OPP Identify Victim of fatal Accident

Provincial Police have identified the victim of a fatal accident this morning on Highway 17 between Dryden and Ignace.

Police say 57 year old Danny Henderson of Atikokan died when the van he was driving collided with an pickup truck heading in the other direction.

The 2 passengers of the truck are in Dryden hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The highway has since been opened in both directions.

Valleyview Expansion Complete

Kindergarten students at Valleyview School are enjoying a couple of brand new classrooms.

The expansion of the school was completed over the Christmas holidays and opened for the students this week.

Jason McDonald is the principal and says the new space is really geared to the younger students.

Total cost of the renovations is 1.2 million dollars, which will also include some landscaping, which will
be carried out in the spring.

School Boards Concerned with Road Conditions

The Rainy River District School Board intends to respond to a letter from the Ministry of Transportation that indicates there's been no change to the service level this winter of Highways 502 or 622 near Atikokan.

A couple of bus companies have already stopped using Highway 502 as a route to transport school teams between Dryden and Fort Frances.

And chair Mike Lewis says there's concern a similar decision might be made about Highway 622 near Atikokan.

The Northwest Student Services Consortium says its also working with the MTO to monitor road conditions in
the region and is seeking feedback from local motorists, including photos.

Attawapiskat Walkers Head to Ottawa

Three members of the Attawapiskat First Nation are walking to Ottawa to deliver a key message.

Danny Metatawabin, Brian Okimaw and Paul Mettina are on foot to encourage the government to work together to address and reconcile several Aboriginal issues.

According to a statement posted by Metatawabin on Facebook, they are walking from the "traditional territories of the people" to deliver a message to the leaders of both levels of Government and to Chiefs that
the time to honour our treaties is now!

The Attawapiskat walkers are supported by helpers carrying supplies on snowmobiles.

EMS Chiefs Meet in Thunder Bay

The heads of the Ontario Associations of Police, Fire, and Paramedics are talking about how they communicate with each
other.

Norm Gale is the President of the Ontario Paramedics Association says they want to improve the way they spread information.

The provincial associations met in Thunder Bay on Wednesday.

City Ready To Reycle Coffee Cups

Even your blue-box can get it's Tim's fix.

The City of Kenora has announced that coffee cups from both Tim Horton's and
McDonald's are now recyclable.

Coffee drinkers are being encouraged to pitch their empty cups in local recycling
bins, instead of the nearest garbage can.

Saints Girls Lose in Fort

The Fort Frances Muskies continue to dominate the NorWOSSA girls
hockey league.

The Muskies blanked the Thomas Aquinas Saints last night in the Fort
4-0.

The win improves Fort Frances to a perfect 8-0 in the league standings,
while the Saints continue to look for their first win of the season.

Thistles Lose But Get Point in Loss

A single point for the Kenora Triple "a" Midget Thistles.

The Thistles were in Winnipeg last night and were beaten 2-1 by the
Thrashers in a shootout.

Dylan Gosselin-Archer tied the game in the third period for the Kenora Midgets
forcing overtime.

None of the Kenora skaters could find the back of the net though in the shootout.

The Thistles continue their road trip this weekend with stops in Neepawa and Morden.

Three People Looking for Homes After Willard Lake Blaze

Three local residents are hoping to rebuild their lives again after the fire this week at Willard Lake Resort.

Gidgit Hooper-Pemmican says 3 people were left homeless as a result of the fire.

Hooper-Pemmican says it's a tough situation as they were working their way out of homelessness.

She is asking landlords areas to come forward if any units are available.

Hooper-Pemmican also says the Salvation Army will help out with amenities once they have a place to stay.

Vacancy Rates in Kenora Dropping

Rental rates in the City of Kenora are starting to tighten up a bit.

The vacancy rate last year went down to 3.4 percent, down from 5.5 percent the year before.

Warren Philp from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation says those figures are pretty consistent with the province as a whole.

Philp says a vacancy rate of 3.4 percent is actually pretty good news for
anyone trying to find an apartment to rent in the city.

OPP Release Details on Atikokan Fatality

OPP say a new year's eve death in Atikokan was not suspicious.

The body of man was located in the 100 block of River Road around 9 AM on December 31..

Police has also identified him as being 32-year-old Ryan Keeash of Atikokan.

A post-mortem exam was conducted at Lake of the Woods District Hospital, but the cause of death has not been released.

OPP To Conduct Phone Survey

OPP will be soon finding out what the public thinks of them and the services they provide.

A private firm will be conducting a telephone survey on behalf of the OPP this month for the Ontario Provincial Police as part of a Community Satisfaction Survey.

Sergeant Pierre Chamberland says the information collected its important to the OPP.

Chamberland says no personal information will be collected during the survey.

Arthurs Reflects on Career with Health Unit

The retiring medical officer of health for the region is pleased with some
of the changes implemented in his five years at the helm.

Dr. Jim Arthurs is stepping down at the end of March.

He says one of the things he's most proud of is erasing some of the boundaries between the various programs they offer.

Arthurs says people who come in for programs such as Healthy Babies, or immunizations, can also get information about improving their eating habits, exercise and hygiene tips.

Beaver Brae Court Sport Teams Open 2014 With Single Win

Beaver Brae managed just one win in Dryden to open the 2014 portion of
the court sport season.

The Bronco Junior boys edged the Eagles 59-56 yesterday afternoon.

Beaver Brae's senior boys dropped a 64-44 decision to Dryden.

In girls volleyball action, the Bronco Senior and Junior teams lost in three straight sets.

Bronco Girls Lose to Eagles

It was a tough
start to the new year for the Bronco girls.

Beaver Brae dropped a 5-2 decision to Dryden yesterday afternoon at
the Rec. Center.

Hilary Moncrief and Rylee Smith scored for the Broncos in the loss.

Bronco Boys Win Big, Saints Lose Big

Beaver Brae's boys hockey team has started 2014 on a winning note.

The Broncos trounced the Sioux Lookout Warriors 10-3 last night at the
Kenora Rec. Center.

Eastin Gautier, Jed Rattai and Rhyse Mandamin led the way with two goals apiece.

The Broncos next action is this weekend as they head to Winkler for a tournament.

Meanwhile, the Thomas Aquinas boys hockey team was outmatched and outgunned in Fort Frances, as the Muskies upended the Saints 11-0 last
night.

Richards Left Off Men's Olympic Hockey Team Roster

Team Canada has named the 2014 men's Olympic hockey roster.

Headlining the team are Winnipeg's Jonothan Toews, along with Sidney Crosby, and Steven Stamkos.

A few players with northwestern Ontario heritage also got named to the roster including Patrick Sharp from Thunder Bay, and Duncan Keith who grow up in
Fort Frances.

Kenora's Mike Richards was left of the team after winning gold at the 2010 games in Vancovuer.

The goalies are Roberto Luongo, Mike Smith, and Carey Price.

The men's hockey tournament gets underway on February 12 and wraps up with the gold medal game on the 23rd.

Willard Lake Fire Under Investigation

Fire officials continue to investigate the cause of a major fire at Willard Lake Resort, between Kenora and Vermillion Bay.

Officials were called around 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon.

The flames spread from cabin to cabin as firefighters had to deal with limited water in battling the blaze.

Damage to the gas station and restaurant is unknown at this time.

No one was injured.

Man Charged With Vermillion Bay Auto Theft

An 18 year old Machin man faces theft charges in connection to
a stolen automobile.

The OPP say a car was stolen from a garage on Spruce Street in Vermillion Bay around 11:00 Saturday night.

Police say they located the vehicle in Dryden a short time later.

Krystie Skye has been charged with break and enter, theft over five thousand
dollars and possession of property obtained by crime.

Impaired Driving Charge Laid After Hit and Run

A 55 year old Kenora woman faces impaired driving charges following
a hit and run accident in the parking lot of the Kenora Shopper's Mall.

The OPP say there were contacted around 3:00 Sunday afternoon after
a vehicle struck another car, but then left the scene.

Officers managed to locate the suspect vehicle a short time later.

Police say the driver had been consuming alcohol and failed a roadside breath test.

Sandra Karambetsos also faces a charge of driving without a licence.