OPP find suspicious package

OPP in Marathon are dealing with a suspicious package.  Officials say they got a call from a resident Sunday about an unknown package inside a package.  Officers called in the Explosives Disposal Unit and they found the package to be safe. 

Thunder Bay murder trial underway

The Michael Kelly murder trial is underway in a Thunder Bay courtroom.  The 64 year old Alberta resident is charged in the death last decade of 57 year old JudieThibault of Thunder Bay.  In his opening statement to the jury Crown Attorney Dan Mitchell outlined the prosecution's case.  Mitchell  tells the jury the evidence is largely circumstantial, however he says it will tell the story of an undercover police operation and show that a bullet was removed from Thibault's head after her body was found wrapped in a carpet in the bush near Dorion in 2004.   The opening statement is not considered evidence. 

Lost time at Lakehead

The Lakehead Public School Board is seeing improvements in the number of at work accidents they see in a year.  Spokesperson Rick Molloy says they had 20 lost time incidents with staff in 2011.  Most of the accidents were due to falling or straining due to heavy lifting.

Driven to Quit

Quit smoking and you could win a car.  The Canadian Cancer Society has launched its annual “Driven to Quit Challenge.”  Quit Coach and former Phys-Ed teacher Dr. Jim Morris says he's been working with his former high school students.  To be eligible for the contest you need to stop smoking for the month of March.

Police looking for escapees

Police are on the lookout for a young man who escaped custody from the Jack McGuire facility yesterday afternoon.  The 16 year old was wearing a black sweater two pairs of pants and has short cropped hair.  A second 15 year old who also fled the facility was caught and will be held for video court today.

Aboriginal program funding

The City's Urban Aboriginal Strategy is looking for some more money from City Council.  The proposed 2012 budget already includes 125-thousand dollars for their cause, but an additional 25-thousand is being requested.  The money if approved would be used to continue their Action Circle Coordinator position.  The money won't be approved until Council tackles the 2012 budget.

Walsh Street Contract

Thunder Bay City Council is awarding a 2.2 million dollar contract to Makkinga Contracting.  The contract is part of the ongoing reconstruction of Walsh Street.  City Councillors spent the evening grilling members of administration about the cost of the project.

New ATU President talks to Council

The new President of the Amalgamated Transit Union is throwing her support behind a central location for a proposed bus terminal.  Sheila Kivisto spoke to City Council Monday night and says they're still working on finding a way to make routes faster.  Kivisto notes they are pushing to locate the main terminal at the Lakehead Labour Centre across from the Intercity mall.

Peninsula Harbour to be cleaned up

The federal and provincial governments along with Ball Packaging are joining together to clean up Lake Superior.  Natural Resources Minister Michael Gravelle says they've agreed to begin cleaning up Peninsula Harbour near Marathon this spring. The location has been designated a pollution hotspot for decades. It was the site of a pulp and paper mill.

Sharp out for 3-4 weeks

A slash in last night's Chicago Detroit game has landed Thunder Bay's Patrick Sharp on the injured list.  The Blackhawks coaching staff say Sharp will be out for 3-4 weeks with an upper body injury. 

Foulds is setting his sights on infrastructure

The City's infrastructure deficit must be addressed but not at the cost of cutting services.  That's the opinion of Councillor Andrew Foulds who says infrastructure effects every aspect of city life.  That being said Foulds believes services are a type of infrastructure.

Pyatt signs 2 year extension

Good news for Thunder Bay's Tom Pyatt.  According to a Twitter report by TSN's Bob McKenzie Tampa has locked up Pyatt to a 2 year contract extension.  The deal is reportedly one way and worth 600 thousand per year.

Mac's employee speaks out

A Mac's Convenience Store employee remains concerned about the safety of fellow workers. Larry Larivee was a clerk who had a knife held to his throat during one of last year's 26 store robberies in the city. He believes more needs to be done to protect his fellow workers and he's taken it upon himself to call for more changes to security at the local stores.    Mac's officials have not returned our call for a comment.

Kelly murder trial starts this week

The jury selection process is underway in a city murder trial.  Sixty four year old Michael Earl Kelly is charged with First Degree Murder in the death last decade of 57 year old Judy Thilbeault.   The Thunder Bay woman disappeared in November of 2000 but her remains weren't found until four years later in the Dorion area.   It wasn't until 2010 that Kelly, an Alberta resident, was arrested and charged.   The trial before Justice John Wright is to get underway Tuesday morning and last about 3 weeks.

Dorion worried about fire fighting bill

Canadian Pacific Rail is hoping to ease the fears of the community of Dorion. The Reeve is worried the company won't pay for a seven thousand dollar bill for fire fighting by the Ministry of Natural Resources.  A company spokesperson says if they're found to be at fault for the fire they'll pay. Dave Harris says they'll be submitting the MNR's bill as well as their own from the municipal fire department.

NDP candidate in T.Bay

A hopeful in the Federal NDP leadership race will be in the City tonight.  B.C. MP Nathan Cullen is holding a meet and greet at the Madhouse Tavern this afternoon and then another event in the evening for party faithful.  An NDP all candidates debate will be held in Sudbury in February.

Police track stolen phone

Thunder Bay Police were kept busy tracking a stolen cell phone Sunday night.  Officers tracked the cell phone and caught three young offenders in a stolen vehicle.  Police say the young offenders used the vehicle to drive around the City to commit break and enters.  The trio are charged with possession of stolen property over 5-thousand dollars and breaching their young offender court orders.

Museum gets money

Thunder Bay's Museum is using 106-thousand dollars for a two year project.  CAO Mark Tilbury says the money is from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.  The museum will hire a Community Resource Officer.

Rick Hansen Relay hits the Lakehead

The Rick Hansen Relay is in Thunder Bay for the next couple of days. The team was welcomed with a ceremony at the Community Auditorium. Prior to that, relay member Joey Desjardins handed the Rick Hansen 25th anniversity medal to Thunder Bay's Adena Goral at the McDonalds on Red River Road.

Stabbing leaves one man in hospital

Thunder Bay police have a 16 year old boy in custody after a stabbing.  Officials say the boy stabbed a 24 year old man several times in the back last night in the North End.  The victim was taken to hospital and is in stable condition.  More details are expected to come later today.