Vote for Port Arthur Stadium

With a click of the mouse you can help support Port Arthur Stadium in their quest to become Canada's Favourite Ballpark.  The final round of voting in the Baseball Canada competition starts Tuesday at noon. Voting continues for two weeks and wraps up on September 6th.  To vote click here.

Hobbs takes part in AMO conference

Thunder Bay will be joining discussions Tuesday in London about the heads and bed levy.  Mayor Keith Hobbs says they want to see an increase in the levy by 80 percent.  Municipalities receive the levy in lieu of property taxes for universities, colleges, hospitals and correctional facilities.  The discussion is part of the Association of Municipalities conference being held in London, Ontario this week.

OPP Bouncer Blitz

The OPP are releasing more information about their security guard and bouncer blitz. Detective Sgt. Rick LePage says in Thunder Bay 105 charges were laid. In Kakabeca Falls, nine charges were laid for failing to wear a uniform. LePage says they charged bouncers working at night clubs and businesses that sell the services of security guards.

PC's feel confident in NWO

The Ontario Progressive Conservatives are predicting they will do well in northern Ontario in the next provincial election.  Ken Zeise is president of the party and says they are very optimistic about making in-roads in this region.  Zeise says he's travelling across the north this week, meeting with party faithful, and gearing up for the October 6th election.

10-thousand towards Children's Wish

Thunder Bay's Children's Wish Foundation is 10 thousand dollars richer thanks to local Wendy's restaurants. Director George Badanai says all money raised goes directly towards fulfilling local kids wishes. The 25th  Children's Wish Charity Golf Tournament is on September 9th.

Conservatives nominate McKay

All the major parties in Kenora Rainy River have their candidates in place for the October 6th provincial election. The Conservatives are the latest party to select their candidate. Kenora City Councillor Rod McKay beat out Louis Roussin for the Tory nomination.

Bar owner ready to fight OPP Blitz

A Thunder Bay bar is getting ready to fight the results of an OPP bar blitz.  Co-owner of Shooters Tavern Paul Maybroda says officers charged some bouncers for not being licenced or for not wearing uniforms.  Maybroda says he will be helping his employees who were charged during their October 28th court date. 

No one hurt in fire

No one was hurt in a kitchen fire in an apartment building.  Thunder Bay Fire and Rescue are investigating the fire that happened yesterday afternoon just after 5 o'clock at 273 Pioneer Drive.  Crews managed to keep the damage to the kitchen of one of the units.

Libyan rebels have entered Tripoli

Rebels have stormed the capital of Libya and according to Lakehead University Political Science expert Laure Paquette its only a matter of time before the civil war ends.  Paquette says rebels are storming Moamar Gadhafi's compound and it'll likely be chaos until he is found and arrested or killed.

Forest fire situation

Seven new fires have been reported in the last 24 hours with approximately 80 active fires burning in the Northwest region. People from across Canada and the United States are in Ontario supporting the fire fighting effort. A total of 433 people are assisting with our current fire situation. Over 600 thousand hectares of forest have burned to date this year.

Fire Ban in Thunder Bay

A fire ban has been put on the city by Thunder Bay Fire and Rescue Service. All fire permits are cancelled until further notice. Firefighters blame low water pressure and the dry weather the reason for the recent ban.

NWO mining company fined

Premier Gold Mines has been fined 25-thousand dollars for constructing water crossings on Crown land without a permit.  Court heard that last October a company representative spoke with the Ministry of Natural Resources about a planned project in the Fly Lake area, northeast of Ear Falls.  The MNR advised the company that it would need a permit before conducting the work, however officials soon discovered that work had started prior to the permit being issued.  The Company voluntarily conducted remediation work in the areas where the stream crossings were built.

Green Party leader visits T.Bay

The leader of the Provincial Green Party is paying a visit to Thunder Bay Saturday.  Mike Schreiner is speaking with party faithful today and will throw his support behind local candidates Scot Kyle and Russ Aegard.  Schreiner likes his party's chances in the coming election and notes most of today's jobs are green.

AbitibiBowater saves dinero

Thunder Bay's AbitibiBowater pulp and paper mill is reducing its electricity costs.  Thunder Bay Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro says the company will be able to see cost savings thanks to two government programs.  The local mill will save about 25 to 30 million dollars a year.  Mauro says the programs are already in effect for the local mill.

4 vehicle accident at Simpson and Robertson

No one is hurt after a four vehicle accident Friday afternoon.  The chain reaction crash occurred shortly after 12:30 in the Robertson and Simpson Street area.  A witness at the scene says the accident may have been the result of one or more of the drivers being distracted by a pedestrian in a wheelchair who fell over after hitting a sidewalk pothole.

Conservatives vote in Kenora Rainy River

All the major parties will have their candidates in place in the Kenora-Rainy River Riding after this weekend. The Conservatives will select their candidate tomorrow after a travelling ballot box makes stops in Fort Frances, Dryden and Kenora. Two Kenora City Councillors are duking it out for the position.

Watermain break at Marina Park

The City is putting an outdoor water use ban in effect because of a watermain break in Marina Park.  Residents are also being asked to limit all non-essential water use until repairs can be made to the system.  Water is being redirected and it may result in discoloured water in some areas.

Facebook campaign against prescription drugs

A Thunder Bay resident has launched a Facebook page trying to raise money and awareness about prescription drug abuse. Lyle Fox is walking from Sioux Lookout to Thunder Bay starting August 22nd. Fox wants to have an impact on First Nation students who will be attending high school in the City.

Police arrest 15 year old girl

Thunder Bay Police have a 15 year old girl in custody after a vehicle was taken without permission.  Police say the girl took her uncle's car without permission just before 3 o'clock this morning.  Officers found the vehicle and 6 youth fled the scene.  The girl was arrested and is facing charges.

Severe Thunderstorm watch in effect

It won't be as bad as we thought but we could still see some thunderstorm activity today.  The string of thunderstorms that were moving up from the states have broken up but Environment Canada still has a severe thunderstorm watch in effect.

Bell holding a second public meeting

Bell Canada is listening to Thunder Bay residents after all.  The company is planning on holding another public consultation centre for the proposed John Street Road cell tower site.  A company official says they are looking at lower the site so flashing lights won't be needed. The date of the meeting hasn't been set.

OPP arrest 3 in drug bust

OPP in Manitouwadge have 3 people in custody after a drug bust.  Officers pulled over a vehicle Wednesday and found over 5 thousand dollars in drugs.  Two men from Montreal and a third man from Aurora Ontario have been arrested and are facing charges.

Inflation drops in Thunder Bay

Thunder Bay's inflation rate is tumbling with the rest of the country.  Our rate went from 3.7 percent in June to 2.9 percent last month.  That followed the national trend which fell to 2.7 percent.  

Plane accident near Marathon

One person is reported to be suffering only minor injuries after OPP say a small plane crashed outside of Marathon today. A report says the plane had just taken off from the Marathon Airport when the incident took place. Police say it forced the closure of Highway 17 for a couple of hours.

Landmark ruling on residential schools

Two First Nation schools in the Nishnawbe Aski Nation are now on a formal list of residential schools which makes former students eligible for government compensation. NAN Deputy Grand Chief Mike Metatawabin says it opens the door to more such claims and will have ramifications across the country.  Metatawabin calls it a landmark ruling.

Youth Council talks safety

A member of the Multicultural Youth Council is recommending a city wide curfew.  Spokesperson Martin Zhang  says secretly teens know it's for their own good.  The youth council feels more needs to be done to help keep the city's at risk teens safe.  Meanwhile, another member is starting an after school program for aboriginal boarding students who will be attending school in the city.  Members are also displeased with having their centre located next to a bar.  They feel it sets a bad example for their patrons.

Mayor heads to AMO on Monday

Thunder Bay has a number of meetings set up with ministers at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference.  City Manager Tim Commisso says they'll be speaking with nine different ministers.  The City will continue to push for Aboriginal Affairs to set up a regional office in Thunder Bay.  Mayor Keith Hobbs will attend as will Councillors Joe Virdiramo, Ken Boshcoff, and Iain Angus.

One beach open, one still closed

Good news for people who want to cool off this weekend.  The Health Unit has lifted the swimming bans at Boulevard Lake's main beach. Chippewa Park's main beach is still closed.

Local mental health expert lauds Rypien family

The untimely death of Rick Rypien of the NHL's Winnipeg Jets is creating a lot of talk about depression after it was revealed he struggled with it for a decade. Nancy Black of the Smith Clinic in Thunder Bay says it may help others to realize they aren't alone. She believes it's very courageous for the Rypien family to come forward and to make Rick's issues public.

The Environment is still important to people in Thunder Bay

A new study says the environment isn't as big of an issue in Canada as it used to be.  The consumer study saw 49 percent of people say the environment was very important down 11 percent from 2008, but EcoSuperior's Ellen Mortfield says Thunder Bay isn't following that trend.  She says 11 thousand people in Thunder Bay took part in EcoSuperior's Spring Up to Clean Up Program. Mortfield says she thinks the decline in interest has more to do with a lack of commitment from the Federal Government.

Planning for retirement isn't as easy as it used to be

Relying solely on a pension plan for your retirement isn't the way to go anymore.  That's the opinion of investment expert Blake Cameron who says the baby boomer generation retiring will put a strain on pension plans and already Stats Canada predicts there will be only 3 workers for every retiree by 2030.

Afghan war vets honoured

The Royal Canadian Legion is giving something back to Afghan war veterans in Thunder Bay Friday. Branch 5 president Rob Cutbush says they're holding an event at their Van Norman Street hall to welcome home the troops.

Tornado ranked as a zero

Environment Canada has released more details on Tuesday's tornado that touched down. Spokesperson Geoff Coulson says the tornado tracked roughly 80-kilometres from Oxdrift, north of the Dryden Airport and northeast between Lac Seul and Sioux Lookout. Coulson says the tornado is being rated as a zero event, which is the weakest on the tornado ranking scale. Coulson notes the time it took for the tornado to blow through was unusually long, but notes the exact length isn't known at this time.

Goodbye to US fire crews

More out-of-province fire crews are heading home today.  Fire crews from Minnesota and Michigan are being released from the fire lines, as the situation continues to ease in northwestern Ontario.  There are now just 81 forest fires burning across the region.

Winnipeg man found dead

The body of a missing 28 year old Winnipeg man has been found in Shoal Lake. Lucas Janz was last seen swimming on Sunday and failed to return to the camp he was staying at. OPP say Janz's body was found not far from the camp on Galt Island. A post mortem exam is taking place in Kenora today.

Syrian people are still on their own

Western Powers are following the US and are calling on Syrian President Bashar Assad to resign.  Lakehead University Political Science Expert Laure Paquette says this is likely as far as they will go unfortunately.  Paquette says despite the calls, she doesn't think Assad will step down.

Get ready for traffic woes on Golf Links Road

Get ready for a mess when you head down Golf Links Road.  Thunder Bay Hydro will be taking up a lane starting Monday to move power lines to make way for a widening of the road. Crews will take up the right lane from Fanshaw to the Harbour Expressway and the work is expected to take a month. 

Police lay charges after vehicle fires

A pair of teenagers are facing charges after 5 cars were burned to the ground.  Thunder Bay Police arrested the two yesterday morning after fires near two homes on Carl Avenue just after 3 o'clock.  The two boys are aged 17 and 18 years old.  

Scott Read is Northern Lights teacher

The Northern Lights Alternative school has its teacher.  They've hired Scott Read.  The group plans to showcase Read at it's "Meet the Teacher" event.  Parents of students will get to meet Read on Wednesday, August 31st.

Gravelle talks with OFL

Minister Michael Gravelle feels talks went well with the Ontario Federation of Labour.  Gravelle made a phone call to President Sid Ryan after injured workers occupied his office.  Gravelle says he's committing his support to moving forward on their concerns over workers compensation. 

New Chamber Chair

There's a new Chair of the board for the Chamber of Commerce.  Michael Nitz is assuming the role starting immediately.  Nitz is filling former Chair Justin Frape's shoes.

No partying in parks

Thunder Bay Police are cracking down on people hanging out in local parks after hours.  Spokesperson Chris Adams says they've received complaints of people partying in parks.  The latest you can stay in a park is 11 pm. If your caught in a park after hours, you'll be sent for a summons where you could face a potentially steep fine.

Cyclist not seriously hurt in collision

Police say a cyclist, involved in a mishap this morning,  is suffering only minor injuries.  They say the female was on a bike which came into collision with a pick up truck at the corner of River and Algoma at around 11:30.

West Nile in NWO

Northwestern Ontario has its first report of West Nile Virus positive mosquitoes.  The mosquitoes were found in a trap in the Fort Frances area.  Officials stress there has been no human cases reported.

Lawyer for accused killer mum on bail possibility

A Thunder Bay man, who is charged with 2nd degree murder in the death of his 61 year old wife, remains in custody. After a brief court appearance Wednesday, 63 year old John Robertson was ordered back September 17th. His lawyer George Joseph won't comment on the possibility he'll be making a bail application on behalf of his client . The body of Elaine Robertson was discovered in the couple's Oliver Road apartment in April.

Chief Simon Fobister welcomes decision in Grassy's favour

The Grassy Narrows First Nation is claiming victory in a court case involving clear cut logging activity on its traditional land-use terrritory north of Kenora. Justice Mary-Anne Sanderson released a 300 page decision yesterday which finds that the Government of Ontario does not have the power to take away the rights in Treaty 3 by authorizing development including logging and mining. The decision ends a decade long battle against logging on Grassy. 

Two arrested after two vehicle fires

Thunder Bay Police have two people in custody after an early morning arson.  Officials say the two were arrested in connection to a pair of vehicles on fire on Carl Avenue just after 3 o'clock.  No one was hurt and shortly after that another 3 vehicles were on fire just down the street.

ATV accident claims life

Tragedy in the Rainy-River area.  A 10-year-old boy is dead following an Off-Road vehicle crash.  OPP say the boy was operating an ATV on a private property in Dawson Township.  Police say he lost control of the vehicle and struck a barbed wire fence and was ejected from the ATV.  He was transported to Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

EC confirms tornado

Environment Canada has confirmed that a tornado did touch down yesterday afternoon north of the Dryden Airport and in Sioux Lookout. Spokesperson Geoff Coulson says officials will be in the area to survey the damage. The length, width and strength of the twister is not known at this time.

Gravelle's office occupied

Injured workers are occupying Minister Michael Gravelle's Thunder Bay office.  Lakehead Labour Council President Melanie Kelso says they're demanding the provincial government take immediate action to alleviate the grinding poverty forced on working people.  Kelso wants workers compensation to become a provincial election issue.

Online fraud warning

Thunder Bay Police are warning people to be wary when using Kijiji, Auto Trader and eBay. Detective Constable Heidi Moore says they've received several complaints of counterfeit transactions. Local residents have posted items for sale and have been contacted by alleged buyers via email. The buyers offer the sellers more money than the item is worth and send counterfeit money orders. They ask the seller to send back a portion of the excess cash. Unfortunately the seller deposits the counterfeit money and is then responsible when the bank discovers the bogus transaction. Moore notes to always be cautious with buyers that offer you more money than your asking for.

Beaches closed in T.Bay

With warm temperatures this week, its not the news people wanting to cool off want to hear.  The Health Unit has issued a notice closing Boulevard Lake, Chippewa Park and Sunny Side beaches.  Recent water quality tests at the beach yielded higher than acceptable levels of E-coli bacteria.