Avis decries centre closures

The Mayor of Fort Frances is trying to arrange a meeting with Ontario's Tourism Minister to talk about the pending closure of the region's tourist information centres. Roy Avis understands the government's need to save money, but wants to know if there's other options to keep the centers open. A resolution calling for the centres in Fort Frances, Kenora and Rainy River to remain open will also be discussed at the upcoming meeting of area Mayors in Kenora.

Event Centre open house round 2

Residents have another chance to learn more about the proposed Events Centre.  The consulting team behind the facility is hosting its second Open House Wednesday afternoon and will present a more in depth business plan for each of the 3 locations.  Lead Consultant Conrad Boychuk says the economic impact study is starting to come together but still needs to look at a lot of different components.  The meeting gets underway at 3 o'clock at the DaVinci Centre and will have 2 presentations from the consultants at 4 and again at 7.

Police arrest 2 during bust

Two people are behind bars after a drug bust last week.  Police seized about 28 hundred dollars worth of cocaine and also took in about 40 thousand dollars worth of assests from the pair last Thursday.  A 32 year old woman and a 48 year old man are facing several charges each.

RBC rewards innovation

The RBC Innovation Awards are honouring Northwestern Ontario businesses.  The 4th annual RBC Innovation Awards were handed out this afternoon and Spokesperson Judy Sanders says there was stiff competition this year.  Barb Courte is the award recipient in the Innovation Hero of the Year category. The Meaglow Semiconductor Research Reactor is the award recipient in the Innovative Project of the Year category and  Global Hydration is the award recipient in the Innovative Company of the Year category.

Car dealer embarks on fundraiser

When you buy a vehicle at Badanai Motors over the next year you'll be helping build the new Ronald McDonald House in Toronto. George Badanai says the fundraiser is the result of a request from officials at the facility which houses out of town families whose children need extended care at Sick Children's Hospital. He says they committed to raising 50 thousand dollars.   Badanai says 100 dollars from every vehicle sold will go toward the cause.

Hair Cuts for Cancer

Cops for Cancer is encouraging more people to participate in this year's fundraising event. Volunteer Jesse Pyatt was more than happy to cut his hair for Cancer Research. The event will be held at Intercity Mall on May 12th.

Inspectors at fatality scene

The investigation into a fatal industrial accident yesterday afternoon remains in the early stages. Matt Blajer of the Ministry of Labour says a worker was killed after he was run over by a dump truck that was backing up at a construction site.  He says the worker was employed by L-T-L Contracting. Blajer says there are at least two inspectors at the scene of the accident at Oliver Road and Golf Links Road.

Michael Chan wanted in NWO

Ontario's Tourism Minister is a much wanted man.  The mayor of Fort Frances is the latest to seek a meeting with Michael Chan to discuss ways of keeping the region's tourist information centre open.  Roy Avis says that meet should happen with other municipal leaders.  Avis says there might be an opportunity to strike a business venture with the province that keeps the doors open at centres in Fort Frances, Kenora and Rainy River.

Attawapiskat update

The remote Northern First Nation of Attawapiskat is going back to co-management status.  The Federal Government says its pulling the third-party manager who had been handling the finances of the troubled reserve.  The Aboriginal Affairs office says Jacques Marion is being withdrawn because of progress in reserve management.  A transition of power will take place over the next two weeks.

3 young men in police custody

Police have three young men in custody this morning after an alarm sounded for a break and enter to a County Boulevard home last night.  Officers used a K9 unit to track the suspects and located some of the stolen property.  The three young men are being charged with break, enter and commit theft, and breach of probation.

Chamber supports Mauro bill

The Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce is throwing its support behind a local politician's efforts to help the wood industry in the north.   MPP Bill Mauro's private members bill would promote wood as a main construction material in provincially funded buildings.  The Chamber says its members have taken a similar stand and will to take it to the Ontario Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting next month.

Industrial accident results fatality

A worker is dead after being involved in an industrial accident this afternoon in the city. Police Staff Sgt. Frank Early says it took place around 1:30 at the Thunder Bay Country Club construction site on Oliver Road. Sgt. Early believes the man may have been struck by a dump truck. He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead. Police say they have secured the site until the Ministry of Labour investigates. No name has been released. 

Local operator applying for ONTC routes

A Thunder Bay company wants to fill the void when Ontario Northland Transportation stops providing service in northern Ontario. Sandy Smith of Caribou Coach says they are applying to the province to begin operate busing services to residents east of Hearst on Highway 11. Smith says when ONTC lowers the boom his company wants to be there to keep services seamless.   The province is winding down Ontario Northland train and bus service to help balance the government's budget.

G.C. Treaty 3 miffed at talk of miner "revolt"

Grand Council Treaty 3 says the controversial "Miners United" group will not be tolerated. The group of junior mining companies reportedly met recently to discuss a "revolt" against First Nation communities.Grand Chief Diane Kelly says comments made are totally unacceptable as they depicted community leaders as greedy and money-hungry. Kelly says aboriginals are simply protectors of the land. She agrees the Crown must do more under the Mining Act but stresses Treaty 3 has developed strong partnerships with mining companies because of their commitment to work together.

Michael Antcliffe releases book

A local Cancer fundraising advocate is releasing a new book this week.  Michael Antcliffe's book "You'll never guess who's dying from cancer" will be launched at Chapters on Saturday.   Antcliffe has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and helped raise 10 thousand dollars for the Northern Cancer fund through his Facebook campaign.

Gravelle wants travel grant program to be more flexible

Thunder Bay MPP Michael Gravelle would like to see the Northern Ontario Travel Grant program review claims on a case by case basis.  It stems from a claim that was rejected from a Thunder Bay woman who received cancer surgery that was available in Calgary.  Gravelle sent a letter to the Ministry of Health requesting the local woman's claim be reconsidered.

Hospital has high readmission rate

A recent report shows the Regional Hospital has a high readmission rate.  Spokesperson Laurie Marshall says that's because people who don't have family doctors are often forced to come back to the ER for their follow up visit.  Marshall says they're working on lowering the rate of readmissions while still giving care to those who need it.

Tourism Centre Closure talk

Local tourism officials say they haven't heard anything from the Ministry of Tourism about why its closing down three tourist information centers in northwestern Ontario. Gerry Cariou from Ontario Sunset Country says the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership sent out a letter explaining the closures last week. He suggests the only way the centers will stay open is if local municipalities take them over.

Rock climber not harmed after getting caught

A local rock climber is in good condition after she was rescued from the bluffs at Centennial Park yesterday.  She got her arm stuck in some rocks on the way down and couldn't get it out on her own.  Police found a trail to her and with the help of EMS were able to free her arm from the rocks.  She had no serious injuries and left without any medical treatment.

T.Bay Hydro restores power to south side

South Side residents have their power back!  It was off from 9:30 until just after 11 today.  The power outage was caused by equipment failure in the McNaughton area.

Hydro reports power outage

Thunder Bay Hydro is reporting a power outage on the City's south side.  Hydro doesn't know what the cause of the outage is or when they might be able to restore power.  The reporting hotline says most of Fort William is without power.  Hydro crews are working on restoring the power.Outages have been reported in the following areas: West of Syndicate Avenue, East of Vickers, North of Walsh up to Miles. Also off are areas North of Miles, East of Vickers, West of Simpson and South of William including the East end area. Areas West of Syndicate Avenue are also having power difficulties.

Amalgamation Talks Worry School Board

There are renewed fears in the Fort Frances area that the Rainy River District School Board could be caught in another amalgamation. Board Chair Mike Lewis says a merger is identified in the Provincial budget. Lewis says the only board it could merge with is the Keewatin-Patricia School Board, an idea rejected in 1997. Lewis is also urging residents and communities to speak up in opposition.

First Nation Agreement With Rainy River Resources

Rainy River Resources has a key agreement in place with six area First Nation communities. It sets out a series of benefits the communities will receive out of the company's gold mining operations north of Barwick. President Raymond Threlkeld says it ensures ongoing cooperation and communication. First Nations will also get employment and training opportunities through the company, as well as shares in the company.

Fire on Hazelwood Dr.

Thunder Bay's Fire Department spent several hours battling a brush fire that started on a hydro line yesterday in the City's rural area. Platoon Chief Dave Long says around 5 o'clock Saturday they were called to a fire just off of Hazelwood Drive north of Dawson Road. Long says it was a stubborn fire to put out simply because it was off-road and difficult to get equipment in. Friday night there was a brush fire on Mission Island.

7 Year Old Fine After Accident

A 7 year old boy is in good condition with only a scratched knee after he was hit by a van yesterday afternoon. The incident happened on River Street and Police say it was a very minor accident.

Local Sports Round-up

They will play a sixth game in the Superior International Junior Hockey League Final. Last night the Wisconsin Wilderness posted a 3-1 win over the Fort Frances Lakers. Fort Frances still leads the best of 7 series 3 games to 2. Game six is set for tomorrow night back in Fort Frances. The winner of that series advances to the Dudley Hewitt Cup.

Former Lakehead University Thunderwolves hockey star Jeff Richards scored a natural hat trick in the second period propelling the Kenora Thistles to a 6-1 win over Dundas yesterday. The Thistles now advance to the Allan Cup which will be played starting April 16th in Lloydminster.

The Ontario Hockey League held its draft yesterday and Thunder Bay Kings netminder Mackenzie Blackwood was the highest player selected out of Northern Ontario player selected. Blackwood was taken 99th overall by the Barrie Colts in the fifth round.

Band Still Taking Government to Court

The Attawapiskat First Nation is welcoming the news that Ottawa is removing the third party who has been handling the reserve's finances. They are however pushing ahead with legal action against the Federal Government, launched last year, to try and block the initial appointment. The band wants courts to refute Prime Minister Stephen Harper's allegation that the Northern Ontario band mismanaged federal funds during their housing crisis.

Seniors Want to Save Pensions

They're mad as hell and they aren't going to take it any more. A group of seniors in Northwestern Ontario is organizing to help protect their hard earned pensions. Allan Bedard is spear-heading the move and says the issue started up a couple of years ago surrounding the fate of the pensions of Abitibi workers. Bedard says they are also upset that the Federal Government has decided to increase the age of eligibility for Old Age Security to 67 from 65.

New Health Care Network Innitiative Launched

Greater cooperation! That's what the Kenora Chiefs Advisory is hoping to accomplish with a new health care blueprint introduced last week by the North West Local Health Integration Network. Executive Director Joe Barnes says he's excited about the future. Barnes says for too long, heath care groups have been working on their own.

N.W.O. Fire Hazard Grows

The fire hazard is growing in Northwestern Ontario with the recent, warm, dry weather. Ministry of Natural Resources Information officer Debbie McLean says crews will be on alert this Easter Long weekend. She is urging people to use extreme caution with flammable materials in the wilderness. A fire in Lac Lu on the Minaki Highway on Thursday destroyed an old abandoned log home. Its estimated the log cabin was more than 130 years old.

Brush Fire on Mission Island

Thunder Bay's Fire Department spent it's Good Friday dealing with a brush fire on Mission Island last night. 9 crew members were called to the blaze just after 11 o'clock and were able to put it out. A fire spokesperson says the fire was a good size when they arrived and the wind helped to keep it contained.

Feds pull financial manager from Attawapiskat

Ottawa says it's pulling the third-party manager who had been handling the finances of the troubled Attawapiskat First Nation.  The federal government says there's been an improvement in reserve management, so it's withdrawing the third party manager.  It stems from when the First Nation declared a State of Emergency in the fall over a lack of housing. 

L.U. Basketball Adds Three Players

The Lakehead University women's basketball program announced the addition of three players to the roster for the upcoming year. Rachael Bland of England, Gabrielle Robin of New Brunswick and Thunder Bay's Jessica De Haan have all formally announced their commitments to join the Thunderwolves.

School bus accident in Oliver Paipoonge

A motorist is charged in an accident yesterday involving a school bus full of children.  Police were called to Harston Road in Oliver Paipoonge after a bus was hit by another vehicle and went off the road.  The kids and bus driver were uninjured, with only some minor scratches being reported. The driver faces a charge of careless driving.

Fire kills over a hundred cows

A barn fire in Olver Paipoonge has left a large amount of cattle dead.  Farm Owner Peter Aalbers says over 120 cows were killed in the fire that destroyed his barn.  Aalbers says by the time they noticed the fire black smoke was coming out the windows and nothing could be done to save the animals.  No word on what the cause of the blaze could be.

Oliver avoids protest, talks EAP

Local protesters are disappointed they didn't get to greet federal Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver when he arrived for a speech at the Valhalla Inn. Oliver managed to make it through a back entrance saying he wanted to avoid the demonstrators, who were upset over various Harper government policies. Meantime, while in Thunder Bay, Oliver defended the Harper government's decision to streamline the environmental approval process in Canada. He says it will help to get many important projects on track without the long wait. Earlier in the day Oliver toured a mineral testing lab.

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Mauro demoted

Sgt. James Mauro is going to be demoted to the rank of first class Constable.  The demotion will last twelve months.  The verdict came down this morning in the Police Service Act hearing being held at the Valhalla Inn.

Possible DMTS Tbay Tel team up

The City of Dryden is speaking with TBay Tel about a possible deal to purchase the municipal telephone service.  Mayor Craig Nuttall has confirmed that the two have been in discussions.  However, Nuttall notes that they are keeping an open mind.  Nuttall says they are looking at the best possible deal for the citizens of Dryden and they want to make sure their telephone service is still operating.

Racing crash update

Thunder Bay Police are charging the driver involved in a drag race around North James Street yesterday afternoon.  The driver of a blue Volkswagen lost control of the vehicle as it took the corner and collided with a tree on the boulevard. The 17 year old driver and his 20 year old passenger were treated for their injuries and are reported to be in good condition.  Six charges are being laid including racing, careless driving, driving while suspended, operating a motor vehicle without insurance, failing to notify a change of address, and using an unauthorized license plate.  Police are still looking for the other vehicle involved in the race.

Jobless rates released

Thunder Bay's jobless rate is on the decline.  March's rate went down point 3 percent to sit at 5.3.  The national unemployment rate was 7.2 per cent in March.

Garage fire on Regina Avenue

Police are looking for a suspect in a case of arson this morning on Regina Avenue.  Fire Crews were called to a shed fire just after 6:50 this morning.  A snow blower and lawn furniture were damaged.  Fire Fighters were also called to a grass fire around four this morning in the same area where witnesses say they saw a suspicious male leaving the area.  The suspect is described as being a 20 year old man, 5'9" with a thin build and dark hair.  He was wearing jeans and a dark coat with a hood and white running shoes.

Racing a factor in accident: Police

Two people are hurt, but not seriously, as the result of a single vehicle accident on James Street near Ryerson Crescent late Wednesday afternoon. Police say that one of the victims was taken to hospital as a precaution. They say racing was a factor in the mishap.

Police to honour their own

On Thursday, 16 members of the Thunder Bay Police Service will be honoured for their long service. 3 different awards will be handed out to recognize outstanding achievements in different categories, the exemplary service medal, exemplary service bar and dedication to service award. The awards will be given out at around 8:30 at the Valhalla Inn.

Mauro bill promotes wood use

Bill Mauro is introducing legislation to promote the use of wood in new government funded buildings. The Thunder Bay MPP says his private members bill is designed to help the struggling forest products industry after it was stung by the collapse in the U-S housing and newsprint markets.  Mauro's bill would also increase the maximum height of wood frame buildings from 4 to 6 stories.

Hyer mourns loss of Katimavik

Saying he's sad to see it go, MP Bruce Hyer is blasting the Harper government's decision to put an end to a taxpayer funded youth volunteer program. Hyer says the move to axe Katimavik is pure partisan politics.  He says the government is throwing students "under the bus" on this one.   Hyer calls Katimavik one of the bright lights on the Canadian scene.

Ontario Human Rights hearing

A hearing being held in Thunder Bay today is looking at Ontario's Human Rights programs.  Toronto Lawyer Andrew Pinto is the Chair of the review board and says Northerners are telling him more needs to be done.  The City's Urban Aboriginal Strategy Spokesperson Beth Ponka says they need an outreach program for First Nations to help them speak out about racism.  30 local organizations are speaking out at today's meeting.

Marathon route changes

There's a new route for the Miles with the Giant Marathon. The full 26.2 mile loop will start and finish at Prince Arthur's landing and takes in Lakehead University and Boulevard Lake. President Barry Streib says the new course will bring in more participants and is set to be certified as a Boston qualifier. To view the new course you can go here

CBS won't back down

Canadian Blood Services isn't backing down from its plans to shut down the local plasma donation centre.  The word comes after City Council sent a letter asking them to reconsider.  Ian Mumford is a spokesperson with CBS and says the closure will take effect on Thursday of next week.

Dryden says DMTS doing ok

The City of Dryden says DMTS is still very much in business. The audited 2011 financial statements have been released and Dryden Mobility has incurred losses to date of over 8.3-million dollars. That includes an operating loss for 2011 of more than 3.7-million. City Manager Joe Van Koeverden admits they have had financial difficulty in delivering cell service to the area. He notes the chosen technology, in the end, has fallen far short of what was promised and staff are aggressively pursuing replacement opportunities.

Break and Enter on Limbrick Street

Police are investigating a break and enter on Limbrick Street early this morning. A man armed with a knife broke into the home at around 1:48. Police say he appeared to be drunk and didn't know who or what he was looking for. A resident of the home called police from an upstairs room while others tried to get him to leave the residence. He's been taken into custody and is charged with breaking and entering with a dangerous weapon.

Prospectors meeting in Thunder Bay

Prospectors from across the Province are in Thunder Bay today for the final day of their annual conference.  Today delegates will hear updates on several Ring of Fire projects.  The Northwestern Ontario Mines and Minerals Symposium is taking place at the Valhalla Inn.