The City Searching For Answers

City officials say they're going to do what they can get get to the bottom of it. They want to know why Ontario Power Generation is suspending the conversion of the Mission Island power plant to natural gas. Councillor Joe Virdiramo says they are hoping to talk face to face with Energy Minister Chris Bentley. An emergency meeting was held at City Hall today to discuss the issue.

Motel Death In The Fort Suspicious

The death of a man in Fort Frances is being treated as suspicious. Provincial Police responded to a 911 call this morning from the Mid-Town Motel, where a man was found dead in one of the rooms. OPP are working under the direction of Detective Peter Loree of the Criminal Investigation Branch. The name of the dead man is not being released until family members are notified.

"Salties" Making A Comeback

The Port of Thunder Bay may be seeing the early benefits now that the Wheat Board grain monopoly has ended. Port Authority CEO Tim Heney says more ocean going ships, or salties, are coming to our port to load up with grain. He's hoping it's a trend.  Heney says so far this year, more ocean going vessels have visited the port then all of last year.

Mauro Attacks OPA Thinking

MPP Bill Mauro says he shares in the anger of community leaders over the decision to suspend the conversion of the Mission Island coal powered generating station. Mauro disagrees with the Ontario Power Authority claim that the region has a surplus of power and for suggesting the conversion to natural gas may not happen.  Mauro says he will do his best to make sure the conversion takes place as scheduled.

NOMA Fuming Over OPG Decision

Municipal leaders in Thunder Bay are outraged over the decision to suspend the natural gas conversion of the Ontario Power Generation coal plant on Mission Island. Ron Nelson, the president of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association, says he is so livid he can hardly contain himself. The association says the decision will put mining growth at risk in Northwestern Ontario.

Quebec Strike Could Affect Local Plant

Workers at a Quebec company that supplies the local Bombardier plant with parts for its Toronto subway cars, is on strike. Dominic Pasqualino is the union spokesperson for the workers at Bombardier and says if the strike drags on too long, it would have an affect at the local plant after they run out of metal sidewalls and roofs. Pasqualino says the local workers have enough supplies to last at least two weeks then there's the risk of a layoff.

Anti War Activist Leaves

Francis Thatcher

An American anti war activist is on his way home to Minneapolis after being fined 5 thousand dollars in Thunder Bay yesterday. Joe Callahan pled guilty to trying to sneak a Salvadoran couple into Canada at the Pigeon River Border Crossing. His lawyer Francis Thatcher says Callahan left this morning after being processed by border officials.  Callahan avoided jail time after the judge noted he already spend time behind bars.

Pedestrian Hit By School Bus

A young woman is now out of hospital after being struck by a school bus while walking this morning. Police were called to the intersection of Arthur Street and Parkdale Boulevard just after 7:30 a.m. The woman was apparently trying to cross while a school bus was turning left off of Arthur Street. A 64 year man, driving the bus has been charged with failing to yield for a pedestrian. The driver and the kids on the bus were not hurt but the woman had to be taken to hospital by ambulance with minor injuries.

Unemployment Rate Drops In October

Thunder Bay's unemployment rate is seeing another positive step in the right direction. The unemployment rate fell to 6.1 percent last month, dropping frm 6.3 percent in September. Meanwhile, the national unemployment rate remained unchanged at 7.4 percent with the creation of only 1,800 jobs across the country.

Firefighter Calendar Helps Juvenile Arthritis

The brand new firefighters calendar comes out Saturday. A launch party will be held starting at 4:00 o'clock at Reid's Countrywide Furniture where you can purchase the calendar for $15 with proceeds helping to fight juvenile arthritis. Arthritis Society spokesperson Shelley Graham says the disease can affect children as young as 18 months old and proceeds will help those in northwestern Ontario. Graham says the calendars sell for $15 or two for $25. A gift certificate is also available if you make a purchase at Reid's Saturday afternoon.

Firefighters Headed Back To Canada Malting Fire

City firefighters are heading back to Canada Malting on Maureen Street this morning. Additional fire crews have been sent to that location to help with a pellet fire that has been smouldering since Tuesday morning. The fire has never been declared out and firefighters are reporting a flare up in a bin that contains about tweny feet of pellet product. Crews have been monitoring the fire since Tuesday while workers tried to empty the bin but so far have been unsuccessful.

Lakehead U Ranks 2nd In MacLean's Survey

Lakehead University is ranked 2nd out of five universities in Ontario according to MacLean's magazine, which is out with its annual report card. Lakehead is 1st in Library Holdings Per Student, 2nd in in the province in the following categories: Student/Faculty Ratio, in Student and Faculty Awards, in Social Sciences & Humanities Grants, in Total Research Dollars, in Library Expenses and Acquisitions and in Operating Budget. L.U. did drop by one to 12th overall in Canada among 19 universities surveyed.

Thunderwolves Prepare For Busy Weekend

The Lakehead University men's hockey team is on the road this weekend and will play a pair of games against the Carleton Ravens tonight and tomorrow. The women's volleyball team is here at home against the McMaster Maurauders. Both teams are looking for their first win of the season. The first serve is set for 7:00 o'clock tonight and tomorrow at the Thunderdome. The women's basketball team is on the road for a pair of exhibition games against Bemidji State University. The women are 4-and-4 so far in pre-season play.