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.