Health Unit Recognized Provincially

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit has been recognized provincially. As part of its celebration of National Nursing Week, the Health Unit announced that it has achieved the Best Practice Spotlight Organization designation from the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. The award was given out during the RNAO’s Annual General Meeting in Toronto on Thursday. The Health Unit is 1 of 3 health units in Ontario to have received the recognition.

Wet Weather Stays Warmer Weather For The Weekend

Cool, wet weather for the Thunder Bay area will last at least another 24 hours according to Meteorologist Bill Laidlaw. A slow moving, low pressure system is making its way across the region. Laidlaw says residents can expect conditions to improve by the middle of the week and we may anticipate higher than average temperatures for the weekend ahead. Laidlaw says we could see temperatures in the mid teens for Friday and Saturday.

On-Line Crime Reporting Numbers Are A Success

Thunder Bay's newest on-line crime reporting tool is working well. According to Inspector Alan McKenzie they've received 50 reports from the public since the tool became operational two and a half weeks ago. McKenzie says people have been telling police that they are reporting more crimes such as vehicle break-ins that they would otherwise not have reported. Users can visit the on-line crime reporting page by going to www.ThunderBayPolice.ca

Marina Report Heads To City Hall In The Fall

The future of Phase two of the Prince Arthur's Landing marina development project appears to be in City Council's hands. The City's Greg Alexander, says provincial and federal funding needs to still be identified and council will have to decide on how to proceed after finding sunken treasures following the completed Environmental Assessment. Council will receive the report and discuss the various options contained within it in the Fall.

Police Search For Missing Woman

City police are looking for a missing 57 year old woman.   They say that Margaret Scott-Beatty was last seen at her Lincoln Street apartment by health care workers last Tuesday.   Police say she lives alone and is known to frequent the casino. 

Dryden Socked With Big Debt

Financial trouble for the City of Dryden. The city is sitting with an accumulated debt of roughly 24-million dollars. Mayor Craig Nuttall says the 2010 audited financial statements are concerning and says the city is examining all of its options because the taxpayers can't afford to carry such a huge debt.

Weather Dampens Fire Danger

The threat of a busy forest fires season in northwestern Ontario appears to have eased. Over 100 fires are now in the books. Heather Pridham of the Ministry of Natural Resources says recent wet and cool temperatures is limiting the activity now. There were only thirteen fires last month in the Thunder Bay district, six of which have been identified as human caused.

Bear Program Chaning

Local police will be saddled with more responsibility for nuisance bears . The provincial government's Bear Wise program is changing. Natural Resources Minister Michael Gravelle says from now on the ministry will no longer trap and relocate bears.   He says that will be left up to police.   Gravelle denies that it's a hands off approach to the problem saying the relocation program has been proven not to work.

No Bail For Tsekouras

A Thunder Bay man remains in jail this morning after being denied bail late Friday in a Thunder Bay courtroom.  John Tsekouras  is charged in connection with a police drug sweep in the city last month.  Among other things, the 38 year old Tsekouras is charged with being a director of a criminal organization.  Meantime at the Superior Court of Justice, 22 year old Bradley Tomeck is due back in court to be sentenced May 28th after being found guilty in connection with a credit union robbery in January of last year

Fire Hits Picton Home

No one is injured following a house fire on the one hundred block of Picton Avenue last night. Platoon Chief John Mill says when crews got there around 9:30, flames were coming from a second floor window of the semi detached home. He says fire damage to the bedroom is extensive while there is smoke damage through the rest of the house. The cause isn't known.

Chamber of Commerce Business Awards

The Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce handed out awards yesterday at the 18th Annual Business Awards ceremony at the Valhalla Inn. The complete list of winners is below:






CHARLES J. CARTER AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
John W. Erickson, Q.C.

COMMITMENT TO QUALITY AWARDS
Thunder Bay International Airports Authority Inc.
Victoria Inn Hotel & Convention Centre

THE POST SECONDARY ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT AWARD
Sponsored by: Intercity Industrial Supply & GRK Fasteners
Willow Lem

BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARD - SMALL
Sponsored by: Thunder Bay Insurance
ABC Embroidery & Promotions

BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARD – MEDIUM
Sponsored by: Business Development Bank of Canada
Take A Hike

BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARD - LARGE
Sponsored by: BDO Canada LLP
Thunder Bay International Airports Authority

NEW BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARD
Sponsored by: RBC Royal Bank
Perfect Fit Lingerie

NEW BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARD: NON MEMBER
Sponsored by: Janzen’s Pharmacy
Heather Anderson

NOT FOR PROFIT EXCELLENCE AWARD
Sponsored by: OLG
Thunder Bay Regional Research Institute

CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD
Sponsored by: Fort William Historical Park
Salt & Pepper

LOOKING GOOD AWARD
Sponsored by: Grand Portage Lodge & Casino
Thunder Bay Centre of Change

QUALITY OF LIFE AWARD
Sponsored by: tbaytel
Ontario Power Generation

ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AWARD
Sponsored by: Union Gas Ltd.
OLG Casino Thunder Bay

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AWARD
Sponsored by: Bombardier
Quality Market & Nishnawbe Aski Nation

Youth in Court For Car Robbery

A local youth is attending court later this morning after police arrested him for robbery yesterday. After an initial failed attempt, the youth managed to steal a car last night. Police pursued and identified him before he left city limits. He returned and after another chase was arrested at his home and charged with robbery, possession of stolen property, flight from police, and dangerous driving.

New Commanding Officer For Gliding Program

Thunder Bay's Air Cadet Gliding Program is going to have a new commanding officer. Spokesperson Rick Mortensen says they'll have a changing of command at one o'clock today at the Kakabeka Falls Gliding Centre. The commanding officer provides flight experience to the region's eight air cadet squadrons. Captain Jennifer Mortensen will hand over the command to Captain Matthew Craig.

Community Cup Hockey

Thunder Bay Police are hosting a First Nation hockey tournament today at the Fort William First Nation Arena. Aboriginal Liaison Officer Constable Larry Baxter hopes the tourney will boost young people's confidence. The Community Cup Hockey tournament is meant to foster a good relationship between youth and police.

Robbery On Cameron Street

Police are investigating a robbery that happened last night in the 200 block of Cameron Street. Two men attacked and severely beat a sixty-seven year old man who was walking alone around midnight. They stole his wallet and fled the scene. The man is now in the hospital with a broken arm. Anyone with information on the attackers is asked to call the Thunder Bay Police or Crime Stoppers.

Hyer Denounces Office Closure

MP Bruce Hyer is adding his voice to the list of people condemning the closure of the Veterans Affairs office in Thunder Bay.  The closure is part of the Harper government's budget cutting measures.   Hyer says the office serves a wide area from the Manitoba border to Blind River and calls it a slap in the face to veterans.

Sturgeon Fishery Improving

There's some good news regarding the Sturgeon fishery in Lake of the Woods and Rainy River. Fisheries officials in Ontario and Minnesota says short-term goals established several years ago have been reached. Tom Mosindy of the Ministry of Natural Resources says there's still work to do.  He says the long term goal is to have the male fish living until they are 40 and females living to 70 years.  Mosindy says they now have males as old as 30 years and females at least 50.  There's also a goal to have up to 15 per cent of the sturgeon  population 80 inches or longer.

Caution: Construction Ahead

Construction and repairs highlights Monday night's City Council meeting.  Councillors will be making a decision on more than 4-and-a-half million dollars in spending.  Bay City Contractors is in line for more than 1-million dollars for repairing sidewalks, installing traffic and street lights.  Makkinga contracting stands to receive more than 1-and-a-half million dollars to replace existing sewer and watermains, while Taranis Contracting is poised to get more than 2-million dollars to reconstruct the street outside the new courthouse.

Activists To Gather At Park

Climate change activists will be rallying in Thunder Bay Saturday. The group of environmentalists, called 350.org, are not pleased with the Harper Government's recent cheerleading for the oil and gas industry while gutting environmental legislation. People will be gathering in Hillcrest Park to raise awareness on the issue.

Tbaytel Cell Service Still Swamped

Frustrated Tbaytel cell phone users can expect better service soon. That's according to Don Campbell, President and C.E.O. of the city-owned telephone company. The end of of June is when he anticipates service to restore back to normal. Campbell says dropped calls, missed messages and difficulties sending and receiving texts are the result of two issues: the conversion to Rogers technology and the high volumes of data being used by customers.