Thistles Play North Stars at Home for Two Games

The Kenora Triple "a" midget Thistles will play a rare Thursday night game.

The Thistles are at home to the Norman North Stars for a pair of games.

Tonight's contest starts at 7:30 at the Thistle Rink.

Beaver Brae court sport teams managed a split with Fort Frances.

Both senior squads posted victories yesterday.

The Bronco senior boys volleyball team swept the Muskies in three straight games, while the junior team lost three sets to one.

In hoops action, the Beaver Brae senior girls got eight points from Baily Markham in a 24-18 decision over Fort.

The Bronco junior girls lost 32-18.

Cardboard Boat Races today

More than 50-elementary students from Dryden, Keewatin, Red Lake, Rainy River, Vermilion Bay and Ignace participated in the Cardboard Boat Race in Dryden today.

Skills Canada Spokesperson Carolyn Hartlen explains the purpose of the intiative.

The students constrcuted a "seaworthy" boat using cardboard, duct tape, adhesive and good ole brain power.

Bravery Awards for Two Treaty Three Police Officers

Two Kenora area police officers are being recognized for their actions during a stand-off on the Grassy Narrows First Nation.

Constables George MacNeil and Kris Miclash from the Treaty Three Police will receive the Governor General's Medal For Bravery.

In May of 2007, the two officers had to confront a man who was firing a .223 bolt action rifle in the community north of Kenora.

The officers took cover behind their vehicle and told the suspect to drop his weapon.

The intoxicated man continued toward the constables and fired two shots.

The officers eventually were able to shoot at the suspect, forcing him to drop his rifle.

They were able to secure the weapon and restrain the injured gunman until an ambulence arrived at the scene.

The awards ceremony will be held at a later date in Ottawa.

Hampton lands a new job

It didn't take long for Howard Hampton to land a new job.

Hampton retired as the M.P.P. for the Kenora-Rainy River Riding prior to the provincial election.

He's taken a job with the Toronto law firm of Fasken Martineau.

He'll be working with the corporate social responsibility and aboriginal affairs groups at the law firm.

Gravelle to move to Natural Resources

There will be some familiar faces in new portfolios when premier Dalton McGuinty announces his new cabinet today.

Michael Gravelle is being shuffled out of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry and into Natural Resources.

This will be the first time in over four years that the Natural Resources Minister will come from outside of the GTA.

Meanwhile, Rick Bartolucci will be returning to Northern Development, a post he held before becoming the province's communty safety minister.

NDP MP pans increase in House of Commons seats

At least one northwestern Ontario Member of Parliament is panning plans to increase the number of seats in the House of Commons.

Thunder Bay-Superior North MP Bruce Hyer doesn't think more seats are necessary.

A recent report suggests the Harper Government could add 13 more seats for Ontario but Hyer says that won't fix parliament.

Hyer says if a party wins 30 percent of the votes they should have 30 percent of the seats.

Sioux Lookout drug arrest

A search of a home in Sioux Lookout has resulted in the seizure of a large quantity of drugs.

OPP and the Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau executed the search warrant yesterday.

Officers found 6-thousand dollars worth of cocaine and marijuana as well as a number of electronic devices and cash.

OPP say 34-year-old William Juras and 32-year-old Patricia Robertson both face charges of possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine.

Juras has also been charged with possession of a controlled substance.

Mineral Mountain Explores Gold Zone near Nestor Falls

The potential of yet another huge gold deposit has been identified southeast of Kenora.

The Mineral Mountain Resources's find comes as its conducts exploration work around the former Straw Lake mine east of Nestor Falls.

Company vice-president Brad Baker says they believe it to be similar to the Hammond Reef project near Atikokan.

But Baker says more exploration is needed before any consideration of a mine is made.

Broncos wrap up football season at home

Beaver Brae's football team will wrap up the regular season in the Winnipeg High School Football League at home.

The Broncos are just playing for pride when they take on West Kildonan this afternoon.

Beaver Brae was eliminated from the play-off race last week after losing to Kildonan East.

The Broncos are currently tied with West Kildonan for 5th place in their division.

Only the top four teams make the play-offs.

Game time is 2:00 this afternoon at Pete Fair Memorial Field.

Campbell waits for NDP Critic Duties

It appears Kenora-Rainy River's Sarah Campbell will have to wait a little longer to find out which critic portfolio she'll be responsible for in the upcoming session of Queen's Park.

NDP leader Andrea Horwath was expected to make those appointments yesterday.

Campbell says they'll now come next week.

The New Democrats have been holding caucus meetings at Queen's Park over the past few days. 

Enrolment up at Kenora Catholic District School Board

Not a lot of empty space in the schools operated by the Kenora Catholic District School Board these days.

The school board is reporting an increase of 55 students over last year.

Director of Education, Phylis Eikre says the introduction of more all-day junior and senior kindergarten programs is only part of the  reason for the boost in enrolment.

Eikre says they have managed to either maintain or increase enrolment at all their schools this fall.

At Thomas Aquinas, there is an increase of about 10 students over last year.

Total enrolment is 1,583 students.

Kenora Catholic District School Board hires new Superintendant

There will be a new face at the board offices of the Kenora Catholic District School Board next week.

A new superintendant of education has been hired to replace Murray Delorme, who is now working with the Ministry of Education.

Alexa McKinnon comes from the Thunder Bay Catholic School Board where she is working as a principal.

Her first day on the job will be October 24th.

Healing Handbook being released

Sioux Lookout will have a major presence at the upcoming Truth and Reconciliation Commission Conference in Halifax.

Garnet Angeconeb is the Co-Chair of the Sioux Lookout Community Coalition for Healing and Reconciliation and says they have been invited to launch their healing handbook on October 27th.

He adds the handbook is about renewed relations and understanding.

Two jury trials on hold due to a lack of aboriginal representation

Jury Roles are once again causing trial delays in northwestern Ontario.

Thunder Bay lawyer Chris Watkins says two of his trials are on hold because they will first need a trial on the make up of the Jury.

Watkins says having a jury properly represent the community is a cornerstone of the our society.

The lack of aboriginal representation on jury pools has been an issues for several years. 

Environmental Assessment begins on Ring of Fire mine

The proposed Cliffs Natural Resources Ring of Fire Chromite mine has taken a major step towards becoming a reality.

Today the Federal Environmental Assessment Agency announced the start of a comprehensive study assessement of the project.

Spokesperson Celine Legault says this type of study will take a full year to complete

Legault says there will be 3 public comment periods during the study.

OPP receive more vandalism reports

The OPP have been dealing with a rash of vandalism complaints over the past few days.

Police were contacted about incidents of grafitti to a business on Second Street South and also a home on Valley Drive this week.

A number of vehicles have also been entered and property has been stolen.

In one instance a car had its window smashed in.

Anyone with information about the incidents is asked to contact the Kenora OPP or Crimestoppers.

Saints take three of four games from Sioux Lookout

The Thomas Aquinas senior boys volleyball team continues to steamroll over the competition in NorWOSSA league play.

The Saints cruised to a three sets to none win over Sioux Lookout yesteday.

The T.A. junior boys also won in three straight.

In girls basketball action, the Saints senior girls had an easy time with the Warriors, cruising to a 60-34 win.

The lone blemish on the day was a 25-18 loss by the Thomas Aquinas junior girls.

More Vandalism reported in Kenora

The OPP have been dealing with a rash of vandalism complaints over the past few days.

Yesterday, police were contacted about incidents of grafitti to a business on Second Street South and also on Valley Drive.

A number of vehicles have also been entered and property has been stolen.

In one instance a car had its window smashed in.

Anyone with information about the incidents is asked to contact the Kenora OPP or Crimestoppers.

STR gets approval for Cross-Town Corridor

With snowflakes in the air, the Sunset Trail Riders can now start thinking about reviving its cross-town snowmobile corridor.

Kenora City council gave the green light to the trail at last night's open meeting.

Shawn Clifford is a spokesperson for STR and says the trail will benefit the community.

Council voted in favour of the trail by a 5-2 margin.

The two dissenting councillors indicated they wanted the trail permit issue addressed before supporting the cross-town corridor.

City Council Celebrates local heroes

Kenora city council has paid tribute to a couple local heroes.

Murray Ross was presented the Governor General's life-saving award, for helping to elderly anglers survive a vicious storm on Bolton Lake in northern Manitoba.

Constable Bob Bernie of the local OPP was also given a commendation by the mayor for being honored as the Officer of the Year.

Both men recieved standing ovations from the gallery and city council.