Replica handgun leads to weapons charges

Police say a 26 year old city man is facing weapons related charges following an incident at the OLG Casino this week. Police say staff noticed a man who appeared to be carrying a handgun. It turns out it was a replica, however a subsequent search of his home turned up pocket knives, a metal pipe and a razor blade.

TBSO names its new conductor

The Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra now has its new Music Director. Arthur Post becomes the 8th conductor to lead the orchestra in its 50 year history. Post says he's looking forward to his new role saying that in his short time in the city this season he noted the TBSO has a group of magnificant muscians who are also exceptional people.  Post will make his first appearance as conductor October 14th when the orchestra performs at the Community Auditorium.

ATV vote Monday in Oliver-Paipoonge

The Township of Oliver-Paipoonge may be about to allow ATV's on community roads. Mayor Lucy Kloosterhuis says on Monday council will be voting on the issue. She says it's just a matter of convenience for the rural residents. She says alot of them have ATV's and would like to get from point A to point B in the municipality. Kloosterhuis says the vote will follow a presentation by the Thunder Bay Police on highway traffic laws as they apply to ATV's

LU prof stranded because of volcanic ash

A Lakehead University professor is stranded in London, England because of the ash from that volcano in Iceland. Peter Hollings just happens to be a geology professor and one who specializes in volcanoes, an irony not lost on him. He says he is staying with family and so it hasn't been unpleasant. He says there are some people questioning whether officials reacted in haste in grounding all air traffic. Hollings says he was surprised by the blanket ban but admits officials had to err on the side of safety. Hollings says he hopes to be back in Thunder Bay on the weekend and teaching by Monday.

Restricted fire zone in place

The dry conditions in northwestern Ontario have forced the hand of the Ministry of Natural Resources. Fire information officer Deb MacLean says a restricted fire zone is now in place. It affects the Thunder Bay, Fort Frances and Kenora districts as well as parts of the Sioux Lookout and Red Lake districts. Maclean says not to let the cool weather fool you, the conditions are ripe for forest fires.

Minor injuries in accident

There are only minor injuries  following a two car accident during the noon hour on the citys' north side.  The vehicles came into collision at the intersection of Dufferin and Banning.   Police have laid a charge of failing to yield against one of the drivers.

Ignatieff plans return visit to the city

Federal Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff is coming to Thunder Bay on Tuesday, May 4th. He'll begin the day with a party policy announcement affecting northern Ontario. Following that Ignatieff is scheduled for various appearances in the city. That includes a visit to St. Patrick's High School for a talk with students. He will also be pressing the flesh at Tony and Adams Restaurant that evening.

Dry weather to continue

Blame El Nino. Geoff Coulson of Environment Canada says that the current dry conditions in northwestern Ontario are the result of that weather phenomenon.  So far in April we have had half the normal precipitation for the month.   He says there's no immediate end in sight,adding that over the next 7 days there is no measurable amount of rain in the forecast.  Coulson says we may see more normal temperatures and precipitation in May.

St Francis celebrates Earth Day with new program

St Francis school marked Earth Day by unveiling a new program. Students took the covers off no idling signs in the schools parking lot as part of a program to reduce air pollution. EcoSuperior's Ashley Priem says ten schools are participating in cutting down air pollution like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxides that are especially harmful to children. The signs ask everyone to turn off their vehicles whenever they are parked at the school.

Dry Spring causing water level concerns

This springs extremely dry conditions are forcing the Lakehead region conservation authority to impose a level one low water condition. Chairman Bill Bartley says people should cut back their water consumption by about 10 percent to maintain adequate water levels in the Region. Bartley says there should be about 100 millimetres of precipitation a month but we've seen just under 60 millimetres since last September.

11/17 near Kakabeka to see improvements

The province is planning on improving a stretch of highway 11/17 east from Kakabeka Falls. The 13 kilometres of work will include various intersection improvements, two new passing lanes and pavement resurfacing of the Kam River Bridge on Highway 130. A tender call is out for the project and work is scheduled to be completed later this year.

Longtime friends share in lottery win

Two city residents will be getting a lot of new friends. Alan Laine and Rudolph Cvornjek are sharing the 250 thousand dollars they won playing Lottario. The two have been playing the same lottery numbers for 35 years and finally hit it big in the March 6th draw.

Easy way to dump your e-waste

Officials at the OLG Casino and Pack Pros Plus don't want you to gamble with the environment. They are teaming up this Saturday to provide a waste disposal site for your outdated electronics. Organizer Allan Forbes says it's a 5 hour event that starts at 10 in the morning in the casino parking lot. Forbes says it can be anything from old computers, tv's or other home electronics.

Library offers language learning

The Thunder Bay Public Library is making it possible to learn a new language through your computer. It's providing a program called Powerspeak Languages. The Librarys' Joanna Aegard says it's being tested for a year thanks to the Ontario taxpayer. She says if it's popular officials will make it available for longer.  Right now four languages are available: French, Spanish, German and Chinese.  A library card is required to access the service.  Simply go to the library website, choose Virtual Collection click on the sleeping giant logo and then log in.

City approves new clinic and apartments

The vacant land at John and Secord will soon be vacant no more. City councillors have approved the rezoning of the area for a community clinic. Developer Jason Logozzo says it will be a multi use building. He says market studies will determine client interest and then he'll develop a plan after that. Logozzo envisions a variety of health care services. Those might include dental, chiropratic and even medical offices along with apartment units.

NOMA convention underway this week

The annual Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association convention is on in Marathon starting Thursday. The organization acts as a voice for area municipalities at Queens Park. Mayor Lynn Peterson says this year local lawmakers will be dealing with about 20 issues. She says the resolutions include the number of federal seats in northern Ontario and moving the Northern Growth Plan forward. She says it's also an opportunity for municipal leaders to discuss regional issues with the provincial cabinet ministers who'll be attending on Friday. The conference runs until Saturday.

TBayTel gravy train unloads 15 million

TBayTel executives are boasting of a 15 and a half million dollar dividend to the city. Board chair Michael Power says this is over and above the current 17 million dollar bonus the city gets annually. Power says it will be spread over 3 years, 10 million dollars for this year and 2 and half million dollars for 2011 and 2012. The money will be going into a city fund which could be used to pay for projects like the new area.

Zwig promises no delays on study release

The environmental study on the Nor'Wester wind farm will be released next month. City council says it will not approve the location of the turbines until that study is made public. Horizon Wind president Anthony Zwig says he has no intention of delaying the release, adding the company is working to finish up the provincial process and will release the study as soon as they can.   Zwig stopped short of saying he was surprised by councils decision

Local mill appears destined for scrap heap

A local union boss is disappointed with the latest developments involving the former Abitibi Mission Mill. The company has found a scrap dealer in the States to buy the mill. Marvin Pupeza of the Canadian Paperworkers Union says its a sad day.  He says it wasn't long ago they were working with a potential buyer, but it fell apart.  Pupeza adds that a new collective agreement was even worked out with the members, but now it appears the mill will be bulldozed.  When it closed there were 430 employees.

OLG announces latest slots cash

The latest payment to the city of Thunder Bay from the provincial government gambling casino is 572 thousand dollars. The money represents 5 per cent of the slot machine revenue from the facility. It was the cash collected during January, February and March.