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.

Fatal Collision Near Atikokan

One man is dead and a women is hospital with serious injuries following an accident on Highway 11.

OPP say both were in a car that came into collision with a transport early yesterday afternoon near the junction of Highway 633, 30 kilometres east of Atikokan.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

The woman was transported to Atikokan General Hospital.

The driver of the transport was not hurt.

No names have yet been released.

The accident closed the road for nearly seven hours.

It was fully open to travel early this morning.

School Board Respects Iron Range Decision

Supplied by Camilla Gray

The Rainy River District School Board is being respectful of the decision by Iron Range Bus Lines not to travel Highway 502 this winter because of its concerns with road conditions.

It means longer travel times for Fort Frances High School sports teams heading north by taking Highway 71.

Education Director Heather Campbell says safety of students has to be considered.

Campbell says they are looking at options with other boards to see if games can be played at neutral locations to reduce travel times.

CN Charged With Blocking Crossing

CN Rail is being charged for blocking a rail crossing in Koochiching County.

It comes after a train blocked the Van Lynn Road for more than 90 minutes last Thursday afternoon.

County Sheriff Brian Jesperson says the issue of lengthy delays at area crossings has gone on for too many years.

A charge is considered a petty misdemeanor and can lead to a fine of $300.00.

County Board Chair Kevin Adee says it's still action that many residents have wanted to see even if the fine is pocket change for CN.

County Board Approves Budget

Koochiching County board of commissioners has approved its 2014 budget.

Spending for the year tops out at just over $25.4-million with the tax levy remaining the same as last year at almost $4-million.

The county is also planning to put more than $2-million into reserves.

Gas Tax To Hurt Northern Ontario

Progressive Conservatives says Liberal plans to add a new province-wide gas tax to fund rapid transit in southern Ontario will have a huge impact in northern Ontario.

Critic Vic Fedeli says an extra 10 cent a litre charge will result in higher prices for other goods trucked to the north.

Fedeli says it's also a slap in the face by asking northerners to help fund the southern Ontario they likely won't benefit from.

Chamber Announced New Board

The Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce has returned Mark Caron as its president.

The owner of M.L. Caron Electric was elected to a third term in voting that concluded Monday.

Myles Kuharski of Gillons' Insurance takes over as first vice-president while Jordan Forbes of Saulteau Consulting and Engineering is the second vice-president.

Here is the full slate of officers.

EXECUTIVE:


President:  Mark Caron, ML Caron Electric
1st Vice President:  Myles Kuharski, Gillons' Insurance
2nd Vice President: Jordan Forbes, Saulteaux Consulting & Engineering
Treasurer: vacant - pending election in January
Secretary:  Annely Armstrong, NCDS & Chamber Manager
Past President: Cathy Emes

DIRECTORS:

Robin Payeur, Causeway Insurance / Main Street Market
Lisa Plourde, RBC Royal Bank
Steve Gushulak, Fort Frances General Supply
Mike Vanderwater, Acklands-Grainer
Travis Glowasky, Studio Gibbous
Paul Noonan, La Place Rendez Vous Hotel
Jennifer Greenhalgh, NCDS
Marie Allan, BDO & Company LLP
Ben Morelli, From the Grind Up

Rounding out the Board for 2014 are the Appointee and Ex-Officio positions:

APPOINTEES:
John Albanese, Town of Fort Frances
Angela Halvorsen, Rainy River Future Development Corporation
Toby Munro, Resolute Forest Products

Appointments from the Fort Frances Downtown Business Improvement Association and the Pwi-Di-Goo-Zing Ne-Yaa-Zhing Aboriginal Business Development Advisory Services have yet to be announced.

Coffee Break Time

It's time to take a coffee break.

The Alzheimer Society for the Kenora-Rainy River Districts is bringing back its Coffee Break Challenge next month.

Acting Executive Director Rossana Tomashowski says residents, groups and businesses are invited to host a coffee break to help raise funds for the Society.

Last January's event brought in almost $5,000.

Register by contacting the Society in Kenora or through its website.