Vacancy rate in the city down this year

The rental market in Thunder Bay is getting a little tighter with news that the vacancy rate in the city is down according to Warren Philp of Canada Mortgage and Housing.   He says the rate for 2011 went down to 1.7 per cent compared to 2.2 per cent last year.  Philp says one of the reasons sited for the decline was fewer first timers getting into the home buying market

Building Permits boom in Thunder Bay

Thunder Bay continues to be a hot construction market.  Council saw a report on the 2011 season and it showed almost 230 million dollars worth of permits were handed out.  Councillor Marc Bentz says its a good sign and he expects the boom to continue next year.  Bentz did admit that much of the total came from large projects like the court house and the waterfront. 

Another international baseball tournament could be coming our way

The International Baseball Association is looking at 2015 for the next big tournament in Thunder Bay.  Executive Director Warren Philp says they are looking at a warm up tournament for the Pan Am games.  Philp says its unclear how locations for future World Junior Championships will be chosen in the future, so they are waiting to see what happens before looking at that tournament again.  Last night prior to the City Council meeting, the Thunder Bay International Baseball Association present Pro Kids Thunder Bay with a check for 5 thousand dollars and then gave council a final report on the 2010 World Junior Baseball Championships.

GTE Presents to Council

GTE Solar wants to keep council informed of what they have planned.  Company officials presented their plans to council and say they wanted to answer questions and wanted to make it clear that they want to keep the lines of communication open.  The company is hoping to build 3 Solar Parks in the area.

Warnex has been bought

Thunder Bay's 5 Warnex DNA Lab employees won't be going anywhere despite the company being acquired by a Southern Ontario firm.  Gamma Dynacare spokesperson Shelley Jourard says they acquired all Warnex assets and don't plan on making any staffing or service changes. 

Battery recycling program undeway

There's a new recycling option in Thunder Bay. You can now drop off your used household batteries at 5 different locations in the city. The program is a partnership with the Public Library.

New tech venture at the hospital

The Health Sciences Centre is partnering in a new technology venture with Cancer Care Ontario. Regional Vice President Michael Power says it involves software testing and has the potential to create over two dozen jobs.    Power says it's also an important step forward in the development of cancer tech services.

Delays for Atikokan pellet plant

It could be half a year before Thunder Bay businessman Ed Fukushima can launch a wood pellet manufacturing operation in Atikokan.  He says the plant can't begin production this year because they’re still working on contracts. He doesn’t want to get it going until they have those contracts in hand.  He says the delay will push the opening back 3 to 6 months.

Second fire, same address

No one is hurt following a fire at a north side house just before noon today. Platoon Chief Kim Hutch says the fire at 218 Manitou caused considerable damage to the rear of the 3 story wood frame building, but crews got everyone out safely. The cause is under investigation. It's the second fire at the same house in a week.

NAPS officer charged by OPP

The OPP has charged a member of the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service with selling drugs.  After a 10 month investigation, Detective Sergeant Brent Cadeau is charged with four counts of trafficking a controlled substance.  The 32 year old has been suspended since March.  Cadeau will appear in court in Sioux Lookout January 10th.

Westgate closes at noon

Westgate highschool is closing at noon. A watermain break on Walsh street has forced the school to close and students are being sent home early. Buses will be coming to pick up students at noon.

T.Bay hydro applies for rate decrease

Thunder Bay Hydro wants to lower your monthly bill.  Spokesperson Tim Wilson says they've applied to the Ontario Energy Board for a rate decrease.  If approved, residential customers will see their bill go down by $2 dollars and 17 cents.

Boshcoff's thoughts on Bombardier emergency

There'll be an analysis of how Friday's Bombardier emergency was handled by Thunder Bay Transit. Councillor Ken Boshcoff says he's heard some concerns over why bus passengers weren't told all buses were taken off the road to deal with the bomb threat.  Boshcoff suggests the automatic messaging system should have been updated to keep passengers informed.

T.Bay man in Edmonton Hospital

RCMP say a 23 year old Thunder Bay man suffered serious injuries after a car accident north east of Edmonton.  Police say the man's westbound car T-boned a north bound taxi at an intersection.  The local man's injuries are severe and he remains in Edmonton hospital.

Local Curling Results

Team McCarville is the Northern Ontario Women's Curling Champions. Krista McCarville's rink beat Tracy Horgan yesterday 9-7. Marlo Dahl's rink is the second qualifier for the All-Ontario's in Kenora. Dahl beat Sandra Lahti yesterday 8-4.

Federal Government gives update on Attawapiskat

High efficiency wood stoves, composting toilets, and plastic sheeting have arrived in Attawapiskat.  The supplies were flown in Saturday according to a Federal Government press release.  The Federal Government has also purchased an additional seven modular homes bringing the total up to 22.

Local Sports

Thunder Bay North Stars beat Duluth a second night in a row last night 10 to 2.  In the Ontario Women's Provincial Curling Championships, Thunder Bay's Ashley Kallos fell to Tracy Horgan 7-6. Laura Pickering beat Sandra Lahti 10-5. Krista McCarville defeated Louise Logan 11-5.

Cocaine Bust on First Nation

A search of a Moose Cree First Nation home payed off for the Combined Forces Organized Crime Unit.  Police sezied 91-grams of cocaine worth an estimated 14-thousand, 600-dollars.  Officers also found over 13-thousand dollars in cash, 29-firearms, 18-bottles of alcohol as well as drug paraphernalia and communication devices.  Four people from Moose Factory face numerous charges. The ages of the accused range from 27 to 65.

Riverside Health in Rainy River has plan

Riverside Health Care Facilities says it's prepared to deal with possible closures of the emergency room at Rainy River Health Centre.  But CEO Wayne Woods says the main focus is still trying to get continue assistance for the town's lone full-time physician.  The hospital has been relying on locum doctors since July and will have assistance through to the first week of January.

Local Sports Scores

Thunder Bay's North Stars defeated the Duluth Clydesdales 6-2 at the Fort William Gardens Friday night. 3 Thunder Bay rinks are in action Saturday at the Northern Ontario Women's Provincial Championships in Copper Cliff, Ontario. Krista McCarville beat fellow T.Bay'er Ashley Kallos 11-7 Friday night. McCarville plays again today at 9:30.