Crimestoppers Trying to Solve Theft of Snowmachines

Northwestern Ontario Crimestoppers is asking for the public's assistance to help locate a couple of snowmachines stolen in Fort Frances.

The two Arctic Cats were on a trailor located in a storage and display lot at the West end of Fort Frances and were stolen the night of December 8th.

One of the sleds was an Arctic Cat 2002 ZL 6 600 with black and orange coloring.

The other was an Arctic Cat 2006 SAB 700 Fire Cat.

Southern Ontario Hunter Charged for Killing Wolf

A southern Ontario man has been fined a thousand dollars for illegally hunting a wolf north of Kenora.

MNR Conservation officers say they came across a hunting camp on the Seguise Road back in October and noticed a wolf carcass behind the camp.

A hunter admitted he had shot the wolf earlier in the day, but did not have the proper game seal to affix to the animal.

He told the Conservation officers he was waiting for someone in his hunting party to put their game seal on the wolf.

The MNR says its illegal for hunting party's to kill wolves.

Neil Whitmore from Rockwood, Ontario has been fined a thousand dollars.

His rifle was also seized until the fine is paid.

Thunder Bay Man Killed in Accident near Ignace

One person is dead and three other people have been sent to hospital as a result of a two-vehicle collision near Ignace.

The OPP say the collision took place yesterday afternoon around 5:00 when a westbound Ford F-150 crossed into the eastbound lane and ran into a 2007 Pontiac G-6.

The driver of the Pontiac, a 32 year old man from Thunder Bay was killed and his two year old daughter was taken by air ambulence to Winnipeg for treatment of her injuries.

A 69 year old man who was driving the pick-up and his 17 year old passenger from Hawkstone, Ontario were taken by ambulence to hospital in Dryden.

The Trans-Canada was closed about 10 kilometers east of Ignace for about seven hours while the OPP conducted their investigation and the wreckage was removed from the highway.

OPP Re-Open Highway 17 near Ignace

Highway 17 10 kilometers east of Ignace is now open to both lanes of traffic after being closed most of the night due to a fatal motor vehicle collision.

The OPP say the highway was closed initially around 6:00 last night and wasn't opened to one lane for another six hours.

Police say the accident took place about 10 kilometer east of Ignace.

No other details are available at this time.

Public School Board Looks At School Safety

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board says it will have to review safety measures in place at its elementary schools in the wake of the Newtown, Connecticutt shootings.

Last week, premier Dalton McGuinty says he wants to spend 10 million dollars to improve security systems.

Director of Education, Jack McMaster says they are willing to work with the province to improve school safety.

McMaster says some of their newer schools already have things like security cameras in place, but some older schools might need upgrades.

Canfield looks forward to the New Year

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield says he's bullish on the city's economy heading into the new year.

Canfield believes the city has the infrastructure in place to take advantage of some exciting new initiatives.

Canfield says Weyerhaeuser is also talking about expanding its Trus-Joist operations to five days a week, which is also exciting news.

City of Dryden Trying to Trim Tax Increase

There's more talks of service cuts in the City of Dryden.

The first draft of the 2013 operating and capital budget was presented to council last week, which outlines a tax increase of as much as seven percent.

However, Mayor Craig Nuttall says he and council are going to look at other options instead of increasing taxes by that amount.

Nuttall adds that a tax increase that keeps pace with the cost of living of 2 or 3 percent seems to be do-able.

Ice Candle Festival To Light Up Cemetary

Lake of the Woods Cemetary will be shining brightly tonight.

Over five thousand ice candles are expected to be placed at gravesites this afternoon in the annual festival of lights.

Barb Manson is one of the organizers and says they will have a special ceremony this afternoon to kick things off.

Manson says the ice candles will stay lit for about three days.

Midget Thistles Extend Winning Streak

The Kenora Triple "a" Midget Thistles will go into the Christmas break on a four game winning streak.

The Thistles won back to back games at home over the weekend against the Interlake Lightning.

Saturday night, the Thistles got by the Lightning 5-3 at the Kenora Rec. Center.

The same result Friday night as the Thistles scored four unanswered goals in the third period to come back for a 5-3 victory.

The Kenora midgets will have almost two weeks off before their next game.

They had to Thompson for a pair of games against the Norman North Stars starting January 4th.