Fiecek Splits Games on Day three of National Wheelchair Championships

The Wayne Fiecek Foursome has a 2-3 record through five draws at the National Wheelchair Curling Championships in Edmonton.

Yesterday, team Northern Ontario split its games.

In the afternoon draw, Fiecek downed Ontario 8-7, but then dropped an 8-4 decision to Quebec in the late draw last night.

The Fiecek Rink is back on the ice this afternoon against the host team from the Jasper Center Curling Club.

Broncos and Saints looking for first wins at OFSAA

 

Beaver Brae's girls hockey team and the Thomas Aquinas Boys will be looking for their first wins today at the All-Ontario A/AA championships.

The Bronco girls managed just one point in two games yesterday in Stratford.

In their afternoon game, Beaver Brae managed a 2-2 tie with St. Christopher Secondary School from Sarnia.

The Broncos wrap up the round robin at 11:15 this morning against St. Charles from Sudbury, which is also looking for its first win in the OFSAA tournament.

Meanwhile, the Thomas Aquinas Saints play their second game at the OFSAA championships in Timmins this morning at 7:00.

The Saints take on Jean Vanier High School from Toronto.

Yesterday, T.A. dropped a 6-2 decision to Timmins in its first game.

Three people arrested in downtown robbery

The OPP says it now has arrested three suspects in connection to a robbery in downtown Kenora over the weekend.

The incident took place at an apartment on 1st Street South around 10:00  Saturday evening.

Police say three men wearing masks forced their way into the residence and threatened three occupants with a weapon.

They then made off with a quantity of cash.

An investigation by the OPP and its Street Crimes Unit has resulted in the arrest of 28 year old Chris Jack of Washagamis Bay,  29 year old Vernon Jack and 26 year old Ricky Payash, both of Kenora.

They have been charged with multiple offences including Break and Enter, Robbery and Assault with a Weapon.

All three have been remanded into custody and are to appear in Kenora court later today.

Health Unit approves 2011 Budget

TheHealth Unit has passed its spending  requests on to local municipalities.

The Health Unit finalized its budget last month, and it calls for a three percent increase in spending.

The good news is that the province is picking up the lion's share of the increase.

Most municipalities in the Kenora and Rainy River Districts will see a decrease in their health unit levy of between 2.6 and 23 percent this year.

NAN Police reacts to Federal Budget

The Federal Government is giving more support to policing in aboriginal communities.

30-million dollars is being set aside in the budget for First Nations policing.

Nishnawbe-Aski Police Chief Claude Chum says it's not much when you look at the big picture.

The budget also includes 22-million over 2-years to help First Nations ensure fuel tanks that power their community meet environmental safety standards.

Local Liberal Candate pans federal budget

Don't trust the Conservative Government is the message today from the Liberal Candidate for the Kenora Riding.

Roger Valley is not in support of the Federal Budget.

Flaherty's new budget calls for total spending of 278.7-billion dollars.

Valley says the Liberals introduced a good chunk of the programs announced yesterday, including a tax credit for volunteer firefighters.

Rickford Reacts to Federal Budget

Kenora MP Greg Rickford is questioning the NDP's motives in suggesting they will vote against the Federal budget.

The New Democrats opposition to the budget is likely to pave the way for a Spring Election.

Rickford believes the Conservative Government struck a perfect balance in the budget.

Rickford says turning down the budget will result in a loss of funds for FedNor and Northern Ontario.

Council agrees to rate increase for Sewer and Water

Kenora City council continues to grapple with the harsh realities of

the budget process.

Council met for several hours yesterday to go over the Sewer and Water and

Solid Waste budgets.

Operations manager, Rick Perchuck says the city has a severe infrastructure

deficit, which is going to have to be addressed eventually.

Chief Administrative officer Karen Brown says the city spends about 500 thousand dollars each year to fix up aging sewer and water infrastructure, far short of the three million needed to properly maintain the system.

Northern Diabetes Network Opens Office In Kenora

More support is available for those with diabetes in the Kenora area.

The Northern Diabetes Health Network has set up a regional office in town in the Bannister Center.

Lauri Ann Marshall says while about 10 percent of the local population has diabetes, that number is much higher in aboriginal communities.

Marshall says the office in Kenora provides support services for primary care workers in the region, rather than diabetes patients themselves.

Broncos and Saints hockey teams at OFSAA

Two Kenora high school hockey teams are in southern Ontario today for the start of the OFSAA championships.

Beaver Brae's girls team is in Stratford for the All-Ontario Double "a" championships.

The Broncos first game is at 8:45 this morning against Kincardine.

Yesterday in an exhibtion game, Beaver Brae got by Listowel 4-1 in a warm-up for the OFSAA finals.

In Timmins, the Thomas Aquinas Boys teams is set to begin play in the All-Ontario single "a" championships.

The Saints first game is 8:00 this morning against the host team from Timmins.

Sharks win gold at Man/Sask Championships

A strong performance for the Kenora Sharks Swim Club at the Man/Sask championships in Saskatoon over the weekend.

Several Sharks won gold medals, with Paige Murphy leading the way with six first place  finishes.

Winnie Boucha also won seven medals, including three gold, three silver and a bronze, while Bryce Jones had four gold and two bronze.

Michelle Belcaen also won gold in the 50 meter freestyle and qualified for the senior nationals with her time.

Fiecek in the Win Column at National Wheelchair Championships

The Wayne Fiecek Foursome is finally in the win column at the National Wheelchair curling championships taking place in Edmonton.

In the late draw last night, team Northern Ontario got by Saskatchewan 9-4 to improve their record to 1-2 after three draws.

Earlier in the day, the Fiecek rink dropped an 8-1 decision to Nova Scotia, which is one of three unbeaten teams at the nationals.

OPP arrest man in Weekend Robbery

A 28 year old Washagamis Bay man faces a couple of charges following a  break-in to a downtown apartment.

The OPP say they received a complaint about a break and enter to an  apartment on 1st Street South, around 10:00 on Saturday evening.

Police say the suspects entered the building and threatened the occupants.

They then fled with a quantity of money.

The suspect, whose name has not been released, has been charged with robbery and assault with a weapon.

Kenora Team to be Featured on Hockey Night In Canada

Kenora may not have been a Hockeyville finalist, but we will be getting some national exposure on Hockey Night in Canada.

A local hockey team will be featured in the pre-game show on April 2nd.

Thelma Wilkens-Page is the Scotiabank branch manager in Kenora and says the selection of a local team was just the luck of the draw.

The Scotiabank pre-game show will start at 5:30, prior to the game between Ottawa and Toronto.

Council delays decision on Electronic Billboard

Kenora City Council has decided to post-pone any decision on whether to allow an electronic billboard along Lakeview Drive.

After hearing a couple of deputations and being inundated with Facebook messages

opposing the new billboard, council has decided to take a sober second look at the issue.

Mort Goss from the Harbortown BIZ says the proposed sign by Patterson Outdoor Signage doesn't conform with the city's new sign by-law.

Council says it will review the issue at its next Property and Planning Committee meeting in April, and is looking at setting up an ad hoc committee to look at  whether an electronic billboard should be allowed or not.

Council approves Harborfront Tent Tender

There will be a new tent up on the Kenora Harborfront sometime this year.

At least that's the hope of City council.

It has approved a 1.475 million dollar tender from KMA Contract for  the harborfront covering.

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield admits they are still working to find ways of funding the project.

The Kenora Economic Development Commission is currently looking at sponsorship opportunities for the Harborfront tent.

Budget Day Challenge for NDP in NWO

Its budget day in Canada, and a war of words is brewing between  M.P.'s in northwestern Ontario.

Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford says he'd like to see the two Thunder Bay NDP members

of Parliament support the fiscal document, because there are some projects in the Lakehead that could be affected if the budget doesn't pass.

Rickford says MP's Bruce Hyers and John Rafferty could be about to vote against

a four million dollar cyclotron at the Thunder Bay Health Sciences Center if they

oppose the budget.

OPP continue investigation into death of 11 year old girl

OPP continue to investigate the death of an 11 year old Big Trout Lake First Nation girl.

The young girl was reported missing in Sioux Lookout on Friday night and was later found on the property of Sacred Heart School early Saturday morning.

She was taken o the hospital where she was pronouced dead.

A post mortem exam is scheduled to take place yesterday in Toronto.

The name of the deceased is not being released.

NWO All-Stars lose twice at Bantam Championships

The Northwest Stars are also looking for their first win at the Ontario Triple "a" Bantam Championships taking place in Thunder Bay.

Last night, the All-Stars were blanked 7-0 by Elgin-Middlesex from Southwestern Ontario.

Earlier in the day, Team Northwest dropped a 7-1 decision to the host Thunder Bay Kings.

Fiecek Rink Loses First Game At National Wheelchair Championships

The Wayne Fiecek Foursome from Northern Ontario has lost its first game at the National Wheelchair Curling Championships, taking place in Edmonton.

The Fiecek Rink dropped a 9-5 decision to Manitoba in the first draw last night at the Jasper Center Curling Club.

The game was tied heading into the 8th end, when Fiecek gave up four to Manitoba.

Team Northern Ontario will look for its first win this morning against Nova Scotia in the second draw.

Northwest Bantams lose first game at provincials

The Northwestern Ontario All-Stars have dropped their first game at the all-Ontario Triple "a" bantam championships in Thunder Bay.


The Stars were beaten by host Thunder Bay Kings 7-1.

Rory Keith of Kenora scored the Stars only goal.

The Stars face Elgin-Middlesex tonight.

SIU Investigates fatality in Sioux Lookout

The Ontario Special Investigations Unit has been called in to investigate the death of a 63 year old man in Sioux Lookout.

The OPP say they arrested a man last Tuesday around 10 in the morning.

Around 2:30 he began to display signs of medical distress.

He was taken by ambulence to the Meno-Ya-Win Medical Center, but

was pronounced dead at the scene.

The SIU says it has assigned four investigators to the case, including a forensics specialist.

Hospital CEO takes on New Duties

The Chief Executive Officer of the Lake of the Woods District Hospital has been given some new duties.

Marc Belcaen has been elected to the American College of Health Care Executives Council of Regents.

The body represents hospital CEO's across North America.

Belcaen says the election as a region presents him with a unique opportunity.

Belcaen is in Chicago this with for the 54th Council of Regents Meeting.

OPP Investigate Death of an 11 year old girl in Sioux Lookout

The OPP are looking into a fatality involving an 11 year old girl in Sioux Lookout.

Police were contacted last Thursday about a missing girl.

She was finally located on Friday and was taken to the Meno-Ya-Win Health Center for treatment, but was pronounced dead a short time later.

The OPP's Criminal Investigation Branch and the Northwestern Crime Unit have been called in to look into the cause of the fatality.

Bearskin Expansion Plans for the US on Hold

Bearskin Airlines says it won't be flying into the United States any time soon.

Bearskin Vice President Cliff Friesen says they have to delay their Thunder Bay to Minneapolis service until the fall.

Friesen says approval from Homeland Security in the United States is the biggest holdup.

He says the company now hopes to have the service running by the fall.

Fiecek Ready for National Wheelchair Curling Championships

The Canadian Wheel Chair Curling championships get underway this evening in Edmonton, with a Kenora skip making his fourth straight appearance.

Wayne Fiecek and his rink from Northern Ontario hit the ice at 8:00 tonight at the Jasper Place Curling Club.

Fiecek says he's not making any predictions this year how his team will do.

A tough opening round draw for Fiecek's foursome.

The take on Manitoba in their only game of the day.

Kroppy's Hawks win Ham and Egger

A team largely made up of members of the Kenora Senior Thistles took top honors at the
annual Ham and Egger hockey tournament at the Keewatin Arenea.

Kroppy's Hawks upended the Trailor Park Boys 8-1 in the A-Side final of the tournament
yesterday.

The 9-1-1 Rangers took the B-Side championship with a 12-3 rout over the Barn Dogs.

In the C-side final, it was the Voodoo over the Jets 3-2 in overtime.

NAN Fights against Boreal Forest Agreement

The Grand Chief of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation continues to fight against the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement.

Stan Beardy is leading the call for its termination because first nations in this region have not been adequately consulted.

Beardy had originally called for the agreement to be terminated by mid-March.

The CBFA is made up of 21 forest companies that want to to control forest regulation.

Hydro One Planned power outage for the sioux narrows area

The Hydro One office is having a planned Power Outage this weekend.

On Sunday between the hours of 9 AM and Noon about a thousand cutomers in Sioux Narrows and surrounding area will be affected.

Hydro One says that they will be contacting those affected by an automated phone message.

The planned outage is so they can perform maintenance and upgrades to equipment.

Jr. Constable Camp

The Junior Constable camp is entering its fifth year this year.

This year 40 kids 11 and 12 years of age will be selected to spend a week at Sunny Cove with 5 Kids being selected from Kenora.

OPP Constable Dave Cain says the apllications are being handed out at the area schools and are availble from the Kenora detachment office as well.

This year the camp runs from June 26th to July 2nd.

Recent Provincial Political Popularity

A recent survey conducted has the Hudak PC's 9 points up on the McGuinty Liberals.

Between March 8th and March 11th, Nanos Research contacted 504 Ontario residents of legal age, and asked them who they would vote for in the Provincial election.

Tim Hudak gained popularity with issues related to taxes and the economy.

McGuinty and Hudak were tied on trust in terms of managing healthcare and education.

20 to 28 percent of Ontarians were unsure who they trust on any of the main issues.

Four more companies accept offers from province

Four more companies have accepted wood supply offers from the province.

It will create 38 new jobs and brining more than 250 people back to work.

These companies will use the proposed wood allocations to produce and produce traditional and new forest products and a variety of lumber for construction and clean-burning wood pellets for energy production

The Minister of Nothern Development Michael Gravelle says that our government wants to attract new investment in the forest sector.

The wood supply competition is aimed at putting Ontario's unused wood to work while the government takes steps to introduce a new forest tenure pricing system.

Trail Riders Season Review

With the snowmobile seaon coming to a close the Sunset Trail Riders are looking ahead for next season.

This year there was a few groomer problems but head of Communications Shaun Clifford says they sold lots of permits that gave the volunteers a burst of energy to get out there and keep plugging away on the trails.

Clifford also say that they are looking to replacing the groomer that burnt this season and also that that groomer will make a great parts groomer for the future.

Northern Ontario Summer Jobs For Students

There will be 42 hundred jobs created for students this summer in Northern Ontario.

The program is open to students between the ages of 15 and 30 who are planning to return to school in the fall.

The summer jobs program is part of the Open Ontario plan to help every student succeed in the future.

Minister of Northern Development Michael Gravelle says the programs can help students gain valuable experience and enrich their learning.

Gravelle also says they provide valuable mentoring experiences for employers and contribute to building a strong skills base for the north's economy.

Employers in Northern Ontario have until April 30th to apply for the subsidy.

NWO Stars Make Finals

The NWO Satrs have made it to the finals in the Juvenile triple A Finals.

Brandon Wolframe scored agoal and set up the game winner to get the Jr. B Stars past the Nipigon Elks 5-2 in the fourth game semi-finals in Thunder Bay.

The Stars will play the Northern Hawks in the finals and the winner of that will move on to the Keystone Cup Canadian Jr. B Hockey Championship in April in Sherwoodpark Alberta.

Kenora`s Jesse Bongfeldt gets second UFC Fight

Kenora's Jesse Bongfeldt is on the UFC's card for a Vancouver Pay-Per-View.
The UFC announced its fight line up for the June 11th in Vancouver for UFC 131.

Bongfeldt had his first fight in the UFC 124 event, where he fought with Rafael Natal.

The fight lasted all 3 rounds and was declared a draw. Bongfeldt holds a professional MMA record of 21-7-1.

He will be taking on Ultimate Fighter 11 winner Court McGee in Vancouver.

Another drug bust on Highway 17

The OPP have been busy with drug busts in the past seven days.

They made their 4th bust in the last week on Highway 17.

Yesterday the OPP stopped a vehicle on highway 17 and aressted the driver for providing false identification and was held while they conducted a search of the vehicle.

Where they found around 350 Oxycodone pills and 64 hundred dollars in cash.

The estimated value of this bust including the money found is 43 thousand dollars.



The 26 year old driver Chris Boswell of Winnipeg has been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of property obtained by crime.

Wheelchair Curling Championships

City council is helping a local team to pay for some of the costs to get to the Wheelchair Curling Championships.

At a council meeting yesterday afternooon council announced that they will be giving 5 hundred dollars to Team Ficek to help offset the costs of attending the National Championships in Edmonton next week.

Harbourfront Tent Progress

City council has announced that KMA Contracting will be given the contract for the Harbourfront tent.

Council will be saving 30 thousand dollars by extending the completion date.

Major Dave Canfeild says that before they can proceed the current construction must first be completed.

Canfeild says that he is possitive that council will be able to dig up some more money to complete construction. Also that he is pleased that the contract is coming in under budget.

Lakeview Drive Sinage

It is looking good for Pattison Outdoor Advertising for a new state of the art sign in Kenora.

Rob Sedgwick of Pattison was in Kenora this morning to have a meeting with city council.

Sedgwick says that his company will be in charge of taking down the exsisting sinage before they can install their sign.

Sedgwick also says that it isn't going to like live tv and will not be distracting to motorists.

Kenora Thistles Vs. Thunder Bay Kings

The triple "A" Thunder Bay Kings finished off the Thistles yesterday afternoon.

Game 3 of the HNO Regional Playdowns was an upsetting finish for the Thistles and the Thistle arena.

The Kings finished them off with a score of 4-1.

The Thistles didn't score till the 3rd period when when Brennan Dubchak netted his first goal of the weekend.

On a positive note the Senior Thistlesbeat the Fort Frances Thunder Hawks in a Shootout 4-3 on Saturday night in Fort Frances.

Another Drug Seizure

The OPP have made another drug seizure.
On Friday the OPP were conducting a RIDE program in Vermillion Bay, when officers saw a black Ford truck attempting to avoid the check stop.

They then pulled the truck over and further investigation revealed that the 22 year old driver David Cunninham of Vermillion Bay was in possesion of around 286 grams of pot.

The pot has a street value of around 53 hundred dollars.

Cunniham has been charged with drug related charges and is due to appear in Dryden court on May 2nd.

Winter Carnival hands out money to local charities

The organizing committee for Kenora's Winter Carnival says it paid out over

94 hundred dollars to eight different charities as part of the Charity Challenge.

Its A Dog's Life was the big winner, collecting over 38 hundred dollars.

The animal welfare charity sold 29 hundred buttons, which was the most of
any charity registered in the challenge.

The Lake of the Woods Hospital was the runner up and earned just over
12 hundred dollars in the Charity Challenge.

Hospital board seeking new members

Lake of the Woods District Hospital is having a tough time signing up new members.

The hospital board wants to get as many memberships as possible by the end of this month for the corporate elections taking place in June.

Under the hospital by-laws, you have to be a member for at least 60 days to be eligible to run for a position on the board.

The hospital advertised widely last month trying to drum up interest in the corporate memberships, but so far very few people have expressed interest.

The corporate memberships cost just five dollars.

March Break Weather Woes

Today might not be the best day to begin your March Break.

A blizzard warning has been issued for southern Manitoba, and

the Kenora area is expected to get about 10 centimeters of snow

overnight.

Bill Laidlaw from Signal Weather Services says things will likely

stay dry until later this afternoon.

The good news is the system should pass by tomorrow, and sunshine is expected again for Sunday and Monday.

Schaeffer Inquest Wraps up Today

An inquest has heard that a Peterborough man had started to turn his life around just three years before being shot and killed by police on a remote lake in northwestern Ontario.

Levi Schaeffer was 30 years old when he was killed by officers investigating a stolen boat on Osnaburgh Lake near Pickle Lake.

The inquest has heard that Schaeffer was wielding a knife and a can of bear spray while charging at Constable Kris Wood who shot him twice.

Schaeffer's mother, Ruth, testified he was diagnosed with panic and personality disorders.

Wood has testified he had no other option to deal with Schaeffer and that he feared for his life.

The inquest is to wrap up today.

Ontario Court of Appeal Orders Judicial Inquiry into local jury rolls

The Ontario Appeal Court has ordered a judicial inquiry into whether the jury roll in northwestern Ontario represents the community.

The court decision comes from concerns about aboriginal representation on juries in two coroners' inquests.

The families of Jacy Pierre, who died of an overdose in jail, and Reggie Bushie, went to the court after they couldn't get answers from officials on the roll used for the inquest juries.

The juries are taken from a roll compiled by the sheriff from municipal assessment lists but aboriginals living on reserves are not on the list.

Terry Waboose, of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation, says the decision confirms the extent of stonewalling from government they have faced.

Municipal Cultural Policy Being Developed

The City of Kenora is getting some funding from the provincial government to

help draft a municipal cultural plan.

The first stage in the process took place last night with a workshop involving interested local residents.

Economic Development Officer for the city, Jennifer Findlay says the timing for such a policy seems to be right.

Findlay says the Municipal Cultural Plan will not only include an inventory of local groups involved in the arts and heritage, but also include some goals to work towards.

Canadian Arrow finalizes the purchase of more claims in Kenora area

While there has been a boom in gold exploration activities in northwestern Ontario recently, other metals haven't been as fortunate.

Canadian Arrow says it was forced to curtail its plans for the Kenbridge nickel property southeast of Kenora for the past three years due to the economic downturn.

Company spokesperson, Kim Tyler says things are slowly starting to rebound.

Tyler says Canadian Arrow has just completed the aquisition of the Denmark Lake group of claims, next to its Kenbridge site and is hoping they will be able to resume exploration in the not too distant future.

Two more Drug Busts for the OPP's Traffic Unit

For the third time in three days the OPP have seized a quantity of drugs during routine traffic stops near Kenora.

Wednesday evening around 8:30, a vehicle was stopped on Highway 17 east of Kenora and about seven thousand dollars worth of marijuana was seized.

In a second incident, just after 2:00 Thursday morning, officers stopped another vehicle on the Kenora By-Pass and seized over 22 thousand dollars worth of drugs, including 1.3 pounds of marijuana, a couple of ounces of cocaine and some codeine pills.

Co-incidentally, all three men who were arrested were from Dryden.

They all face charges of trafficking in a narcotic.

MNR Employee presented the Kallemeyn Award

The Lake of the Woods Water Quality Forum has wrapped up for another year, and a local MNR employee has been singled out for his work.

Tom Mosindy was presented the Larry Kallemeyn Award this week.

Executive Director of the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation Todd Sellars says Mosindy was honored largely for his work on the lake trout fishery.

The two day water quality conference wrapped up yesteday in International Falls.

Midget Thistles prepare for Branch Playdowns

The third season for the Kenora triple "a" midget Thistles begins this evening.

The Thistles are taking on Thunder Bay Kings in the best of three northwest branch playdowns.

Coach Brian Olson says the team is looking forward to the challenge.

Game one of the best of three series take place at the Thistle Rink tonight

at 7:30.

Game two is tomorrow night and game three, if necessary will take place Sunday afternoon.

Work Begins to Develop a Municipal Cultural Plan in Kenora

Anyone who wants to enhance Kenora's cultural landscape is being

invited to provide their two-cents at a special forum this evening.

Jennifer Findlay is with the Economic Development Commission is looking

for some feedback it can use to help develop a Municipal Culture Plan.

Findlay says the City has received funding from the Ministry of Culture to
develop a Municipal Culture Plan.

The forum will take place in the Minis Hall of the Super 8 Motel at 7:00.

Whiteshell lakes designated as protected areas

A lake in Whiteshell Provinical Park in Manitoba that had been considered as a possible site for a Tim Hortons camp for children  will be set aside as a natural protected area.

The province says Meditation Lake, along with Sylvia Lake, in the Whiteshell will be free from development.

The Tim Hortons Foundation Leadership Camp looked at Meditation Lake, but a wilderness group argued that many other areas of the Whiteshell were better suited for such a project.

An area west of Sylvia Lake was eventually chosen and approved for the camp, but the province says land adjacent to the lake will not be developed or made accessible for cottage construction.

Former TA student wins medal at CIS Volleyball Championships

A former member of the Thomas Aquinas senior boys volleyball team now has a Canadian University Silver medal to add to his two OFSAA gold medals.

Dan Boutwell is the starting middle hitter for the Brandon Bobcats men's volleyball team.

The Bobcats fought their way in to the national championships Sunday, but lost to the host team from Trinity Western.

This is the best ever finish for the Bobcats, who were competing in just their second national championship.

Public School Board looks at Aboriginal Achievement

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board says its doing what it can

to close the gap between aboriginal students and the rest of their peers

in local schools.

Trustees were presented a couple of reports this week that looked at how

teachers and administration were planning to improve student achievement.

Director of Education Jack McMaster admits aboriginal students continue to

lag behind, but they are working to build bridges that will hopefully pay dividends

in the long term.

McMaster says they are starting to see some improvement in credit  recovery for aboriginal students, but there's still more work that can be done.

Local Hospitals reducing falls

There's praise for health care facilities in Northwestern Ontario from a top provincial official.

Dr. Ben Chan, CEO of the Ontario Health Quality Council notes that institutions in Kenora, Dryden and Red Lake have reduced patient falls by half in the past year. Chan says that frees up beds elsewhere in the region.

Local health care facilities have been concentrating on the reduction of falls in recent years.

Drug Bust On the By-Pass

The OPP say they have seized over 18 thousand dollars worth of cocaine during a routine traffic stop on the Kenora By-Pass.

Police stopped a vehicle for speeding around 2:30 Tuesday afternoon.

The driver did not have a valid license and officers decided to search the vehicle.

About six ounces of cocaine and over 13 hundred dollars in cash were found in the car.

The driver 35 year old Jeffery Coleman of Sault Ste. Marie and  the passenger 30 year old Russell Lidstone of Calgary have been charged with trafficking in a narcotic as well as possession of property obtained by crime.

They made their first court appearance yesterday. 

SIU Clears Dryden Police in fatality last May

The Ontario Special Investigations Unit has cleared the Dryden Police of

any wrong in the death of a 25 year old man in the lock-up of the Dryden

Police Station last year.

Dustin Douglas Ruillard had initially been taken to hospital for high levels

of alcohol in his system on May 11th.

Dryden Police were contacted after Ruillard repeatedly tried to leave

the hospital.

Ruillard was eventually taken to the Dryden Police Station to sober up, but began showing signs of mental distress.

He was again taken to hospital, but died a short time after being re-admitted.

After months of investigation, the cause of death still has not been determined, but the SIU says the post-mortem shows there was no sign of misconduct while he was in police custody.

Saints Senior Girls win Silver

For the second year in a row the Thomas Aquinas senior girls

volleyball has won silver at the All-Ontario single "a" championships.

The Saints made it into the gold medal game last night against the Ottawa area team from Embrun, but ended up losing three sets to one.

T.A. took the first set 25-23, but proceeded to lose the next three.

Embrun came into the tournament as the second seed, behind Thomas Aquinas.