House Fire On Mountain Road

A two-alarm fire is responsible for significant damages to a home that was under construction on the eleven-hundred block of Mountain Road. Platoon Chief David Long says the building was fully involved when they arrived and that the fire spread quickly, destroying the second floor. No one was injured.

Online Learning Receiving A Boost

The province is looking at making online learning more flexible by the 2015-2016 school year through the creation of the Centre of Excellence for Online Learning. Ontario Online will give college and university students the chance to take more of the same online courses making it easier to transfer credits, it will also encourage schools to share their research. The province is investing 42-million dollars over three years into the program.

Emergency Room Changes Defended

A top official at the Regional Health Science's Centre denies that patient care will suffer as the result of changes to the Emergency Department.  Rhonda Crocker-Ellacott says 5 positions in the department are being eliminated, but there are no job losses.   She says the number of staff in the will not change.   Crocker-Ellacott says the move is being made to put the nurses where they are more effective.

Over 72-Thousand Dollars In Hunting Fines

Eleven people are facing a combined sixty-eight charges for offences that happened at an Eagle Lake hunting and fishing lodge west of Dryden. The offences include unlawfully hunting wolf and using a hunting licence belonging to another person. Those pleading guilty include Steve Herbeck, fined a total of $7 500 while his business was fined $27 000 for 22 offences. Herbeck can't hunt in Ontario for ten years. Both Danny Herbeck and Chris Federman face $7 000 fines and are unable to hunt in the province for four and eight years. Andy Bouchard was fined $4 000, Scott Munford faces $7 000 in fines, Calum Ritchie has been fined $2 000, Tammy Pelletier will pay $2 500 for two charges, George Lindsay of New Zealand must pay $3 000, Travis Runde will pay $1 000, Don Rabideau of New York was fined $3 000 and Ron Jaeger was fined $500. The fines total $72 500.

Virdiramo Wants One Last Term

Joe Virdiramo is giving it one last shot.   The Westfort Councillor says he is seeking re-election in his ward one last time in this fall's municipal election.    He says he wants to go one more term and then someone new can take over.  Virdiramo says he wants to see certain projects to their competition, including the courthouse and the proposed events centre.  There is no indication whether anyone plans to challenge him.

Transit Negotiations To Be Held Later This Week

Thunder Bay transit workers are receiving support from fellow union members from the GTA. Negotiations between the city and the transit union are scheduled to take place Thursday and Friday with job action a possibility on Monday January 20th. Bob Kinnear is the President of ATU (Amalgamated Transit Union) Ontario and described current working conditions for the city's transit operators as "second class".

Goldcorp Eyes Osisko

Goldcorp is making a  bid to acquire Osisko Mining.   Oskiko's key asset is the Malartic, Quebec gold mine.  The deal would also include Osisko's development projects in Kirkland Lake, and the Hammond Reef project near Atikokan, but president Chuck Jeannes  says right now those two are not their focus. Goldcorp is giving Osisko until February 19th to decide on the offer.

Mace Appointed To Electrical Safety Authority

Some added responsibilities for Thunder Bay Hydro boss Rob Mace.  He has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the province's Electrical Safety Authority .  Mace says it doesn't mean he will give up his current job as hydro president, it will simply mean more trips to southern Ontario for board meetings.

PCs Launch "Million Jobs Plan"

The Progressive Conservatives in Ontario are launching an ambitious plan.   Leader Tim Hudak says it's a promise to create 1 million jobs in the province in the next 8 years.   Hudak says the key component is to lower business taxes to 10 per cent to encourage businesses to hire more people.   Hudak adds the plan includes promises to reduce debt,  establish better energy rates and reduce regulations.

Outbreak Warning Expanded

The Health Unit is expanding its respiratory outbreak warning at Lakehead Manor to include the whole facility.    It means all admissions, transfers, discharges and social activities are now  cancelled until further notice.   The first warning for the North Vickers Street seniors complex came on Friday, but was only restricted to the fourth floor.

Council Preview

Superior North EMS wants City Council to ask the Province for permission to take over EMS dispatch services.  The Province currently funds the service but keeps dispatch operations at arms length from EMS operations.  Councillors will hear about the proposal at their first meeting of the new year tonight.    Meanwhile, A group of residents who are opposed to a new youth centre on High Street will be at City Council tonight. They're presenting a 95 signature petition against the Indian Friendship Centre's project with the City. Council will vote on the youth centre partnership tonight.  The City is considering putting an end to a pilot project at the Grace Remus Child Care Centre.  Council approved evening hours at the centre but is now considering bringing them to a close at the end of June.  City lawmakers will vote on the matter at its meeting tonight.

Children's Centre Fundraiser

A dress auction on January 23rd will help raise money for the Children's Centre Foundation. Organizer Kim Latimer says they are expecting 100 people to attend and hope to double the amount of money they raised last year. The event being held at Bight on the Waterfront will showcase 70 gently used dresses that party goers can purchase for a good cause and several new dresses they can bid on.

Another Addition To The Council Race

City Council's at large spot promises to be a closely contested position in the upcoming municipal election. Diane Armstrong is the newest candidate to join the race and encourages voters to try and familiarize themselves with those running. Armstrong adds that because this is her first time running it made more sense to run as an at-large councilor.

Drug Charges

A Thunder Bay man is facing several drug related charges from city police. Early Saturday morning during a traffic stop in the city's north end police found 650 grams of cocaine worth approximately 65-thousand dollars. Police also responded to an incident near Empress Street where a car struck a tree, two teenagers are facing Break and Enter and Theft of a motor Vehicle charges. There were also four impaired driving charges laid.

Comedy Night

Three Toronto comedians from Thunder Bay are bringing their routine to the City. Dean Young, Veronika Swartz and Bobby Knauff are headlining the Thunder B'EH Homecoming Tour which wraps up tonight at the Dragon's Den Sports Bar. Young says there has been a great public response with last nights performance being sold out. Tonight's show starts at 9.

Health Unit Warns Of Outbreak

The Health Unit says Lakehead Manor is currently experiencing a respiratory illness outbreak on the fourth floor that facility. All admissions, transfers, discharges and social activities on the fourth floor have been cancelled until further notice. Visitors are restricted to family members and caregivers only.

LU Alum Shortlisted For Mars Mission

A former Lakehead University electrical engineering grad says he has made it to the short list for a Dutch mission to colonize Mars.  Zac Trolley, who now lives in Calgary,  says it's a dream he's had since childhood.   The 31 year old says he's one of 75 Canadians on the short list of over 1 thousand people worldwide  for the Mars One project in 2025.   He says there will be an interview process which will eventually whittle down the candidates to about 25 to 40 people.  Trolley says he doesn't look on the trek as a suicide mission, but as a one way ticket.

Sioux Lookout Stolen Vehicle

OPP are asking the public to help find the person who stole a vehicle from a Sioux Lookout driveway.  The suspect than drove the vehicle southbound on Highway 72 and crashed it into the ditch. Another motorists driving by at the time observed several people at the collision scene, but was unable to identify any of them. Police believe the suspects were picked up by another motorists and driven back into Sioux Lookout.

KI Worried About Moose Survey

The chief of a remote First Nation says the province needs its permission to do an aerial moose survey. KI Chief Donny Morris says he opposes a survey the Ministry of Natural Resources expects to conduct around K-I this weekend, including on the community's traditional territory. Morris says he doesn't trust how the MNR will use the results. He fears the government will use the survey to inform residents that there's not enough moose to hunt.

McPherson Funeral

Some high profile people will be attending the funeral for Couchiching First Nations Chief Chuck McPherson. The funeral is being held Saturday at the Couchiching First Nations Arena. Ontario's Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Zimmer and Ontario Regional Chief Stan Beardy will be present. Premier Kathleen Wynne, though won't be in attendance. McPherson's death, meantime, has prompted a delay in the band's nomination meeting for this year's elections. A notice issued by the band's electoral officer says it will now take place January 23rd. Elections for the chief and six councillor positions are slated for March 6th.