Police Probe North Side Death

Thunder Bay Police are calling the death of a 52 year old man suspicious. Constable Julie Tilbury says the investigation began after a call to a Belton Street home on Thursday morning.
The Criminal Investigations Branch and Forensic Officers are heading up the probe.

Campbell Launches Back To Work Campaign

Kenora Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell is in Thunder Bay today to launch the "MPPs Back to Work Campaign."  The Ontario New Democrats are circulating a petition calling on the Liberal government to put the provincial legislature back to work.  Campbell launched the Northwestern Ontario  campaign today at the local Ministry of Northern Development Office.

Tosca Reno In T.Bay Friday & Saturday

Clean Eating Guru Tosca Reno is going to be teaching people how to eat healthy at an upcoming workshop.  Reno is in the City Friday for a book signing at Janzen's Pharmacy on Bay Street and Saturday for a workshop at the Victoria Inn.  Reno feels anyone, anywhere can eat clean since you can always get access to an apple.  Her book signing is Friday from 2 until 4.

Poverty Reduction Process Underway

  The City is creating a poverty reduction strategy.  The poverty reduction committee held its inaugural meeting recently and Chair Paul Pugh says the strategy has been a long time coming.  Pugh says they hope to have a plan in place by September 2013.

Police Attend Shuniah St. Address

City police are backing off from using the word standoff, but they say that they were sent to a Shuniah Street address to look for a person. Residents were left wondering about an increased police presence this afternoon. Spokesperson Julie Tibury says they ended up finding a distraught person at another address and that no criminal charge is involved.

Zellers Preparing To Close

The Intercity Mall's Zellers store is getting ready to close it's doors. They've started to mark down their merchandise in advance of Target taking over in 2013. Target Spokesperson Tamar Nersesian says renovations will take six to nine months. The Target store is expected to open in the summer of 2013.

NOMA Talks McGuinty

The President of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association is looking at the positives surrounding the resignation of Premier Dalton McGuinty. Ron Nelson says this now provides a window of opportunity. Nelson says they will grill the candidates on everything impacting the north including mining, tourism and the forestry sector.

Northwest Kick Start Plan

A proposal for more cost-efficient energy generation in Northern Ontario. At the Ontario Waterpower Conference, the Northwest Kick Start plan was featured which will provide a cheaper power supply to the Ring of Fire and First Nations communities through a grid connection. President and CEO of Imperium Energy Larry Doran says there's no downside to the proposal. Doran says it also allows for the development of hydro-electric generation.

Deadline For Flood Funds October 30th

The deadline to file your damage claim forms from the May 28th flood is this Wednesday. Disaster Relief Chair Wayne Fletcher says there are still some people who haven't submitted their forms because they've been having trouble getting estimates. So far 200 people have submitted claim forms. Application forms will be accepted at the disaster relief office on Donald Street up until 4:30 on Wednesday.

Shelter House Rehab Centre Opens

Shelter House is celebrating the grand opening of it's Alcohol Management Program. The 2 year pilot project is a 15 bed rehab facility that provides housing for homeless people who struggle with drugs and alcohol. Executive Director Patty Hajdu says it's a vast improvement from sending them to a jail cell. The centre opened in March and currently has 11 residents.

Four Charged In Coke Bust

Four people are charged in connection with a drug bust on the 100 block of South Franklin Street.     Police say 16 thousand dollars worth of cocaine was seized in the raid.    Smaller amounts of marijuana, Oxycontin and Morphine were also found. 

Petition Drive On

A Thunder Bay man is distributing petitions to 53 thousand homes in the city. Cec Cranston is hoping to convince the powers that be to built a transition home for elderly people who get out of hospital and are waiting for an opening at a nursing home. Cranston hopes to correct some government decisions from the past.   Cranston admits however the petitions may be confusing to some and should be read carefully before signing.

Special Weather Statement Issued

Environment Canada is issuing a special weather statement for Marathon, Schreiber, Wawa and White River. More rain along with occasional thunderstorms are on the way with another 25 mm of rain possible today. Local rainfall amounts of up to 50 mm are possible in locales that receive a thunderstorm or two. Motorists should exercise caution and be prepared for sudden low visibility in very heavy downpours from the thunderstorms.

Assessments On The Way

Homeowners will want to keep an eye out for their property assessment letter. The government agency that asseses property values is out with their latest numbers which indicate property values have increased by more than 29 percent since 2008. Spokesperson Darlene Morgan says you can expect to see an increase of 7-percent phased in over the next four years but it doesn't necessarily mean you'll be paying higher taxes.

Johnson Frustrated Over Council Flip-Flops

One At-Large Councillor is voicing a growing frustration with the number of decisions that have been reversed recently. Rebecca Johnson says city lawmakers have flip-flopped on issues such as The Botanical Conservatory and Municipal Golf Course because council is bowing to the slightest bit of pressure from the public. Johnson says the current council doesn't legislate as well compared to the previous two council's she's been a part of.

Trio Of SIJHL Players Selected To Camp

Hockey Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Junior Hockey League, announced Tuesday the 60 players that will attend the Canada West selection camp in preparation for the 2012 World Junior A Challenge. Among the 60 players chosen to take part in the four-day selection camp, which goes Oct. 28-31 in Calgary are three from the Superior International Junior League in defenceman Jon Carlson of the Fort Frances Lakers along with Lakers forward Colton Spicer and Dylan Mascarin, a forward with the Thunder Bay North Stars. The 17 year-old Spicer currently leads his club in offensive production as the Fort Frances product has 16 points in 11 games including eight goals. He is also tied for fifth in SIJHL scoring. Carlson, 18, another hometown player on the Lakers roster, is riding a five-game point streak and has nine points in 11 outings overall. Mascarin is averaging over a point-per-game for the North Stars so far this season. The 17 year-old has 11 points in nine games on three goals and eight assists.