Police Investigate Assault in Whitedog

A man is in Kenora hospital following an early morning assault on the Whitedog First Nation.

Treaty 3 Police and the Ontario Provincial Police say the man was attacked with a weapon and is now at Lake of the Wood District Hospital with life threa
tening injuries.

Police say that a 27 year old man is already in custody as part of the investigation.

He will appear in Kenora court tomorrow to answer to the charge of aggravated assault.

The investigation is ongoing.

School Board Grappling With Higher Utility Costs

The cold, snowy winter is making it difficult for some local agencies
to make ends meet.

The Kenora Catholic District School Board says it's natural gas costs are up this year because of the cold.

Operations manager Andrew Poirier says all their utility costs are up this year.

Poirier adds that the 10 percent increase in the city's sewer and water rates
also hit them hard, because students use a lot of water.

Two Sledders Found Safe and Sound in Eastern Manitoba

All the snow is even making it hard for snowmobiles to get around.

The RCMP in eastern Manitoba were advised of a pair of stranded snowmobilers Monday morning on George Lake northwest of Lac Du Bonnet.

Police say a 39 year old man and a 38 year old woman were sledding in the back country when they became stuck in several feet of slush.

Because of the lake conditions, the RCMP brought in a helicopter and managed to rescue the
two sledders.

They were checked out by emergency service personnel and declared to be in good health.

Kenora Officer Faces Police Service Act Charge

A Kenora OPP officer isn't out of the woods yet.

Constable Troy Bender was fined 11 hundred dollars for careless driving
just before Christmas in connection to an accident that resulted in the
death of a 42 year old Grassy Narrows woman.

Gloria Assin was being transported to the Kenora Detachment in September of 2012 when the cruiser was hit by a semi.

While criminal charges against Bender were dropped, he now faces a
charge of discreditable conduct under the Police Services Act.

No date for the hearing has been announced.

Rickford Applauds Pikangikum Pilot Project

Kenora MP Greg Rickford is applauding a new program to help at-risk youth in Pikangikum First Nation.

The Federal Government has invested nearly 2.4-million dollars over 5-years in the crime prevention program 'Project Journey'.

Rickford says the initiative will give youth the tools and opportunities they need to steer clear of crime and live in a safe community.

The program will be led by Provincial Police in Red Lake, and will prevent and reduce youth crime and anti-social behaviours among aboriginal youth between the ages of 6 to 18.

Rickford says each year, the project will engage 75 to 100 youth in primary activities with an additional 50-youth participating in secondary activities.

Crimestoppers Looking for Help In Solving Nestor Falls Break In

OPP are turning to Crimestoppers for help in solving a break-in at Nestor Falls.

An unnamed business on Highway 71 was broken into sometime between 6 p-m Saturday February 8 and 1 p-m the next day.

An amount of money and some small items were taken.

Anyone with information can call Crimestoppers.

Another Alberta Clipper Heading Our way

Environment Canada says we can expect 5 to 10 centimeters of snow over the next couple of days.

Meterologist Ria Alsen says it's thanks to an Alberta Clipper that's making it's way into the region.

Alsen says while the Kenora area will just get brushed by the system, areas west of the City there could be even more snow falling, particularly towards Lake Superior.

The snow is expected to start falling tonight and won't let up until Friday afternoon.

Feds Promoting the New First Nations Education Act

The Federal Minister of Aboriginal Affairs is trying hard to sell his government's plan for First Nation Education.

Bernard Valcourt met with the Chief of the Fort William First Nation and Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Harvey Yesno yesterday morning in Thunder Bay.

Valcourt says he's heard their concerns and feels the plan will allow adequate funding and First Nation say in the education system.

Valcourt was a guest speaker at a luncheon put on by the Chamber of Commerce.

Bronco Girls End the Regular Season on the Offensive

Beaver Brae's girls hockey team has put an exclamation mark on the NorWOSSA regular season.

The Broncos played their final game yesterday and trounced Sioux Lookout 12-0.

Hannah Rose scored three goals, while the line of Rylee Smith, Hilary Moncrief and Kate Charlebois accounted for nine goals and 12 assists.

Beaver Brae is back in action Friday night in Fort Frances for game one of their best-of-three play-off series against the Muskies.