Baseball organizers get piece of concession pie

The organizers of the World Junior Baseball championships are getting some of their wishes granted. The group spoke to council about the tournament in May and asked for a number of municipal favours. Thunder Bay city council is allowing them to collect 15 per cent of the concession revenues that would normally go into city coffers. However, council is not waiving rental fees for the Port Arthur Stadium and the cost of lighting for the tournament.

Prince Arthur Landing Contract Awarded

The City of Thunder Bay has awarded almost 14 million dollars to Tom Jones Contracting for phase one of Prince Arthur's Landing.  The contract is still over the original estimate but includes a million dollars in savings through a number of design cuts.  Councillor Rebecca Johnson was concerned about the reductions being made saying she doesn't want the project to lose it's good points to fit into a budget.  Meanwhile, Waterfront Project Manager Katherine Dugmore says that's not the case. Dugmore says the reductions do not take away from the aesthetics of the project.  Reductions include not building a Park Maintenance Building, eliminating the bird control system and reducing the capacity of the ice plant

Child and Youth Victims Awareness Week

It's Child & Youth Victims Awareness Week. Thunder Bay's Counselling Centre paid a visit to city council last night and told councillors about their programs. Co-ordinator Tara Gauld says they've reached out to a large portion of Thunder Bay's population. The counselling centre is taking a youthful approach and takes texts from clients and has a facebook page. The counselling centre is holding an open house this Thursday at its Winnipeg Avenue location.

Council undecided on grain elevator centre

The Friends of Grain Elevators are looking for a location for their proposed grain industry activity centre. A feasibility study funded by council was presented at last night's meeting. The feasibility study shows the grain activity centre probably wouldn't make a profit but could get by with fundraising events. Spokesperson Nancy Perozzo says they want council to help them find a location and pick a theme for the activity centre. Perozzo adds they don't want money from Council they just want the City to help them find funding partners from both levels of government and the grain industry. Councillor Mark Bentz says he's in favour of preserving our grain industry heritage but wants to know the exact costs associated with the project.  The City has ordered a study on the matter before they make a final decision.   The report could come back before council by August or September.

Trade rumours swirl around Patrick Sharp

Thunder Bay's Patrick Sharp is rumoured to be on the trading block. He's barely had any time to savour his Stanley Cup victory with the Chicago Blackhawks and now there's talk he could end up in Toronto or even with Columbus. Sharp says he's under contract with the Blackhawks, but understands that with the salary cap some players may not be coming back. He says we'll have to see what happens in the next couple of days. Meantime for Sharp there's no better feeling than winning the Stanley Cup. He says it's something he's dreamed about since he was 7 years old. He adds that winning the Cup for the fans in Chicago was something special and that the 2 million fans that lined the victory parade route was a record turnout for any sports parade in the Windy City. Sharp is not sure when he'll get the Stanley Cup, but plans to bring it to Thunder Bay when he does.

Waterfront cost reductions identified

About 1 million dollars worth of savings for Prince Arthur's Landing are being presented to city councillors tonight.   It comes after the low bid for the contract  that came in close to 2 million dollars over the 12 and 3 quarter million that was budgeted for.  The savings that officials have come up with include:
-Not building a Park Maintenance Building
-Eliminating the bird control system
-Reducing the capacity of the ice plant
-Changes to materials on the festival storage building
-Modifications to pond decking and
-Reduced lighting over the ice rink and the splash pad.

Robbery suspect re-arrested

City police say they have a man in custody after a prescription drug theft at the Health Sciences Centre on the weekend. Police say the 23 year old is the same person they arrested the weekend before in connection with the Mac's Mart robbery on North Edward Street. He's now been charged with violating the conditions of his release.

Another Mac's robbery-7th in 3 weeks

There is still no rest for convenience store workers in the city. The 7th Mac's Mart robbery in 3 weeks took place on Saturday morning. No one was injured in the incident at the north May Street location that was robbed the day before. Also on the weekend police say they nabbed a man who tried to pose as a police officer at a north side hotel and they arrested a man who tried to rob someone in a south side laneway.

Plasma Centre looking for donors

The push is on to recruit more plasma donors in Thunder Bay. It's national Blood Donor Week and Brian Markic of Canadian Blood Services says they already have about 200 regulars and another 50 would help them meet their yearly goal.  The annual target for donations locally is 11 thousand 500 units.  Pictured:  Doug Woodbeck donates plasma every week.

Staal hopes to ditch the crutches next month

It will be a healthy Jordan Staal that laces up his skates for the Pittsburgh Penguins next season. During the playoffs his foot got cut and says he's on crutches now after two operations. He admits when he returned from the first surgery he came back too soon. That meant a second operation and how he's under doctors orders to stay off his foot. Staal says it should take about a month to heal and then he'll be "good to go." He says it was tough to play through the injury

Pyatt wants to stay a Hab

After his rookie year in the NHL Thunder Bay's Tom Pyatt is looking forward to another season. Pyatt played for the Montreal Canadiens and was a key part of the team's surprising playoff run. He calls their post season performance a team effort. On a personal note Pyatt says he wants to stay a Hab and believes the team wants that too. He hopes to show them what he can do and hopefully sign a contract.

The city may have a new millionaire

There may be another millionaire in Thunder Bay. They just don't know it yet. A winner of the Lotto Max Maximillions prize purchased their ticket in Thunder Bay last week. The 50 million dollar jackpot is still up for grabs but one of the 45 winners of a million dollars was bought in Thunder Bay.

Superstore employees could strike

Unionized workers at Thunder Bay's Superstore have voted in favour of strike action. Around 300 employees voted 82 percent in favour of strike action over the weekend. The workers have been without a contract since March of last year. They have been in legal strike position since May 23rd.

More Bombardier streetcars for T-Dot

The news keeps getting better for Bombardier. The provincially run Metrolinx is ordering more streetcars for Toronto that will be built at the local plant. Transportion Minister Kathleen Wynne made the official announcement to the employees today saying Metrolinx and Bombardier signed a contract worth 770 million dollars for the construction of 182 vehicles with an option for 118 more. The contract will give the plant about 10 more years of work and over 200 more jobs. Pictured: Sitting left to right, Metrolinx President Robert Prichard, Transportation Minister Kathleen Wynne and Bombardier Transporation's North American President Raymond Bachant. Standing, MPP's Bill Mauro and Michael Gravelle.

Volunteer firefighter training happening this weekend

If you see fire fighters out in full force this weekend it doesn't necessarily mean there's a fire. Thunder Bay is playing host to the Ontario Fire College's fire fighter survival, search and resuce, and fire supression course.
Volunteer firefighters from O'Connor, Gillis, East Gorham, Lappe, and other townships are being taught a number of important skills. There will be live fire situations using a fire tower, vehicles, roofs and flammable materials.

Summer HST tolls on First Nations land

A number of First Nations communities are preparing to impose toll fees on traffic passing through their territories over the HST. Anishinabek Nation Chiefs meeting at Fort William First Nation endorsed a resolution directing their bands to begin advertising their intentions for this summer. Native leaders want a point-of-sale tax exemption now given to aboriginal people extended when HST kicks in July 1st.

FedNor cash injection for Thunder Bay

There's FedNor money coming to Thunder Bay. Kenora MP Greg Rickford has announced 1.1 million dollars worth of federal tax dollars for 5 areas. Lakehead University will use the money to build a lab to work with LED lights.  Confederation College gets funding to improve its Geographic Information Systems.   The Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund receives money to provide business loans.   The Northwestern Ontario Development Network will be able to continue to coordinate economic development in the region.   As well, 5 organizations in the city get funding to hire interns.  Critics have said the Harper government is backing away from FedNor, but Rickford says the announcement states otherwise.

Good economic news may be in store

There's a major announcement Monday morning at the Bombardier plant. The company plans to release some news that an official says will be very nice for the city. The news will involve a plan that they say will help shape public transit in the Great Toronto Area and Hamilton. At the announcement will be the president of Metrolinx in Toronto. That's the public Authority that manages transportation in the GTA-Hamilton corridor. Also on hand will be the president of Bombardier Transportation in North America. Add to that list, Ontario's Minister of Transportation Kathleen Wynne and our local MPP's. No one in any official capacity is willing to confirm what the announcement will be about

CMHA receives provincial praise

The Ontario Health Quality Council is praising the local chapter of the Canadian Mental Health Association. Alpha Court, the CMHC, St. Joseph's Care Group and the Health Sciences Centre combined their services. Executive Director Maurice Fortin says their intake and referral process is a provincial success story. The Thunder Bay Mental Health Case Management Intake Collaboration ensures clients tell their story once rather then multiple times to different case workers.

Chamber and NAN see eye to eye on Far North Act

The Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce and NAN are taking the same stand against the province's Far North Act. Chamber President Harold Wilson says the Chamber supports the Nishnawbe Aski Nation recent criticism of the Act and supports their call against restricting development that would benefit the First Nations communities. The bill is currently winding its way through Queens Park.

Thunder Bay's Pagoda is 100 years old

Thunder Bay's Pagoda is 100 years old this week. It's the oldest operating tourist bureau in Canada and a Thunder Bay landmark. The word pagoda was used to describe a small ornamental building and was desighned by local architect H. Russell Halton.

City tourism boss touts web portal

What activities best decribe your experience in Thunder Bay?  The city has launched the new web portal and marketing program "My Tbay" where residents can share their photos, video and stories about Thunder Bay.  Tourism Manager Paul Pepe says people can upload their experiences to the portal or facebook.  The best photo of Thunder Bay will win a prize, to enter log onto www.mytbay.ca

Another robbery at Mac's Convenience Store

Yet another Mac's Mart robbery is under investigation. It's the sixth one since May 22nd. Police say this time the store at 340 North May street was robbed when a man brandishing a knife walked in just after 2 Friday morning. He ran off with cash and cigarettes. No one was hurt.

Hospital angioplasty given high marks

A panel of experts is giving the Angioplasty Program at the Health Sciences Centre it's stamp of approval. The panel calls it a model program. That's welcome news for the hospital's Lori Marshall. She says it means that after reviewing everything about the program they are saying that it's "second to none." The panel says the quality of care at the Regional matches anything you would find in Canada

Money promised for 2nd cath lab

There are smiles all around at the Health Sciences Centre. The provincial government is confirming it will fund the construction of a second catherization lab. MPP Bill Mauro says it's a major committment. He says the McGuinty government is contributing 8 and a half million dollars towards the 12 million dollar construction project. The new lab is expected to be up and running next year.

Chatty drivers charged

Many drivers in Thunder Bay are still breaking the new cell phone law. Sgt. Glenn Porter of the city police says an enforcement blitz this week netted 25 chatty drivers. Porter says some of them had interesting excuses, like "I wasn't really talking, just listening. Do I still get a ticket?" or "The phone just rang and I was only telling them I couldn't talk just now." Police say they used a ghost car to nab many of the offenders.

Police track down B & E suspects

Two sixteen year old boys are in police custody after a couple of Thursday break ins. Police say they used a police dog to track down the two after a couple of stores in the Northwood Mall were entered. The dogs picked up the scent at the scene and tracked the suspected to a home on the 200 block of Kensington Avenue. Police say merchandise was found in the garage and police seized that as well. The two were charged with Break and Enter and one of them was also charged with Breach of Probation.

Shelter House needs food

Shelter House is sending out the S-O-S.   The homeless shelter needs food to sustain its program over the coming weeks.    It's now turning to the public and issuing a plea for donations.  Officials say that there is traditionally a lull in donations over the summer months.    Priority items include:  spaghetti sauce, sugar, salad dressing, meat, canned soup, canned fruits and vegetables and relish. 

Hockey celebs give their time to fight cancer

Thunder Bay's Jordan Staal is one of 32 hockey players taking part in the annual Freedom 55 Hockey Celebrity Golf Classic at the Whitewater Golf Course. It's all in support of cancer care in the region. Here Staal is signing his Pittsburgh Penguin's jersey for auction. In the past four years the event has raised more than 130 thousand dollars for the Northern Cancer Fund.

Treaty Three responds to shooting death

Grand Council Treaty 3 has identified the victim of Monday's shooting incident in downtown Kenora as 39-year-old Helen Proulx. OPP responded to a domestic dispute and an officer arrived and was confronted by a woman wielding a knife, resulting in shots being fired. Treaty 3 officials say Proulx was shot twice by an OPP officer. Treaty 3 questions the use of excessive force and notes Kenora is infamous for poor relations between law enforcement and First Nations people.  Chief Diane Kelly is demanding changes to the way investigations are handled regarding incidents involving Treaty 3 members.  Kelly adds that they want the SIU to conduct a transparent and procedurally fair investigation of the incident.

More work on Highway 11/17

More details are being released on work being done on Highway 11/17. Two new bridges will be built across the Mackenzie River in the Municipality of Shuniah.  Meanwhile, a five kilometre stretch of highway from Hodder Avenue east to Highway 527 will be expanded to four lanes. Other highway improvements will include the construction of a new interchange at Hodder and Copenhagen Road, a new intersection at Highway 527 and Spruce River Road, and the realignment of the Terry Fox Scenic Lookout Access Road.

Conversion of coal plant on track

The head of Ontario Power Generation says the public company remains on track to convert the Thunder Bay coal plant to natural gas. Tom Mitchell says there's been no change in plans and no delays. He says the overall timeline remains the same, to have the plant converted by 2014. Mitchell says they want to make the conversion in "a careful deliberate way, in order to do it safely" and consider "all the different options." He says the priority now is getting the Atikokan plant converted to burn a cleaner fuel then concentrating on Thunder Bay.

OPG plants trees

Visitors to Mission Island Marsh Conservation Area can thank Ontario Power Generation for some recent enhancements to the popular recreation area.  OPG recently funded 14 new trees which were planted near the pavillion this spring. The trees include seven Sienna Glen Red Maple and seven Clump White Paper Birch.

NAN communities need more time

Consultation sessions are scheduled to take place in remote first nation communities next week. The hearings are on the Ontario Government's far north act. Nishinawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Stan Beardy says they need more time to translate the far north document. The far north act recently passed second reading and is subject to further revision prior to the third reading which is scheduled to happen this fall.

Rafferty's pension bill off to committee

Thunder Bay Rainy River MP John Rafferty's private member's pension bill passed second reading this week.  Rafferty says the bill is now headed to committee and should be discussed sometime in October.  Rafferty hopes the bill will be passed into law by Christmas.  The NDP bill aims to change federal bankruptcy rules to give pensioners and laid-off workers of bankrupt companies secured creditor status.

Letowski retires

After over a dozen seasons playing pro hockey, 9 of them in the NHL, Thunder Bay's Trevor Letowski is hanging up the skates. Letowski says he's accepted a position as an assistant coach with the OHL's Sarnia Sting. Looking back he's satisfied with his career as a player.  He prides himself for overcoming a lot of adversity at all levels to prove himself as a professional player.   Letowski leaves the NHL with 84 goals,  117 assists and 209 penalty minutes.   He played with 4 NHL clubs, the Coyotes, Blue Jackets, Canucks and Hurricanes.

Dragon boats hit the water at Boulevard Lake

The Thunder Bay Dragon Boat Festival is going into its 11th year. To date the event has raised 850-thousand dollars for area charities.  This year's benefactors include the Canadian Mental Health Association, St. Joseph's Foundation and the Catholic Family Development Centre.  To register go on-line at http://www.thunderbaydragonboat.com/

Chill set to host Springfield in home opener

The Thunder Bay Chill are getting close to their franchise's first ever sell out tonight for their home opener at Chapples field against Springfield. Co-Captain Nolan Intermoia says his teammates are geared up to play infront of such a large crowd and want to put on a good show. Intermoia says there will be a raffle held to give away two tickets with air fare, for a Toronto FC game. A portion of the proceeds will go towards the Arthritis Society.

Horwath's unfair tax tour in Thunder Bay

The leader of Ontario's NDP paid a visit to Thunder Bay today. Andrea Horwath spoke to residents about the impact the harmonized sales tax will have on their families. She says the HST will cost families an extra 800 dollars and the hst rebate cheques will not offset the extra cost.  Horwath also spoke to health care workers and took time to take a shot at the local health integration networks. She feels the lhin's are another layer of beaurocracy that's not helping area communities.  The NDP leader is currently on her "unfair tax" tour.  Horwath says the hst rebate cheques will not offset the extra costs associated with the new merged tax.

Contract awarded for highway work

Pioneer Construction of Sudbury is the winner of a contract to make improvements to an 8 kilometre stretch of Highway 11/17 near Thunder Bay. The 3.2 million dollar contract will include repaving and new drainage and grading of the stretch located near Highway 587. Work is expected to be completed in October.

Grease fire sends one person to hospital

An elderly woman is being treated for smoke inhalation after a fire on Wednesday afternoon. It took place in an apartment building on Walkover Street at around 2:30. An official says it was a grease fire on a stove. They say that after leaving the apartment, for some unknown reason, woman went back in. That's when she inhaled some smoke and needed to be taken to the Health Sciences Centre for treatment. There is minor damage to the apartment.

Go Electric

A Southern Ontario man is travelling across Canada on an electric bike. Art Burns left Dundas, Ontario at the end of May, and hopes to be in Langley, B.C. by June 22nd.  Burns who was in Thunder Bay today says he's travelling across the nation to promote green transportation.  Burns is driving a bike which is equipped with a small generator to charge its lithium batteries.  Art will be in Dryden late Thursday night and in Kenora on Friday.

New Student Trustee for Public Board

There is a new Student Trustee on the Lakehead Public School Board.    Stephanie Philp is a grade 10 student at Westgate Collegiate.   She replaces outgoing Student Trustee Ann Paterson who happens to attend Westgate as well.   Philp says she looks forward to the challenges and experiences that will come with the position.

Cats player selected in MLB draft

Border Cats third baseman/pitcher A.J. Schugel was selected Tuesday in the Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft. The 21 year old was chosen in the 25th round, 774th overall, by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He just completed his sophomore season at Central Arizona College and is scheduled to transfer this fall to the University ofNew Mexico. Schugel is in his second season with the Border Cats. In 2009, he played in 63 games and batted .261 with four home runs and a team leading 33 runs batted in.

"Nude" Protester at LUSH in Mall

A Thunder Bay woman bared all during a protest at LUSH fresh Cosmetics at the Intercity Mall this morning.  Megan Quinn is an employee of the company and decided to hand out leaflets about the hazardous impacts Alberta's tar sands have on the environment.  Passerby's were greeted by Quinn and other staff members and asked to fill out a postcard to Prime Minister Harper demanding he put an end to the tar sands.  Quinn says she wanted to raise awareness about the cause and adds if it takes getting naked, than she'll pose in a barrel semi nude.

Churchill students paired with the elderly

Some students from Churchill High School are more in tune with our seniors. They've just completed a program that paired them with seniors at Grandview Lodge. Student Tiffany Schebesch says it's taught her about responsibility. She says it's good to give back to the community, noting that many teenagers think only of themselves. The program included trips to concerts, a spa and a family dinner. Pictured: Student Jordan Lovis shown with his senior partner Nellie

Ice Edge stands alone in bid to buy NHL team

Ice Edge Holding is now the sole runner in the race to buy the Phoenix Coyotes. Ice Edge was given exclusive rights with the city of Glendale at Tuesday nights city council meeting. Anthony Leblanc says the next step is to come to a lease agreement and then purchase the team from the NHL. Leblanc says moving the Coyote's farm team to Thunder Bay is still part of their plans for the franchise.

Highway animal collisions are on the rise

Thunder Bay OPP are encouraging everyone to watch out for animals on the highways. Since May 1st, there has been almost 40 collisions reported involving deer, moose and bears in the area. The majority of the accidents involved deer. Officers remind drivers to watch closely in marked areas where animals are commonly sighted.

A salty stuck in Thunder Bay

Delays of wheat shipments from the prairies has forced the ocean going ship Federal Danube, to sit and wait in the Thunder Bay Harbour. Officials at Lakehead shipping say wheat shipments bound for Italy are expected to arrive this weekend. The Federal Danube arrived in Thunder Bay last Monday.