CKDR.net - Local News

Fatal Probe Continues in Kenora

Mike Ebbeling — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 09:04:19 -0700

OPP continue to investigate the death of a 24-year-old Kenora woman. The body of Deidre Lynn Chukra was located on the shores of Lake of the Woods Sunday. A post-mortum examination Monday found the cause of death to be undetermined. Police hope that the results of toxicology tests will provide some clues.

Man Charged With Uttering Threats

Mike Ebbeling — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:55:53 -0700

A 29-year-old man faces a long list of charges after an early Sunday morning tirade. Dryden Police received a request to have a man removed from a home because he was intoxicated. Police say the accused was cooperating until he was taken to the cruiser. The man became angry and started to swear and fight with officers as he tried to break free. Police say when he was transported to the Dryden Detachment, he threatened to kill one of the officers. Arlin Gray faces counts of resisting arrest, causing a disturbance, uttering threats and 2-counts of breach of probation.

Leaving the Scene of a Crash Costs Dryden Man

Mike Ebbeling — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:55:01 -0700

A 58-year-old Dryden man faces charges following a single vehicle crash. City Police were called to the scene of a collision Monday morning at the intersection of Parkdale Road and Colonization. Police say the vehicle hit a streetlight and sign and left the scene. The accused faces counts of careless driving and failing to report a collision.

Proposed Mosaic Staying Put

Mike Ebbeling — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:54:20 -0700

The proposed large outdoor Centennial Mosaic will stay at Cooper Park. The Dryden Regional Arts Council asked the City Monday night to change the structure's location from Cooper Park to Johnsons Park. The request was denied by a 3-2 vote Council approved a request to have the Mosaic at Cooper Park over a year ago, however the Arts Council asked for a change in location after receiving some complaints about the original pick. Those opposed to the move stated Cooper Park was a central and more visible location, while others said Council already approved the site. Councilor Fisher and Mayor Krassilowsky argued that Johnsons Park was the better site. The large 3-dimensional outdoor structure will consist of eight, 4x8 foot panels made with mosaic designs.

Walleye Masters Request Turned Down

Mike Ebbeling — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:44:56 -0700

The City of Dryden has no plans at this time to donate the use of the Arena for the Dryden Walleye Masters. Council received a written request from the organizing committee to off-set the $775 cost of using the Arena for 3-days in June. The City is already subsidizing the Arena to the tune of roughly $450,000 and Councilor Brian Collins says they can't afford to add to that debt. Council agreed to close a portion of Earl Avenue and gave permission for the Committee to use the Duke Street Dock.

Dream Year Continues for Michelle Arsenault

Mike Ebbeling — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:43:31 -0700

Someone pinch Michelle Arsenault to see if she's dreaming! It's no dream...the Dryden Olympic Torch Bearer has now received the highest honour available from the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation. The Grade 12 student has been handed $300 and a framed certificate for winning a student achievement award in the video-audio-animation division. The honour is a result of her entry entitled, 'Making a Difference by way of waste reduction.'

NDP Refusing to Let HST Issue Die

Mike Ebbeling — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:42:20 -0700

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton and Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty want the voting public to make the harmonized sales tax an election issue immediately. The two New Democrats held an on-line discussion on the HST last Friday and Hampton feels public pressure will help kill the controversial tax. Hampton notes the McGuinty Liberals have flip-flopped on issues in the past. He adds the implementation of the HST will be the largest tax increase ever for ordinary people.

Beardy Welcomes Minister but Warns Work Remains

Mike Ebbeling — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:46:48 -0700

Grand Chief Stan Beardy of the Nishnawbe-Aski Nation warns it will take more than lip-service to ensure mining development can go ahead in Northern Ontario. Beardy is reacting to a planned trip this week from Ontario Mines Minister Michael Gravelle. Gravelle will visit 4-First Nation communities to discuss development opportunities in the so called Ring of Fire.

Big Trout Lake Woman Injured in Thunder Bay

Erica Primmer — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:30:36 -0700

A 19-year-old female from Big Trout Lake is in the hospital after being struck by a vehicle on Saturday night. The crash took place at a busy intersection in Thunder Bay. The woman crossed the intersection and was hit by a vehicle that had the right away. Her injuries are non-life threatening and she was given an Offence Notice under the Highway Traffic Act.

Police Investigate Death

Mike Ebbeling — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:29:47 -0700

OPP are looking into the death of a Kenora woman. The body of 24-year-old Deidre Lynn Chukra was located on the shore of Lake of the Woods Sunday morning. Chukra was reported missing on March 8th. Police are trying to piece together the circumstances surrounding her death.

Is it Really March?

Mike Ebbeling — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:34:05 -0700

Local residents replaced their parkas with shorts on a glorious weekend. Dryden hit 13.9-degrees Sunday, smashing the previous high of 8.3 set in 1972. The City also reached 12.5 Saturday, clipping the 1995 record of 12.1. The temperature in Red Lake was 14.3 Saturday, breaking the old record of 9.4 set in 1972. It was even warmer on Sunday as Red Lake residents basked in 15.1-degree temperatures. The old record was 10.1 in 1981. Folks in Atikokan could almost bring out the golf clubs as the mercury topped 16.7-Sunday, breaking the 1981 record of 9.9. Atikokan also set a record on Saturday of 9.3, shading the previous high of 7.8 in 1972. Sioux Lookout reached 13.3 Sunday, killing the old record of 8.9 set in 1981. The mercury hit 13.9 on Saturday, beating the previous mark of 12.8. Ear Falls topped 14.4-degrees Sunday, replacing the old record of 10.5 set in 1981. 12.6-degrees was the high on Saturday, giving Ear Falls its warmest March 13th since 1990 when the mercury hit 9. Pickle Lake hit 13.7 on Saturday, breaking the old record of 10.4 set 1995. The high in the community on Sunday was 14-degrees, smashing the old record of 7.7, set in 1995.

MPP Warns Hydro Rates Will Climb

Randy Thoms (B93 Fort Frances) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:31:50 -0700

There's renewed concern over the potential future of Abitibi-Bowater's hydro-electric dams in Northern Ontario. Kenora-Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton says the company is again looking to sell the assets, which will hurt local Mills. Hampton is calling on the province to prevent any sale from moving ahead.

New Agreement Between Province and Treaty Three

BGW — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:40:13 -0800

The Province and Grand Council Treaty 3 have agreed to continue working together to promote economic opportunities for the Grand Councils first nations communities. Two Provincial Cabinet Ministers were on hand to sign an Letter of Commitment at ceremonies held at Wabigoon Lake First Nations on Friday. Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry Michael Gravel termed the event historic, saying it is a reaffirmation of a shared partnership. New Minister of Natural Resources Linda Jeffrey joined Gravel in signing the agreement which reinforces an earlier letter of understanding. Treaty Three Grand Chief Diane Kelly says this new relationship will bridge communication gaps.

New programs to recruit doctors

Andrea — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:01:46 -0800

There are two new government programs to recruit doctors to northern Ontario. The first will be providing grants to doctors and new medical grads who agree to practice in the north or highly rural communities. In making the announcement in Thunder Bay Health Minister Deb Matthews says it replaces the Under serviced Areas Program which she says wasn't working anymore As well Matthews announced a program that allows graduates to practice for five years in any Ontario community except Toronto and Ottawa. In return they get postgraduate training opportunities

Hampton on Throne Speech

Andrea — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:00:43 -0800

Kenora Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton would like to see better first nation consultation when it comes to developing Northern Ontario's Ring of Fire. Hampton says its great that the Government has mentioned the sizeable resource, but notes not one first nation community has been consulted. Hampton adds marketing and selling our clean water technology is a good idea in theory, but notes the countries that need it can't afford to buy it.

Dryden Police Busy

Andrea — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:59:15 -0800

In Early morning hours of Wednesday Dryden Police were called to a local hotel with reports of a domestic dispute. There was no assault as a result of the incident, however police have a Sioux lookout women in custody when she was found to be on conditions not to consume alcohol and to abide by a curfew. She attended bail court in Dryden. Also appearing in bail court was a Keejic Bay man following a domestic assault on March 7. Officers responded to a call from a local womens shelter, after a female there reported an assault by her partner. The 28 yr old man was taken into custody.

Shoplifters in Dryden

Andrea — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:57:56 -0800

A Busy week for Dryden Police with 2 shoplifting incidents. On march 5 officers were called to a local grocery store, where staff had detained a 21yr old female from Dryden. The women has been charged with theft under 5000 dollars, and is now prohibited from entering the store. The total value of items stolen was about 25 dollars. Officers were called to a downtown clothing store on Monday afternoon in regard to a theft from the store. A staff member had followed the 17yr old youth and jewelry valued at about 15 dollars was recovered. The youth has been charged with theft under 5000 dollars, and will appear in Dryden court on April 12th to answer to the charge.

Sioux Council Member Resigns to Take Airport Job

BGW — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:19:20 -0800

Sioux Lookout Municipal Councilor Ben Hancharuk has resigned his seat on Council to accept a position as the Assistant Manager of the Sioux Lookout Airport. The appointment was announced in a press release from Sioux Lookout CEO Merline Dewing. Dewing notes that Hancharuk brings considerable experience with the Airport Commission and in the aviation field and is a highly respected member of the community, making him the perfect fit for the airport's business plan

Thunder Bay Man faces child porn charges

Andrea — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:17:54 -0800

A 61-year-old Thunder Bay man is among thirty-five people across Ontario who face new child pornography charges. Michael Daniel Bewyck was charged with a count of accessing child pornography in a coordinated probe by provincial police and several municipal police services. In all a total of 122 charges were laid after police executive 44 search warrants. Two child victims were been identified.

Aboriginal week at Lakehead U

Andrea — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:16:36 -0800

There's a call for special subsidies for Aboriginal university students in the province. Brent Kelso the organizer of Aboriginal week activities at Lakehead University says it's important to have well educated native youth. He says this way they can be prepared confront the new economic development that is taking place in the north Kelso's call comes at LU celebrates Aboriginal Week.