Bizarre Incident Leads to Arrest on Darlington Drive

Kenora Provincial Police arrested a man after a bizarre incident on Darlington Drive around 7:00 last night.

O.P.P received a report of a man damaging several vehicles with a mini-excavator.

Officers arrived and noticed a man operating the machinery in an erratic manner, causing a number of passenger vehicles to stop on the roadway.

Police asked the man to stop but he continued to push into vehicles on the road.

Officers needed to use a taser to subdue the accused and he was arrested.

Midget and Senior Thistles on the Ice This Weekend

The Kenora Triple "A" Midget Thistles wrap up their strong regular season with a 3 game road trip to Western Manitoba.

The Thistles start things off tonight in Dauphin for a pair of games against the Parkland Rangers.

The Kenora Midgets then head to Brandon on Sunday for a match up with the West Division leading Brandon Wheat Kings.

Meanwhile, the Kenora Senior Thistles continue their home stand this weekend.


The Seniors are welcoming the Manitoba Selects to the Thistle Rink tomorrow.

Game time is 7:00.

Northwest LHIN's Releases New Strat Plan

A blueprint towards susataining healtchcare in Northwestern Ontario.

That's a goal of the Northwest Local Health Intregration Network's 3 year strategic plan.

CEO Laura Kokocinski says having a strong blueprint is important for the future of healthcare.

Kokocinski adds the plan also includes integrating E-health networks, improving access to care, and the prevention and management of chronic diseases.

Week Four of Murder Trial to Wrap Up Today

More testimony from forensic experts today at the second degree murder trial of Kenneth Ivall.

Blood splatter expert Scott Hlady took the stand this morning.

He says he examined a number of areas where there was a red, blood-like substance in front of the Tower Motel and A Street West.

Hlady says he also checked out the women's washroom at the Tim Horton's on Lakeview Drive, where police officers say the also noticed some blood-like substance.

He says the blood was diluted, but he was able to conclude that it did not belong to the
victim, Ed Wilson.

Hlady also confirmed blood on a pair of women's shoes located in an Angela Duchesne's and Kenneth Ivall's apartment on Norman Drive.

He says the black shoes, not only has an area where blood had been transferred, but
also showed that there was blood spatter on the back end of the shoe.

Week four of testimony is scheduled to wrap up tomorrow morning.

OFAH Upset Over new Gun Regulations

A new rule is in place for firearm owners who compete in recreational sport shooting.

The Chief Firearms Office says very person who visits a range that isn't their home club must receive a letter of invitation from the range, before transporting their firearm.

Spokesperson Greg Ferrant with the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters says it's just extra work, because these people already take the required steps.

Ferrant says they will be writing a letter to the CFO asking what the purpose is for this new regulation.

DeBeers Blockade Lifted

De Beers Canada says the blockade at its winter road near the Attawapiskat First Nation in northern Ontario has ended.

The company says residents from the reserve ended the blockade

Thursday evening and the first convoy reached the site of its Victor diamond mine at 9 p.m.

De Beers says it has agreed to review items in the impact benefit agreement and to look at employment and training.

The mine, about 90 kilometres from the reserve, relies on the winter road for a bulk of it's resupply program.
   

Northern Communities to Battle MPAC

The fight against the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation is just starting to heat up.

Dryden is planning to form a coalition with Fort Frances, Espanola and Thunder Bay; communities who have all been hit hard due to a dramatic drop in their mill assessment.

Dryden Mayor Craig Nuttall says area communities have been left reeling.

Nuttall says M-PAC is not doing the job that we are paying them to do and the coalition is hoping to secure a meeting with the incoming Premier.

Bartolucci Calls it Quits

A new minister for Northern Development and Mines is going to be sworn in on Monday.

Rick Bartolucci announced he is resigning from cabinet and will not run in the next provincial election.

Bartolucci represents Sudbury and says he will stay on as an MPP until
the next election.

He was first elected to Queen's Park in 1995 and spent 18 years in provincial
politics.

Northwest PeeWee All-Stars in Brandon

A tough start for the Northwestern Ontario Pee-wee All-Stars at the Tournament of Champions in Brandon.

The regional team lost 7-1 to the host Wheat Kings in their opener yesterday.

Kenora's Jayme Caron had the Stars only goal.

They play Lumsden, Saskatchewan this afternoon.

Winter Carnival's Aplenty this weekend

Winter Carnival season hits full stride this weekend.

The 39th annual Beaver Days are being held at the Whiteshell Community Club in Flacon Lake.

Manny Dimata from the community club says there are a number of reasons to come take i t he festivites.

Dimata also says they are holding a poker derby, 2 day sponge hockey tournament, a chili cook off, and live entertainment.

Beaver Days starts up tonight and runs through Sunday.

North of Kenora in Redditt, their annual Winter Carnival also gets underway this evening
with a community Supper at the Redditt Community Club.

That will be followed by the crowning of the Carnival King and Queen.

Tomorrow, there will be a curling bonspiel at the Community Club followed by
a pancake breakfast on Sunday morning.

The Legion in Redditt is also holding its annual fishing Derby Sunday on Basket Lake.  Wi