Hilton Hotel reps talk to City Council

Representatives from Hilton Hotels spoke to Thunder Bay City Council Monday night.  The Thunder Bay Hotel Partnership Group wants council to amend the zoning by-laws to allow the proposed hotel to be built on Airport lands on Arthur Street.  The Hilton Hampton Inn is a four story building that would have a resort like setting.  The construction of the hotel is expected to cost 10 million dollars and property taxes for the city would be around 225-thousand dollars a year.

Police Chief recognized

Thunder Bay Police Chief Bob Herman is among three northwestern Ontario officers being recognized for their contributions to policing. Treaty Three Police Chief Henry DeLaronde, along with OPP Detective Inspector Dennis Olinyk have been appointed members of the Order of Merit of the Police Services.

Workshop dissects Community Forestry

A controversial idea gets a hearing at Lakehead University Tuesday.  Peggy Smith of the Natural Resources Department says a workshop will examine the concept of Community Forestry which sees decisions on forestry made at the local level.   Smith says the workshop brings together people across the north to discuss the issue.

Horwath talks forestry

The Provincial NDP is not letting up in its offensive against the McGuinty Liberals and its wood re-allocation policy.  In Queen's Park on Monday, Leader Andrea Horwath brought up the Hudson Sawmill bankruptcy.  Horwath says she's frustrated by reports of interest from Lac Seul First Nation, noting that interest is tied to a secure wood supply.

Nursing program deemed success

A community based nursing program currently offered across the Region will be featured in a soon-to-be released paper from Lakehead University and Confederation College.  Dryden Hospital Spokesperson Darlene Furlong says the program has been a critical recruiting tool.  This is the second installment of the program which will graduate 21-nurses at the end of the 4-year course.

Curtola says Richardson's death a big loss

Thunder Bay's Bobby Curtola calls him a great man.   Curtola says the death of record producer Jack Richardson is a big loss for the industry.   Richardson recorded some of Curtola's songs in the 1960's.   Curtola says Richardson was a no nonsense guy who demanded perfection.  Richardson died on the weekend at the age of 81.  He is best know for producing the Guess Who

MNR sending help to fight Alta fires

Help is on the way for weary firefighters in Alberta. Debbie MacLean of the Ministry of Natural Resources says a group of over 80 Ontario firefighters are going to help with the forest fires in that province. MacLean says half of the force will come from the Northwest Region the other half from the Northeast Region.

Collins eyes good relations with city

Chief Peter Collins and the new Fort William First Nations band council are now sworn in. Collins says the next two year term will be a busy one with numerous projects on the go.   Collins is also looking forward to improved relations with the City of Thunder Bay through a Memorandum of Understanding .  He says it will help build the economy's of both communities together

Foundation launches 2011 Prostate Campaign

Lets start talking about our prostates...that's the message in this year's Regional Health Sciences Foundation campaign.  President Glen Craig says a few years ago men wouldn't talk about anything south of the belt and that is changing.  Craig says hundreds of men have put their names into the hat to become a Prostate Man and that shows the increase in awareness. Craig says both Quality Market locations will be selling Prostate Man T-shirts for the campaign.

Beardy heads to the UN

The Grand Chief of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation is heading back to the United Nations.  Stan Beardy will be leading a NAN delegation to the annual forum on Indigenous issues in New York this week.  The two week forum will focus on topics including economic and social development and the environment.

OPP look for distracted drivers

The O-P-P in Thunder Bay are out in force starting today looking for distracted drivers.If you are caught chatting on a cellphone the ticket is 155 dollars.  Using a cellphone isn't the only distraction police are looking for.   Eating while driving and fiddling with your mp3 player can also land you a fine.

The difference a year can make

At this time last year Thunder Bay residents could fill up for 98 cents a litre. According to the website gasbuddy.com, the price of unleaded gasoline has risen nearly 40 cents since last year.

Chemotherapy shortage not impacting T BAY

A National shortage of chemotherapy drugs isn't impacting Thunder Bay.  The hospital and Regional Cancer Care Northwest say they have a sufficient supply to meet demand. Planned treatment is not expected to be impacted in the near term including all patients in hospital, as well as clinic and outreach patients.

Senate approves law school

Lakehead University's Senate has approved the school's proposed law curriculum and faculty of law. The senate's approval was the final step before submitting a proposal to the Ministry of Training for funding support.

Sioux Lookout Mayor upset over mill

The Mayor of Sioux Lookout is lashing out at the Province for not allocating wood rights for the Hudson Mill. McKenzie Forest Products has filed for bankruptcy protection and will result in around 300 jobs lost.

Abitibi Bowater invests in its sawmill

Good news for Thunder Bay's Abitibi Bowater plant. The company is investing 8 million dollars to upgrade capacity at the sawmill. The upgrades started last month and should be finished within the next 2 years.

Stand off with police

For the fourth time this year Thunder Bay police were forced into a standoff. Spokesperson Chris Adams says a 52 year old man claimed to have guns and was trying to provoke police into shooting him. Adams says luckily in this case there were no injuries and the man surrendered peacefully.

Confederation College using wood to heat buildings

Confederation College is going green.  The provincial government is providing a million dollars towards the creation of a new bioenergy learning and research centre.  President Pat Lang says the facility will heat the REACH facility and the Shuniah building.  Wastewood from across the Northwest will be used to heat the two buildings.

Wind Farm Public Meetings start Tuesday

The Norwester Escarpment Protection Committee isn't giving up their fight against the proposed Big Thunder Wind Park.  Wind Concern Ontario President John La Foret says Horizon is going to be holding a series of meetings this week.  Public information sessions are being held in Neebing and Thunder Bay on Tuesday and Wednesday.  La Foret is speaking at an anti-wind farm rally on Monday at the Best Western Norwester Hotel.

Autopsy doesn't reveal cause of death

An autopsy on a 36-year-old woman, who was found in the bush in Kenora this week, has not been able to confirm the cause of death.  The body of Rosella Digirolamo was found Wednesday morning by the OPP's Emergency Response Unit.  She had been reported missing from her home last Thursday.  The OPP say they don't suspect foul play, but are continuing to work with the Coronor's office on the investigation.