Carl Ave. bust nets ecstasy and oxy

There's been a big drug bust in the city. Police say they raided a home on the 200 block of Carl Avenue Friday morning. Sgt. Murray Brown says over 100 thousand dollars worth of drugs were seized including over 2 thousand ecstasy tablets and 878 Oxycontin pills.  A 38 year old man is charged,

Tunisian link to Egypt unrest unexpected

The political upheaval in Egypt may be taking some people by surprise, but not Thunder Bay's Laure Paquette. The Lakehead University political science professor says she's seen it coming for some time, but admits the cause was unexpected.  She says many believe the political protests in Tunisia were the reason Egyptians took to the streets.   Paquette advises to watch for how the government there reacts to the protests and if there is a heavy handed clampdown.

Pedestrian hurt in traffic accident

A pedestrian is hurt following a traffic accident on the city's north side.   The elderly pedestrian was in the wrong place at the wrong time.   According to police he was hit by an automobile  in a 2 vehicle mishap around 3:20 Friday afternoon at Memorial and Lisgar. Everyone involved--inluding the pedestrian--was taken to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre where they were later released with minor injuries. One of the drivers involved is being charged with careless driving.

Hyer talks election speculation

Parliment resumes on Monday and area MPs are bracing for a possible election. Thunder Bay Superior North MP Bruce Hyer says election speculation has been spreading quickly. Thunder Bay Superior North MP Bruce Hyer says he doesn't think of himself as a candidate, just an MP. Hyer hopes his VIA Rail Service bill will make it to the floor sometime in the Spring.

Rafferty stands up for pension bill

Thunder Bay Rainy River MP John Rafferty is anxious over the fate of his pension bill.  He'll be making a last minute plea to his federal counterparts on Tuesday.  Rafferty says there still are some Liberals and Conservatives who are not supporting his bill. 

Black Path Petition reaches 500 signatures

Thunder Bay's Black Path is being singled out as being unsafe.  17 year old Cassandra Spence has collected 500 signatures on a petition calling for the path to be lit and monitored by security cameras.  Spence will be presenting the petition to council on Monday.  The McIntyre area walkway runs through Castlegreen, McVicars Creek and continues behind the Landmark Inn.  Spence says people don't feel safe using the large trail at night.  The pathway was the site of a murder last fall.

No Blood Shortage in NWO

There's a blood shortage in the United States, but here in Northwestern Ontario we have nothing to worry about.  Cold weather and traffic accidents taxed the system in the South.  Canadian Blood Services Spokesperson Adrienne Silver says inventory levels are good.  Silver notes Thunder Bay's plasma inventory is healthy as well.

OPP drug bust EMO

The OPP have arrested two people on trafficking charges after pulling over a vehicle in Emo.  Members of the Community Drug Action team stopped the vehicle yesterday on Highway 11.  Officers seized over five pounds of marijuana.  The drugs have a street value of about five thousand dollars.

Wood Allocation Speculation Swirls

A provincial government news conference on Monday is garnering the attention of Atikokan Renewable Fuels.  There's speculation that MPP Bill Mauro is going to make an announcement about their wood allocation rights.  Thunder Bay's Ed Fukishima says he'll comment on the company's fate after the announcement in Atikokan.

Bentz likes what he sees; so far

This week marks the marathon of budget meetings for the City of Thunder Bay. Mark Bentz chairs the meetings and says he hasn't had a chance to read the entire lengthy document, but notes at first glance he likes what he sees. Bentz says so far he feels comfortable with a proposed 1.6 percent tax increase.

No injuries after chimney fire

An Oliver Paipoonge family on Polar Road is not hurt after a fire this morning.   Chief Mike Horan  says it was a chimney fire which his crew managed to put out quickly. He says there is minimal or no damage to the house.

Property taxes could go up

It looks like City taxes could go up. Administration is recommending property taxes be increased by 1.64 percent. City Treasurer Carol Busch says the increase could have been higher but thankfully the city's assessment grew. Property taxes for the average residential property could come in at 2-thousand 502 dollars which is a 40 dollar increase over 2010. Busch notes the tax rate is not finalized and Council could change that number during it's many budget meetings this month.

Travel outside of Thunder Bay could be tricky

Some heavy snow could be hitting parts of the Northwest today but Thunder Bay will be pretty well untouched. Our Meteorologist Bill Laidlaw says we won't be getting much in town but area's south towards Duluth and west towards Kenora will be getting heavier amounts of snow.  After this system Laidlaw says the temperatures will stay on the colder side for at least the next week.