Shippam falls short of the North Pole

Thunder Bays' Dale Shippam is safe after quite an adventure near the North Pole. Shippam is a heart transplant patient who tried to ski to the Pole with his doctor Heather Ross. However, wife Peggy Shippam says they came up short. She says a moving arctic ice floe proved too dangerous.   She says eventually a helicopter rescued them from their camp and the high winds and minus 40 degree temperatures.

Federal Saguenay first "saltie" of the season

The Federal Saguenay is the first ocean going ship of the season in the the Port of Thunder Bay this year. It arrived Thursday morning and had a difficult time docking at the Viterra grain elevator. Heavy Fog made visibility very low and the ship ended up brushing a grain storage container causing minimal damage. Before heading out to Belgium, it loaded up with some canary and flax seed.

NAPS graduates nine officers

Nine constables will join the ranks of the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service at a ceremony on Friday afternoon.  The graduates are:   Hector Vecchio, Gabriella Balog, Shannon Dyck, Mackenzie Schussler, Troy Wlodarek, Mark Lefavre, Dwaine Howe, Bryan Halcro and Jim Andrew.   Constable Halcro is scheduled to deliver the valedictorian address and be presented with the award for Outstanding Achievement.

Med students complete Dryden training

Two Thunder Bay medical students who spent 8 months practising at Dryden Regional Health Centre are saying goodbye. Kristie Skunta and Marlon Hheerty have completed their training . Hheerty says working in a rural community is important. He says unlike a big hospital he will get to see almost everytype of ailment that comes through the door. Both students will be returning to Thunder Bay for fourth-year Medicial studies.

Fog lifts

A blanket of fog affecting parts of Thunder Bay much of Thursday has lifted. Areas next to Lake Superior were heavily affected like Marina Park where the waterfront development project is underway. Environment Canada meteorologist Geoff Coulson says the fog did clear off from the Thunder Bay Airport by mid afternoon with the rest of the city several hours later. Meantime, the fog along the north shore of Lake Superior is causing zero visibility to Marathon, and is expected to linger much longer. Coulson adds we should wake up to a clearer day on Friday.

No panic at local travel agencies

Air traffic into and across much of Europe is grounded today by an ash cloud from a volcano in Iceland. However it's not causing headaches for Thunder Bay travel agents. The manager of My Travel, Katie Zuber, says very few people from here travel to Europe in April, because it's the off season.   Zuber says summer is the peak time for European travel.

College and TBayTel become partners

Confederation College and TBay Tel have signed a partnership, but it has nothing to do with money. TBayTel will provide tech experts to the college as consultants. College President Pat Lang says in exhange TBay Tel utilizes tech students from the institution.  TBayTel CEO Don Campbell says it doesn't give the utility a leg up for any contracts.  Both the College and TBay Tel says the agreement will not inhibit the competitive process

Grass fires keeping Thunder Bay Fire and Rescue busy

Despite this week's light rain there will still be a fire ban in the city this weekend. Deputy Fire Chief Greg Hankkio says the conditions are extremely dry right now and as a result crews have had to deal with 65 grass fires since the beginning of March. Hankkio says a large number of the fires are being started by youth and discarded cigarette butts. Hankkio says until we see significant rain the burning ban will stay in place.