Distracted Driving Crackdown

Ontario motorists are being advised to cut out distractions in their cars while driving.

Provincial police are teaming up with the Canadian Automobile Association and the transportation ministry in a campaign to crack down on drivers not paying attention on the road.

OPP Superintendent Don Bell says every second is crucial.

Bell says distracted driving is a leading cause of death or serious injury.

Young Cyclists To Get Tickets

Young bicycle riders following the rules in Atikokan can expected to be ticketed.

OPP, along with Atikokan Teen Centre and Atikokan Safe and Healthy Community Committee are watching for those who wear their helmets.

Constable Anne McCoy says its part of an initiative entitled "Safe Rider."

Riders who get a "Positive Ticket" get a chance to enter a draw to win an iPod NANO being offered by the Teen Centre.

Crash Caused Still Under Investigation

The Transportation Safety Board says its still too early to say what might have caused a float plane to crash north of Kenora.

Two people from Cloquet, Minnesota were sent to hospital with serious injuries after the Cessena 180 crash while taking off from Trout Lake Wednesday morning.

The Board John Cottreau says investigators are still examining the site and the aircraft for clues into what caused the crash.

Construction Contract Signed

Another step in the conversion of the Atikokan coal-fired generating station to burn biomass has been taken.

Ontario Power Generation has signed a contract with Aecon for the design and construction work on plant modifications and new fuel storage and handling systems.

The contract is worth about half the $170-million dollar project.

The plant will make the switch to biomass in 2014.

Forest Fires Hazard Remains Low

MNR file photo

The forest fire hazard remains low for northwestern Ontario as we head into the long weekend.

Thunderstorms and rain continue to track across the region, bringing lightning.

But the Ministry of Natural Resources says that lightning is less of a concern now because of the heavy rainfall associated with it.

To date, there have been a total of 492 fires in the northwest, burning a combined area of 84-thousand hectares.

Forty-four have been in the Rainy River district - 5 are still active.

Busy Border This Weekend Expected

Border agencies on both sides of the border suggest travellers might want to plan ahead if they're planning to cross this holiday weekend.

The Civic Holiday weekend is traditionally one of the busiest of the year at area points of entry.

The Canada Border Services Agency anticipates traffic at the Fort Frances border alone to be at least 3.6 per cent higher than normal.

McGuinty May Recall Legislature

Premier Dalton McGuinty is raising the possibility of recalling the legislature this month to impose new wage contracts on teachers.

The province has given school boards until the end of the month to reach new agreements that includes a two year wage freeze.

McGuinty says there's some urgency in the situation.

McGuinty says the government will take whatever steps are necessary to ensure teachers have new contracts for the start of the school year.

Park Sites Reopened

Four camping sites closed since May in Voyageurs National Park are being reopened to the public.

The sites were closed because of the presence of bald eagles nests used during critical nesting periods.

Park biologists found 72 nests within the park this breeding season

Children's Workshop Returns

A workshop for children returns to the area later this month.

Weechi-it-te-win Family Services' " Abinoojii Okogendiwin" (Children coming together) takes place outside the Nanicost Building near Couchiching First Nations beginning August 14.

The event includes traditional teachings, games, arts and crafts and Turtle Concepts presentations that help raise self-esteem and self-identify.

Your asked to call Weechi-it-te-win to register.