Atikokan Man Charged

An Atikokan man will appear in court Monday in connection with an assault in that community last week.

OPP say a 48-year-old man was taken to hospital for treatment and released after being assaulted by another brandishing a hammer.

The 40-year-old remains in custody pending his court appearance in Fort Frances.

County Seeks Assurances On RECAP Project

Koochiching County wants to ensure the company proposing a renewable energy project is considering potential sites, west of International Falls as part of a feasibility study.

Commissioner Wade Pavleck says Coronal's latest report makes no mention of looking at land around the city of  Big Falls, despite previous requests from both the city and the county.

Pavleck says the company seems focuses soley on a site near International Falls that includes both private and city owned property.

Election Notebook

On the election campaign, Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne is challenging PC leader Tim Hudak to prove her wrong.

The Liberals and some economists say the Tories have incorrectly counted person-years of employment as full time jobs in their projections towards the million jobs plan.

Wynne wants Hudak to produce at least one qualified independent economist who supports the PC's claim.

PC's, meantime, are launching new ads after releasing details of what they say is an approved $317-million bailout of a Toronto real estate firm signed just prior to the provincial election campaign.

PC's released documents pertaining to the deal yesterday.

Premier Kathleen Wynne denies the allegations, saying the documents are part of ongoing negotiations in a real estate transaction.

NDP leader Andrea Horwath is promising to clean-up what she calls the corruption at Queen's Park and focus on the priorities that matter most to Ontarians.

Horwath says Liberals have wasted billions of dollars on such things a CEO bonuses, the ORNGE air ambulance scandal and the cancelled gas plants instead of on health care, education and public transit.

Former Atikokan Resident Releases Book

A former Atikokan educator is out with a new children's book.

Paul Bachmeier, who now lives in Thunder Bay, authored "Barley the Elephant."

It's about a spotted baby elephant. 

Bachmeier credits his daughters for the idea and includes both in the book.

The book is illustrated by Scott Chasty, another former Atikokan resident.

A launch will take place in Thunder Bay tomorrow at the Chapters book store.

You can also obtain the book on line and through splittreepublishing.com

Three Charges In Drug Bust

OPP are charging three people with drug related offences.

A 66 year old Thunder Bay man, a 53 year old from Fort Hope and 41 year old woman from Webequie woman are charged with possession of oxycodone, marihuana, and possession of property of crime.

About 11-thousand dollars worth of drugs were seized in  the investigation.

Governor OK's Marijuana Use

Governor Mark Dayton has signed off on a bill paving the way for the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.

The bill creates a patient registry and authorizes the use of medical cannabis in limited forms for certain conditions.

The State expects to have distribution sites in place by next summer.

New Health Unit Campaign

A new campaign to encourage healthy lifestyles has been launched by the Northwestern Health Unit.

Medical Officer of Health Doctor Kit Young-Hoon says its aimed at improving the overall health of the region through better eating and lifestyle habits.

The campaign includes a new website offering a 21 day challenge to help change your lifestyle choices.

NCDS Busy

A busy year for Northern Community Development Services, or NCDS.

The employment assistance agency saw nearly 9-thousand people visit its Fort Frances office.

Marketing coordinator Sarah Maruzyk says it was in part due to the layoffs at Resolute Forest Products.

NCDS also saw over 21-hundred people participate in a variety of skills development workshops.

Voter Cards Being Issued

Voters across the Kenora-Rainy River riding are beginning to receive find their notice to vote cards in their mail boxes.

It includes the polling station you vote at on election day.

Returning Officer Ian Simpson says check the cards closely to ensure they are accurate.

If there are errors, or you have not received a card in  the next few days, call the Returning office.

Voting can now be done at returning offices by special ballot with advance polls opening this weekend, but the cards are not required.

Two pieces of identification is all you need.

Board Positions Filled

The Northwest Catholic District School Board has appointed two to the position of Superintendent of Education.

Brendan Hyatt and Joanne Querel will assume their new duties in August.

Hyatt is currently principal at Our Lady of the Way School in Stratton and the assistant to the education director

Querel now serves as an assistant Superintendent of Education.