Thursday, February 7, 2013

PJP Breakfast Program Gets Funding

The breakfast program at Pope John Paul II school is getting a
shot in the arm.

The Nutella Breakfast Table Fund has announced that it has awarded grants to 20 breakfast programs across the country.

PJP will be getting a thousand dollars to help with the on-going expenses
of the school based breakfast program.

Nutella says it received over 400 applications this year.

KDMA Conference Begins Today in Dryden


Municipal leaders from across the Kenora district converge on Dryden starting today for their annual conference.

Kenora District Municipal Association President Phil Vinet says the focus is on three themes this year.

Vinet says the 3-day gathering will be interactive and informative.

Officials with the Ontario Power Authority, Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines will be among those in attendance.

More Forensic Testimony Presented At Murder Trial


Two days have been spent going over some of the forensic evidence collected in the second degree murder trial of Kenneth Ivall.

Constable Marc Sharpe was on the stand again yesterday.

He says they collected a number of pieces of clothing from an apartment
in Norman that was shared with Ivall and Angela Duchesne.

Sharpe says a pair of shoes, a leather jacket, a black hoodie, a pair of jeans
and a blue knit sweat shirt were seized and sent to the Center For Forensic
Science in Toronto for testing.

He says they all showed DNA belonging to Ed Wilson.

Sharpe adds that some of the articles of clothing appeared to have been
laundered, but they still managed to collect DNA evidence from them.

More forensic evidence is expected to be presented today.

OSSTF Comes Out with Aboriginal Curriculum Materials


Embracing First Nations, Metis and Inuit culture in the classroom.

The Ontario Secondary School Teacher's Federation has developed a new curriculum resource that focuses on the history, culture and issues facing Aboriginals.

It's called  "Full Circle: First Nations, Métis and Inuit Ways of Knowing".

Director of Education with the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board Jack McMaster says it's a great thing for Northwestern Ontario, where there is a large First Nation population in area schools.

The curriculum consists of more then 60 lesson plans.

Domtar Reacts to MPAC Ruling

Domtar officials say the assessment reflects downsizing at the Dryden Mill between 2008 and 2012.

The company stresses the ruling will help them compete in the market.

The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation says the ruling is based on hearings, reviews and deliberations over a 2-year period.

The City of Dryden is looking at a possible appeal of the ruling.

MPAC says the value of the Domtar property in Dryden is worth 14 million dollars, that much less
than the 36 million anticipated by the city in its budget forecast.

Highway 17 Near White River Re-Opens


No injuries are reported after a transport overturned on Highway 17 overnight.

Ontario Provincial Police say the crash happened around 11:30 last night, about 20-kilometres west of White River.

The crash forced the closure of the Trans-Canada for about 4 hours.

No one was injured and charges are pending.

Deadline to Enter Hockey For Health Tournament Nears


Calling all hockey players.

The annual hockey for health 3 on 3 hockey tournament is still looking for teams.

Organzier Dean Caron says the event has just over half the spots filled.

Deadline for registration is February 15th.

Teams can register by contacting Dean at 548-3070.