16 Year Old Charged With First Degree Murder

A 16 year old is in custody and charged with first-degree murder. Treaty Three and O.P.P. made the arrest Tuesday in connection with the death of 61 year old Charles Minshall of Whitefish Bay First nation. The 16 year old, who can't be named because of age, is also from Whitefish Bay First Nation. Police are not releasing the cause of death, but earlier reports had police responding to gun fire being heard at a local store, where the deceased was found. The 16 year old is to appear in a Kenora court today.

O.P.P. Search For A Third Suspect In Attempted Robbery

O.P.P. are still looking for a third suspect in connection with an attempted store robbery in Schreiber. Provincial Police were alerted just before 4:00 o'clock yesterday morning.  They then spotted the suspect's vehicle west of Nipigon but an attempted stop had to be abandoned because of public safety reasons as the vehicle took off. Later police spotted the same vehicle and used a spike belt to halt the vehicle and three men went running into the bush. Two of them were caught. The third remains at-large with O.P.P. K-9 units being used in the pursuit. O.P.P. are warning travellers not to pick up any hitchhikers in the Schreiber area.

7 New Forest Fires Reported

The rain yesterday did relatively nothing to help new forest fires from starting. 7 new fires were reported to the Ministry of Natural Resources. Fire crews are now battling 80 forest fires in the Northwest region. The fire hazard remains high across most of our area.

Border Cats Begin Longest Homestand Of The Season

The Thunder Bay Border Cats are back in action tonight following the All-Star break. They begin a 7 game homestand against the St. Cloud Rox tonight at 7:05 at Subway Field. The first-half champion, Mankato Moondogs, are here for a 5 game series starting Saturday. The Border Cats remain 4 1/2 games back in the North Division with 18 games left in the season.

Thunder Bay Selects In First Place

The two Thunder Bay teams at the Ontario Senior Little League Championships are holding their own against the competition. The Thunder Bay Selects are alone in first place with a 2-0 record after dumping Windsor East 11-1 yesterday. The Thunder Bay All-Stars improved to 2-1 with a 13-3 win over East Nepean. Action continues today starting at 2:00 p.m. at Baseball Central. The Selects are in action at 6:00 o'clock against East Nepean.

Salvation Army Copes With Fire Losses

The Salvation Army is still adding up the losses after a fire this week damaged the goods at its Memorial Avenue Thrift Store. Spokesperson Scott Gilmore says they have basically lost everything. Gilmore says they hope to re-open in a week.

Police Chief Says Bust Will Help

The Chief of the Nishnawbe-Aski Police says the latest Oxycontin bust is going to be a great help in keeping the highly addictive pain killer out of First Nations communities in the northwest.   Claude Chum says the drug sells for up to 600 dollars a pill and is literally crippling some communities.  He says in Cat Lake, for example, about 80 per cent of the reserve is addicted and that keeps its workforce limited.  He says many get money by selling their possessions to feed their addiction,

Sister Cities Meet Again

Another five year sister city agreement with Seinajoki, Finland is being signed this week. City Clerk John Hannam says it happens tomorrow evening at the Prince Arthur Hotel and will allow our two cities to continuing promoting business and cultural opportunities

Project Harrington Results In 95 Charges

Details are being released today about a 6 month joint forces drug investigation entitled "Project Harrington." Members of the Thunder Bay Police, OPP, RCMP, Nishnawbe-Aski Nation and Anishnabek Police were all involved in the investigation that resulted in 9 search warrants being executed in the Greater Toronto Area, Mississauga, Kitchener-Waterloo and Thunder Bay, including at the Thunder Bay District Jail. The joint forces unit were targeting a network that transported Oxycodone and cocaine from southern Ontario to areas here in the northwest. In all, police laid 95 charges against 11 persons, seven of whom are in custody and four others remain at large. Quantities of drugs worth approximately $1.13 million and cash were also seized. The charges include: Directing or Participating in a Criminal Organization; Trafficking and/or Conspiracy to Traffic; and Breach of Probation. One of the individuals, an employee of the Thunder Bay District Jail, is charged with Breach of Trust.

Heavy Rainfall Warning Dropped

The heavy rainfall warning for the city is now ended.  Environment Canada Meteorologist Geoff Coulson says that instead of the 50 millimetres of rain we were supposed to get, we will now get 10 to 20.  He says most of the rain is moving to our south.

Salvation Army Caught On Fire

Firefighters are recovering from what could have been a very dangerous fire. Crews were called to the Salvation Army at 915 Memorial Avenue at approximately 1:30 a.m. this morning. The fire from three B.F.I. bins caused an exposure fire to a gas metre and that allowed the fire to spread to the building. Damage is being described as moderate.

Morrison Signs 4 Year Deal

Lakehead University Men's Basketball Coach Scott Morrison is staying in Thunder Bay for at least 4 more years. He signed a contract extension with the Thunderwolves that will see him take on additional administrative duties. Morrison has taken the men's team into the national spotlight with three straight national championship tournament appearances and an Ontario championship title in 2011. He's coming off an Assistant role for Canada at the world under-18 championships in Brazil.

Little League Update

Both Thunder Bay Teams will be on the field at Baseball Central today in the Ontario Senior Little League Championships. The Selects are tied for first place with East Nepean at 1-0. The All-stars are a half-game back in the standings after dropping a 6-3 decision yesterday to Orleans. Games today are at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. with the All-Stars taking on East Nepean followed by the Selects squaring off against Windsor East.

Inductees Named to N.W.O. Sports Hall Of Fame

2 Athletes, 3 builders and a woman's rowing duo make up this year's entry into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame. Mike Busniuk and Terri Gibbons will go into the hall for their hockey and water skiing careers. The two-some of Barb Kukko and Helen Fleming-Livingstone for their rowing careers. Builders Dick Henderson, Alex Dampier and Bill Selman will be inducted for their contributions to curling and hockey respectively. The official ceremony takes place at the end of September at the Valhalla Inn.

Swim Advisories Round 2

Swimmers beware.  The Health Unit is issuing swimming advisories at two local beaches again.  This time around it's at Boulevard Lake's Sandy Cove Beach, and Chippewa Park-Main Beach.

MPAC says T.Bay Affordable

Thunder Bay is still one of the most affordable cities in Ontario to purchase a home.  The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation says Thunder Bay's fairly affordable despite the price of homes jumping 26 percent since 2008.  MPAC Spokesperson Larry Hummel says it's good news for the community's real estate market.

LU Extends Morrison Contract

Lakehead University is locking down its Men's basketball head coach Scott Morrison.  They've extended his contract through to June 2016.  The University made the announcement Tuesday.

Joint Investigation Media Conference Wednesday

Results from a joint forces investigation will be made public Wednesday at a media conference at the Valhalla Inn. OPP, City Police, the RCMP and the Nishnawbe Aski Nation Police are all involved in the investigation looking at the connection with trafficking prescription medication and illegal drugs from southern Ontario to several communities in the north west.

Van Loan Talks ELA

The Federal Government continues to hold steadfast to their decision to close the Experimental Lakes Area near Kenora.  Peter Van Loan was in Thunder Bay on Friday and says he's heard area residents concerns over the move.  Dissaproval has come from across the world over the Federal Government's decision to cut the funding for the outdoor research lab.

MNR Gets Help

The Ministry of Natural Resources is receiving more outside help to deal with a rash of forest fires in Northwestern Ontario. 20-fire rangers from Saskatchewan and 20-from New Brunswick will join Ontario's crews on the fire lines. Water bombers from Quebec and Newfoundland have also been called in. 20-fire rangers from Minnesota arrived last week. Five new fires were reported yesterday, bringing the number of active fires up to 70.