Armed Robbery Suspect Arrested

A suspect in an armed robbery at a Shell gas station on West Arthur Street earlier this week is now behind bars. City police picked up a man last night on Highway 130 just before midnight after releasing images to the media of a man they believed was responsible for the Tuesday afternoon robbery. The arrest was made without incident. Police now say the man will make an appearance in video court today.

TBaytel Takes Over Mobility In Dryden

The City of Dryden has approved the sale of Dryden Mobility and DMTS. Council unanimously voted at last night's open meeting that TBaytel will take over mobility and DMTS services will go to Bell Alliant. Mayor Craig Nuttall says the equipment for Bell Alliant is already in place. TBaytel will claim full ownership of mobility services by October 22 and Bell will take over landline and internet services on January 1st.

Thunderwolves Take On Wesmen

The Lakehead Thunderwolves men's basketball team begins a special 2 game series against the Winnipeg Wesmen starting tonight at the L.U. Thunderdome. Tip-off is set for 7:00 o'clock. The men's team is coming off a convincing 2-game sweep of Brandon last week in front of a raucous crowd at the Thunderdome.

Quality Market Is A Winner

A local independent grocery store is being honoured by its National peers.  Quality Market was awarded the Top Independent Grocer of the Year award by the organizing body of the same name.  Dan and David Stezenko beat out other competitors from Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Northern Ontario.

Police Looking For Armed Robbery Suspect

Thunder Bay Police are looking for an older man with shaggy blonde hair in connection to an armed robbery of the Shell Gas Station on West Arthur Street.  Police say the suspect is 5'7, 140 pounds and between 50 and 60 years old.  He was wearing a brown Carhardt jacket with hoodie, brown pants and a Budweiser hat.  Police say he also was sporting a black t-shirt that read "I will not come home drunk."  He had a black handgun in his belt, demanded money from the store clerk and left on foot with an unknown amount of cash.

Bight Comes To The Waterfront

Jeannie Dubois, Bianca Garofalo, Chris Groenheide

Thunder Bay's new eatery at the Prince Arthur's Landing is Bight.  The new restaurant & bar will be a full service, fully licensed establishment offering 90 seats in the main room and 45 seats on the seasonal patio.  Bight is currently under renovation in the Water Garden Pavilion and is expected to open before Christmas of this year.

Abandoned Car Found In Geraldton Area

The RCMP say a car connected to a man wanted in the disturbing sexual assault in Nova Scotia has been found on a remote logging road in Northwestern Ontario minus a driver. They say the search continues for Wayne Alan Cunningham, who faces charges of sexual assault and forcible confinement. The Ontario Provincial Police discovered  the car early Tuesday about 19 kilometres off the highway in the Geraldton area. Meantime, the OPP still have custody of David Leblanc who is also charged in relation to forcible confinement.

Vegan Iron Chef Coming To T.Bay

Thunder Bay is holding it's first Vegan cooking competition this coming January.  The competition is for anyone with a talent for vegan cuisine.  Although it's the first many of us have heard of Vegan Iron Chef, Francis Talarico tells us where it originated. Talarico says the vegan lifestyle is becoming increasingly more popular in Thunder Bay.

Mauro Promotes New Program

MPP Bill Mauro is promoting the governments latest program which gives Ontario seniors a credit to help them make renovations to their homes. Mauro says it would be to encourage the elderly to stay in their homes longer.  It's worth up to 15 thousand dollars each year.   The credit can be claimed by homeowners, tenants or if you are sharing a home with a senior.

Abuse Victim Gives Back

A local victim of abuse is giving back to the organization that helped her through her odeal. Tessa Charlebois, recently held an art auction at the Thunder Bay Armoury and presented a cheque worth more than 25-hundred dollars to the Thunder Bay and Area Victim Services. The money will be used to create emergency kits for abuse victims in the city and surrounding area.

Salvation Army Hosts Thanksgiving Dinner

Thunder Bay's Salvation Army and the Professional Fire Fighters Association are holding a Thanksgiving dinner for 300 people Sunday.  Major Rosena Halvorsen says it's good to give back to the community.  The dinner will be held from noon until 3 and a shuttle service is available from City Hall and the Water Street Terminal at 11:45.

Heney Talks Port Stats

Thunder Bay's Port Authority is celebrating an increase in cargo coming through the port.  CEO Tim Heney says the amount of goods being shipped through the City this past September is up over the same month last year.  Heney says July and August were slow months for the Port so it's nice to see an increase in cargo traffic.

Police Probe Armed Robbery

No one is injured after the Shell gas bar on West Arthur Street was robbed late this afternoon.   They say it was an armed holdup and that one person is still at large.   They say a man displayed what appeared to be a handgun and was given an amount of money, police won't say how much.

Trail Users Asked For Input

The city wants your opinion of our trail system. A new survey is underway to help get your thoughts on four city trails according to Park Planning Coordinator Werner Schwar.   He says it will gather data on who uses the system, how often and where the trail  is used. Schwar says the survey information can be found on decals located along all four trails.

Tsekouras Out On Bail

A Thunder Bay man who is charged with being the director of a criminal organization and trafficking in Cocaine and Marijuana, is out on bail. Bail was granted in a city courtroom today to John Tsekouras by Justice Bruce Fitzpatrick. Tsekouras has been in custody ever since a police drug bust in June of last year which police called Project Dolphin. The charges have not been proven in court.

Suspect Vehicle Spotted?

City Police say they are looking into a possible sighting of  the vehicle whose driver is wanted in connection with a disturbing sexual assault case in Nova Scotia.   Police say someone told them they spotted a car matching the description given to the news media being driven on Oliver Road near the city limits in the early afternoon.   However police say that hasn't been confirmed.   The vehicle is believed to be driven by 31 year old Wayne Cunningham, whose partner David Leblanc, was arrested in Greenstone on Sunday night.

Red Cross Honouring Volunteers/Donors

Mayor Keith Hobbs says Red Cross volunteers were crucial to helping victims of the May 28th flood in the city. Hobbs will be on hand tonight to honour those volunteers at the Valhalla Inn.   Hobbs says from last year's forest fire evacuation to this year's flood, the Red Cross always steps to the plate.   The evening is also a chance to thank donors to the flood relief cause.

Police Service Boards Meet In The Fort

Police services boards across Northwestern Ontario are being represented at a zone meeting of the Association of Ontario Police Services Boards in Fort Frances. Chair of the Fort Frances board John McTaggart says about 50 delegates will hear a number of presentations including one on municipal contract policing. The meeting concludes tomorrow.

RCMP Still Haven't Moved David Leblanc

47 year old David Leblanc is still in OPP custody in Greenstone.  He was captured Sunday night in connection with a forceible confinement and sexual assault case in Nova Scotia.  Nova Scotia RCMP Spokesperson Sgt. Alain Leblanc says they still have some things to work out before they transport Leblanc from Northern Ontario to the East Coast.  Leblanc says they haven't decided when they'll move the suspect.

Environmental Issues On The Table

A 3 day conference on environmental issues facing First Nations starts today at the Victoria Inn.  The conference will see delegates present new ideas on how to preserve the environment and traditional lifestyles of aboriginals.  Day 2 and 3 of the conference will be held at the Fort William Historical Park.

City Supports Saving LTC Beds

Thunder Bay Council is throwing its support behind a call to save 93 long term care beds at the Revera Interim LTC Home and the Lakehead Psychiatric Hospital.  They made their decision at last night's meeting after concerned stakeholders spoke up against the closures.  Revera's Interim LTC home is set to close at the end of October, and spots at the LPH will be gone by December.

Armed Robbery In Kakabeka Falls

Thunder Bay Police are charging a 39 year old man and a 21 woman with armed robbery after an incident Monday afternoon in Kakabeka Falls.  Police say a woman entered a gas station holding a syringe and demanded money and lottery tickets. When she was turned down she ran to a waiting vehicle.  The duo will be in court later today and police say more charges may be added as the investigation continues.

Groups Ask Council To Save LTC Beds

Thunder Bay's Health Coalition is among several other organizations asking City Council to save 93 long term care beds.  They are concerned about the closure of 65 spots at the Revera Thunder Bay Interim Long Term Care Home and the cutting of another 28 spots at the Lakehead Psychiatric Hospital.  They claim there's a shortage of beds in the City and want council to ask the Government to step in and stop the closure of the facilities. Council is going to ask the Provincial Government and the Northwest Local Health Integration Network to step in and avoid the closures.

Regen Med Asking For Cash

Regen Med is going to ask City Council to continue to support their operation.  The formal request will come at council's October 15th meeting.  President Judy Sander told council Monday night, that a business sustainability report will be completed at the end of the month which will help them decide how they move forward.  The report was commissioned by the Ontario Ministry of Health.  Regen Med is a bone and tissue bank.

Council Considering Suzan Labine Park

Thunder Bay City Council is considering naming the new children's playground at Junot Park after the late Suzan Labine.  Her family spoke to council Monday night and also provided a number of letters in support of the name change.  Mayor Keith Hobbs asked administration to look into renaming the entire park after the well known citizen who was a member of the Lakehead School Board and St. Joseph's Care Group.

MNR Forest Fire Update

The Ministry of Natural Resources is lending a helping hand to the State of Minnesota.  They've asked for help fighting a fire that crossed the Canada-United States border into Manitoba on Sunday.  Two CL-415 water bombers and a bird dog aircraft were dispatched from Ontario to a 600-acre fire.  Meanwhile, Thunder Bay's MNR crews responded to a human caused fire on Saturday.

OPP Looking For Wanted Man

OPP are still looking for 31-year-old Wayne Cunningham who they say could be headed to Calgary. The warning comes after police captured a fugitive in Longlac in connection with a forcible confinement and sexual assault case in Nova Scotia. Sgt. Kelly Daniels-Griffis says 47-year-old David Leblanc is still in Greenstone OPP custody. Daniels-Griffis says police are asking you to watch out for the man but not to make contact with him.  Cunningham is believed to be driving a 2003 Hyundai Elantra with a Nova Scotia licence plate.

Campbell On MNR Cuts

The decision to cut jobs and downgrade the designation of Caliper Lake Provincial Park in Nestor Falls isn't sitting well with the area's MPP.  The Liberals cite low visitation as a reason for the decision.  Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell says if the area tourism centre were open, more people might have visited.  Campbell says the changes will have a significant impact on Nestor Falls's economy.

Sioux Lookout Corridor Petition

The Mayor of Sioux Lookout is supporting Pickle Lake in an ongoing petition. The provincial government is considering a North-South transportation corridor from the Ring of Fire to First Nations communities in Northwestern Ontario. Dennis Leney says an east-west road would promote growth and development to the North. Leney says the north-south corridor would pose a lot of environmental hazards.

Head Of VON Goes Under Cover In T.Bay

The head of the Victorian Order of Nurses is going to be featured on an upcoming episode of Undercover Boss Canada. Judith Shamian went in disguise and worked in Thunder Bay as well as another site in Ontario and Nova Scotia.  Shamian followed two Thunder Bay nurses on their daily rounds.  The show will air on Thursday night. 

Campaign Draws Attention To Child Abuse

It's child abuse prevention month in Thunder Bay.   According to Rob Richardson, the head of the local Children's Aid Society, it's a chance to shine a spotlight on the issue and get more people to report abuses.  He says his organization is taking care of about 900 clients while Dilico Family Services Agency has about 600. 

Habitat Hands Over Keys

Habitat for Humanity in Thunder Bay is celebrating it's 23d house build today.  Rheanna Scott and her 1 year old asthmatic son Aiden are the new residents.  The home provides Aiden with better living conditions because his previous living quarters were not smoke free.  Construction on the house started in May of last year. 

Historic Border Bust

The Canada Border Services Agency is just  reporting about a huge drug bust from last month at the Pigeon River Border.  Officials say that 2.2 million dollars worth of cocaine and heroin was seized on September 22nd.    They say it came after they stopped a truck suspected of being used to smuggle drugs into Canada. They say the drugs were stored in a hidden compartment in the truck.  A Windsor man is charged.   One official calls it the largest drug bust in the history of the Pigeon River border.

Wanted Man Captured In Greenstone

One of two men wanted in connection with a disturbing sexual assault in Nova Scotia is now in custody in Geraldton. Ontario Provincial Police Sgt. Carl Pettigrew says David Leblanc was nabbed on a remote logging road last night near Longlac after a person called police to say they saw a man in distress. When OPP arrived they recognized Lablanc from his wanted picture and took him into custody. Pettigrew says that Leblanc will make a video court appearance today and then is expected to be sent back to the east coast. Meantime it's believed that Leblanc's partner, Wayne Cunningham, is still on the loose and is thought to be heading west.

Tony Villeneuve Auto Rally Rasies $25,000

The money total is in from the Tony Villeneuve memorial auto rally. Organizers say 17 teams participated in yesterday's event starting and ending at the Fort William Country Club and raised $25,000. The money goes to an endowment fund for lung cancer research, patient care and education with all of the proceeds staying here in northwestern Ontario. To date the Tony Villeneuve Memorial Auto Rally has raised more than $380,000.

CIBC Run For The Cure Called A Success

Organizers are still adding up the money from yesterday's CIBC Run For The Cure. Canada's largest single day breast cancer fundraiser brought more than a thousand people to the Legion Track for a 5 kilometre run or walk. The 21st annual event raises money for breast cancer research.

LU Sports Round Up

The Lakehead Thunderwolves lost 7-4 to the Brock Badgers Saturday night. In Women's Volleyball Brandon defeated Lakehead 3-nothing. The LU Women's Basketball team beat Brandon 70 to 51. The LU Men's Basketball team defeated Brandon 92 to 69.

Council Preview Monday Night

City Council is going to get an earful at it's Monday night meeting with a list of speakers set to discuss a variety of topics.  First up the family of Suzan Labine will be asking council to consider renaming Junot Park in her memory.  Next is Regen Med who will provide an update on their operations in the City.  The Community Economic Development Commission will also provide more information to councilors on the City's Mining Readiness Strategy.  Finally, the Revera Thunder Bay Interim Long Term Care Centre will be discussed by the Union representing staff at the facility.

Run With Me T.Bay

A 25 year old hospital employee wants your help in raising funds for the Northern Cancer Fund.  Jay Tysoski is taking part in the Men's Health Urbanathlon in Chicago in memory of his mother and will be holding a "Run With Me Tbay" fundraiser at Shooters this evening.  Last year, Tysoski raised 5 thousand dollars and he hopes to do the same this year.

Lakehead University Sports Round Up

In University hockey, The Lakehead Thunderwolves beat the Brock Badgers 3-2 in overtime Friday night.  Meanwhile, LU's Women's Volley Ball team fell to Brandon 3-1. Lakehead's Women's Basketball team beat Brandon 85 to 58 and LU's Men's Basketball team were victorious against Brandon 83 to 56.

Accident Injures Pedestrian

Details are sketchy, but Thunder Bay police say at least one person was taken to the hospital to be treated for two broken legs following a vehicle pedestrian accident in the city late Friday afternoon.   It took place on Simpson Street just metres from the Neebing McIntyre Floodway bridge.  

Dryden's Money Woes Continue

Dryden's debt is higher then originally thought. At last nights public meeting regarding the sale of DMTS, the topic of the city's debt was often brought up. City Manager Joe van Koeverden says that there is an extra 10 million on top of the 27 million that the city is down by.He adds that council is taking the issue very seriously.Van Koeverden says part of the extra 10 million, is 6 million dollars in over draft.  However Mayor Craig Nuttall says paying off the overdraft shouldn't be too difficult.

Tbaytel Offer Remains Cloaked In Secrecy

"Keep moving forward" was the motto of last nights meeting regarding the sale of DMTS and Dryden Mobility. While the offer from Bell Alliant has been revealed, there still lies some mystery regarding the offer from Tbaytel for wireless services. City Manager Joe van Koeverden says they have received a generous offer but adds, the purchase price cannot be revealed at this time.

Mauro Blasts Hudak's Logic

Liberal MPP Bill Mauro is disputing comments about arbitration awards by Progressive Conservative leader Tim Hudak. While in Thunder Bay Friday Hudak told municipal leaders his party wants to change the laws and hopes to have its own passed this session. However Mauro says that Hudak's proposed law is one the PC's turned down already in the spring budget. Mauro questions why Hudak would promote an idea the PC leader once voted against.

Smile Cookie Numbers In

Thunder Bay's cookie monsters can pat themselves on the back.   They helped Tim Hortons to raise almost 33 thousand dollars in the recent smile cookie campaign.   In the region Fort Frances raised almost 5 thousand dollars, Kenora raised 36 hundred dollars, Dryden 16 hundred, Nipigon 14 hundred and Red Lake 11 hundred dollars.

Memorial Day Service Sunday

Thunder Bay Police are going to remember the officers that have died while in the line of duty.   They are holding their annual National Memorial Day service on Sunday afternoon.   It begins at 1:30 with a march from the provincial court building on Arthur Street to St. Paul's Church on Ridgeway Street.

Hangar Space For Rent

The local volunteer air search and rescue organization is looking to the future. Civil Air Search and Rescue President Dan Kuss  says the group currently runs its airport hangar on 24 thousand dollars year, money which needs to be fundraised. However Kuss says that could soon change.  They soon plan to rent out hangar space to help pay the bills.  The organization just received a new hangar door thanks to 30 thousand dollars from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

M.N.R. Announces Staff Cuts To 10 Parks

Northern Ontario will see 10 provincial parks have their staff cut and their designation downgraded, meaning campers will no longer have access to any services. The Ministry of Natural Resources announced the cuts on Thursday and say they will eliminate 28 full-time jobs and 102 seasonal jobs in an effort to save $7.1 million a year. Minister of Natural Resources Michael Gravelle says the staff cuts and other changes will help the government eliminate a deficit of nearly $15 billion and modernize the way the ministry does business.

Kidnapping & Sexual Assault In Big Trout Lake

Details are coming to the surface about a kidnapping in Big Trout Lake. O.P.P. were called on Wednesday after parents apprehended the suspect who had taken their four kids, ages 5 through 8, earlier that day. Police say two of the kids managed to escape and alert their parents but not before a 6 and an 8 year old were sexually assaulted. The 33 year man remains in custoday and will appear in a Sioux Lookout court today facing charges of kidnapping, assault, sexual assault and uttering threats. The children received immediate and on-going medical attention in Big Trout Lake and in Thunder Bay.

Full Slate For Thunderwolves' Alumni Weekend

Alumni weekend kicks off a great weekend of sports at Lakehead University. The men's hockey team is on the ice against the Brock Badgers tonightat 7:30 p.m. at the Fort William Gardens. The men's and women's basketball team opens an exhibition against Brandon at 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. at the Thunderdome, and the women's volleyball team gets it all started this afternoon at 3:30 p.m. at the Thunderdome with an exhibition game against the Bobcats.