Debate set to go

The election rhetoric is likely to heat up tonight at the Community Auditorium.  It's the first of two debates for local candidates in the October 6th provincial election.  Tonight it will be the candidates in Thunder Bay-Atikokan squaring off, taking questions from the media panel which includes our Vic Krasowski along with questions from the audience.   It begins at 7 o'clock

Police officers remember the fallen

John Kuznier's police hat

Police officers in Thunder Bay are part of a Canada wide contingent that marched yesterday to remember fallen comrades. City Police Chief J. P. Levesque says the parade commemorated the 3 officers who died in Canada over the last year.  The annual event is also a chance to pay tribute to John Kuznier the only city officer to die in the line of duty.

McDonald's honours scholarship winner

Another local McDonald's employee is basking in the glow of a 10 thousand dollar scholarship from the company.   Adena Goral is a nursing student at Lakehead University who was formally presented with the scholarship on Saturday at the Arthur Street restaurant.

Mayor impressed with debate

Mayor Keith Hobbs was impressed with the answers from both party leaders at the Northern Ontario Leaders Debate. Hobbs says despite the no-show from the Premier a good discussion was had. All three leaders will take place in a televised debate this week in Toronto.

United Way researches youth

The United Way wants to help local youth meet their potential. That's why they launched a research report asking youth what they want to see changed. Spokesperson Sandra Albertson says the findings will be used by the City's Youth Strategy Committee. The report points out youth need activities in their community hubs since they can't afford bus passes.

Council listens to project manager

City Council is going to hear about the mining potential in the area. John Mason is the City's Mining Services Project Manager and says he's been busy over the past four months. Mason says he would like to see a trade show brought to the city this winter to generate business in Thunder Bay. The Economic Development Commission hired Mason back in June.

Nipigon Fire Chief victim of fatal accident

The chief of the Nipigon Fire Department is dead following a traffic accident near the community Saturday night. Roy Cross was the victim of a single vehicle mishap on Highway 11-17, two kilometres west of Nipigon. Thunder Bay Fire Chief John Hay calls the death a big loss for the fire community in Northwestern Ontario calling him a good chief and a close friend and family man. Funeral arrangements are pending

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Man charged with impaired driving

One man has been charged with impaired driving after hitting a pole with his vehicle. Thunder Bay Police say it occurred Saturday night on Hilldale road. There were no injuries reported.

Officers National Memorial day service

A memorial Service to honour men and women of the force who died in the line of duty is today. The service is part of Police and Peace Officer's National Memorial Day. A march will take place from the Provincial Court house to the service at St Paul's Church.

Residential school survivors frustrated

The head of the Residential Schools Commission says some survivors are frustrated because they can't get papers needed to back up their claim. Justice Murray Sinclair says its because many government and church documents may have been destroyed. The deadline was Monday for the so-called common experience payment which recognizes the impact of living at a residential school. Sinclair says those who didn't file by the deadline are out of luck.

Pet problem

Thunder Bay's Humane Society says a Toronto City Council's move to eliminate the sale of dogs and cats from mills will spread here.  Executive Director Mariane Kleynendorst says while the Toronto move focuses on pet stores, the problem here is the sale of pets over the web. 

Walmart makes announcement

On the heals of Target's talk of acquiring Zellers' stores in the City; Walmart is making an announcement of it's own. The company is acquiring the lease agreements for County Fair and the Arthur Street Marketplace.

Northern Debate in the history books

It was a showdown between the NDP and PC Leaders at the first ever Northern Debate.  Andrea Horwath and Tim Hudak tackled issues from the Ring of Fire to the Far North Act.  Horwath promises a bigger voice for the North at Queen's Park.  Hudak promises that P-C members from the North will also be heard by him.  Premier Dalton McGuinty did not participate.

Dalton's Chicken

The absence of Premier Dalton McGuinty drew criticism from hecklers outside of the Northern Ontario Leaders Debate. Kaministiqua Resident Pete Lang brought a chicken to the debate claiming it was the Premier's. 

Police in Sioux Lookout make a drug bust

Police in Sioux Lookout have made another drug bust.  Officers arrested a 30 year old man from Toronto after they found a large quantity of Oxy Contin and Cocaine worth 34 thousand dollars.

McGuinty is drawing mixed feelings for his Northern Debate no show

A few hecklers showed up to the Northern Ontario Leaders debate to send a message to the absent Premier.  One man from Kaministiquia had a very unique message to send that included some live props.

Meanwhile, Dalton McGuinty's absence from the debate makes sense according to Lakehead University Economics Professor Livio Di Matteo.  He says there wasn't much to gain by coming considering a major gaffe could hurt him in the vote rich GTA while it's likely most voters here have already made up their minds.  

Fate of local Zellers stores still unknown

The Target Corporation has now finalized the lease purchases of the 84 Canadian Zeller's stores including the ones at County Fair Plaza and the Thunder Bay Mall. However,  Target spokesperson Amy Reilly says that doesn't mean they'll be turned into Target stores.  She says up to 29 of the stores on Friday's list will potentially become Target locations, the rest will be sold to other retailers or back to the landlords.So far only the Zellers store at the Intercity Mall will definitely become a Target location.

OPSEU goes to bat for sacked part-timers

Three former part time workers at Confederation College are upset after they were let go for not crossing the picket lines during the college strike. Richard Belleau  of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union says they have tried to get the workers their jobs back.  Two of them are in Fort Frances the other in Thunder Bay.

Hobbs favours legalizing pot

Thunder Bay Mayor Keith Hobbs is being singled out after saying he favours the legalization of marijuana.  His thoughts are revealed on a blog by the Canadian band Hollerado when they visited with the mayor during their stop in the city a week ago.

Fire cause to go as undetermined

It appears that the cause of this week's fire on Sherbrooke Street may never be known. The blaze tore through a duplex causing extensive damage but no injuries.  Investigators are reported to have probed the scene without being able to narrow down what started the fire.