Sawmill parts up for auction

Word that the Atikokan Forest Products Sawmill will be auctioned off at the end of the month isn't sitting well with the candidates in the Thunder Bay Atikokan riding.  MPP Bill Mauro says there's still some hope for that mill.  Both the NDP and Progressive Conservative Candidates in the riding are claiming the Liberal's misguided attempts with the forest industry and wood allocation.  The Ontario Superior Court has given the green light to auction off all equipment and property at the Atikokan and Northern Sawmill in Thunder Bay.

Liberals launch Northern Plan

The Liberals have come out swinging against the NDP and Conservatives lauding their plan for the North over the competition.  Thunder Bay Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro says the other parties are just spouting off rhetoric.  The Liberal plan calls for an increase to the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund and improving the Northern Health Travel Grant.

Housing starts drop in August

It remains a hot year for housing starts in Thunder Bay, despite a small drop last month. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Analyst Warren Philp says there were 26 starts last month, which is a drop of 13 from the same month last year.  Philp says with 171 housing permits taken out in June, he expects the hot construction market to continue this year.

Unemployment holds steady in Thunder Bay

There is no change to our unemployment rate in Thunder Bay.  Our rate stayed steady at 6.2 percent last month which followed the Provincial rate which stayed steady at 7.5 percent.  The National rate increased to 7.3 percent.

Drug bust lands a 21 year old in jail

Another drug bust has landed a 21 year old man in police custody.  The man was arrested after police searched a house on Hamilton Avenue yesterday and found almost 40 thousand dollars worth of Oxycodone pills.

Heat wave breaks records

A heat wave is breaking records across Northwestern Ontario.  New records were set in Red Lake, Ear Falls, Sioux Lookout, Dryden and Kenora yesterday.  With a high of 28 there is a chance more records could fall today.

Arrest made in connection to mugging near the casino

A person is now in police custody in relation to an attack on a 90 year old woman last week.  Thunder Bay Police say a 17 year old boy has been arrested in connection to the attack last Friday that landed the elderly woman in the hospital in critical condition.  The victim has been upgraded to stable.

Horwath rallies troops

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is calling out the Liberal Government for sending out press releases attacking her Northern Ontario platform. Horwath says if the McGuinty Liberals want to attack her policies they can take part in a Northern Ontario specific debate set in the region. Horwath spoke to a crowd of party faithful at the Lakehead Labour Centre Thursday night.

Speeders nabbed the first day of school

City police say too many drivers are speeding near schools. They say on the first day of school this year over 50 tickets were handed out to lead footed drivers. City traffic Sgt. Glenn Porter says he's not surprised saying it usually takes drivers several days to adapt to new situations.  Police say one woman was clocked going almost 100 in a 50 km an hour community safety zone.

LU and Metis Nation sign "historic" agreement

Lakehead University is making its mark in the Aboriginal community with the signing of an agreement with the Metis Nation of Ontario. President Brian Stevenson says the Memorandum of Understanding takes the relationship between the two parties to a new level by opening up more opportunities for Metis students.  LU becomes the 10th postsecondary institution in the Province to sign such an agreement with the Metis.

Liberals attack NDP Northern platform

The Liberals are claiming that the NDP will ban all development in the Far North.  They say the NDP plan to repeal the Far North Act and instead put a climate change plan in place. The Liberals are also against the NDP's mining policy.  Northern Development, Mines and Forestry Minister Michael Gravelle says the NDP mining scheme is bad policy that would hurt foreign investment.  The NDP plan would make it law that resources that can be processed in Ontario won't be shipped away elsewhere.

Bruce Hyer talks Parliament resuming

Members of Parliament head back to work in Ottawa on September 19th.  Thunder Bay Superior North MP Bruce Hyer says his party will be able to carry on former Leader Jack Layton's vision.  The party will look at holding a leadership election in 2012.

CPR is the centre of a new study

An international study on CPR and Defribulation is looking to Thunder Bay Fire and Rescue and Superior North EMS.  EMS Spokesperson Mario Audet says the study's aim is to remove un-needed proceedures to help save lives. Audet says providing CPR and defribulation as soon as possible are vital for saving lives.

Sheelagh Hendrick gets promotion

The City has found someone to cover Crime Prevention Coordinator Amy Siciliano's maternity leave.  Spokesperson Karen Lewis says they've promoted from within.  Sheelagh Hendrick starts her new job September 19th.  Hendrick is currently the Deputy City Clerk.

United Way wants 2.5 million dollars

The United Way is ready to raise funds for the 27 local charities it supports.  Co-Chair Shelley Trewin says this year's goal is just over 2.5 million dollars.  The 2011 fundraising goal was announced at the organization's campaign breakfast Thursday at the Valhalla Inn. 

Police auction off goods

Thunder Bay Police are auctioning off unclaimed property tonight.  60 bikes are up for grabs.  The event kicks off at 6:30 at the police station on Balmoral.

Local author gets recognition

A Thunder Bay author is basking in the limelight after his book was nominated for a Giller Prize.   Michael Christie is one of 17 authors in the country to be nominated for Canada's most prestigious English-language literary award. It's for his book "Beggar's Garden".

Chamber talks provincial election issues

The Provincial election campaign is underway and not everyone seems to be aware of it.  That's the finding of the Chamber of Commerce; President Harold Wilson says some residents are blissfully unaware. Wilson says they hope to raise voter awareness through a candidate survey on their website. Wilson feels creating resource and knowledge based jobs, and the cost of electricity will be hot election topics.

Top 20 under 40

The Chamber of Commerce is accepting applications for the first ever Northwestern Ontario Visionary Awards.  Board Chair Michael Nitz says it's a way to celebrate the rich array of young talent in the region.  The awards will recognize the top 20 under the age of 40.  The awards will be handed out in January, nomination forms are due by October 15th.

Provincial election campaign underway

The Provincial election campaign is officially underway.  We asked residents outside of City Hall what they thought of the upcoming vote.  We head to the polls October 6th.

Tri-party deal inked

Three area First Nations are hailing an agreement signed between them which they say prevents industry from pitting the communities against each other.  The letter of intent involves the Aroland, Ginoogaming and Long Lake 58 First Nations.   The agreement is designed make sure that all of them tell each other about any activities on their lands. 

Burn victim flown to Winnipeg

A Thunder Bay man is now receiving treatment in Winnipeg for burns to his face and hands after a weekend grease fire that fire officials say could have been prevented. They say the Melvin Avenue resident had to be flown out of the city because of the seriousness of the injuries.

PA Stadium loses out to London

Baseball officials in Thunder Bay are taking it in stride. Port Arthur Stadium finished in second place behind London's Labatt Park in voting for Canada's Favourite baseball stadium. Thunder Bay's Larry Hebert says it helped to boost the sport in the city.   About 19 thousand votes were cast in the online poll.

T.Bay man sentenced to 9 years

A 28-year-old Thunder Bay man is looking at up to 9-years in prison for his role in a series of violent, drug-related events.  Steven Nelson Leeson was sentenced Tuesday in connection with events that involved kidnapping, assaulting and intimidating suspected low-level drug dealers. Leeson was sentenced for three counts of unlawful confinement, three counts of aggravated assault, choking someone with a seat belt, using a firearm, kidnapping and assault causing bodily harm.

Naughty Dryden residents

The Dryden Police Service has laid charges of indecent act.  Police located 2-individuals engaging in sex acts in a public place.  Police say the incident occurred on the weekend in broad daylight and note some individuals were offended by the display of public affection.

Leading concussion expert coming to town

Brain Injury Services Northwestern Ontario is calling for better record keeping for concussion victims.  Spokesperson Alice Bellavance says right now there is no way to know how many people have suffered concussions in the area and that needs to change. Bellavance says long term effects from concussions are becoming more and more now and keeping records will be vital in moving forward.  Brain Injury Services Northwestern Ontario is partnering with the District Health Unit to host information sessions October 5th with leading concussion expert Doctor Charles Tator.

T-Wolves training camp underway

The Lakehead University Thunderwolves are on the ice this week at the Tournament Centre for the start of training camp. Coach Joel Scherban says that there are 16 returning players and 10 new ones vying for a roster spot which Scherban says he is in no hurry to finalize. The first game will take place on September 23rd at the Gardens against Trois Rivieres

Accident at Memorial and Central

Thunder Bay Police were kept busy with a motorcycle accident at the intersection of Memorial and Central late Tuesday afternoon.  Police controlled traffic until the scene was cleared. They say the driver of the bike was taken to hospital with injuries that aren't considered a threat to his life.

Help on the way for Pikangikum

The Federal Government says it's taking action to deal with the suicide epidemic on the Pikangikum First Nation. Last week a coroner's report made several recommendations to help the troubled community, including re-building the school. Kenora MP Greg Rickford says they have committed funding for the reconstruction of the school. The Coroner's report dealt with the death of 16-people between the ages of 10 and 19 who killed themselves in Pikangikum, between 2006 and 2008.

Mac's Mart Robberies

Thunder Bay Police are looking into two separate robberies of Mac's Marts over the weekend.  It's alleged that a man pushed an employee in the Oliver Road store after he was confronted about merchandise that was hidden in his shorts.  Police say a woman armed with a syringe robbed the South Waterloo Street Mac's just before 1 Monday.  No one was injured and the woman made off with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Robbery victim is stable

The 90 year old victim of a robbery on Friday is in stable condition.  The elderly woman remains in hospital.  Police are asking for anyone who was in the area of Park Avenue near the Casino to contact them.  The robbery happened Friday evening at the Casino when a man believed to be in his 20's grabbed the woman's purse and pushed her to the ground.

Northern plan in place

Northern Ontario's new tourism organization has a draft plan in place. Board member Doug Reynolds says the plan focuses on marketing, investment, product development and workforce training. The board has been in place since the spring and they'll start working on a strategic plan starting in November.

Alzheimer's Society launches fundraiser

Thunder Bay's Alzheimer Society is celebrating 16 years of "coffee breaks".  Executive Director Alison Denton says the fundraiser is being held throughout the month of September. Anyone interested in holding a coffee break can pick up a kit from the Alzheimer Society office.

New diabetes clinic opens

Getting diabetes care in Northwestern Ontario is easier thanks to a pilot project in Thunder Bay and Sioux Lookout. The Regional and Meno Ya Win hospitals are now home to The Centre for Complex Diabetes Care. Director Dr. Saleem Malik says it will focus on specialized treatment.  St. Joseph's Care Group is also a partner in the project.

Health Unit recommending 2 Chicken Pox Vaccines

To prevent getting Chicken Pox as an adult, the Health Unit is recommending parents get their kids 2 vaccine doses.  Spokesperson Darlene Binette says Health Canada studies are showing a single dose can lead to a loss of immunity as an adult.  Binette says the vaccine is available for kids under the age of 12.

Collision sends one to hospital

Thunder Bay police are investigating a collision that left a motorcyclist in the hospital.  Police say the collision happened at the intersection of Golf Links Road and Harbour Expressway between a motorcycle and a mini van.  The collision happened late Sunday night.

Two grease fires keep crews busy

One man is in hospital with burns after a fire in the North side of the city.  Thunder Bay Fire and Rescue responded to the blaze yesterday afternoon at around 1 and found a man with burns on Melvin Street.  The man suffered the burns when trying to run with a pot of flaming grease outside.  Heavy smoke damage was caused in the house. Later in the afternoon crews responded to a second fire that destroyed a kitchen on the South side.  Officials say a woman was doing some deep frying that got away from her and consumed her kitchen.  No one was hurt in the fire on Limbrick Street.

Hyer training at CFB Trenton

Thunder Bay Superior North MP Bruce Hyer joined Canadian Forces personnel for training at CFB Trenton this week. The training is part of a program for a limited number of parliamentarians to gain better understanding of Canada's military. As a former bush pilot, Hyer says its a honour to be training at 8 Wing Trenton with the Royal Canadian Air Force.

FedNor funding used on intern

A Thunder Bay based geological consulting firm is 27 thousand dollars richer thanks to FedNor funding. FedNor Minister Tony Clement is giving the cash to Fladgate Exploration Consulting. The money will be used to hire a youth intern. FedNor Minister Tony Clement says the intern will help the company expand its services into international markets.

Young thug sends woman to hospital

A 90 year old woman is in critical condition after being robbed in front of the OLG Casino on Friday evening.  Police say that she was thrown to the ground after someone grabbed her purse.  They say the suspect is a man in his 20's or in his teens. A picture has been given to our newsroom to post on our blog.  They are also hoping any witnesses to the robbery come forward with more information.

CFI awards grant to LU prof

Lakehead University Sociology professor, Chris Southcott has been awarded a Leaders Opportunity Fund grant worth $87, 246 dollars. It was given by the Canada Foundation for Innovation. This grant will contribute to research aimed at the sustainable development of natural resources in Canada's Arctic. Southcott's project will establish regional social science labs at Lakehead University. Lakehead University President, Brian Stevenson says " Dr. Southcott's work in the Arctic is a stellar example of how Lakehead University contributes to solving real-world issues that impact populations all around the world."

First Nation communities not in favour of hydro dams

Several First Nation communities in the far North are seeking legal action to stop provincial power contracts to hydro dams on their traditional lands. Grand Council Treaty 3 is concerned that the contracts will have adverse effects on aboriginal and treaty rights and is asking an Ontario court to set them aside. They want a review over what they say was a failure to consult and accommodate treaty harvesting rights by the government in developing the contracts. They claim the ministry of energy ``acted dishonourably'' by ignoring their claims, rights and jurisdiction. The complaint is related to 5-hydro generating plants in Kenora, Norman, Fort Frances, Calm Lake and Sturgeon Falls.

Telehealth coming soon

Over 2-million dollars in North West Local Health Integration Network is going to support "telehealth" in our Region. The money will be used by various organizations to hire 28-new "telemedicine" nurses. More residents will be able to receive care from specialists closer to home. In 2010-2011, the use of telemedicine in Northwestern Ontario resulted in more than 11-million dollars in avoided travel costs and more than 27-million kilometres in avoided patient travel.

Fire hazard drops in NWO

The fire hazard is starting to drop across Northwestern Ontario. Recent rains have reduced the hazard into the low to moderate range in time for the Labor Day Long Weekend. Currently there are just 36 forest fires considered active in the region, two of those popped up in the last 24 hours. The MNR is continuing to be assisted by 80 fire crews from out of the province.

Nishnawbe-Aski Nation drug epidemic

The Nishnawbe-Aski Nation is calling on Ottawa to help stem what its calling an epidemic of prescription drug abuse across Northwestern Ontario. Deputy Grand Chief Mike Metatawabin says it has been 2-years since they declared a state of emergency because of drug abuse, but government response has been minimal. Fox is calling on youth to take up the fight against prescription drug abuse on First Nations. The Bearskin Lake First Nation resident says oxycodone tablets are selling anywhere from 500 to 600-dollars each.

MTO responds

The City of Dryden didn't ask for any financial support to pave Highway 17 through town. That's according to the Ministry of Transportation in response to comments made this week by Mayor Craig Nuttall that the MTO won't pay the full cost of the project. The MTO says the deadline to apply for financial support was last October and the Government received no application from the City of Dryden.

EC investigates Murillo tornado

The possible tornado that hit Murillo and parts of Thunder Bay Friday morning is being called a "down-burst wind event." A preliminary assessment has been conducted by Environment Canada and they plan on investigating the damaging winds further by examining their radar system. Powerful winds damaged property and took down trees in Murillo, while hail was experienced in parts of Thunder Bay.

Buses avoid bridge

Thunder Bay Transit will stop going over the James st. bridge starting September 6th. Instead buses will take Montreal Street to highway 61 and down Chippewa Road. Although this route adds a few minutes, Transit planning analysts say its safer for passengers.

T.Bay Port not slowing down

Thunder Bay's Port Authority is seeing increases in the amount of cargo it sees on a monthly basis. In August, over 789 thousand tonnes of coal, grain, potash, bulk goods and general cargo came through the local port. That's a hundred thousand more tonnes than that same month in the previous year.

Chief re-elected

Ginoogaming First Nation has re-elected its Chief. Celia Echum is back for a third term as the head of the First Nation beating her opponent 127 to 60.

Candidates in Kenora-Rainy River Riding

There could be as many as 5-candidates in the upcoming Provincial election in the Kenora-Rainy River Riding. The Northern Ontario Heritage Party says it has 1-candidate ready to file nomination papers locally. The party is expected to release the name of the candidate in the next few days. Leader of the party, Ed Deibel says they plan to have a candidate in all 11 riding's across Northern Ontario.