Saints book their ticket to OFSAA Championships

The Thomas Aquinas senior boys basketball team is heading to the All-Ontario Single "a" championships.

The Saints dominated Lake Superior High School in the NWOSSA finals today up at T.A.

This afternoon Thomas Aquinas cruised to a 73-44 win over Lake Superior.

Patrick Van Bellingham led the offense with 19 points, while Alex Gamboa added 17.

This morning, the Saints won game one of the best-of three championship 68-48.

T.A. now heads to St. Catharines for the OFSAA finals the first week of March.

Bronco Boys and Girls Hockey Teams see play-off action today

Win and you're in.

That's the message for Beaver Brae's boys hockey team.

The Broncos face the Red Lake Rams tonight in a one game play-off.

The winner moves on to face Thomas Aquinas in the NorWOSSA semi-finals.

Game time is 7:30 at the Thistle Rink.

Meanwhile, the Bronco girls will take on their cross-town rivals from Thomas Aquinas this afternoon in game one of their best-of-three semi-final.

Game time is 4:30 at the Rec. Center.

Saints a win away from OFSAA Championships

The Thomas Aquinas senior boys basketball team is a win away from advancing to the All-Ontario championships.

The Saints upended Lake Superior High School from Terrace Bay this morning 68-48 in game one of their best-of-three NWOSSA Final.

Alex Gamboa led the way with 28 points for T.A.

Game two of the series is this afternoon at 2:00 at the Thomas Aquinas gym.

Fort Frances Man Charged for Illegal Hunting

A Fort Frances man won't be able to enjoy hunting in Ontario for an extended period of time

John Piotrowski has been fined 25-hundred dollars and banned from hunting for one year for shooting a moose without the proper licence.

The man was caught while hunting in the Cedar Narrows area north of Fort Frances last October.

Court heard that the hunter didn't have a seal and he also attached a calf tag to the adult moose.

OPP Lay Charges for Distracted Driving

Some folks still aren't understanding the importance of keeping their eye on the road.

Provincial Police in Northwestern Ontario laid 21-charges during the recent "Distracted Driver" campaign.

Tickets were issued for driving and using a cell phone, watching an entertainment device and careless driving.

OPP officers across the Province charged nearly 25-hundred drivers during the one week initiative.

Campbell Makes Inaugural Speech at Queen's Park

You can strike another item off Sarah Campbell's to do list.

Four months after being sworn in as the Member of Provincial Parliament for Kenora-Rainy River, Campbell has made her inaugural speech.

Campbell spoke out yesterday against the government's proposed Healthy Home Renovation Tax Credit.

Campbell says if the government actually wants to help northern residents it could start by lowering electricity rates.

Step by Step Organ Donor Campaign Launches Next Week in Kenora

The drive to sign up one million organ donors in Ontario will begin next week in Kenora.

The campaign is called Step By Step and will travel through 75 communities.

George Marcello is spear-heading the campaign and says they are trying to get as many youth as possible involved.

This is the 8th Torch of Life relay, which will also pass through Dryden on March 5th and Fort Frances on March 7th.

The Thomas Aquinas Saints

The Thomas Aquinas senior boys basketball team will try to book its ticket to the All-Ontario Single "a" championships today.


The Saints are taking on Lake Superior High School today in the best-of-three NWOSSA championship.

Game one will be played at the T.A. gym at 9:30 this morning with game two set for 2:00 this afternoon.

Game three if necessary will be played Friday morning.

Meanwhile, the Saints senior girls volleyball team has an automatic bye into the OFSAA championships next week in Toronto.

Grassy Narrows gets Funding for Economic Development

Grassy Narrows has started the process of trying to expand its economic base.

The First Nation is identifying investment opportunities that will create new jobs and grow the local economy.

The community will promote itself on a new on-line community profile.

An extensive marketing strategy is also being developed.

The First Nation is being supported by the Provincial Northern Communities Investment Readiness program.

NorOnt Holds Hearings on Eagle's Nest Project

An update on the Eagle's Nest project in the Ring of Fire will be provided today in Ignace.

An open house is being held at the Ignace Silver Tops Seniors Centre from 3 until 7.

Officials from Noront Resources will be on hand to discuss the Mine project and the environmental assessment.

Plans include hauling concentrate to Savant Lake to be loaded on railway cars for transport to the underground mine in the Far North.

(For more information go to www.eaglesnestmine.com)

Ring of Fire projects being explored

The Federal Liberal Aboriginal Affairs critic says she has a better feel on the Ring of Fire project in Northern Ontario.

Dr. Carolyn Bennett met with various advisors from this region yesterday.

Bennett says a more regional approach is needed to move the Ring of Fire project forward.

Bennett adds there's also a lack of communication amongst the Federal Ministries.

School Board promotes Environmental Education

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board is working to expand its environmental footprint.

Along with conservation programs, the public school board is working to extend the environmental curriculum.

Kathy Boone is the Environmental Education Co-ordinator and says instead of adding new courses they want to make students and teachers more aware of the resources available.

Boone says they have been able to expand the Conservation Camp in Dryden to include high school students from other area of the board and have been actively involved in the annual Envirothon.

Fire Marshall Investigates School Fire in Sandy Lake

The office of the Fire Marshall is expected to arrive in Sandy Lake First Nation today to survey the damage caused by a large fire at Thomas Fiddler Memorial School.

Nishnawbe-Aski Police received an anonymous report of a fire on Sunday afternoon.

The fire caused extensive fire, smoke and water damage.

No one was injured.

An initial investigation shows that the fire started in the storage and supply room area.

The school serves Sandy Lake students from Kindergarten to Grade 6.

Catholic School Board Hires Mental Health Leader

The Kenora Catholic District School Board has introduced its new Mental Health Leader.

Ashley Hendy was hired last month to work with the board and its teachers on mental health issues involving their students.

The separate school board was one of 15 across the province to receive funding to hire a Mental Health Leader.

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board introduced Lisa Doerksen last week as its mental health lead.

OPP Investigate Sioux Narrows Break-Ins

The OPP are looking into a number of break-ins reported to camps in the Sioux Narrows area.

Yesterday, at least three camps were entered in the Mayburn subdivision.

Police say the culprits had time to search for property and alcohol.

At this point an exact list of the stolen items has not been compiled.

Anyone with information about the break-ins is asked to contact the OPP or Crimestoppers.

Sharks gain experience at Western Canadian Championships

No medals for the Kenora Sharks Swim Club at the Speedo Western Canada Championships this past weekend in Winnipeg.

Michelle Belcaen advance to two finals and finished 5th in the 50 meter butterfly.

Alex Olson, Kira Kuzemchuk and Bryce Jones were all competing in their first major meet against some of the top swimmers from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and B.C.

OPP Urge Motorists to Slow Down

The OPP are reminding local motorists to slow down with the recent snowfall.

In a 12 hour period, local police had to deal with 16 motor vehicle accidents.

The OPP suggest that driving too fast for the conditions was as big an issue as the snow itself.

Meanwhile, Bill Laidlaw from Signal Weather Services says old man winter is going to be with us all week long.

Main highways in the Kenora area are now listed as bare and wet with some slushy sections.

Snow wipes out NorWOSSA Hockey Play-off games

All the snow in northwestern Ontario is playing havoc with high school sport schedules.

The weather has wiped out the entire hockey schedule this evening.

The Boys Quarter-Finals have been postponed.

Red Lake was supposed to go up against the Beaver Brae Broncos tonight, but that game

will have to be re-scheduled.

No make-up date for that play-off game has been scheduled yet.

Campbell Calls for provincial strategy on Prescription Pill Addiction

More needs to be done to help people addicted to prescription pills.

That was the challenge this today from Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. Sarah Campbell in the Ontario Legislature.

Campbell says even though Oxycontin will no longer be manufactured, the addiction will still exhist for hundreds of local residents.

Campbell says a strategy needs to be created by the McGuinty Governent to deal with prescription drug addiction.

Police Charge Grassy Narrows Man following stand-off

A Grassy Narrows man is due to appear in Kenora Court today following a prolonged stand-off with police.

Treaty Three Police say they were called to a home in the community north of Kenora last Thursday.

Police says the man barricaded himself in the house for 24 hours before an OPP Tactical Response Unit was able to remove him.

Vince Loon has been charged with assault, and uttering threats.