NAN To Host Public Meeting

Nishnawbe Aski Nation is partnering with city police and the Ontario Provincial Police by hosting a Community Safety Forum tonight. The Forum is set to provide an opportunity for public education on police investigative procedures, to encourage dialogue on current concerns and conclude with a discussion regarding next steps aimed at ensuring safety. The meeting is scheduled to take place tonight starting at 6 o'clock at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium. The forum is open to students and their families, Leadership, First Nations and Aboriginal organizations, and city residents.

Weather Statement Issued For Wawa

Travelers headed East of Thunder Bay today will want to use caution when driving near Wawa and White River.  A special weather statement is being released by Environment Canada saying heavy lake effect flurries will affect regions to the east of Lake Superior today, tonight and into Wednesday.  Up to 15 centimetres of snow could fall by tomorrow afternoon.  The main issue will be very low visibility under the heaviest flurries as conditions may be near zero.

Shuniah Man Faces Child Porn Charges

Thunder Bay Police say an early childhood educator is charged in connection with a case involving nude photos of a young girl who complained to police last month.  Police searched a home and found child pornography images on a computer along with a large number of adult female undergarments. Charged with Possession and Distribution of Child Pornography and Extortion, is 29 year old Mark Lehtonen of Shuniah township.

Kusznier Anniversary Being Remembered

John Kusznier's hat

Tuesday marks the 35th anniversary of the death of city Police Constable John Kusznier,  the only city police officer to die in the line of duty.   His son Stephen Kusznier was 12 when the tragedy occurred and says he's pleased with the way the city has always remembered his father.  The flags in front of the police station on Balmoral will be lowered to half mast in remembrance of Kusznier. 

Gull Bay In Financial Crisis

Wilfred King is back as Chief of the Gull Bay First Nation near Armstrong, but he is coming into a financial crisis.   Chief King says the first sign something was wrong was last week when the previous band Chief and Council laid off all employees, presumably because there was no money in the bank account.  Chief King discovered this morning the band is in a very serious deficit situation right now and they have to find a way to maintain essential services.

Government Court Appeal Launched

The provincial government is launching its appeal today of an Ontario Superior Court ruling in favour of the Grassy Narrows First Nation. Last August, the court ruled the government does not have the right to unilaterally take away treaty rights and allow clear cut logging and mining activity in its traditional land use area. The province is arguing that it has exclusive jurisdiction over all public lands and forests.  The government of Canada and Resolute Forest Products are also appealing the decision, while Goldcorp and other First Nations have asked to  intervene.

Flu Associated With 7 Deaths

The District Health Unit is confirming there have been at least 7 deaths associated with the flu in the Thunder Bay District.  Spokesperson Darlene Binette they all happened as the flu was making it's way through many seniors homes and that all the victims were elderly.    Binette says that's why it's important for the most vulnerable people, seniors and infants, to get a flu shot. 

Mount Baldy Conditions

Mount Baldy Ski area is still boasting that 80 percent of their hill is good for skiing, despite the record breaking temperatures and rain that fell last week. Owner/Operator Craig Spiess says this Winter has been anything but ordinary. Spiess says he still expects a large snowfall in the coming weeks to boost conditions and hopes that will attract a larger number of recreational skiers to the hill. 

Idle No More Supporters Walking

The Idle No More moment in Thunder Bay is on the move.   Members of the organization are walking east on the Trans Canada Highway.  It began with a sunrise ceremony today at the Spirit Garden on the waterfront.   According to spokesperson Teresa Trudeau the walkers plan to be in Nipigon in time for this week's National Day of Action taking place on Wednesday.   That's when a rally will take place in the community starting at noon. 

Regional Road Conditions

The O.P.P. and Ministry of Transportation say all Highways are back open this morning following a Winter storm that moved through the region over the weekend. It took until early Sunday morning to re-open Highway 17 from Dryden to Sistonen's Corner because of poor weather conditions. Caution is still being urged for those travelling around the region with the M.T.O.'s website reporting a number of snow covered or partially snow covered roads with slushy and or icy conditions.

Thunderwolves Weekend

It was an up and down weekend for Lakehead University teams. The men's hockey team split a pair of games on the road against York. The Thunderwolves are tied with the Lions for 4th place in their division. The men's basketball team split against the Brock Badgers, while the women lost both to the #7 ranked team in the country. One team that is heating up is the women's volleyball team. They won their only match of the weekend 4-1 over Guelph and are now 6-8 and winners of five in a row.

Three Teams Advance To N. Ont. Tankard

Three Thunder Bay Rinks are now entered into the Northern Ontario Tankard to be held at the beginning of February in Nipigon. Trevor Bonot booked his spot by going 4-1 in the six team round robin tournament at the Port Arthur Curling Club. Bryan Burgess and Jeff Currie claimed the final two berths by posting records of 3-2. Rinks who are on the outside looking in will have one more chance to qualify in two weeks in Keewatin.

Robin's Tournament Wraps-up

The 22nd annual Robin's Donuts Minor Hockey Classic wrapped up Sunday with champions being crowned in 12 age divisions. 11 of the 12 divisions were won by Thunder Bay teams. A total of 146 teams were involved in the 4 day tournament which used 9 rinks across the city over the weekend. 

Crime Of The Week

Thunder Bay District Crime Stoppers is asking for any information about a robbery that occurred at the Shopper's Drug Mart located in Grandview Mall. On January 4th, 2013 at approximately 6:35 pm a lone man armed with a knife and with his face covered with a balaclava entered the Shoppers Drug Mart and demanded narcotics.  The man fled with an undisclosed amount of narcotics. The accused was last seen heading westbound from the store carrying a blue reusable grocery bag. He is described as a 5'8" Caucasian with a thin build, wearing a light coloured baseball hat with sunglasses, a tan coloured waist length coat, black gloves and blue jeans. Thunder Bay District Crime Stoppers is asking for anyone with information about this robbery to call Crime Stoppers at 623-TIPS or 623-8477.

Lakehead School Support Staff Ratify Agreement

Support staff of the Lakehead District School board have ratified a two-year provincial agreement that will protect services and students while ensuring stability in schools. CUPE 2486 President Rodney McGee says the committee has concluded this round of bargaining but the membership still has concerns about Bill 115 and they still want to campaign against democratic infringement that they feel the Bill has created.

Department Promotes Motorcycle Tourism

Thunder Bay's tourism department is taking part in a Motorcycle show in Minneapolis this weekend. Tourism Manager Paul Pepe says they're taking in the Minneapolis International Motorcycle show followed by other shows in the coming weeks. The department hopes to promote Thunder Bay as a motorcycle-friendly city with partnerships like Ride Lake Superior. Pepe says motorcycle tourism is growing rapidly in the United States.

Rafferty Wants Conservatives to Listen

The Federal Government gets back to work on Monday January 28th. MP John Rafferty says he hopes the Conservatives have a change of heart and start consulting Canadians on important issues. Rafferty says most of 2012 was spent arguing with the Harper Government and notes they need to start working with MPs of all parties.

Extra Flu Clinic Available Today

A high increase in flu activity this year is resulting in the Health Unit holding an extra flu shot clinic today. Spokesperson Darlene Binette says the walk-in clinic will be held in the Health Unit's auditorium, seeing clients on a first-come, first-serve basis. Several lab-confirmed cases of the flu have been reported to the local health unit.

LU Women's Basketball Hosts Shoot for the Cure

A national initiative to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer comes to Thunder Bay today. The Lakehead University women's basketball team is hosting its annual "Shoot For The Cure" fundraiser at today's games being played at the L.U. Fieldhouse. Women's Coach Jon Kreiner says the Women's Basketball Coaches Association started the campaign. A triple-header is being played today starting at 2 o'clock with both the women's volleyball and basketball teams wearing pink uniforms.

Face Lifts for Catholic Schools in the Area

The Catholic School Board in Thunder Bay continues to focus on capital projects for its schools.   Earlier this week a multi-million dollar face-lift to St. Martin School was announced and board spokesperson Tom Mustapic says that's in addition to the work that's already underway. Mustapic says the province has injected over 40 million dollars for board capital projects in the last ten years.