Youth Arrested in Shooting Incident.

Police have made an arrest in connection with a shooting incident earlier this week at Whitefish Bay First Nation near Sioux Narrows.

A 16-year-old, whose name can not be released, is facing a charge of second degree murder.

Treaty Three Police found the body of 61-year-old Charles Minshall Sunday morning after responding to reports of shots coming from the area his store.

Police aren't saying, for now, how he died.

Drug Trafficking Ring Busted

Police say they have dismantled a prescription drug and cocaine trafficking ring allegedly run by an inmate in jail.


Investigators believe the group has been operating for two years and funnelled large amounts of cocaine and the painkiller Oxycodone from southern Ontario cities to communities in the northwest.

Eleven people, including a jail employee, are facing nearly 100 charges after the six-month joint investigation between the provincial police, RCMP and various local police forces.

Don't Pick Up Hitchhikers

Police are advising motorists not to pick up hitchhikers on Highway 17 in the Schreiber area, east of Thunder Bay.

They're searching for a man wanted in connection with a break-in near the city.

Two others were arrested, one later released, after OPP, trailing a suspect vehicle, had to deploy a spike belt to slow it down.

The occupants then fled on foot.

Bass Tournament Kicks Off

Midge McTaggart photo

First day of fishing in the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship goes today.

95 angling teams began leaving from the Sorting Gap Marina at 7 a.m.

Event chair Gord Watson says a change in prize structure introduced last year is helping to generate excitement with a few more local teams taking part.

Weigh-ins at the Memorial Sports Centre begin at about 3:30 p.m.

Be sure to stay with 93.1 The Border as we provide live updates.

Quest For The Best Tonight

Twenty of the area best singers compete at Quest for the Best tonight.

They'll be divided into two groups with the winners of each section taking part in a sing-off for the one-thousand dollar first place money.

The show at the Memorial Sports Centre begins at 7:30 p.m.with 93.1 The Border's own Dave Bishop hosting.

Torys Dispute Teachers Contract

The Progressive Conservatives say Liberal claims they negotiated a two-year wage freeze with the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association are false.

P-C Leader Tim Hudak says teachers will still be allowed to advance on a salary grid, which means automatic raises for many of them.

Rain Helps Forest Fires Situation

Rain is helping to lower the forest fire hazard in the Rainy River district.

The Ministry of Natural Resources says four fires, allowed to burn within Quetico Provincial Park, received heavy amounts of rainfall and were showing minimal signs of life yesterday.

Those storms also brought plenty of lightning strikes which the MNR says could mean the potential of more new starts in the near future.

Power Corp Worried With Energy Review

The Fort Frances Power Corporation is expressing concern with the province's review of the energy sector.

It includes a potential sell-off or amalgamation of municipally owned distribution utilities.

Chair Doug McCaig is worried the province may force the Power Corp being folded in with either Hydro One or other area utilities.

McCaig says such a move could impact on local rates, which are the lowest in the province.

New Forest Fires Reported

The Ministry of Natural Resources is closely watch if a storm passing through the area will provide any help to the number of forest fires burning across northwestern Ontario.

Ten new starts were reported yesterday, including two new lighting-cause blazes within Quetico Provincial Park.

A total of 70 across the northwest are active.

Drug Investigation Revealed Today

Details of a joint forces drug investigation are expected to be revealed later today.

Officials says it focused on the trafficking of prescription medication and other illegal drugs from southern Ontario to several communities in the northwest.

OPP, Thunder Bay Police, RCMP and Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service were null.

E-Waste Depots Set Up

There are now permanent depots in the Rainy River district for people to dump their old electronic equipment.

Asselin's Transportation and Storage is setting up two locations.

Co-owner Eldon Mose says one will be at main office in Alberton township.

A second site is at the Black Sturgeon landfill site located on Highway 502.


Materials collected will be shipped to recycling facilities.

Home Price Report Questioned

A report on rising Ontario home prices has drawn concern from a Liberal MP.

The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation says home prices in Ontario are up 17 per cent over the past four years, 26 per cent in the Kenora-Rainy River districts.

The corporation says the numbers suggest a strong real estate market.

MP John McCallum says the increase is high given the current economic environment.

Atikokan Showcased

Atikokan is showcasing its promising future to a Thunder Bay audience today.

The town's inviting developers, miners and investors to an open house at the Whitewater Golf Course to learn more about its activities.

The town's preparing for an economic boom in the energy, forestry and mining industries with as many as four projects, creating as many as 900 new jobs, about to proceed.

Parade of Boats Tonight

FFCBC photo

Just one more sleep before the fishing begins at the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship, but tonight anglers  showcase their boats and gear in the annual Parade of Boats.

This year, it starts at the Memorial Sports Centre, beginning at 5:30 p.m., and travelling west down Scott Street to Mowat Avenue.

Anglers will then head to Boston Pizza where you get your opportunity to rub shoulders and obtain a few fishing tips.

Home Sales Up

The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation says the average home price in the Kenora and Rainy River districts has increased 26 per cent over the past four years. 

MPAC's chief assessor Larry Hummel says different forces affect the real estate market in northern Ontario, including the recent increase in activity in the mining sector.

Overall, Ontario's home prices are up 17 per cent.

Portage Avenue Underpass To Close

The Portage Avenue underpass in Fort Frances will be temporarily closed to traffic next week.

The closures happen next Tuesday and Wednesday, between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., both days.

It's to allow crews working on the pumping station to install new electrical services.

A temporary pedestrian walkway will be set up on the east side of the road during the closure.

Mining Symposium Planned

Mining and skilled trades are the wave of the future in northwestern Ontario, so the federal government is giving a hand to help aboriginal youth gain access to those sectors.

Federal government's setting aside $46-thousand to support an Aboriginal Trades and Employment Symposium in Dryden.

The September event will include reps from various mining companies.

Man Dead In Shooting Incident

A 61-year-old man is dead following a shooting incident at Whitefish Bay First Nation near Sioux Narrows.

Police says Charles Minshall was the owner of a store in the community.

Treaty Three Police Service found his body after responding to reports of gunfire being heard in the area of the store Sunday morning.

No one has yet been arrested.

No Injuries In Boating Incident

No one was injured in a boating accident on Rainy Lake on the weekend.

Koochiching County Sheriff's Office says two boats received minimal damage after brushing each other sides Saturday night.


Police says both operators thought the other was going to turn away to avoid a collision, but neither did.

Man Arrested On Sexual Assault Charges

A 25-year-old man man faces a long list of charges after a 50-year-old woman was sexually assaulted in the Red Lake area.

OPP says the two knew each other.

The victim was transported to hospital and released.

The accused remains in custody.

No names have been released.