OPP Recover Body of Atikokan Man

OPP Emergency Response Team and the OPP Underwater Search and Recovery Unit recovered the body of 49 year old Eric Natti of Atikokan on Thursday at Miller Lake. Natti was reported missing last November but cold weather and ice conditions prevented officers from finishing the search during the winter.

Man in Custody

Thunder Bay police took a man into custody last night after calls that he was pointing a handgun at people near River and Madeline Street. The 27 year old Thunder Bay man was in possession of a black replica BB handgun. He faces a charge of possession of a weapon for dangerous purposes and will appear in court today. No one was injured.

Inflation Rate Drops Significantly

Thunder Bay's inflation rate dropped significantly from March to April. The rate fell from 2.1 percent to 1.5 percent. Thunder Bay now has the 3rd lowest rate of inflation in the country among major urban centres.

Norovirus Caused 136 People To Get Sick

The Health Unit is saying Norovirus is what caused so many people to become ill this week. An investigation was conducted after 136 people got sick after attending This Old Barn Restaurant in Murillo last weekend. According to the Health Unit, Norovirus is spread through contaminated food or contaminated surfaces such as door knobs and light switches. They are still hoping to hear from some of the people who may have been affected.

NAN Drug Bust In Nakina

Nishnawbe Aski Nation Police have made a significant drug bust in Nakina, 3-hundred Kilometres North of Thunder Bay.  Police raided a home and found more than 42-thousand dollars worth of marijuana and hashish.  A 46-year old Nakina man has been arrested and will appear next in court on June 14th.   NAN police say the bust is expected to influence the flow of drug traffic to at least five communities in area.

Deb Comuzzi New LU VP

Lakehead University is welcoming home a former Thunder Bay resident. Deb Comuzzi is the University's new Vice President of External Relations. Comuzzi will be in charge of reaching out to alumni and the community, as well as fundraising. She left Thunder Bay at the age of 18 and is the daughter of former Member of Parliament Joe Comuzzi.

This Old Barn Sickness Expands

The number of people reported sick after eating at Murillo's "This Old Barn" is growing.  The Health Unit says there are 126 people sick after eating there last weekend.  34 people who ate there are not sick while another 31 need to get back to the Health Unit.

Feds Cut Experimental Lakes Jobs

Federal budget cuts are starting hit close to home. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has announced that it's closing the Experimental Lakes area west of Dryden as part of a 79-million dollar cost cutting exercise. The Experimental Lake consists of 58 lakes that act as an outdoor laboratory. Researchers from around the world have taken advantage of the facility over the years. A government spokesperson says they will try to turn the facility over to universities or the provinces.

May Long Weekend Travel

U-S Customs and Border Protection is reminding travellers that area border points will be busy for the next two weekends.  This weekend is Victoria Day in Canada and the U-S Memorial Day weekend is celebrated May 25th to 28th.  To cut down on delays, travellers are reminded to make sure they have the proper documents and to plan for increased traffic.

OLG Looks For Private Interest

Ontario Lottery and Gaming is looking for a private company to run Thunder Bay's Casino. The OLG issued a request for information from the private sector after dividing Ontario into 29 zones for potential casino sites.

Dryden Sells Water

The City of Dryden has agreed to sell water to the Ministry of Transportation for a 90-day period.  Director of Public Works and Engineering Mike Louttit says they have brokered a deal at a reduced rate as part of a requirement to supply water for road work east of the community.  Louttit says potential revenue is 189-thousand dollars but notes it may reach a quarter million dollars.

OFAH Fishing Application Worries

The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters says its members don't like the fact the information from their hunting and fishing applications is stored in the U-S. Spokesperson Lezlie Goodwin says the groups 100-thousand members don't want the American government or companies accessing their personal data. The anglers and hunters worry Homeland Security will use the Patriot Act to access the personal data of Ontarians that is stored in the U-S, ignoring provincial protection of privacy laws.

United Way Billboard Challenge

The United Way's Great Billboard Rescue is pleased with it's 20th fundraising campaign.  They raised over 142-thousand dollars during their main fundraising event yesterday.  The money goes towards the Community Fund which is used to fund 67 local programs.

Marina Construction Begins

The marina is about to become a little busier. Katherine Dugmore, Waterfront Project Manager says construction has now begun on a new parking facility that will help service the new hotel and condominium. Dugmore could not say how long the parking project will take.

Marina Restaurant Name TBA

A new restaurant is about to set up shop at the Marina. Officials however, are keeping the name tightly sealed. Waterfront Project Manager, Katherine Dugmore says we're close to knowing the identity. Dugmore says the new restaurant will be located near the Water Garden Pavilion.

NAN Says No

The Nishnawbe Aski Nation is panning the Premier. They sent him a curt response saying no to his invite to speak at the 7th annual First Nations meeting. NAN is declining the Premier's invite because they would only have 10 minutes to speak with Dalton McGuinty and they feel that's not enough time to properly air their grievances.

Forest Fire Hazard High To Extreme

Heading into the long weekend, the forest fire hazard remains high to extreme for the entire area of Northwestern Ontario. The Ministry of Natural Resources is asking people to exercise caution when dealing with fires or outdoors activities that may cause fires.

Jury Softens Blow In Theft Case

Chris Watkins

Guilty, but Krystyna Dolasinski will not feel the full brunt of the law.  Dolasinski was charged after 90 to 100 thousand dollars went missing from the Port Arthur Polish Alliance Hall. Her lawyer Chris Watkins is satisfied with the outcome saying the jury understood at least part of the defence's position in the case.   Krystyna Dolasinski was found guilty of theft under 5-thousand dollars and falsifying records.   The sentencing submissions will be heard on September 13th.

International Day Against Homophobia

4 City High Schools are celebrating the International Day Against Homophobia today. Charlie Bishop, Education Officer with the Lakehead District School Board is giving a lot of credit to the Gay Straight Alliances that have been created in schools. Events are taking place at Superior C.V.I., Churchill, Westgate and Hammarskjold.

Alternative School Closes

Thunder Bay's first Alternative school was forced to close its doors in December. The Northern Lights Education Initiative just opened in the fall and had six students but unfortunately couldn't stay open. Spokesperson Michelle Uvanile says they hope to see an alternative school be operated under the Public School Board system.