Groups Get EA Grants

The Federal government is allocating more than 126-thousand dollars to four groups to allow them to participate in an environmental assessment of the proposed Goliath Gold project in the Wabigoon area.
Eagle Lake First Nation is getting more than 41-thousand dollars, while the Metis Nation of Ontario is welcoming 40-grand. The Aboriginal People of Wabigoon is seeing nearly 35-thousand dollars.
Wabauskang First Nation has received more than 10-thousand dollars.

Swimming Safe At Boulevard Again

Just in time for the weekend health officials are lifting the swimming advisory for Boulevard Lake.   It was imposed earlier this week after high e-coli bacteria levels were discovered.  However subsequent testing has shown the levels are not a concern anymore at any of Boulevard's three beaches.

Kenora Officer To Stand Trial

A Kenora OPP officer will have to stand trial on a charge of dangerous driving causing death. Constable Troy Bender was charged by the Special Investigations Unit last fall after the cruiser he was driving collided with a semi tractor trailer unit at the intersection of the Redditt Road and the Kenora By-pass on September 23rd, 2012. A prisoner in the back of the cruiser, 42 year old Gloria Assin, was killed in the collision
So far, no trial date has been set.

TBPS Officer Charged With Assault

A Thunder Bay police officer is being charged by the Special Investigations Unit. In May, the OPP brought a man into Thunder Bay Police custody where the SIU says Constable Andrew Johnstone used subsequent force with him. Johnstone is facing one charge of Assault and will be in Ontario Court of Justice on August 20th. .Meanwhile, Thunder Bay Police say Johnstone is on desk duty and isn't suspended.  He's been with the Police force for 9 years.

Woman Dies After Tuesday Collision

One person is dead as the result of Tuesday afternoon's traffic accident at Brock and Ford.  City police say 80 year old Ellinor Christiansen was a passenger in one of the two vehicles involved in the mishap.  They say she died Thursday morning in hospital.  Police say so far no charges have been laid, but they haven't finished the investigation. 

MNR Crews Out Of Province

The Ministry of Natural Resources is sending some of its fire crews out of province.  Twenty firefighters, along with support staff, are being dispatched to lend a hand in the Northwest Territories and Quebec.  There are 41 active fires in northwestern Ontario, the largest being an 11-thousand hectare blaze, 50 kilometres northwest of Red Lake.

Winnipeg Man Victim Of Fatality

OPP are releasing the name of the man who died in a collision on Highway 17 west of Ignace. 53 year old Cordell Majcher of Winnipeg was the driver of the pick up truck that hit a transport. Police are continuing to investigate the collision.

Treaty Three Speaks Out

The Treaty Three Police Service board has finally broken its silence surrounding its decision to close down the aboriginal police department.  A week after announcing the closure, the board has issued a press release saying government underfunding and not financial mismanagement were responsible for the decision.  The board says a number of factors played into their decision, including an arbitration ruling which gave the Treaty Three officer wage parity with the OPP.

Paxton Out On Bail

A 46 year old Thunder Bay man is due back in court next month on numerous sex related charges involving young boys.  Jeff Paxton is now free after a bail hearing in court yesterday.   Police say the charges stem from incidents that took place between 1983 and 2004.

March At Dilico Today

There's a move on to get both sides back to the bargaining table to end the strike at Dilico Anishinabek Family Care.  Tannis Smith runs an Aboriginal counselling agency in the city and says the strike is hurting families in the region.  Smith is organizing a protest in front of the Dilico offices on the Fort William First Nation at 10:30 this morning.