Finders not Keepers according to Police Board

Its not finders keepers, at least not according to the Kenora Police Services Board.

The board met yesterday and was asked to deal with a case, where a local woman had turned in a sum of money to the OPP she found this past summer.

Board chair Glenda McMillan says if the money isn't claimed it should be returned to the finder.

But mayor Len Compton suggested the money should be kept by the board and donated to charity.

Colin Wasacase feels the matter should be deferred until the board comes up with a policy in regards to found money.

The cash amounted to about 400 dollars.

Hampton Demands help for Fort Hope

Kenora Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton is calling on the Liberal Government to take action to help Fort Hope First Nation.

Hampton says the province needs to roll out programs for first nations facing prescription drug abuse.

The NDP MPP wants the Narcotics Safety and Awareness Act amended to address the prescription drug abuse epidemic.

Saints Sweep Ignace

It was a clean sweep for Thomas Aquinas Court teams against Igance yesterday.

The Saints Senior Girls Basketball team got by Ignace 33-14.

Melissa White had 10 Points in that game.

The T.A. Junior Girls edged the Falcons 42-32. Sami Burkart led the offense with 18 points.

Both the Thomas Aquinas junior and senior boys volleyball teams ran their records to 13-0 with straight set wins over the Falcons.

The Saints senior and junior boys volleyball teams and the senior girls basketball team have all secured a berth in the gold medal Norwossa game on November 10th.

The junior girls will have to play a semi-final match on the 9th.

Broncos Football Team Play-off Bound

The second season in the Winnnipeg High School Football Leauge begins today for Beaver Brae's Football team.

The Broncos have a quarter-final date against the top team in the Vidruk East Division, the 7-0 Murdoch McKay Clansmen.

Head Coach Chris Penner says the biggest thing will be going into the game with a positive attitude.

The Broncos take on Murdoch McKay at the Eastside Stadium at 5:15 this afternoon.

Ignatieff tours northwestern Ontario

More promises to strengthen FedNor from Liberal Leader Micheal Ignatieff.

He's touring northwestern Ontario and Ignatieff claims the regional development agency doesn't get the respect it deserves from the Harper government

Ignatieff says a Liberal government would work to give FedNor a bigger say in the development of the north.

Ignatieff will stop in Sioux Lookout and Dryden today.

Redditt Road being Re-Paved

Motorists travelling along the Redditt Road can expect delays for a few more weeks.

The Ministry of Transportation is having a four kilometer section of Highway 658 re-paved.

Other sections of the Redditt Road are also being fixed up.

Work began this week with Pioneer Construction stripping off the asphalt.

A spokesperson for the local MTO says the goal is to have the work done before

winter sets in.

Province Promises to help Fort Hope

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Chris Bentley says officials are

looking for ways to help a remote First Nations community that has

declared a state of emergency.

There have been three murders and dozens of arsons and thefts in the last year on the the Fort Hope First Nation. 

Bentley says the province will work with the federal government to come up with a plan to help.

Earlier this week, Indian and Northern Affairs Minister John Duncan said calling in military reservists is one option.

IJC Task Force Visits Kenora

A Task Force set up the the International Joint Commission to look water quality issues on Lake of the Woods has wrapped up its fourth public session in four nights.

The Task Forces was in Kenora Wednesday night.

Todd Sellars is Executive Director of the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation and says he's been impressed by the work of the Task Force to date.

He says they have promised an interim list of recommendations for the public to look over early in the new year.

The Task Force has to have its recommendations to the IJC by July 15th of 2011.

More Complaints heard about Fort Frances Border Crossing

The lack of the consistency at the Fort Frances border crossing was the topic of the day at the Northern Ontario Tourist Outfitters Association Conference in Dryden yesterday.

Regional Campowners called the crossing the worst in Canada and demanded an immediate shake-up at the staffing level.

A suggestion was made to have American visitors file formal complaints, an idea quickly brushed aside by attendee Gerry Cariou.

Campowners claimed hundreds of visitors get turned away a year, even though they followed the proper procedures to visit our country.

OPP policing under budget

The City of Kenora seems to be getting value for its policing dollar.

A report was released by the Kenora Police Services Board yesterday which showed the first full year of policing the city by the OPP came in less than expected.

Inspector Dave Lucas from the Kenora Detachment says overall, they were 554 thousand dollars under budget.

Lucas says the figures are based on the one year period from July 2009, when they took over policing the city from the Kenora Police Service, to July of 2010.

Heatherington earns berth to Canada Winter Games

Luke Heatherington will be Halifax bound in February.

Heatherington was the only member of the Jaffray Melick Judo Club
to book a berth to the Canada Winter Games.

He qualified for the games by winning his Under 20, 66 kilo division in North York this past weekend.

Kaitie Dennis also attended the qualifying tournament but failed to advance.

Spirit Horse Production tours local schools

Elementary students in Kenora were treated to the Spirit Horse Theatre Production yesterday.

The play is about 2-aboriginal children whose family is caught between their traditional ways and contemporary urban culture.

It looks at the challenges and cultural sterotypes facing aboriginal students.

The production also provides teachers with a tool to make drama, dance, music and visual arts come alive in the classroom.

Meegwun Fairbrother is a Kenora actor and was one of the members of the production, which has been touring the province.

Canfield targets 2011 provincial election

Now that the municipal election is in the books for another four years,

attention is now going to be turned to the provincial election next fall.

Mayor-elect in the City of Kenora, Dave Canfield says he wants to use the

election to focus on issues affecting communities in northwestern Ontario.

Canfield says the provincial election will be an excellent opportunity to

meet with cabinet minister and other candiates for the Ontario election

to raise their concerns.

Bill aimed at Mining Companies defeated

A private member's bill aimed at ensuring Canadian mining companies respect environmental and human rights standards abroad was narrowly defeated by the House of Commons.

At final reading, MP's voted 140 to 134 against the bill.

Red Lake Mayor Phil Vinet says mining is a booming economic driver and we should be doing everything to encourage mining in Canada.

The bill was intended to hold corporations in the mining, oil and gas sectors accountable by requiring the foreign affairs and trade ministers to submit annual reports to the Commons and Senate for review.

Kenora MP Greg Rickford voted against the Bill.

Two charged with supplying alcohol to minors

The OPP have charged two people for supplying alcohol to minors.

Over the weekend, officers were called out to the Kenora Shopper's Mall where two teenaged girls were found to be in possession of some alcohol.

Following a short investigation, police determined the booze had been

purchased by two adults who then gave it to the girls.

Two residents of Washagamis Bay, a 20 year old woman and 25 year

old man will have to appear in court on charges of supplying alcohol

to minors under the age of 19.

Work on new tourism zones continues

It will still be several month's before the new Northern Ontario Tourism Zone is officialy incorporated.

Paul Pepe is a member of the transition team and says a lot of legal work remains.

Pepe says they have decided to break-up the North zone into 3 sub-region's.

A total of 1.54-million dollars has been allocated for tourism-related initiatives in Northwestern Ontario.

Pepe spoke at the Annual Northern Ontario Tourist Outfitters Association Conference in Dryden Wednesday.

NOSM contract talks set to resume

OPSEU and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine are heading back to the bargaining table.

The 2-sides haven't talked since Union members rejected the Schools last offer earlier this month.

Support staff at the school have been striking since the middle of August.

Talks are set to resume on Monday.

NOTO Conference Starts today in Dryden

The 83rd Annual Northern Ontario Tourist Outfitters Association Annual Conference starts today in Dryden.

Tourism officials and camp owners will sit down for 2-days to discuss the state of the industry.

An update on the new Tourism Zones and the benefits of a Tourism License for Ontario will be discussed on Day 1.

The contenous issue of on-going border problems will highlight day number 2.

Parkes reacts to Machin election results

The outgoing Mayor of Machin says he had a great run during his tenure.

Garry Parkes says his main goal was to better the community and he believes great strides have been made in that.

Parkes says he plans to spend some more time on his small business and do some traveling with his wife.

Parkes says a number of projects are close to moving forward and he hopes Council keeps them on the priority list.

Fort Hope Funding announced

Ottawa is working with an aboriginal community in northwestern Ontario that's declared a state of emergency over high crime.

The Fort Hope First Nation says its overwhelmed by recent murders and arsons.

Indian Affairs says it is providing 275-thousand dollars for staff and basic supplies for patrols and to repair the community's only school.

Indian Affairs Minister John Duncan says one option is to call in a reserve military unit with a large Aboriginal component such as the Canadian Rangers.