Fire ban lifted

Just in time for the long weekend the city Fire Service is allowing outdoor burning.  The improved weather conditions means the fire ban has been lifted.

Local golf courses included in online poll

First it was your favourite baseball park and now there's a move on to find your favourite Ontario golf course.   A list of the top 100 will then be published.  Thunder Bay's private courses are on the list, the Fort William and Port Arthur Country Clubs along with Dragon Hills and Whitewater.  You can vote here

Construction site still idle

The Ministry of Labour is still investigating a tragic platform lift accident at a highway construction site at the MacKenzie Bridge that happened back in June.   The Ministry of Labour's Matt Blajer says work at the site is still not taking place because one work order remains outstanding.

Stranger in pick up truck creeps out kids

Thunder Bay Police are looking for a man in his 60's or 70's after children at an East End park complained.   They say that a man in a white or silver pick up truck was hanging around Atlantic Street and Pacific Avenue and called for the kids to approach him , but they didn't and he drove away.    No one was hurt.

US Debt crisis won't hurt investments long term

Don't be too concerned about the US debt crisis.  That's the feelings of Thunder Bay Scotia McLeod's Blake Cameron, who says the political battle south of the border is causing problems but it won't last.  Cameron says the last quarter saw a lot of corporations post profits which should in the long term cause growth in the stock markets.

NOSA offers to help council deal with deer

The Northwestern Ontario Sportsmen's Alliance is offering its support to council in finding a solution to the city's deer population.  Executive Director John Kaplanis says one option would be to use bow hunters within city limits.  Kaplanis says he thinks the reason for an increase in deer numbers, is the fact the city is in prime deer habitat where there is no hunting. 

Forest fire concerns ease

The forest fire situation in Northwestern Ontario is not as bad because of this week's cooler weather. Carin Glassford of the Ministry of Natural Resources says the intensity has eased and it's the first day since June 10th that there hasn't been a new fire started in the northwest.  There are currently 108 fires

Condolences for Norway from Thunder Bay

Thunder Bay residents are now able to express their sympathies to the people of Norway following this week's double tragedies. Deputy City Clerk Sheelagh Hendrick says a book of condolences is open to sign at City Hall between 8:30 am until 4:30 pm  each weekday.   The book will be available until Friday of next week and then be forwarded to the Norwegian Embassy.

City will not be a transportation hub

Don't expect Thunder Bay to play any role now that forest fire evacuees are starting to be sent home.  The province's Deputy Minister of Community Safety Ian Davidson says unlike a week ago, our city won't be directly involved in moving people because the plan is to fly people directly home instead of having stopovers.

Another heat wave coming our way

Its back to beach weather heading towards the long weekend.  Our Meteorologist Bill Laidlaw says it'll be nothing but sunshine and highs near 30 right through the long weekend.  Laidlaw says the humidity won't be as high as it was last week, which will make the heat a little less intense.

Murder charge laid in Poplar Hill death

Police say a 19 year old Poplar Hill First Nations resident is facing a charge in connection with a death in the community north of Red Lake on the weekend.  They say Curtis Moose is charged with Second Degree Murder after 20 year old Aaron Strang of Poplar Hill was found on the road with serious injuries and later pronounced dead.

Evacuated residents set to return

Nearly 400 people from two First Nations communities are being allowed to return home in Northwestern Ontario. The all-clear has been given for residents to return to the Sandy Lake and Fort Hope First Nations. It follows news this week that about 150 people from another Mishkeegogamang First Nation decided on their own to return home. There are still about three-thousand evacuees waiting for the smoke to clear so they can return home, as crews battle more than 100 fires in the region.

OPP prepare for weekend blitz

The OPP will be out in force his long weekend to enforce traffic laws. Sgt. Shelley Garr of the Thunder Bay OPP say they are trying to prevent serious accidents on the highway by going after the so called "big 4" causes of collisions;  aggressive driving, impaired driving, seat belts and distracted drivers.  Also police will be making sure drivers slow down when passing emergency vehicles on the shoulder of a road.

Potential phone scam warning

A listener to our radio station is concerned that some local residents could be taken in by a possible phone scam. He says that a person called him several times saying she was from the Microsoft computer maintenance department and claimed their computer was getting error messages from him. Police here say they haven't received any complaints and Microsoft's website says they never make unsolicited calls to help fix your computer

Beckwick appointed acting tourism boss

The city has its interim Tourism Manager to take over while Paul Pepe is handling the waterfront project.   Lisa Beckwick is moving from her position at Human Resources to run the tourism portfolio in an acting capacity.

LU prof weighs in on American debt crisis

Lakehead University economics professor Livio Di Matteo is disturbed a country like the United States is on the brink of a debt default. Di Matteo calls it irresponsible and doesn't believe the worst case scenario will happen. He thinks that instead of defaulting the government will shut down and programs will be suspended until the politicians work out a deal. Di Matteo is confident a solution will take place, it's only a matter of when

Police still looking for missing teen

Its been almost a month and there is still no sign of a 14 year old missing teen.  Kelsey Loon was last heard from on Canada Day and was reporting missing by her Guardian June 29.  Police Spokesperson Chris Adams says officers believe she is staying with friends in Thunder Bay.

Thayer gushes over city donation

There's high fives all around at Thunder Bay's RegenMed after city council's decision to award the company half a million dollars. CEO Bob Thayer says it proves the city is behind the company's efforts to develop a human bone and tissue bank.  Thayer says the money is going towards developing freeze dried tissue

Rafferty surprised by Layton revelation

Thunder Bay M-P John Rafferty is expecting to see Jack Layton back in the helm as strong as ever. Rafferty says he was surprised by the news that Layton was stepping down temporarily to be treated for cancer.  Rafferty says the NDP Caucus will meet Wednesday to discuss the appointment of an interim leader.

Out of province firefighters "recycled"

Some 116-forest fires continue to burn across Northwestern Ontario. Ministry of Natural Resources Information Officer Carin Glassford says they are starting to see some new blood come in to assist weary firefighters. 600-fires have been reported this season, with over 560-thousand hectares of land consumed. That's the third highest on record since 1917.