Monday, January 28, 2013

Teachers College Disciplines Local Principal

The Ontario College of Teachers is disciplining the former Principal of Algonquin Avenue Public School.  In a letter to the College of Teachers, the Lakehead Public School board alleged that Andrea Morency mismanaged money from an Anti-poverty fund and didn't provide proper receipts.  It's also alleged that she used school money to purchase items through a gift registry for a friend's wedding shower.  As part of the disciplinary action, Morency has agreed not work at a teaching job for nine months, and refrain from assuming any financial responsibilities for at least 2 years.

NAN Wants To Work With Wynne

The Nishnawbe Aski Nation is looking forward to working with Premier Designate Kathleen Wynne.  Grand Chief Harvey Yesno wants to see the Premier's Office work with First Nations on resource development investments and establish an agreement on resource revenue sharing.

Flu Outbreak In Nipigon

Thunder Bay's Health Unit is declaring an influenza A outbreak in the Nipigon Hospital's Long Term Care unit.  Admissions, transfers, discharges and social activities at the facility have been cancelled until further notice.  Visitors are restricted to family members and caregivers only.

Hyer First Question Since Tongue Surgery

Today is the first day back for Members of Parliament.  It was also MP Bruce Hyer's first question after his tongue cancer surgery.  Hyer received applause after standing up in the legislature.  The Independent used his question to talk about the Northern Gateway Pipeline.  Hyer is supposed to be resting but he didn't want to give up his speaking time during Question Period.

Sizeable Drug Bust In Fort Hope

Nishnawbe-Aski Police continue to crack down on drug traffickers.  Four people have been arrested after they were caught trying to smuggle drugs into the remote community of Fort Hope.  Police say the arrests stem from four separate investigations.  In total, officers seized 11-thousand dollars worth of marijhuana and over 10-thousand dollars worth of oxycodone.

Police Warn Of Traffic Delays

Thunder Bay Police want to let motorists know there may be traffic delays around City Hall this afternoon.  Idle No More will be walking to and from City Hall starting at 4. Thunder Bay Police, Naps, APS, and OPP will be present to provide a safe environment for the community and participants while traveling along the designated route.

Energy Task Force Continues To Lobby For Power Plant

The City's energy task-force continues to lobby the Provincial Government over plans to close the local generating station.  The group held a meeting today to discuss the next steps after their meeting last week with representatives of the Power Authority and Energy Minister.  Councillor Iain Angus says they're asking local residents to get involved in their plea to keep the plant open.  Angus says if the plant is closed there could be rolling power outages.

Hobbs Likes Wynne Win

Thunder Bay's Mayor Keith Hobbs says Kathleen Wynne's election to Liberal Leader will be beneficial to Northwestern Ontario.  Hobbs says Wynne understands the region like former candidate Glen Murray did.  Hobbs likes that she is up to speed on many of Thunder Bay's issues and says they won't have to educate her.

Con. College CampTV launched

Confederation College now has its own web based radio station. Camptv.ca was launched today and students of the Television Broadcast Production Program will be broadcasting on the site.  Students from the Film Production and Multimedia programs will also be producing content for the station.

LU Prof Back From Forestry Conference

A Lakehead University Professor is back from a National Forestry Conference.  The conference focused on getting First Nation and Municipalities involved in managing and using area forests. Dr. Peggy Smith says they've decided to form a national policy network to look at community forestry programs. Smith says they'll continue to work towards creating the network in the coming months.

MTO Happy With Plow Service

The Ministry of Transportation admits there have been a couple of issues this winter, but feels the contractor assigned to plowing area highways is getting the job done.  Transfield Services took over the responsibility of highway maintenance last summer.  Wayne Prystanski is the MTO's operations manager for the northwest, and says the Ministry is so far satisfied.  Several people believe the level of services hasn't been the same.

Gravelle Excited" About Wynne Lead Government

Michael Gravelle says he is willing to serve a Kathleen Wynne government in anyway she sees fit.  The Natural Resources Minister says however he wouldn't mind staying on in cabinet if that's what the premier designate wants.  Gravelle says he is exited about Wynne's victory at the Liberal leadership convention, even though he was supporting Sandra Pupetello.

White Receives Queen's Medal

A Kakabeka Falls woman is now the proud recipient of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee medal.  Donna White is well known for her volunteer work with World Vision Canada and is responsible for over 200 children being sponsored.  Supporters also say she has raised thousands of dollars for the organization throughout the year. 

Crime Of The Week

CrimeStoppers and the Greenstone O.P.P. are asking for your help in solving a break and enter that occurred at a vacant outpost on upper Laponen Lake. Sometime between September 19th and November 19th last year, some unknown persons went into the Mackay Lake camps and stole approximately 25-hundred worth of goods.  Stolen were the following items: two aluminum boats, oars, anchors, electric water pump, freezer, handcrafted household furniture and a shop vac. Anyone with information about who may be responsible for this theft or the whereabouts of the stolen property is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Mauro Confident In Wynne

Kathleen Wynne
Bill Mauro is expressing confidence that the north is in good hands with Kathleen Wynne leading the province.  The Thunder Bay MPP, who supported Sandra Pupatello in the Liberal leadership race, says Wynne has the broad experience from municipal affairs to education,  to make it work
Mauro says he wasn't surprised by Wynne's victory.

Mild Trembler On North Shore

On the north shore they are still talking about Friday's earthquake.  An official with Earthquakes Canada confirms that a magnitude 2.3 trembler was centred 67 kilometres west of Terrace Bay and about 27 kilometres from Lake Nipigon.     While it was too small to cause any damage it can be felt by people living nearby.