Ice Conditions Variable

If you're planning to go out ice-fishing this weekend, you might want to check conditions on the lake first.

There have been reports of large ice ridges opening up on Lake of the Woods on the ice road.

One large ridge has been reported near St. Helena's by Holmstrom's Marsh.

The warmer weather in recent days has created some fairly changable conditions and caution is advised.

Drug Bust in Cat Lake

Nishnawbe-Aski Police have arrested an individual who has strong ties to the Native Syndicate gang.

Police executed a search warrant on a Cat Lake First Nation residence and officers found about 400-dollars worth of oxycodone and 18-hundred dollars cash.

Three firearms were also found at the scene, including one, which has been linked to an on-going investigation.

Police say Paul Mezzetay faces 3-counts of careless storage of a firearm, possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of proceeds of crime charges.

Sarah Mezzetay faces similar charges and Knobby Wesley has been charged with possession of a controlled substance.

Broncos and Saints in Action after Exam Break

Local high school hockey teams are back in action this weekend after a two week exam break.

The Beaver Brae and Thomas Aquinas girls hockey teams are heading to Pilot Mound, Manitoba today for a tournament.

Both teams are in action this afternoon at the Pembina Lady Tigers Tournament.

Meanwhile, the Bronco Boys start the stretch run in the NorWOSSA regular season on the road.

Beaver Brae is in Dryden tonight to face the Eagles.

Homan Continues to Roll at Ontario Scotties

The Rachel Homan Rink continues to lead the way at the 2012 Ontario Scotties at theKenora Curling Club.

Homan improved to 7-0 yesterday with wins over Sherry Middaugh and Cathy Auld.

Andrea Ronnebeck is Homan's coach and says the team can be tough to beat when they get on a roll.

Missisauga's Cathy Auld is tied with Tracy Horgan from Sudbury for second with a 5-2 record.

Middaugh improved to 4-3 and is tied with Krista McCarville from Thunder Bay.

Middaugh beat McCarvilled 7-5 in last night's late draw.

Today is the final day of the round robin with draws at 2:00 and 7:00.

Survivor of North Spirit Lake Plane Crash talks about Ordeal

The lone survivor of a deadly plane crash in northwestern Ontario says he tried in vain to pull fellow passengers from the wreckage and snuff the fire that eventually destroyed the small aircraft.

Brian Shead says the crash near the tiny native community of North Spirit Lake happened in a flash.

He says one second he was reading a book, and the next second he was on the ground fighting for his life.

He says the impact of the crash knocked him and the four other people on the plane out and when he came to everyone was still strapped in their seats.

With a crushed foot and a smashed face, he managed to get out of the plane and tried to put out a fire that was burning on a wing.

When her realized that wasn't working, he managed to free the pilot, but he didn't survive.

Public Consultations on Lakewood Next Month

The future of Lakewood School will be the subject of a couple of community consultation sessions next month.

The Keewatin-Patricia District School board will be seeking some feedback on the future use of the elementary school.

There is a proposal to turn Lakewood into an adult learning center.

The first consultation session will take place on February 6th, followed by one at the end of the month on the 27th.

Both will take place from 7:30 to 9:30 in the Lakewood cafeteria.

Kenora to Host Sunset Country Regional Figure Skaters

Hotel rooms will be at a premium this weekend in Kenora.

A couple of major sporting events are going on.

The Ontario Scotties Tournament of Hearts wraps on Sunday, while Kenora is getting ready to play host to the Sunset Country Regional Figure Skating Competition.

Roxanne Daigneault is the coach of the local club and says they are expecting a big turn-out.

Skating begins tomorrow at noon at the Thistle Rink and wraps up on Sunday afternoon.

Survivor of North Spirit Lake Plane Crash holds Press Conference

The lone survivor of a plane crash earlier this month in the northwestern Ontario First Nation of North Spirit Lake will speak to the media today in Winnipeg about his experience.

Thirty-six-year-old Winnipeg man Brian Shead was among five people on a Keystone Air Service plane that crashed while trying to land at North Spirit Lake January 10th.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation by the Transportation Safety Board.

Treaty Three Raises concerns about Ottawa Summit

Grand Council Treaty #3 says it has some reservations about this weeks summit between aboriginal leaders and the federal government.

Grand Chief Diane Kelly was in attendance, and says while she was encouraged by the prime minister's day long participation, she was less enthused by some of the comments by the Assembly of First Nations.

She says Treaty Three has distinct traditions and customs and a tradtional government that has existed longer than Canada.

She's worried that the Joint Action Plan between the Assembly of First Nations and the Government of Canada could jeopardize that.

Mount Evergreen Opens for PD Day

A couple of options for kids this PD day.

Mount Evergreen Ski Club is opening up today to accomodate students looking for something to do.

The Chalet will open at 8:00 this morning for breakfast, while the tows will be open from 10 until 4:00 for ski and snowboard enthusiasts.

The chalet will remain open until 5:00.

Albanese Re-Elected Chair of Health Unit Board

A Fort Frances councillor is back as the head of the Northwestern Health Unit Board of Directors.

John Albanese has been re-elected as chair.

Julie Roy was selected vice-chair

Fort Frances councillor Paul Ryan, Margaret Harland of Red Lake and former Emo Reeve Russ Fortier were also returned to the board.

OPP arrest one man following chase near Marathon

A 21 year old Saskatoon man faces a number of charges following a brief chase with police on the Trans-Canada Highway between Marathon and Terrace Bay.

Justin Joseph Chaisson was one of two people in a stolen vehicle that ended up in a ditch following a police pursuit.

He has been charged with possession of property obtained by crime over five thousand dollars, breach of probation and fleeing police.

Highway 17 was closed for several hours while police searched for a second suspect.

The OPP says they are no longer actively searching for him, but the the Crime Unit has been brought in to continue their investigation.

Holman remains unbeaten at Scotties

The Rachel Homan foursome continues to lead the pack at the 2012 Ontario Scotties Tournament of  Hearts.

Homan won both of her games yesterday to improve to a perfect 5-0 record.

In last night's fifth draw, the Ottawa rink upended Tracy Horgan from Sudbury 9-3.

Krista McCarville of Thunder Bay and Cathy Auld of Missasauga a just behind in the standings at 4-1.

McCarville won both her games yesterday, including a 10-3 rout over Kathy Brown.

Auld also won both of her games on Wednesday, finishing the day with a 7-5 win over Jenn Hanna.

There are two more draws today at 2:00 at 7:00 at the Kenora Curling Club.

ORNGE Jobs Safe in NWO

There are no cuts being made to ORNGE posts in Northwestern Ontario.

18 jobs were cut at the Province's air ambulance headquarters in Mississauga.

The cuts are being made as a way to reduce costs.

The restructuring only affects office positions and not pilots or paramedics.

Homan off to a fast start at the Ontario Scotties

The Rachel Homan rink holds down top spot at the 2012 Ontario Scotties Tournament of Hearts entering day three.

Homan has a 3-0 record, and is followed closely by five other teams at 2-1.

Homan says its important to get off to a good start.

Homan takes on the winless Alison Nimik Rink from St. Thomas in this afternoon's fourth draw.

Sherry Middaugh has a must-win game today as her 1-2 rink takes on another former Ontario champ, Jenn Hanna at 2-1.

Sunset Trail Riders

Snowmobile trails in the Kenora District are opened on a limited basis.


Shaun Clifford of the Sunset Trail Riders says although the trails are passable, extra caution is always advised no matter the time of year.

For updated trail reports or to track the groomers via GPS visit sunsetrailriders.ca

Softwood Lumber Agreement

The federal government has renewed the Softwood Lumber Agreement with the United States with hardly any opposition.

The deal was extended for two years until 2015.

Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford says the agreement does provide some market certainty for
producers.
Both the Ontario Forest Industries Association, the Council of the Quebec Forest Industry and
Forest Products Association of Canada have all endsorsed the two year extension.

Treasury Metals

A peaceful protest was held at the Treasury Metals site near Wabigoon Lake Ojibway First Nation this afternoon.


Wabigoon has attempted to seek a memorandum of understanding with the company for mining rights in the area.

Chief Ruben Cantin Senior says a deadline of last Thursday to receive a response from Treasury has passed with no response.
Cantin stresses they aren't against mining on traditional territory but adds that an agreement must be reached first.

ORNGE

ORNGE has reportedly slashed 18 jobs effective immediately.

According to media reports, the province's air ambulance service says it's an effort to reduce costs.

But it says the restructuring only affects office positions and not pilots or paramedics.

Emergency Room Staff

Kenora-Rainy River's MPP is trying to get Ontario's Health Minister to visit the riding.


Sarah Campbell says the ongoing struggles to keep the Rainy River Medical Centre's emergency room staffed was among reasons behind her request to Deb Matthews.

Campbell says one of the plans needed is a better strategy that helps communities, hospitals and clinic cope with their physicians leaving suddenly.