Body of Missing Man Found on Gunn Lake

The OPP's Underwater Search and Rescue Unit says it has recovered the body of a missing Winnipeg man on Gunn Lake, north of Kenora.

24 year old Blaine Letham has been boating with a friend Saturday night when their 14 foot Lund was hit by some large waves.

Both men were thrown into the water, but eyewitnesses managed to rescue one of the men, a 23 year old Winnipeg resident.

The OPP's Marine Unit began its search Sunday, while the OPP divers were brought in yesterday.

A post-mortem exam is being conducted today at Lake of the Woods District Hospital.

By-Pass Safety Still a Concern

The safety of the intersections on the Kenora By-Pass are once again under a microscope following a fatal accident over the weekend.

A 42 year old woman was killed while being transported in an OPP cruiser early Sunday morning.

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield says to his knowlege this is the first fatality at the intersection of the Redditt Road and Highway 17-A, but adds there have been a number of near misses.

In the past, the city has requested that flashing amber light be installed before the stop lights on the By-Pass to alert motorists the lights are about to change to red.

SIU Says Accident Investigation Could Take a Month or More

Its going to take a while before any more details about Sunday's fatal accident is released.

The SIU has begun its investigation of the deadly collision that killed a 42 year old Kenora woman, but a final report could take a month or more.

Monica Hudon is a spokesperson for the SIU and says their reports are very comprehensive and it can take a while to gather all the information they need.

Hudon says on average, they try to complete their investigations within 30 business days.

Northwestern Students Win Bartleman Awards

Four northwestern Ontario aboriginal students have picked up a prestigious literary award.

The Bartleman Award winners were announced today.

Kiara Lynn Bird from Whitefish Bay, Rachel Bluecoat of Fort Severn, Chelsea McKay of Wunnumin Lake and Calista Mawakeesic of Sioux Lookout were four of the six winners.

This year's successful entries include poems that address the damaging effects of bullying, isolation and the legacy of residential schools.

The winners each pick up a cheque for 25 hundred dollars.

Fall Seatbelt Campaign Underway

The Ontario Provincial Police in Northwestern Ontario have launched a Fall seatbelt campaign.

The campaign is underway and concludes October 6th.

Constable Anne McCoy says too many people are still not buckling up.

A fine for non-compliance is $200 and two demerit points.

NDP Holds Health Care Town Halls this Friday

If you have issues with the local health care system, this is your chance to vent.

The NDP will be touring the Kenora-Rainy Riding this Friday gathering feedback from local residents at a series of town hall meetings.

The New Democrat's Health Critic Frances Gelinas will accompany Sarah Campbell at four stops.

They will be getting feedback in Fort Frances, Rainy River, Kenora and Dryden.

The Kenora town hall will take place from 3:30 to 4:30 at the Travelodge this Friday.

MNR Fire Crews Heading West

The Ministry of Natural Resources is sending forest firefighters to Alberta.

Twenty fireRangers, twelve incident commanders and an agency representatives left Ontario yesterday to aid with forest fire suppression efforts in that province.

Four MNR firefighters are also working in Minnesota.

Broncos Win Big in Winnipeg

Beaver Brae's offense has been on fire over the past two games.

Yesterday, the Broncos cruised to a 53-6 win over the St. John's Tigers at the Nomads field in Winnipeg.

Beaver Brae has now scored 97 points in their last two games.

They'll need to continue that trend Friday as the top team in the

Winnipeg High School Football league, the Elmwood Giants come to town.

Elmwood has a perfect 4-0 record, while the Broncos now sit at 2-2.

SIU Investigates By-Pass Fatal

Three investigators from the Ontario Special Investigations Unit are in Kenora looking into the death of a 42 year old woman.

The woman died while being transported in a police cruiser early Sunday morning.

The OPP say that around 2:00 the cruiser collided with a semi-tractor trailor unit at the intersection of the Redditt Road and the Kenora By-Pass.

The two officers in the cruiser were taken to Lake of the Woods District Hospital and later released, while the driver of the transport did not sustain any injuries.

The By-Pass was closed for over 17 hours, while the SIU conducted  it investigation of the crash scene.

Highway 17-A was finally re-opened around 7:15 last night.

OPP Continue Search for Missing Boater

The search will continue this morning for a missing boat on a lake north of Kenora.

The OPP's Underwater Search and Recovery Unit is expected to arrive on the scene today to help locate a 24 year old Winnipeg man.

Police say two men were thrown into Gunn Lake, just south of Minaki Saturday evening around 8:00 after encountering high waves.

Neither man was wearing a life-jacket.

Eyewitnesses were able to rescue a 23 year old man from the lake, but his companion is still missing.

The missing man has been identified as Blaine Letham.

Mental Health Funding Announced

A big boost for mental health services in the Treaty Three area.

Shooniyaa Wa-Biitong has received a 50 thousand dollar grant from the Bell "Lets Talk" Community Fund.

April Medwechuck says they will use the funding to spear a new program to help front-line workers recognize people with mental health issues.

The funding was announced at the 2nd annual baseball tournament put on the Kenora Drug Abuse and Mental Health Task Force on Saturday.

Court Overturns Extradition for Rainy River First Nations Resident

Ontario's top court has ruled a man from Rainy River First Nations facing drug charges in the United States should not be extradited because of his aboriginal status.

Zachary Leonard was arrested with four others in 2006 after trying to cross the border at International Falls in a van containing 46-hundred ecstasy tablets.

After escaping from a Falls halfway house to Canada, an Ontario Superior Court judge committed him for extradition.

But the Ontario Court of Appeal ruled the justice minister didn't properly take into account a legal principle that says different considerations must be made when sentencing aboriginal offenders.

The Appeal Court says Leonard could be prosecuted in Canada.

Aboriginal Life Stories Released

A teacher from the Kenora Catholic District School Board has helped launch a new literacy initiative.

Native Language teacher from St. John's Catholic School in Red Lake, Tom Doherty was in Toronto yesterday for the launch of "Books of Life".

The book is an Aboriginal education awarness and initive which tells the life stories of students from diverse school populations.

St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Kenora also participated in the program.

First Ever Sasquatch Bush Crawl this weekend

A unique fundraiser is going to be taking place one week from today.

The 1st ever Sasquatch Bush Crawl will take place on the Mount Evergreen Cross Country Ski Trails.

David White is one of the organizers and says you can walk, run or even crawl along the five kilometer route.

Money raised from the Sasquatch Bush Crawl will go into the endowment fund for the Kenora Association For Community Living.

Kenora Man Prepares for Trip to Ghana

A young Kenora resident is getting ready for a trip of a life time.

Dusty Snyider is planning to embark on a one month humanitarian mission to Ghana in west Africa.

Snyder says he will be working with the AIDS patients in that country.

Snyder will be leaving in November but has to raise six thousand dollars to help pay his way.

Health Unit Issues Ground Beef Warning

A Nation-wide recall has hit the region.

The Northwestern Health Unit is advising that the public to not eat any ground beef with a best before date on or before September 26, due to a possible e-coli contamination.

The contamination happened at the manufacturing plant in Alberta, and has been sent to local grocery stores.

The known affected product has been pulled from shelves, but some of it may have already been sold.

Foul Play Not Suspected in Death of Sioux Lookout Girl

An autopsy has been completed on a 15-year-old Sioux Lookout girl.

The body of Regina Kakekespan was found in a wooded area of Sioux Lookout a week ago.

Provincial Police are saying that foul play is NOT suspected, but the investigation is ongoing.

The cause of death has not been released.

Saints Win KIVT

Thomas Aquinas took top honors at the annual Kenora Invitational Senior Boys Volleyball tournament over the weekend.

The Saints never dropped a set in two days of play, and won the final Saturday afternoon with a straight sets win over Dryden in the final.

Coach Bob Kowal says he was impressed by his teams resiliance.

Beaver Brae bowed out in the play-offs Saturday morning.

Meanwhile, the Broncos football team has a short week.

Beaver Brae plays two games in the next five days.

Today the Broncos are in Winnipeg to face the St. John's Tigers.

Kick-off is 5:00 this evening.

Take Back the Night March Tonight

You might have noticed some black cardboard cutouts of female images around town in the last day or so.

The campaign is part of Take Back the Night, which takes place this evening.

Jen Dennis is with the Kenora Women's Action Network and says this has been an annual event in Kenora for over 20 years.

Take Back the Night will start at 5:30 this evening from the Loonie Bear.

Northwest Mining Study to Be Released

An extensive mining study will be released next week.

It was commissioned by a group called Ambassadors Northwest.

Spokesperson Merv Detweiler says the study was conducted by Lakehead University professor Dr. Bahram Dadgostar.

The study will come out next Thursday morning at a news conference.