Treaty Three Police Lay Fraud Charges

The Treaty Three Police have laid fraud charges against a 57 year old
Rat Portage Resident.

Members of the Crime Unit have charged Terry James Skead with one count
of fraud and another count of Breach of Trust.

Skead had been employed as the band manager at Wauzhushk Onigum

Skead is scheduled to make a first court appearance on Novemeber 28th to answer the charges.

Treaty Three Police say they are not releasing any other details about their
investigation.

OPP and Consumers Warns of Possible Fraudsters

The OPP have issued a warning about a possible fraud going on around
town.

Someone has been using a photocopy of a Consumers Frosted Foods
order form and asking for cash to place an order.

Constable Ronni Grosenick says there are ways of dealing with possible
fraudsters.

She says usually credible charities have a phone number or a website you can contact to see
if in fact they are doing any fundraising locally.

Consumers Frosted Food says this is the first time in 30 years, someone has tried to
use their fundraising forms to try and defraud someone.

They add that they only deal in cheques and never ask for cash.

Campbell Offers Lukewarm Support For Wireless Services Act

Better protection for wireless and cellphone customers.

The Wireless Services Agreement Act has become law and it will provide Ontario consumers with clear information and few surprises when they enter into service agreements by Spring 2014.

Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. Sarah Campbell supports the legislation but notes it still leaves customers powerless if they encounter problems.

Campbell says she would like to see the establishment of a consumer advocate who can actually be responsible for people having trouble with their contract.

NorWOSSA Regular Season Wraps Up Today

The Thomas Aquinas boys volleyball and girls basketball teams are wrapping up the regular season
today at home against Red Lake.

Yesterday, the Saints suffered a rare three game sweep at the hands of Sioux Lookout.

The T.A. senior boys volleyball team lost in three straight sets to the Warriors.

No different in girls basketball, as the Saints junior team were edged 25-22, while the Thomas Aquinas Senior girls dropped a 26-18 decision.

The NorWOSSA play-offs begin next Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Beaver Brae court sport teams are also playing their final games of the regular
season, as they head Fort Frances this afternoon.

OPP Offer Tips for a Safe Hallowe'en

Every year at Halloween, The OPP makes a conscience effort to promote trick or treat saftey to children.

And, while young people need to be cautious tonight, drivers need to be mindful of the holiday as well.

Constable Anne McCoy says the kids aren't always paying attention to traffic while they are trick or treating.

Being visible and travelling in groups will also help to makes this a safe Halloween.

Immigration Portal Upgraded for NWO

The Northwestern Ontario Immigration Portal is getting a face lift.

The site now has update content and new features.

Executive Director Cathy Woodbeck says one of the new online tools includes an interactive map.

Other new features are a jobs database and businesses that are up for sale.

Construction Boom in Atikokan

A new saw mill is taking shape on the site of the former Buchanan Mill outside of Atikokan.

The $50 million  project could provide the area with 90 new jobs.

The new mill should begin operating in  2015.

In the meantime, Rentech is putting $22 million into the construction of a new wood pellet facility on the other side of town.

It will supply the Atikokan Generating Station.

This project  might be running as early as April 2014. It is expected to create 20 in the region.

New Programs Announced for Heritage Fund

Some changes for the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund.

The provincial government has announced five new programs.

In the Ontario Legislature today, Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle says the grants will target a couple of key areas.

The new programs include Northern Innovation, Northern Business Opportunities and the Northern Ontario  Internship Program.

The Heritage Fund began accepting applications for the new programs
last week.

Early Bird Snowmobile Trail Permits Still on Sale

Trying to make snowmobiling more affordable.

Trail permits are now on sale and the early bird permits will be on sale until tomorrow.

Richard Wilkening is president of Sunset Trailriders and says there will also be a discount on prices until December 1st.

The early bird permits are 180 dollars and then go up to 210 dollars as of November 2nd.

The regular season price is 260 dollars.

Broncos Take on West K in Semi-Finals of WHSFL

A chance at redemption.

The Beaver Brae Broncos football team are in Winnipeg tonight for their semi-final match up with the West Kildonan Wolverines.

The Broncos had their 5 game win streak snapped by the Wolverines 3 weeks ago.

Head Coach Chris Penner says they have picked up their preparation this time around.

Kick off is set for 4:00 at East Side Field.

We will have live updates on Twitter @CJRLnews.

Thistles Shut Out in Winnipeg

The Winnipeg Wild have reclaimed first place in the Manitoba Midget Hockey League.

It was at the expense of the Kenora Thistles.

Last night the Wild blanked the Thistles 3-0 in Winnipeg.

The Thistles are back home this weekend with a pair of games against the
Interlake Lightning Saturday and Sunday.

Treaty 3 Police Look at Sustainability

The work continues to protect the Treaty 3 Police Service.

The board of directors has decided to retain a consultant who will look at the long term sustainability of the force.

Board Chair Eli Mandamin says one of the consultants responsibilities will be assistance in the search for new police chief.

Earlier this year the police service laid off a number of officers, cut benefits, and issued 45 day lay-off notices due to a lack of funding.

And Mandamin says the board will seek additional funding from the Provincial and Federal governments next month.

The board will meet again in January and set out a 6 month mandate towards a more sustainable business model.

Province Holding Meetings on Police Costing

Positive feelings following the meeting between local mayors and the Ontario Provincial Police.

They met in Dryden yesterday to discuss the new OPP costing formula.

Red Lake Mayor Phil Vinet says they all have a common goal and that's reducing the cost of
policing.

Kenora and Red Lake has one of the highest policing costs per household in the province.

Similar meetings are taking place in Fort Frances today and Thunder Bay tomorrow.

School Board Bullish on All Day Kindergarten

A new study shows all-day junior and senior kindergarten programs are
paying dividends.

The research conducted by the Ministry of Education shows kids in the
all-day programs are more prepared to enter grade one.

Director of Education, Phylis Eikre says their own experience with all-day JK and SK programs shows they work.

All school boards will have all-day junior and kindergarten classes in all their elementary schools by the fall of 2014.

School Bus Drivers Practice Evacuations Today

Its certainly no trick, and it may not be a treat.

The Northwest Student Services Consoritium says it will be
conducting emergency evacuation procedures on some of
its buses today.

Manager, Judi Green says school buses will be stopping at pre-selected areas off the roadway to perform the drills.

Once the drills are over, the buses will resume their regular routes.

Province Encouraged to Set Up Bear Management Committee

A northeastern Ontario MPP is calling for the creation of a bear management committee.

John Vanthof has tabled a motion in the Ontario Legislature calling for a committee that would examine and provide solutions to what he calls a growing nuisance bear problem in the north.

Under his proposal, the committee would consult with local communities and develop a full bear management strategy under the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Vanthof says the group needs to examine why human-bear conflicts have increased and should look at the long term sustainability of Ontario's bear population.

The NDP member from Timiskaming-Cochrane is proposing that the committee be comprised of members from all three parties.

Child Care Workers Recognized

Honouring child care workers across Northwestern Ontario.

The Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care and the Canadian Union of Public Employees have declared today as "Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day".

Coalition Coordinator Andrea Calver says they've been doing this for 13-years.

A number of communities across northwestern Ontario including Sioux Lookout, Red Lake, Ear Falls and Ignace are all taking part in the special day.

Study Shows Personal Debt Increasing

A local trustee in bankruptcy isn't surprised with a recent poll on Canadian debt levels.

The report by Royal Bank of Canada finds 24-percent of people are debt free, down from 26-percent in 2012.

Frank Fabiano says it's not surprising considering the economic situation in northwestern Ontario in recent years.

Fabiano says you have to look at the income you're bringing in versus what you're spending.

Coroner's Inquest Underway in Thunder Bay

The Coroner's inquest into the death of 27 year old Bruce Moonias is underway
in Thunder Bay.

In his opening statement to the jury the lawyer for the coroner, Leonard Kim, says that evidence is expected to show that Moonias died of a gunshot wound to the abdomen after being brought to Thunder Bay.

He died following an incident in Landsdowne House in which he was holed up in a home alone for several hours.

Moonias died in December of 2006 at the Thunder Bay Regional Hospital after a stand-off with the police

Saints Boys Split Against Whitefish Bay

The regular season in the NorWOSSA boys volleyball and girls basketball leagues wrap up this week.

Thomas Aquinas volleyball teams will be playing three games in as many days.

Yesterday, the Saints split their games against Whitefish Bay, with the Senior squad winning in three straight sets.

The T.A. junior boys lost in three straight.

Today, Sioux Lookout is in town, and the regular season wraps up tomorrow with Red Lake on the
schedule.