Council Happy With Cell Tower Consultation

City Council feels Tbay Tel has met its obligations to consult the public in relation to installing a cell phone tower on Dawson and Grandview Road.  Council gave their seal of approval at their meeting Monday night.

Council To Tackle Golf Course

City Council is going to tackle the Municipal Golf Course issue in October.  They made the announcement at their meeting Monday night after a hundred supporters turned up to their meeting.  Next week's meeting will see Council rescind their decision to close the Golf Course and will allow for debate on the future of the course.

Council Rezones Labour Centre

City Council is giving the go ahead to the Progressive Driving School to stay in it's current home at the Lakehead Labour Centre.  Council approved the rezoning of the Labour Centre from Heavy Industrial to Urban Centre Zone.

Citizens Rally In Front Of City Hall

Over 100 supporters of the Municipal Golf Course rallied in front of City Hall Monday night.  Organizer Jules Tupker says they want council to openly discuss the fate of the golf course at one of their upcoming meetings.  Tupker has collected over 1, 800 signatures in favour of saving the golf course and delivered the petition to City Council.

NALS Support System

An added support system for Sioux Lookout.  The Nishnawbe-Aski Legal Services Corporation has announced the expansion of it's Victim Witness Liaison Program.  Executive Director Celina Reitberger says this service will provide assistance to those who are a victim or have witnessed a crime.  Reitberger says the program will provide a cultural approach to First Nations people who may not understand the judicial process.

Teens Pleads Guilty To Manslaughter

A 19 year old city man is pleading guilty to manslaughter in connection with the death last year of 54 year Robert Topping.  In Superior Court Nicholas Webber also plead guilty to break in and robbery charges.  He was originally charged with second degree murder.  Sentencing is set for January 2nd and 3rd.

Woman's Body Found In Sioux Lookout

Sioux Lookout OPP are looking in to the death of a woman who was found dead behind a church on First Avenue North in that community. Police were told about the body on Monday and her identity has not yet been determined. A post mortem exam is taking place Tuesday in Kenora.

NOSM New Appointments

There's some new appointments at the Northern Ontario School Of Medicine. The school has appointed Dr. Douglas Boreham as Division Head of Medical Sciences and Dr. Elizabeth Levin as Division Head of Human Sciences.

Call For WSIB Clinics In T.Bay

A retired Thunder Bay based Orthopedic Surgeon is calling on the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board to hold specialty clinics in Northwestern Ontario.  The move would give Northern WSIB clients access to specialists, diagnostics and treatment resulting in their early or timely return to regular employment.  Remus discussed the idea with Elizabeth Witmer the Chair of the WSIB.

Mitomics Axes Jobs

Thunder Bay's fledgling research industry is taking another hit.  This time Mitomics Inc. (formerly Genesis Genomics) is reducing its local workforce by eight.   The company is calling it an alignment of resources.  It is not planning any additional staffing changes.  Recently Tornado Medical Systems closed its doors saying they ran out of money for a project.

NAN Communities Filing Complaints Against Police

Two Nishnawbe Aski Nation Communities are filing human rights complaints against Thunder Bay's Police Service.  Fort Hope and Collins Lake First Nation are frustrated with what they claim is mistreatment and racism in local policing.  They plan to file a human rights application with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario.  Details will be released during a news conference Tuesday. 

Grant Assists Student Training

Lakehead University is getting a 1.6 million dollar federal grant to help train students in x-rays and MRIs. LU professor Alla Reznik says it will be given to the students in the form of scholarships which will train about 40 students in medical imaging over 6 years.

Two Women Charged For Assault & Robbery

Two women are currently in police custody and will make a court apperance today to answer to charges of robbery, assault and possession of stolen property. City police were called about a robbery which took place at approximatly 2:30 p.m. yesterday afternoon near MacKenzie and Ogden Streets. Police were able to pick up the suspects and recover the stolen property a short time later. A 26 year old and 30 year old have been arrested and also face a charge of breaching probation.

Virdiramo Confirms Support For Eye On The Street

The Eye on the Street program is getting support from the Chair of the Police Services Board. Joe Virdiramo knows the program has it's critics on city council but feels police are getting good results out of it. Virdiramo says it may be necessary to move the cameras on a regular basis to keep up with possible criminal activity.

Zone Policing On The Way

The city police are reviewing the way they do community policing. Chief J.P. Levesque says that he is looking to move the city into a zone policing model. A committee going to be formed to look at the issue and make recommendations

Chief Backs Beat Officer Program

Thunder Bay's Police Chief says there will not be any officers taken off the street beat even thought a government program will cut funding for two officers. J. P. Levesque says it works and that business people in the two downtown cores like it, as do the people who frequent those areas. Levesque says he will ask the board at a future meeting to consider ways to make room for the program to continue.

House Fire In Oliver-Paipoonge Being Investigated

Oliver-Paipoonge Fire and Rescue are conducting a preliminary investigation into a house fire that occurred just after 1:00 O'clock yesterday afternoon. Officials with the fire department have called in city police to help determine if the fire was deliberately set. The blaze occurred on Kuusisto Road in Olver-Paipoonge. Police say no one was home at the time of the fire. 

S.I.J.H.L. Concludes Pre-Season Play

The two-time defending champion Minnesota Wilderness look good again this season as they wrapped-up their exhibition schedule in the Superior International Junior Hockey League. The Wilderness crushed the Fort Frances Lakers 6-1 yesterday. The regular season gets underway this Friday with three games on the schedule.