Wasaya and Kelner in business partnership

Wasaya Air is getting into the helicopter business now that it's in a new partnership with Kelner Helicopters. Wasaya chair Hez Sakakeep says with the move his company is looking into the future by taking advantage of the demand for choppers by junior mining companies working in the northwest. Sakakeep says in return Kelner has new connections with First Nation communities.

OPP find new sponsor for bear giveaway

The OPP are continuing their efforts to help out children who are victims of trauma.   They've received a new supply of 16 hundred stuff toy bears to give away thanks to a new sponsor,  Aviva Canada

McDonald's now offering free WiFi

You can now surf the web while you eat a BigMac.  Thunder Bay's McDonalds restaurants are now offering free WiFi.  Spokesperson Louis Payette says its been something customers have been asking for, for quite a while.  Payette says by the end of the month 90 percent of McDonalds locations will have WiFi. 

Police take more drugs off the street

Seven people are facing drug related charges after a 5 month undercover investigation in the city.   Police say they seized over 100 thousand dollars worth of drugs in two separate busts, one on Powley Street and the other on Bethune.   They say a number of the people arrested are alleged to be responsible for trafficking in cocaine, oxycodone and morphine pills in the city.

EcoSuperior is giving out tips to save at the pumps

If the high gas prices are still giving you a head ache then EcoSuperior has a few tips to save you from pulling out your hair.  Spokesperson Derek Tessier says tonight's EcoDriver workshop can help the average person save at least 10 percent on their fuel consumption. The workshop will start at 7 o'clock and will be held at the Waverly Library.

Confederation College has chosen a new President

Confederation College has announced its new President.  Jim Madder will be taking over for out going President Pat Lang who will be stepping down in July.  Madder was the Program and Campus Leader at Sir Stanford Flemming College in Lindsay before becoming the Executive Vice President-Academic at Red Deer College in Alberta. Madder will be officially taking over in July.

Chancellor to head law school task force

Attempts to get a new law school at Lakehead University are taking another step forward with the announcement of a task force. It will be headed up by L-U Chancellor Dr. Arthur Mauro who says a Faculty of Law would be a natural move for the institution.  Mauro says fundraising will be a key component of the task force

LU Thunderwolves release 2011-2012 schedule

The LU Thunderwolves Men's Hockey team will kick off their play with a non conference match up against University of Quebec Trois Rivieres September 22nd and 23rd.  The team released its schedule that will see them play a pair of exhibition games in Duluth the following weekend against the defending NCAA champions University of Minnesota Duluth.  The Wolves will host McGill for a pair October 7th and 8th to kick off the OUA regular season.

Horizon Wind Open House Video Recorded

It's a joke. That's the feeling of one of the participants in an open house for the proposed Horizon Wind Farm project.  Gary Armstrong says this is his third open house and he has yet to hear anything back from the company.  Several residents from Thunder Bay and Neebing took part in Tuesday night's Open House.  Another is being held Wednesday night at the Fort William Country Club.  Tuesday night's open house was staffed by security and video recorded.

OPP kept busy with transport fire

Thunder Bay OPP were kept busy Tuesday morning with a transport that was on fire on Highway 11/17.  The trailer loaded with steel had caught on fire and was completely destroyed.  The incident happened just east of Shabaqua.

Zwig crossing fingers on wind farm approval

The president of Horizon Wind is hoping for speedy approval of his wind power project. Tony Zwig says all the comments gathered from the public meetings this week will be submitted to the provincial government. Zwig is hoping for approval before the provincial election in October.

Wilson talks Bill 151 passing

Thunder Bay's Chamber of Commerce has mixed feelings about the passing of the forest tenure reform bill.  President Harold Wilson says some of the negative aspects of the bill have been changed.  Wilson says they're not sure how the bill will impact area mills ability to get financing.  Bill 151 was passed third and final reading Tuesday in the Ontario Legislature.

Hillier comments on Bill 151

The Provincial Government has passed the forest tenure bill.  Third reading of Bill 151 and an hour of debate took place on Tuesday.  Progressive Conservative Critic for Northern Development Randy Hillier says the Liberals played a shell game with the region switching the legislation and closing down discussion.

NAN says jury roll problem not resolved

A lack of First Nation representation on Ontario's jury rolls has yet to be resolved.  That's according to the Nishnawbe Aski Nation.  NAN is commenting after Attorney General Chris Bentley claimed issues around jury selection have been resolved.

Rafferty hopes for role in new look NDP

John Rafferty doesn't believe he'll be lost in the shuffle.  The Thunder Bay MP admits that with a record number of members in the NDP caucus he may not get the attention from leader Jack Layton like he used to. The new session of Parliament starts on June 2nd and Rafferty says he'll take whatever role the party wants him to play.   He expects to spend most of his early days helping new members learn the ropes.

Wind farm debate at the next stage

The wind farm controversy in Neebing moves to a new level tonight. It's the provincial phase of the approval process for the Big Thunder Wind Park. The first of two public consultations on the project takes place at Blake Community Hall starting at 6 o'clock

Aspenware plans for Dryden on hold

An economic blow to Dryden. Officials there say that Aspenware has put construction of a manufacturing plant in that city on the back burner. Mayor Craig Nuttall says they have been notified that the company, that specializes in wooden cutlery, wants to concentrate on its manufacturing plant in B.C. first.

Fewer dollars coming from OLG

The City of Thunder Bay will be losing money as the result of accounting changes at the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. The OLG's Tony Bitonti  says the changes will result in a reduction in the quarterly dividends which this year will amount to about 65 thousand dollars.  Bitonti says, however, the city's 5 per cent share of slot machine revenues from the casino is not changing

Blue Parrot set to close

After 38 years the Blue Parrot Restaurant is closing its doors.  The family who owns and operates the Greek restaurant on Lisgar Street will be retiring with their last day of business being this Sunday. 

Hilton Hotel reps talk to City Council

Representatives from Hilton Hotels spoke to Thunder Bay City Council Monday night.  The Thunder Bay Hotel Partnership Group wants council to amend the zoning by-laws to allow the proposed hotel to be built on Airport lands on Arthur Street.  The Hilton Hampton Inn is a four story building that would have a resort like setting.  The construction of the hotel is expected to cost 10 million dollars and property taxes for the city would be around 225-thousand dollars a year.