Bear Hunters Asked To Be Cautious

The Ministry of Natural Resources is urging caution as the black bear hunting season begins this week. Spokesperson Debbie MacLean is reminding hunters to be on the lookout for firefighters.  While they have Blaze orange clothing, at times they might be hidden from view.  Maclean says the forest fire season doesn't  run out until October 31st.

School Survivors Remember

A new beginning for survivors from residential schools in Treaty Three territory. Grand Council Treaty 3 held a ceremony to commemorate survivors of the Cecilia Jeffrey Residential School in Kenora. Mayor Dave Canfield spoke about how everyone needs to work together to continue moving forward. Peter Bush with the Presbyterian Church apologized for the acts of abuse that were performed at the school.

Feds Want To Get ROF Right: Rickford

The Harper government plans to wait out a First Nations court challenge to the federal environmental process for the Ring of Fire mining development.  Greg Rickford, the minister responsible for the giant mining project, denies the government is slowing down the process saying they want to get it right.  Meantime Rickford won't say if the federal government will join First Nations and the province at the Ring of Fire bargaining table.

Disaster Relief Winding Down

The final cheque is in the mail for some 430 people whose homes were damaged in last year's spring flood.  Kari Chiappetta, the manager of the disaster relief program,  says an appeal period is now in place.   Anyone who has a dispute over the amount they received has 30 days to ask for a reconsideration.    The cheques represent the final portion of the relief money flood victims applied for.

Health Authority Reappoints Two

Two  residents from the region are back with the Northwest Local Health Integration Network. Dennis Gushalak of Ear Falls and Diane Loubier of Ignace will remain on the board of directors for the next three years. The LHIN oversees regional health care planning and funding. The Province has approved their reappointments.

Carpet Underlay Causes Accident

No one is hurt, but a truck driver in the city has learned the hard way about making sure you have a secure load.  It follows an incident on the Thunder Bay Expressway today near Oliver Road.   A roll of carpet underlay flew out of the back of his truck causing a multiple vehicle accident.  That truck  driver is now charged.

FedNor Provides ROF Funding

The Harper government is providing more Ring of Fire related funding in the area.   FedNor is granting 4.4 million dollars to the Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund to help First Nations businesses to create job opportunities in preparation for the giant mining development.   Fund advisor Brian Davey says it provides a chance to prepare First Nations communities to take advantage of the wealth that will be developed in the area. The funding is spread over 3 years.

MNR Layoffs In Thunder Bay

Some bad news for scores of Ministry of Natural Resources employees in Ontario.  A number of jobs are being cut including 7 in Thunder Bay.  Other communities in the region affected by the cuts include Kenora, Fort Frances and Dryden.  In all over 100 MNR workers in the province are being laid off because of budget cutbacks.

Half-Way Celebrates The Big Five-Oh

A Thunder Bay car dealership that started out in Current River  is celebrating its 50th year in operation.  General Manager Marcus Luft of Half-Way Motors says the company has come a long way since the early 60s.  He says it started out as a grocery store located "half way" down Hodder Avenue.  They began by selling Studebakers and then moving to Jeep and then Datsun, which became Nissan.   The company is recognizing the occasion at an  event this evening at its Memorial Avenue location