Local Athletes Gear Up for Ontario Winter Games

Members of the Jaffray Melick Judo Club and the Thomas Aquinas Junior girls volleyball team are in Collingwood today for the start of the Ontario Winter Games.

Members of the Judo club are part of Team Northwest and will be in competition tomorrow.

The volleyball players are also part of an all-star team with girls from across northwestern Ontario.

They are scheduled to begin play on Saturday.

Opening ceremonies begin this evening.

A Positive Message For International Women's Day

An inspirational message for International Women's Day.

2011 Canadian Entrepreneur of the Year, Barb Steggeman brought her message of positive change to Kenora.

Stegemann started up a perfume company out of her home, and says International Women's Day has been a landmark day for her career.

Stegemann says her message is about empowering women and girls to be the best they can be, and to believe in their ideas and dreams.

Suspect in Mandamin murder Arrested in Alberta

A suspect wanted in the killing of an 18 year old Northwestern Ontario man outside the Canad Inns Polo Park hotel in Winnipeg has been arrested in Alberta.

A warrant for manslaughter was previously issued for the arrest of 19 year old Raymond Gerald Baker.

Arrangements are being made to return Baker to Winnipeg from Alberta.

Wahb Mandamin was assaulted outside the hotel on February 14th and rushed to hospital, where he died from injuries.

Wahb is the son of Shoal Lake #39 First Nation Chief Eli Mandamin.

A 17 year old man has already been arrested and charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault and assault with a weapon.

Tom Cochrane to Headline Harborfest Friday

The entertainment line-up for this year's Harborfest is starting to fall into place.

Friday night will be 80's night once again with April Wine, Saga and Tom Cochrane slated to perform.

Dave Blake is the director of Entertainment and says they are looking forward to having Red Rider back in Kenora.

Tickets for the Friday night show are expected to go on sale early in April.

Hospital Looks at E-Health Records

Lake of the Woods District Hospital says its taking it slow and steady when it comes to electronic health records.

Many hospitals across the region have already gone to an e-health system.

Hospital CEO Marc Belcaen says they are currently consulting staff and trying to find the best system out there.

Belcaen says they don't want to proceed with electronic health records until they can get a guarantee the province will help cover some of the costs.

Hospital Searching for New Board Members

Wanted: a couple of good candidates to run for a position on the Lake of the Woods Hospital Board.

The board is gearing up for its annual general meeting in June, and needs to fill at least four positions.

Chair, Fred Richardson says they know they will need at least two new board members.

In order to run for a position on the board, you have to purchase a corporate membersship at least 60 days before the Board AGM.

Domestic Violence Conference warns of OXY Withdrawal

A dire warning about the impact of removing Oxycontin from the market in Ontario. Peggy Shaugnessy is one of the speakers at a Domestic Violence Conference taking place in Dryden. She says Police and domestic violence agency's may be busier as a result of the move.

Shaugnessy says she's already seeing more cases of violence from those who are trying to cope with the withdrawal.

Big Trout Chief Takes to YouTube

The Big Trout Lake First Nation is actively guarding Sherman Lake against mining company God's Lake Resources. Chief Donny Morris is staying at the lake saying he's guarding against the company that insists on drilling on leases and claims that are known sacred burial grounds.

Morris released a video on youtube this morning asking Minister of Northern Development and Mines Rick Bartolucci to hold negotiations between God's Lake and the First Nation.

Broomball Semi-Finals Underway

The Flying V's and Dunit Contracting are in the drivers seat of their semi-finals in the Kenora Broomball league. Last night, Dunnit shut out regular season champs the Pink Pirates 1-0. In the other semi- the Flying V's needed seven rounds of a shootout to get by the Blizzard 4-3. Game two of the semi-final series go tomorrow night at the Rideout Rink.