Police issue alert for wanted men

City police remain on the hunt for two men wanted in connection with the death of 54 year old Robert  Francis Topping early Saturday morning.    Police say it's the first murder of 2011.   They say both men are considered dangerous and should not be approached. The two are:  18 year old Cody Allister Thompson and 20 year old Christopher John Hawk.



Christopher Hawk

Cody Thompson

       



 

Thunder Bay Entrepreneurs

Thunder Bay auditions for the hit show Dragons Den were a success. Local entrepreneurs brought their ideas to the Prince Arthur Hotel for a shot at appearing on the show. Inventors will be notified within 3 weeks if they will advance to pitch their ideas to the real dragons on television in Toronto.

Missing Girl Pronounced Dead

Sioux Lookout detachment of the OPP were notified of a missing 11 year old girl. She was found yesterday morning and taken to Meno Yi Win Health care centre and was pronounced dead. OPP, Northwest region crime unit, and northwest identification unit are investigating the incident.

Police probe city's first murder of 2011

Thunder Bay police are investigating the city's first murder of the year. They say a 54 year old man died in hospital around 1 o'clock Saturday morning after he walked into a break-in in progress at a home on the 800 block of Minnesota Street. His 45 year old female  friend told police he was assaulted. The victim is identified as Robert Francis Topping. Police have arrested two men and are still looking for two others aged  18 and 20 years old.

Fire in City's South End

5 firetrucks rushed to a fire that broke out in the 500 block of S. Syndicate ave. No one was home at the time but firemen were able to rescue a dog safely. The fire was brought under control quickly although there had been substantial damage to the building. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Fort Hope trip called productive

Another first for Mayor Keith Hobbs. He has just returned from a trip to the First Nations community of Fort Hope with City Manager Tim Commisso. Hobbs says they toured the community and both sides came away with a better understanding of each others needs.  Hobbs says they also talked of ways to accommodate people from Fort Hope to come to our city.  The mayor called the trip so productive they plan to visit other communities as well.

100 days at City Hall documented

A Thunder Bay filmmaker ready to release a documentary on the first 100 days of the new city council. Paul Moralee says his film takes us behind of scenes at City Hall. He says it follows not only the mayor and councillors but the workings of administration as well. The film makes it's debut at the Paramount Theatre on Thursday March 31st.

NAN wants CFBA scrapped

The Grand Chief of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation continues to fight against the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement. Stan Beardy is leading the call for its termination and explains why. Beardy had originally called for the agreement to be terminated by mid-March. The CBFA is made up of 21 forest companies that want to control forest regulation.

32 year old found dead in Northeastern Ontario

A 32 year old Thunder Bay man has been found dead in James Township near Elk Lake.  A post mortam exam is taking place in Sudbury.  OPP say the name of the deceased is being withheld until his family is notified.

Bearskin delays service to Minneapolis

"The Bear" won't be taking you to Minneapolis anytime soon. Plans to offer service to the twin cities by Bearskin Airlines have been put on hold according to Vice President Cliff Friesen who blames the red tape.   He says approval from Homeland Security in the United States and the sale of the company are the problem. Friesen says the company now hopes to have the service running by the fall.

Air Canada scraps Ottawa to Thunder Bay flight

Air Canada has scrapped it's Ottawa to Thunder Bay direct route due to the rising cost of fuel.  The changes take effect May 1st.

Film Festival returns

The annual Northwest Film Fest is back for it's 18th year. This year 17 films are on tap. Organizer Marty Mascarin says he's amazed how popular the festival and how it's become a part of the city's culture. He says it's become a recruiting component for attracting physicians to the city. The festival takes place at Silver City on March 27th and April 3rd.

Hyer weighs in on contempt of parliment

Thunder Bay Superior North MP Bruce Hyer says lying in parliament should be strictly punished. The comments come after our newsroom asked for his thoughts on the Commons Committee investigating if the government should be found in contempt of Parliament. Hyer would like members caught lying to be suspended the first time and after that removed.  Hyer says he has considered putting forward legislation to prevent misleading statements. Hyer says he's watched the Harper Government skirt the truth for 2 and a half years.

Libyan situation continues to change

The Situation in Libya continues to move and change almost by the hour. In the latest development the Libyan Foreign Minister has declared a ceasefire. Lakehead University Political Science Professor Laure Paquette says the move could signal a number of possibilities.  The call could be only an attempt to prevent any bombings by Western Powers.  Paquette says it is unclear exactly what kind of ceasefire this is, will government forces defend themselves and will rebels also take part in the ceasefire.  Another possibility is a split in the government since the Foreign Minister made the announcement and not Gadhafi.  Paquette says it could also mean Gadhafi is just buying time to move forces close to civilians making it very harder to bomb without civilian deaths.

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Former mill manager passes away

A former mill manager of the Abitibi Bowater mill here in Thunder Bay has passed away.  Lorne Crawford was also a member of the air ambulance board "ORNGE".  Crawford's funeral will take place Saturday in Dryden.

Small drug bust on South Side

Thunder Bay Police have made another drug bust.  Officers searched a house on the south side and found over 6 thousand dollars worth of drugs and over 18 hundred dollars in cash.  A 42 year old man was arrested and is facing charges.

Local Inflation rate drops

Thunder Bay saw a big drop in its inflation rate last month.  Our rate went from 3 percent in January to 2.4 last month.  That followed the provincial trend where Ontario went from 2.9 to 2.5.  The national rate went from 2.3 to 2.2 in February.

Library board shows La Force the door

The Thunder Bay Public Library is looking for a new Chief Librarian. It's fired Gina La Force, who has been at the post for four years. Board chair Terrance Yahn says the board made its decision to let her go last week but didn't tell staff until Wednesday. Yahn says it had to do with La Force's management style but he didn't go into detail. Until a new Chief Libarian can be found Barbara Philp will take over in an acting capacity.  La Force has not returned our call.

Wood supply awarded

Long Lake Forest Products in Longlac and Nakina Forest Products are the lastest companies to accept wood supply offers from the province. The move will create 38 jobs and will bring several hundred people back to work.

Red Cross raises 17 thousand dollars

Thunder Bay's Red Cross branch has raised 17 thousand dollars for its relief efforts in Japan.  Ken Widdifield says fundraising is going well.  Halfway Motors is collecting money for the Red Cross and will match money raised up to 5-thousand dollars.