Beaches Now Posted

The Northwestern Health Unit has now posted all the beaches in the Kenora and Rainy River Districts with warning signs.

They warn of higher levels of bacteria after heavy rainfalls or high winds.

Enforcement manager Jennifer McKibbon says they are only a precaution.

McKibbon says reds signs will be posted when a beach has been closed.

Another Lightning Strike in Park

There are now four forest fires burning within Quetico Provincial Park.

The latest was spotted yesterday southeast of Bass Lake in the southern part of the park.

The lightning-caused fire has so far scorched about a hectare.

Three others located near the same vicinity have been burning since the end of July.

Plane Crash

A pilot is lucky to be walking away with only minor injuries after a plane crash in Marathon.

OPP say the plane was attempting to take off when it ran out of runway and clipped a poll yesterday afternoon, ending up in a ditch along side Highway 17.

The crash forced the closure of the highway for a couple of hours.

Schools Recognized as Residential

Two First Nation schools in the Nishnawbe Aski Nation are now on a formal list of residential schools.

It allows former students of the Stirland Lake and Cristal Lake Residential High Schools to be eligible for government compensation.

The schools, located 170 kilometres north of Sioux Lookout, opened in the 1970's, later merging and operating until 1991.

First Riders Program

The start of school is still over a week away, but some first time students from the Rainy River district got their first ride on a school bus yesterday.

More than 50 students took part in the First Riders program held in Fort Frances and Stratton.

Transportation coordinator for the Rainy River Transportation Services Donna Lee says it helps young students get adjusted for that first ride to school.

A similar session will be held at St. Patrick's School in Atikokan next Thursday.

I Inhaled Too!

Bill Clinton did it.

So did Barack Obama and Dalton McGuinty.

Now, Tim Hudak admits that he too has smoked pot.

Hudak, who was asked the question while touting a campaign promise to create a registry for homes that have been used as grow-ops or meth labs, added he hasn't lit up "in some time."

The 43-year-old says he doesn't support the decriminalization of small amounts of marijuana because ``drug use is wrong'' and grow-ops create health hazards.

Body Found

OPP have recovered the body of a missing 28-year-old Winnipeg man from Shoal Lake.

Lucas Janz was last seen going for a swim Sunday, but failed to return to the camp where he was staying.

Janz's body was found near Galt Island.