of Kenora.

Over the weekend, a consultant for the Ministry of Transortation revealed a new route for Highway 17, taking it north of the Clearwater Bay area.

Susan McLeod is the executive director of the Property Owners Association and says someone seems to have been paying attention to their concerns.

McLeod says the final route plans won't be unveiled until sometime in the new year, so a lot of work still needs to be done before they are completely happy with the Highway twinning project.