Minister Touts Fund

Local organizations are being encouraged to take advantage of the province's Great Lakes Guardian Community Fund. Environment Minister Jim Bradley says anyone interested in taking advantage of the 1 and a half million dollar fund can attend an information session at 10:30 tomorrow morning at the government building on Red River Road. The fund support local projects with funding up to 25 thousand dollars to help protect the Great Lakes.

City Operating At Capacity

The city says it can't accept anymore evacuees. Deputy Fire Chief Greg Hankkio says the 550 we received from Sandy Lake this week are all that can be handled right now.   He says we are operating at capacity. Hankkio says the situation is being re-evaluated all the time with the help of Emergency Measures Ontario

Call Centre Expanding Workforce

A breath of life for the workers at the Teleperfomance call centre on Red River Road.   Company CEO Charlotte Gummesson says they are now expanding their workforce by hiring back 100 laid off workers and rehiring another 150.  It will bring the Thunder Bay staff count to about 400.

Plane Crash In Trout Lake

Police say that three people are injured two of them seriously, after a small plane crashed at Trout Lake North of Kenora this morning.   The Transportation Safety Board says that the aircraft was an American registered Cessna 180.   No further details are available.

Young Cyclist Escapes Serious Injury

A young cyclist will always be glad he wore his helmet while riding his bike today.  Police say that he was hit by a car on Cumberland at Water around 10:30.   Police say he was not hurt, but was taken to hospital to be checked out.

Federal Ruling Favours Attawapiskat

The Federal Court is saying it was ``unreasonable'' for the federal government to appoint a 3rd party manager for the financially troubled First Nations community of Attiwapiskat, which falls within the Nishnawbe-Aski Nation. The decision, released today, says it's clear that stepping in and taking over was not the best way to deal with the root of problems at the troubled northern Ontario reserve. The Conservative government appointed a 3rd manager as Prime Minister Stephen Harper suggested that the band had mismanaged federal funds in the face of the housing crisis. That manager was withdrawn April 19, but the Attawapiskat First Nation refused to drop its lawsuit against the government.

Ontario Trillium Foundation Contributes $650,000 To N.W.O.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation is contributing more than $650,000 to Northwestern Ontario organizations. Six local not-for-profit and chartiable organizations received money in and around Thunder Bay totalling just under $215,000. The organizations included FinnThunder 2012, Hospice Northwest, The Indian Youth Friendship Society, The Nolalu Community Centre, Roots To Harvest and Willow Springs Creative Centre. A total of 16 organizations received money from the Ontario Trillium Foundation this year across the region.

Gravelle Announces Interim Partnership In Lac Seul

Lac Suel First Nation is gaining more independence. Minister of Natural Resources Michael Gravelle was in the First Nation Tuesday afternoon, and signed an agreement with Chief Clifford Bull regarding an interm licence to the community to manage the Lac Seul Forests. Gravelle  says it's the beginning of something good. One of the established initiatives is a forestry partnership with the Domtar Mill in Dryden. Chief Clifford Bull says he is excited to be able to work with the mill.

Heney Can't Predict CWB Effect

It's a new era for grainhandling in Canada. Farmers have total control over how they sell their grain now that the Canadian Wheat Board has lost its monopoly. Thunder Bay Port Authority CEO Tim Heney says it will take time before we know if that will mean more grain through our port.  He says there will be change but it's difficult to predict what that change may be.  Heney says having the major grain companies located in Thunder Bay is a big plus.

Forest Fire Update

Two new forest fires are burning in the northwest region. There are still 65 active fires and over 80,000 hectares of area burned in forest fires this year. The North has the majority of the fires with 30 in the Red Lake District, 19 in the Sioux Lookout District and 8 in the Nipigon District. Despite the low fire hazard in the South, the Fort Frances District is managing 6 active fires, the Thunder Bay District 1 and the Kenora District 1.

Fort Frances To Host 100 Sandy Lake Evacuees

The Northwestern Ontario town of Fort Frances will host about 100 residents of the Sandy Lake First Nation who are being evacuated due to smoke from nearby forest fires. The evacuees were to be flown out of their remote community on Tuesday and Fort Frances fire Chief Frank Sheppard says they'll be housed at a local hotel. More than 550 Sandy Lake residents have also been evacuated to Thunder Bay, about 600 kilometres southeast of the First Nation community. The province issued an evacuation notice Sunday to get elderly residents, infants and others at risk from smoke to safety.

Cats Extend Win Streak To 8

The Thunder Bay Border Cats extending their wining streak to 8 games last night at Subway field with a 5-4 win over Mankato. The Cats wrap-up their series with the Moondogs tonight and are still 2 games back of Willmar for top spot in the North division.