Highway Closures

OPP say Highway 102 has been reduced to one lane at Strawberry Creek Hill following an incident where a tractor trailer hit several guide rails before sliding off the road into a ditch. The driver of the vehicle is recovering from non-life threatening injuries. Also Highway 11 west of Geraldton has been reduced to one lane following a collision.

Flu Death Reported

The Health Unit is reporting that another person has died from the flu bringing the total number of influenza related deaths to six. There are also currently 93 lab-confirmed cases of the flu in the Thunder Bay area.

Boil Water Advisory For Armstrong

The Health Unit is issuing a boil water advisory for Armstrong residents drinking water from their Water Treatment Plant.  Armstrong Local Services Board notified the Health Unit of a mechanical failure at the Water Treatment Plant, which may have compromised the quality of the water supply. The advisory will remain in effect until the Health Unit is confident the water treatment plant is capable of providing safe drinking water.

SUV Driver Charged

Thunder Bay Police are charging the 53 year old driver of an SUV with a turning violation after a collision on Golf Links Road this morning. The SUV hit a school bus this morning sending the woman driving the SUV to the hospital with minor injuries. Nobody on the bus was injured.

Classic Tournament Gets Sponsors

The Thunder Bay's PGA Canada Classic is taking shape with two new sponsors being announced. Executive Director Scott Smith says the Valhalla Inn has come on board to help with this summer's event as a sponsor and as the tournament's official hotel.  The Chamber of Commerce has also come on board as a sponsor pledging 12-thousand dollars.

Passenger Volumes Increased

Thunder Bay's Airport is reporting higher passenger volumes in 2013.  President Scott McFadden says last year over 779-thousand passengers flew in and out of the City. McFadden attributes the 2.4 percent increase to the arrival of United Airlines and new flights offered by Wasaya.

HWY 17 Open

Highway 17 at Breezy point road East of Ignace is now open to both lanes of traffic.  It was closed for part of today due to multiple motor vehicle collisions. No injuries have been reported.

HWY 61 Open

Highway 61 just South of Riverdale Road is now open to traffic after it was closed following an accident this morning. A 71 year old man was sent to the hospital with serious injuries after the driver of a Toyota Corolla slid into him.  OPP Constable Diana Cole says it's a situation of wrong place at the wrong time. The driver of the vehicle wasn't injured and the vehicle sustained extensive damage.  The investigation is continuing.

Airport Premium Parking

Thunder Bay's Airport is introducing a new long term parking system.  It includes spaces in the short term parking area for the price of 20 bucks a day. President Scott McFadden says the most recent expansion of the parking lot increased the number of spaces available to the door.

LU Gets Cash

Lakehead University is getting 132 thousand dollars from the Canada Foundation for Innovation. The money will be used to purchase equipment that researchers will use to take waste from the forest industry and create environmentally friendly chemicals for mine rehabilitation.

ATU Negotiations On Today

Talks are scheduled today and tomorrow with the Amalgamated Transit Union and the City.  President Sheila Kivisto says she's optimistic a deal can be reached.   If an agreement isn't reached by January 20th the local transit workers will be in a legal strike position.

Health Unit Board New Chair

There's a new Chair and Vice Chair at the Board of Health. Norm Gale is heading up the Health Unit's board and Joe Virdiramo will act as his second. The board elections took place on Wednesday.

Highway Safety Site Launched

The OPP's new Highway Safety Education Committee is launching a Safe Winter Driving Campaign. The group was formed last year and is launching a website courtesy of funding from the Ministry of Transportation.  Sgt. Dave Bel says they've identified road user safety issues. The MTO funding also allowed the group to develop a safe winter driving strategy for the region which they'll promote through the new website.