Local lottery winner

An 18 year old city girl is 75 thousand dollars richer after winning in a scratch lottery game called It's a Wonderful Life.   Shyra Bannon-Neault says she plans to buy some nice Christmas gifts for the family and then buy a new car.

Shipping drawing to a close

The 2011 shipping season in the Port of Thunder Bay is winding down. Port Authority CEO Tim Heney says it'll extend a little later than most years.  He says locks at the Welland Canal will close on December 30th and the Soo Locks in Sault St. Marie will close around January 7th.  Six ships are expected to arrive in port which will spend the winter here being repaired.

Union gas rates going down

A nice gift of savings for Union Gas customers in Northwestern Ontario. The Ontario Energy Board has approved changes to the price Union Gas charges its customers for natural gas. Local residential consumers who use 26-hundred cubic meters a year will pay about 28-dollars less per year. The changes go into effect January 1st. Lower natural gas prices in North America are credited for the drop in price.

Local lawyer involved in proposed harassment suit

A Thunder Bay lawyer is getting involved in a proposed class action lawsuit claiming sexual harassment against the RCMP.  Sandy Zaitzeff says he's part of the process because of a local connection to the case.  He says a Thunder Bay resident who used to work for the RCMP in British Columbia years ago came to him after the first news reports of sexual harassment at the force first surfaced.

Mayor Brown doesn't like comparison

The Mayor of Atikokan says he's not sure why his community is being used as a comparison with the financial spending of troubled Attawapiskat First Nation.  A published report notes Atikokan's operating budget to be a third of the remote Northern community.  Dennis Brown says it's difficult to compare budgets since Atikokan doesn't have all of the same financial responsibilities as Attawapiskat.

OPP holiday RIDE stats

The number of impaired driving charges are up so far during the seasonal RIDE campaign.  The OPP in Northwestern Ontario say they have laid 31 impaired driving charges in the first three weeks of their holiday blitz.  That's up from 29 for the same period last year.  There were also five three-day suspensions issued, compared to just one in 2010.  There have also been 260 motor vehicle accidents investigated with seven involving alcohol.

3-thousand goes towards hockey tournaments

The Police Services Board is going to be putting some money towards a couple of hockey tournaments this winter.  The board is providing 1-thousand 500 dollars towards the Crime Stoppers hockey game on February 28th.  An additional 1-thousand 500 dollars is being used to put on the Law Enforcement Cub on January 20th.

Police buying Smart Board

Thunder Bay Police are spending 12 thousand dollars in money they seized from proceeds of crime.  The money will go towards buying a smart board.  The board will be used to improve the police services' crime mapping software.

Seized funds go towards E-ticketing system

City Police are using almost 19 thousand dollars in seized money to purchase an E-ticketing system. Chief JP Levesque says the project will get underway in the New Year. The ticket system is more accurate and will help keep officers out of the court room and free them up to do more police work.

Hobbs first meeting back on Police Board

It was Mayor Keith Hobbs first meeting back with the Police Services Board.  Chief JP Levesque says it was a productive meeting.  He adds they have a good working relationship and doesn't see that changing anytime soon.

Man in Motion nixes Thunder Bay visit

Rick Hansen isn't coming to Thunder Bay after all. The Man in Motion's 25th Anniversary relay will not include Hansen himself. City official Doug Henry says they found out about a month ago he wasn't coming.  Henry says the city will continue with it's official celebration with a anniversary run through the city January 8th

Inflation drops in Thunder Bay

The cost of living in Thunder Bay is down for the month of November. According to government figures from Statistics Canada the rate fell to 2.6 per cent from 3 per cent in October.  Across the country the rate held steady at 2.9 per cent

2012 Police Service Budget 34 million dollars

Thunder Bay Police Services is increasing its 2012 budget by four percent.  Chief JP Levesque says the operating budget is pegged at just over 34 million dollars.  Wage increases and benefits went up by 1 million 38-thousand dollars. Council will get it's first look at the budget January 31st.

November border stats and stories

The Pigeon River border continues to be an entry point for many immigrants hoping to come to Canada.   The November statistics show that the Canadian Border Services Agency conducted just over 100 immigration examinations. Out of those 2 people were refused entry because of a criminal background and other issues.  20 were issued immigration documents.  The same agency report shows a couple of Canadian gun collectors failed to declare a antique flintlock rifle when coming into Canada.   The travellers claimed to have only been away from the country for 1 day and made a 10 dollar purchase.

Cats open anniversary season on the road

The Northwoods League 2012 schedule shows the Thunder Bay Border Cats will open their 10th anniversary season on the road Wednesday, May 30th, in Alexandria against the Beetles. The Cats will kick off the season with a five game road trip with a pair of games in Alexandria and a three game series in Rochester against the Honkers. The Cats home opener is set for Monday, June 4th, at 7:05 p.m. at Subway Field at Port Arthur Stadium against Alexandria

Comfort Keepers holiday tips

Don't forget to keep the senior members in your family busy during the holiday season.  That's the message of Comfort Keepers, Spokesperson Lynn Burke says the holidays can some times be hard on our elderly relatives. Burke says playing cards and playing brain teaser games with family members is a good way to involve senior family members.

Home for the Holidays Reception

The City is playing host to over 100 health care professionals and students at a special reception.  Organizer Cheryl Armstrong says they want to make a good impression on health care students home for the holidays.  Armstrong adds the reception is a chance for the professionals and the students to mingle and talk about working in Thunder Bay.

New City Solicitor

The City has a new legal adviser.  Nadia Koltun will start in January and replaces Rosalie Evans who is on a year sabbatical.  Koltun has more than 30 years of experience in municipal law.