Magic 99 News Has New Website

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Missing 15 Year Old Girl

City Police are looking for the public's help in finding a missing 15 year old girl. Kiaunna Lesage was last seen on May 14th, and is described as having a thin build with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen leaving home in the Montgomery Street area.

Sexual Assault Charges Laid

Thunder Bay Police are charging a 55 year old man with sexual assault after a complaint was made to them Thursday.  The complaint came from the parent of an intellectually disabled adult male victim.  It was reported that he had been sexually assaulted on May 14th of this year by someone who knew him.  Charged is Ronald Fossum who has been convicted of past sexual offences.  He remains in custody and has a court date of May 27th.

New Look For SHIFT Board

L-R Kateri Banning-Skaarup, Agata
Doucette,  Peter Marchl

Thunder Bay's Young Professionals Network is now sporting a new look board of directors.   They were chosen at during the SHIFT annual general meeting on Thursday night at the Valhalla Inn.   Voted in were Agata doucette, Willow Lem and Kateri Banning-Skaarup

Fight Mid-Air Leads To Charges

A fight that broke out on a flight to Attawapiskat First Nation has three people facing charges. Nishnawbe-Aski Police say a 27-year-old and two youths were involved in a fight mid-air, on a plane due to land at the Attawapiskat Airport. The youths cannot be identified under sections of the Youth Criminal Justice Act. All three are charged with assault and endangering the safety of an aircraft. They will appear in court in August.

Light Depot Closing

EcoSuperior is closing its fluorescent light bulb depot next week. Executive Director Ellen Mortfield says a lack of funding is causing the closure. Mortfield says she hopes people use other locations in the city to dispose of the fluorescent bulbs. She notes that there are five other locations around the city that dispose safely of fluorescent bulbs. The closure will officially take effect on May 31st.

OFL Warns Of Cuts

A Progressive Conservative campaign promise to eliminate thousands of public sector jobs will have a devastating effect in northwestern Ontario. That warning comes from the Ontario Federation of Labour. A Federation study says Tim Hudak's plan could result in 339 job losses in Kenora and push the unemployment rate in Thunder Bay up to 10-percent.  Other local communities weren't included in the OFL study.

Infrastructure Up For Debate

City infrastructure will be discussed at city council on Monday night. Replacement costs for roads, bridges, culverts, side walks, as well as water and storm systems will be presented in a report to council. The estimated costs proposed in the first version of the Asset Management Plan would be around 2.5-billion dollars.

Drug Strategy Up For Renewal

Thunder Bay's Drug Strategy is up for renewal.  City council will make a decision about the renewal on Monday night. The renewal would take the drug strategy through 2015-2017.

Our Kids Count Need Cash

The Our Kids Count program will be asking city council on Monday for some financial assistance.  The program is looking for nearly 15-thousand dollars to pay property taxes for their facility. Our Kids Count says prior to moving into their current building, the property was tax exempt.

PSW Talks Resume Today

It's back to the bargaining table today in a local labour dispute.  About 80 personal service workers with HAGI community services have been off the job for over a week.  They are striking over the issue of wages, and apparently the difference between their union and the employer is 10 cents an hour.    This morning the two sides will be meeting with the help of a mediator who will try to bridge the gap.    The talks are taking place at the Lakehead Labour Centre.   

Bridge Meeting May 30th

There's now a date for the meeting between Fort William First Nation, the City and CN Rail.  The swing bridge discussion will held May 30th at 10 am at City Hall.  Last week, CN officials confirmed that they would be in attendance.

Wynne Launching Platform Sunday

Premier Kathleen Wynne will be in the city this weekend. She'll be in the city on Sunday to launch her party's platform. Wynne will stay the night on Sunday to take part in the northern leader's debate on Monday.

No Return Date For Evacuees

Thunder Bay is still acting as a temporary home to 650 evacuees from the Kashechewan First Nation.  They are here while flood conditions are bad in their community. A return date is not known yet, but Thunder Bay's emergency group are working on a plan on getting the residents back once the all clear is given.

Tickets Handed Out For Smoke Alarms

Thunder Bay's Fire Service is charging the tenants of a Merrill Street and Arundel Street home for smoke alarm violations. The 235 dollar tickets stem from separate incidents in late April and early May. In each blaze it was found that there weren't working smoke alarms in the homes.

Liberals Say Highway Projects At Risk

The provincial Liberals are saying that two highway projects between Thunder Bay and Nipigon are at risk because the opposition did not pass the May 1st budget.   Thunder Bay-Superior North candidate Michael Gravelle is suggesting that the other parties may not carry through with the promise if either one is elected as the new government.  Both the PCs Derek Parks and the NDPs Andrew Foulds are scoffing at that accusation,  saying that they would not stop the projects if elected.

Sellers Market In T.Bay

It's a sellers market still in Thunder Bay.   Canada Mortgage and Housing is out with its spring outlook for the real estate market and Spokesperson Warren Philp says it's been a bidding frenzy for would be buyers. The CMHC expects a 6.5 per cent increase in housing prices this year and a 4.9 percent jump in 2015.

Robbery Suspect In Court Today

A 47 year old man is facing charges of robbery and break and enter. Police arrested him in connection to two separate incidents that occurred overnight Monday at a north core bakery and barber shop.  Officers were able to link the same man to an earlier Mr. Sub robbery that happened on May 16th. The suspect is in custody and will appear in court today.

Local Man Joins Greens

A Thunder Bay man is the new provincial Green party candidate in the riding of Timiskaming-Cochrane. 21-year-old Cody Fraser has jumped into the election race, and says he wants to spread Green views. Fraser says many of the issues in Timiskaming-Cochrane, including mining and road maintenance, are similar to the issues in Thunder Bay. This is Fraser's first political endeavour, but he says that Thunder Bay Green candidates John Northey and Joseph Leblanc are showing him the ropes.

Bear's Body Butchered

The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Anishinabek Police are investigating the dismemberment of a black bear on the Fort William First Nation.  Sgt. Rob Pelltier says the bear's carcass was found near the communities garbage dump on May 21st.  The animal's paws were sawed off and it looks like someone tried to take his tongue out.  Officers want to hear from anyone who may have information about the animal's demise.

Rickford Promotes Pipeline

Kenora MP Greg Rickford is unveiling a new strategy that will focus on pipeline safety.  Speaking in Vancouver last week, Rickford says with the Energy East Project on everyone's minds he is listening to all sides.  Rickford notes Energy East would fall under this new plan focused on compensation, prevention, and preparedness.

Aids Tbay Gets New Name

Aids Thunder Bay is no more.  The organization that provides aids and hepatitis information and support is being re-branded.  The new name for the group will now be "Elevate NWO".

Seniors Games Coming To T.Bay

The Northwest Senior Games are coming up in the City June 2nd to the 5th. Organizer Ruth Racic says 12 events are scheduled throughout the City.  The winners from this year's events will advance to the Ontario Senior Games.

Talks To Resume In PSW Dispute

Good news on the labour front as contract talks are set to resume between striking HAGI community service PSWs and the employer.  Union spokesperson Colby Flank hopes that the administration comes to them with a movement on the wage issue since she says they've been held back for too long.   The talks will be taking place on Friday at the Lakehead Labour Centre.   The close to 80 personal support workers have been striking since last week.