ELA To Stay Open In 2013

The Provincial Government is coming to the rescue of the Experimental Lakes Area.  Ontario is teaming up with the Manitoba Government and Feds to keep the ELA open in 2013.  The province will provide operating support and work toward an agreement to keep the facility open well into the future.

TBRRI Looking For New CEO

The Thunder Bay Regional Research Institute is looking for a new CEO.   It comes with the sudden departure of Michael Wood. Board Chair Keith Jobbitt will not discuss the details surrounding Wood's exit but says Roxanne Deslauriers is going to take over on an interim basis until a permanent replacement can be found.

Horizon Wind Clears Another Hurdle

Horizon Wind is one step further towards building its wind energy park in Thunder Bay.  The Ministry of Environment has determined the Big Thunder Wind Park's Renewable Energy Approval application meets the requirements of the Green Energy Act.  The company's REA still needs to be approved before Horizon can commence construction on the first phase of their project on the Nor'Wester escarpment.

Highway 17 Fully Open

Ontario Provincial Police say Highway17 on the north shore is open. It was closed most of the day between Nipigon and Marathon because of weather related issues.

Meeting Set For Northern Mayors

Lobby efforts for a one-on-one meeting to discuss property assessments in northern Ontario have finally paid off.  The Northern Mayors Coalition has secured a meeting with the Deputy Minister of Finance in Toronto on Monday morning. Mayor Craig Nuttall says several communities withholding payment to the province's assessment office may have been the turning point

LU Clinic Has Full Time Dr.

The Sports Medicine Clinic at Lakehead University now has a full time doctor. Dave McKee says he's happy to take on a position that he's always had a fleeting interest in having worked with alpine and world cup skiiers.   Dr. McKee comes to LU from the Emergency Department at the Regional Hospital.

Prostate Cancer Fundraiser Back For Another Year

Organizers are gearing up for the 13th annual Bell Motorcycle Ride for Dad this June.  Spokesperson Ted Ciotucha says the event not only raises money for the Northern Cancer Fund but also awareness about Prostate Cancer.  The ride will take place at the Victoria Inn Saturday, June 15th.

Big Coke Bust In Kenora

Police in Kenora are sitting on a sizable seizure of cocaine.  They say 7 kilos of the contraband, worth an estimated 750 thousand dollars, was discovered after they stopped a speeding vehicle on the Trans Canada Highway in the community yesterday.    A 26 year old man from Pickering is charged.

AK-47 Seized At Bearskin Lake FN

A resident of Bearskin Lake First Nation is facing police questions after a prohibited assault weapon was found in his home.  Police say the discovery of the AK-47 and two high capacity magazines was made after a raid on the house yesterday.   So far police have not charged the 57 year old man.

Highway 17 Closed At Terrace Bay & Marathon

Highway 17 is closed near Marathon this hour as several transports are stuck on Angler's Hill.  OPP say sanders are en route to assist the vehicles that are unable to move due to slippery road conditions.  The highway is closed eastbound at Terrace Bay and westbound at Marathon while police try to get the transports moving again.

Atikokan General Gets $

Some provincial dollars for the Atikokan General Hospital.MPP Bill Mauro has announced 606-thousand-dollars that will go to fund a Regional Chief Information Officer for two years. This project supports the creation of hospital eHealth plans that align with regional plans. It's part of a 20-million-dollar commitment to help small and rural hospitals in Northwestern Ontario.

Leon Free & Clear In Canada

Former Confederation College student Adam Leon is free and clear.  An Ontario Superior Court judge granted Leon an absolute discharge in relation to an incident where a Cessna was taken from the college flight school and flown into the United States. 

Council Round Up

The corner of Mountdale and Gore is going to be home to a pet store and apartment units.   City lawmakers are allowing the new developments.   Planning consultant Don Manahan is representing the developer and says the proposal shouldn't have any negative affects on the area.  There is no one in the neighbourhood who is objecting to the plan.  Meanwhile, City Councillors are giving thumbs up to a new upscale 6 unit apartment complex on High Street.   One of the developers, Esther Seargeant says they believe they have answered all the neighbours concerns.

Golfing Fee Idea Shot Down

Golfing fees are not being reduced at Municipal Golf Course this year.   Councillors have turned down a proposal to bring down fees to 2007 levels, an idea which Councillor Trevor Giertuga thinks it's a guaranteed money loser.  Giertuga called the proposal asinine.

Two Week Shutdown At Resolute FP

Resolute Forest Products is shutting down its newsprint mill in Thunder Bay for two weeks starting this week.  Marvin Pupeza of the Paperworkers Union calls it an inventory shutdown due to a glut of paper on the market and says it has nothing to do with a vote by members last week who rejected a company bid to contract out some mill jobs.

Laundry List Of Charges In Sunday Incident

Thunder Bay Police are charging a 35 year old man with impaired operation of a vehicle, mischief and breaking and entering.  The laundry list of charges stem from an incident yesterday that saw a man repeatedly try to enter a home.  Police say the man threw a snow shovel at the front door of the home breaking the glass.  He then left the area in a vehicle when police pulled him over for drinking and driving at the corner of Court and River Street.

Neebing Stolen Car

Two young men are charged with stealing a vehicle in Neebing. OPP say they found an abandoned vehicle on Olsen Road last week and it was later revealed it was stolen from a residence in Thunder Bay. The two under age youth are charged with possession of property obtained by crime. The two are being held in custody for a video bail hearing.

OPP Busy Weekend

OPP are taking a breath after a busy weekend.  Police responded to over 30 motor vehicle collisions over the weekend.  Most involved vehicles landing in ditches due to poor driving conditions and transports becoming stuck or jack knifed on area highways.  No one was seriously hurt in any of the accidents this past weekend.

It's Earth Day

It's Earth Day today.  Eco Superior Spokesperson Ellen Mortfield says it's important to consider how you can be more environmentally friendly.  Mortfield suggests eating local foods, cutting down on buying products with lots of packaging, and recycling when possible.  Local celebrations were held over the weekend on the waterfront.

Municipal Golf Fees Up For Debate Tonight

The City's Municipal Golf Advisory Committee is recommending dropping user fees back to 2007 levels as away of increasing its membership.   The committee was put in place to try and find ways to keep the golf course open and make it sustainable.  Councillor Rebecca Johnson isn't in favour of the move.  If approved an adult membership for Municipal will be set at 900 dollars and an older adult will pay 800 dollars a year.