The Red Cross and Half Way Motors are teaming up to raise money for Japan. Owner John Trevisanutto says they decided to start fundraising because they feel a kinship with the country. Donations can be made at Halfway Motors; the company will match funds up to 5-thousand dollars.
An outbreak at the Grandview Lodge Long Term Care centre is over. The building was shut down earlier in the week and caused the health unit to cancel visitation.
The situation in the middle east continues to spiral out of control. Lakehead University Political Science expert Laure Paquette says its hard to get an accurate read on the situation in Libya. The pro democracy forces are becoming organized but not much is known about their situation, while pro Gadhafi forces are claiming to be making gains. The problem is, many of the reports are coming from Gadhafi forces. Paquette says the situation in Bahrain is even more frightening were government forces are apparently killing protesters in an attempt to get them to stop.
The Border Cats have added 4 more players for the upcoming season, First baseman Kevin Taylor, outfielder Eric Aguilera, Pitcher Donnie White and Shortstop Jake MacWilliam.
No one was hurt in a fire in Westfort. Fire Crews were called to a house on Christina St just before noon when a neighbour spotted smoke coming from the house in the 100 block of the street. The neighbour entered the house to retrieve a dog before crews arrived.
The Chamber of Commerce isn't surprised the Province decided to eliminate the Northern Development Corporation. President Harold Wilson says he saw the axe dropping for some time now. Wilson says the corporation hasn't been active for over ten years. Wilson adds he isn't surprised the northern grow bond program didn't catch on; since the government refused to run it the way the Chamber suggested.
A new cancer screening program from the Cancer Centre is now a reality. It's aim is to reach First Nations adults in the northwest and others who don't have access to such services according to Regional Cancer Care CEO Michael Power. The northwest is getting 100 thousand dollars from Cancer Care Ontario for the new program
Thunder Bay Police helped save the life of a Texas teen. A 14 year old teen was playing XBOX online when he read comments from another player saying he was going to hurt himself. Spokesperson Chris Adams says an officer was sent to the teens house to talk over the XBOX system. After 2 hours of negotiation the teen agreed to speak with his parents about his intentions. The American teen's parents were in disbelief and grateful for the intervention.
Power should be back on for about 200 Thunder Bay hydro customers in the Grandview area. A tree falling on two power lines at around 7 this morning caused the outage. It forced the closure of the 55 Plus Centre and also affected the Grandview Arena
A sudden death in Sioux Lookout is being investigated by the province's Special Investigations Unit. The OPP says a man was arrested for being drunk in public and went into medical distress yesterday afternoon. He was taken to the Health Centre where he was pronounced dead.
An outbreak at the Thunder Bay Interim Long Term Care centre has shut down the building. The Health Unit says all admissions, transfers, visitations and discharges have been cancelled.
The Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says it's been in contact with the owner of some distressed farm animals. Alison Cross says they are working with the Thunder Bay area resident to give the animals the care they require. She says their agents have been on the property and a compliance order has been issued as part of the probe but no charges have been laid.
The Ministry of the Attorney General says it is currently working with First Nations in the north to get better representation on jury rolls. It says to date 15 forums have been held with Grand Council Treaty # 3 and the Anishinabek First Nations. The ministry says the forums have been well received and says efforts in this area are ongoing. The issue became a hot button topic this week when a judge dismissed a jury pool in a local murder trial after she deemed there wasn't enough Aboriginal representation from the district.
AbitibiBowater has signed an agreement with the Ontario Power Authority that will see them provide clean energy. The company is increasing its electricity generation capacity by 40 megawatts. Company General Manager Doug Murray says 9.6 million dollars comes from the province and it's Forest Prosperity Fund.
The Provincial government is doing away with 11 of its agencies as away of saving cash. NDP Critic Howard Hampton says it's strange that the Liberals heralded these programs just a couple of years ago. The Northern Ontario Development Corporation is being scrapped. The Northern Grow bonds committee and program is also getting the axe.
The NDP's Natural Resources Critic is happy to hear the province has helped AbitibiBowater with its biomass project. However, Howard Hampton says it's good news for the Thunder Bay employees but the announcement probably offends others whose mills are out of business. Hampton says no new announcements can change the fact that the Liberals have ignored Northern Ontario and the jobs crisis for the last eight years.
Thunder Bay's Airport continues to set new records for annual passenger traffic. President Scott McFadden says they saw a 2.4 percent increase in passenger volumes. McFadded attributes the increase in passengers to the companies offering trips to warm destinations.
Hearst council wants to change it's municipal pledge of allegiance. The small mostly french speaking community wants councillors to have a choice between swearing allegiance to the Queen or the Country. Councillor Andre Rheaume feels the change will be made noting the new oath of office wouldn't do away with the Queen it would just give councillors a choice. The Ministry f Municipal Affairs is looking into it but has said that it's not a current priority.
The CNIB is expected to get it's contract renewed with the Health Unit to provide services for blind children in the city. The Health Unit's Cathy Farrell says the 3 year old program helps about a dozen kids. She says while there number of children affected is small the impact is huge. The 36 thousand dollar program goes before the board for it's approval Tuesday.
A Health Unit official is hoping the provincial government will again fund a speech language program. Cathy Farrell says one time funding for the program runs out at the end of the month. She says it's proven to be successful for children under 30 months and there is a waiting list for the services. Farrell makes a presentation to the board Tuesday on the program.
Photos of what we are told are distressed animals in the Thunder Bay area are posted on Facebook. The series of images depict horses and cows which appear to have various forms of disease. The sames pictures have been sent to our newsroom by a concerned listener. The Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says that the investigation is ongoing and it's too early to release any information at this time.
The Thunder Bay Red Cross so far is only collecting donations for Japanese Relief efforts. Red Cross Thunder Bay Spokesperson Ken Widdifield says for the time being no Canadian Red Cross members are headed to the Tsunami and Quake ravaged country. Right now the Japanese Red Cross is assessing their needs and until they are determined no Canadian Red Cross members will be heading overseas. Widdifield says you can make a donation at the Red Cross office, over the phone or by going online.
A Thunder Bay woman is still waiting to hear from her parents in Japan. Hiroko Bekki Moller hasn't been able to reach her parents since Friday's Tsunami hit the area of Japan where her parents live. She says all she can do is wait and hope. Moller says she's trying to keep a positive outlook and hopes with some cellular coverage opening up she'll hear from her parents soon.
The LU Thunderwolves men's basketball finished off their season on a high note winning the consolation side of the CIS National Championships. LU beat Dalhousie University 84-80 to finish 5th in the country. The team the Wolves lost to in their opening game Trinity Western fell in the final against Carleton 82-59. It is Carleton's 7th Championship in 9 years.
