Impaired Driver Charged

A man from Sabaskong First nation is facing impaired driving charges.

OPP says they found a vehicle was blocking traffic on Highway 71 South of Nestor Falls yesterday evening.

Police found that the driver, 30 year old Todd Copenace, was impaired and charged him with Impaired Driving.

Copenance will answer to the charge in court today.

Kenora Retailers Embrace Black Friday

Black Friday is no longer a term being just used by American retailers.

It's coming just as big in Canada and now in Kenora.

Manager of McTaggart's Richard Boileau says his store is among many looking to attract customers with special deals today.

It's suggested Canadian will spent on average 300 dollars per person today.

PSAC Given Right to Represent NAPS Officers

Its being called a precedent setting decision.

The Canadian Industrial Labor Relations Board has ruled that officers with the
Nishinabe Aski Police can be represented by the Public Service Alliance
of Canada.

Sharon DeSousa is a spokesperson for P-SAC and says they can now move forward with negotiations on a new contract.

DeSousa adds that the ruling will also affect other aboriginal police services across the province, including the Treaty Three Police.

She says Treaty Three Police will have it's own hearing with the board in January about whether PSAC can represent their officers.

Atleo Addresses Ontario Chiefs

National Chief  of the Assembly of First Nations, Shawn Atleo is addressing first nations issues with aboriginal leaders.

Atleo says he has felt widespread support from communities wanting to have more of an influence on education.

He says he will also be speaking with the United Nations to address Canada's sustainable development goals.

Atleo made the address to the Chiefs of Ontario meeting which is taking place in Thunder Bay this
week.

Harborfest Directors Planning for Next Summer

It may be looking a lot like Christmas, but Harborfest is already thinking
summer thoughts.

Work is already underway trying to book acts for next year's evening concerts.

Dave Blake is the director of entertainment and says its become increasingly challenging to book top flight bands.

Blake says their goal is to book at least one of the night's for the August long weekend before Christmas.

CO2 Detectors Soon To Be Mandatory in All Homes

A new carbon monoxide detector might make a good Christmas gift.

A private members bill has passed at Queen's Park that will soon mandate the alarms in all Ontario homes.

Tory MPP Ernie Hardeman, who pressed for the law since the death of a family from carbon monoxide poisoning in 2008, says it replaces old laws requiring only homes built after 2001 to have the alarms.

The Hawkins-Gignac Act is named in memory of the family who died.

Resolute Runs Afoul of WSIB

A spokesperson for the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board is confirming that Resolute Forest products is facing some legal problems involving the company's Thunder Bay sawmill.  

The board says that its facing four counts of failing to report work related accidents within three days.  

The board would not confirm the exact safety issues that are involved saying they are now before the provincial offences court.  

Sharks in Winnipeg for Weekend Swim Meet

24 members of the Kenora Swim Sharks are in Winnipeg for the Prairie Winter Invitational.

The competition kicked off yesterday and 11 year Gabe Mastromatteo earned the first gold medal.

He swam to a personal best 36.11 second in the 50 meter breast stroke.

The competition runs until Sunday.

Murder Charge Laid After Death on Shoal Lake #40

The OPP and Treaty 3 Police are investigating a death on the Shoal lake #40 first nation.

Police say they were called to a residence on Tuesday where they found 83 year James Redsky of Shoal Lake #40 dead inside.

23 year old Katelyn Skead of the community has been arrested and charged with second degree murder.

She is being held in custody and will appear in Kenora court tomorrow.

Treaty 3 Police along with the North West Region Crime Unit and Criminal Investigation Branch are continuing their investigation.

Manitoba Man Killed in Highway 17 Crash

A 57 year old Manitoba man is dead following a three vehicle accident on Highway 17 east of Kenora.

The OPP say an eastbound transport collided with a west bound semi shortly before midnight near Percy Lake.

Another west bound tractor-trailor unit ended up in the ditch.

Kenora's Fire and Emergency Services Department was called out to extract the driver from the eastbound rig.

He was taken to Lake of the Woods District Hospital where he later from his injuries.

The deceased has been identified as Benjamin Buekert from Gladstone, Manitoba.

The Trans-Canada was closed for over eight hours last night due to multiple collisions on that section of Highway between Kenora and Vermilion Bay.

One Person Dead in Overnight Accident on Highway 17 East

One person is confirmed dead in a multi-vehicle crash on Highway 17 between Vermilion Bay and Kenora.

Provincial Police say the crash occurred about 20-kilometers
east of the Highway 71 junction overnight.

Police say the victim is an unidentified man.

Several other collisions involving transports were reported on the highway and the road is closed to remove all of the debris.

The OPP say one lane of Highway 17 has now been re-opened.

Highway 17 east of Vermilion Bay is open but is extremely icy.

Several vehicles were seen in the ditch overnight and extreme caution is urged.

OPP Say Expect Delays On Highway 17 East Today

Expect some traffic delays this morning along Highway 17 east of Kenora.

Just minutes after re-opening the Trans-Canada east of the Highway 71
junction, the OPP say the road has been closed again.

Police say crews are working to remove transports that were involved
in a number of accidents overnight.

There are reports of one fatality, but the OPP have not released any
other details.

The OPP say a number of transports jack-knifed or ended up in the
ditch.

Highway crews are also working to salt and sand the area.

Ontario Chiefs Reject Federal Overhaul of First Nations Education Act

Regional Chiefs meeting in Thunder Bay this week are rejecting the Federal Government's First Nations Education Act.

The Ontario Regional Chiefs held a news conference yesterday to say they have plans to implement their own education vision.

The Chiefs, which include members of Treaty Three, noted they have been working on their own strategy which will be implemented by First Nations communities across the province.

NOMA and NOACC Meet With Premier Wynne

The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association is pleased with their recent meetings with the Premier and Natural Resources Minister.

NOMA president Dave Canfield says they spoke about energy needs in the north as well as property reassessments on large industrial properties.

Canfield along with members of the Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce had a chance to sit down with Premier Kathleen Wynne for an hour on Tuesday.

Canfield says talks with the MNR's David Orazietti went ok and notes there are still some struggling points with the forest industry.

Rickford Disappointed with Provincial Response to Ring of Fire

The provincial government needs to develop a better working relationship with its partners on the Ring of Fire.

That's the feeling of Greg Rickford, who is the federal government's point man on the massive mining development.

Rickford says they were surprised by the announcement earlier this month of a development corporation for the Ring.

Rickford says he's always had a good working relationship with Mines minister Michael Gravelle, but is accusing the premier of politicizing the Ring of Fire.

Two Northwest First Nations Share Funding

Two first nation communities in northwestern Ontario are sharing a chunk of money from the province.

The Big Island First Nation near Morson will be getting just over 500 thousand dollars to help develop a seven thousand square foot business center.

The 1.5 million dollar project will include a gas bar, a grocery store, gift shop and post office.

The Bearskin Lake First Nation has been promised 750 thousand dollars to help
expand its community center.

The 1.4 million dollar project is expected to be complete next year.

10th Annual Festival of Trees Begins Tonight

An annual Christmas tradition is back at the Lake of the Woods Museum.

The Festival of Trees gets underway tonight with Seniors Night.

Kenora and Lake of the Woods Regional Community Foundation Executive Director Darlene MacGillivray says they have a great line up of music.

The festival continues tomorrow night with the Glitz, Glamour, and Glow Gala, and finishes up Saturday with Family Day.

Saints Boys Hockey Team Loses First of the Season

The Fort Frances Muskies are proving to be the team to beat in the NorWOSSA boys hockey league.

The Muskies skated into Kenora yesterday and left with a 6-1 win over the Thomas Aquinas Saints.

It was T.A.'s first loss of the season, while Fort improved to 3-0.

Most School Buses Running This Morning

The highway closure has caused some disruption to bus service
this morning.

The Northwest Student Services Consortium says the bus from Sioux Narrows has been forced to turn back at Highway 71.

Instead, bus KN30 will start picking up students at Longbow Lake.

A pair of buses in the Vermillion Bay area have also been affected.

All other buses in the Kenora area are running this morning.

Highway 17 East of Kenora Closed Again!

Slippery road conditions have resulted in several collisions overnight and the closure of Highway 17 between Vermillion Bay and the junction of Highway 71.

There were several collisions last night in the area and the highway is expected to be closed for parts of this morning.

Police say several transports either jack-knifed or ended up in the ditch along
the Trans-Canada and it could take several hours to clear the wreckage.

OPP are asking motorists heading east to Thunder Bay to use Highway 71 to Fort Frances and then Highway 11 over to the Lakehead as a detour this morning.