Operation Crayola Crackdown

OPP in the Rainy River district are turning to young people to help spread the importance of not drinking and driving this holiday season.

Grade 3,4 and 5 students at five schools have created a variety of artwork that will be attached to LCBO bags.

Constable Anne McCoy is impressed with how the students responded to the first ever "Operation Crayola Crackdown."

The bags will be available this weekend at LCBO outlets in Fort Frances, Emo and Atikokan.

Students from Donald Young School in Emo, Crossroads in Devlin, St. Francis in Fort Frances and North Star and St. Patrick's in Atikokan were involved.

Traffic Accident Victim Identified

An Atikokan man has been identified as the victim in Tuesday's fatal accident on Highway 11.

OPP say 76-year-old Fredrick James Munro of Atikokan was the driver of a car that came into collision with a commercial motor vehicle, about 30 kilometres east of Atikokan.

A 71-year-old woman, also from Atikokan, suffered serious injuries and was eventually taken to hospital in Thunder Bay.

The driver of the commercial vehicle was not hurt.

Three Charged In Bootlegging Bust

A massive undercover operation to address the ongoing bootlegging problem in Sioux Lookout has resulted in the arrest of three men.

Charged were a 76-year-old, a 41-year-old and a 30-year old.

OPP spent six months on the investigation before laying charges.

Battling the Bulge

Obesity has become one of the biggest health issue facing residents in our area.

The Northwestern Health Unit's Medical officer of health, Dr. Jim Arthurs says its something they hope to tackle as part of a new strategic plan.

Arthurs says they also want to better measure some of their health indicators to see if programs being offered are making a difference.

Health Funding Announced

The regional health authority is getting a financial boost.

$4.4 million in provincial money to the Northwest Local Health Integration Network will be used to support home care for more seniors.

Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro says it will help to ease overcrowding at hospitals.

Fourteen different agencies will be on the receiving end of the money.

Food Poisoning Investigated

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit is looking into a possible case of food poisoning.

Officials say about 54 people who attended a banquet last Friday at the Moose Hall on Fort William Road became six.

They're now hoping to contact the 270 people who attended from across northwestern Ontario and as far away as Hamilton.

Target Identifies Data Breach

Minnesota department store chain Target says it's working with law enforcement and financial institutions into a data breach linked to purchases at its U.S. stores.

Target says as many as 40 million credit and debit card accounts may be impacted from purchases made between November 27 and December 15.

Target does not specific what stores were effected, but is advising shoppers to check their accounts and call Target if they suspect any unauthorized activity

Top Baby Names Stay The Same

Olivia and Liam remain the most chosen baby names in Ontario.

It's the second straight year that Liam has topped the boys list while Olivia has been the favourite name for girls since 2008.

Emma, Sophia, Ava and Emily round out the top five girls names.

Other popular boys names this year have been Ethan, Jacob, Lucas and Benjamin.

Hunters Charged

The Ministry of Natural Resources has levied $4,500 in fines against two men for illegally hunting a wolf in the Lake of the Woods area.

The charges stem from an incident in February where a Minnesota man hired a local guide to help him hunt wolf.

Kirk Quade ended up killing two wolves even though he only had a tag for one.

His guide, Dave Bennett attached his own game seal to the other wolf.

Kenora Supports Vets Offices Staying Open

The Minister of Veteran Affairs will be hearing more calls from Northern Ontario communities.

Kenora City Council has passed a resolution to lobby Julian Fantino to keep the 9 offices around the country open.

The offices, including one in Thunder Bay, are expected to close next year.

Emission Test Cost Lowered

Some savings for vehicle owners who must receive emission tests.

As of April 1, the Ontario government is reducing the costs of the tests by five dollars.

The tests were introduced as a way to reduce smog and other toxic emissions from motor vehicles.

The fee is being reduced from $35 to $30 to ensure the program is not taking in more money than it costs to run the tests.

Campbell Hosts Open Houses

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell will host a couple of Christmas open houses in the Rainy River district this week.

She's at the Super 8 Motel in Fort Frances tonight from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

She's then hosts another event tomorrow in Rainy River at the Rainy River Legion from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Population Grows

Canada's population is a little bigger today.

As of October 1, Statistics Canada pegs the number at just under 35.3 million people.

That's up about 137-thousand from July's number.

Ontario's population is at 13.6 million, up almost 48-thousand people.