Drunk Driver Takes Shortcut

No one is hurt following another drunk driving incident. Police say the 19-year-old male driver tried to drive down a footpath to take a shortcut home, but his vehicle left the path and fell down a thirty foot embankment near the Boulevard Lake Dam. The man was charged with impaired driving and possession of narcotics among other charges.

Bordercats Win Fifth Straight

The Thunder Bay Bordercats won their fifth game in a row after a huge win last night. The Cats shutout the Mankato Moondogs 6-0 at Subway Field. The Cats continue their seven game home-stand against the Moondogs at 5:05 tonight at Subway Field.

Firefighters Slightly Injured In House Fire

Two firefighters were slightly injured after a huge fire yesterday afternoon. Firefighters were called to battle a structural fire stemming from the basement of a home on Machar Avenue. Four pumper trucks and more than twenty firefighters from four different stations were used to put out the fire.

Flood Cause Remains A Mystery

It will be several months before we find out what caused the flooding at the city's East End sewage plant. Spokesperson Darrell Matson says it's all part of a consultants study of the May 28th flood which is taking place now and will be explained to city councillors Monday evening. He says the final report isn't expected to be ready for 3 or 4 months.   Included in that report will be finding out what caused a leak in the sewage plant.

Global Sticks Reaches The End

It looks like the end of the line for Global Sticks. The Oliver-Paipoonge company has closed its doors according to Natural Resources Minister Michael Gravelle, whose government has provided millions of dollars to the popsicle stick manufacturer to get it off the ground.  He says it's his understanding they have closed the doors at this time after not being able to find a private sector investor.   A call to the owner, Reggie Nukovic, has not been returned.

City Hiring Freeze Possible

If the city doesn't take any action by the end of the year it will be just over a million dollars in the hole. However that won't happen, according to City Manager Tim Commisso. Commisso says they will look for savings elsewhere if necessary and that includes a hiring freeze.  He is confident however, the city will see a surplus at the end of the year.   The report to city councillors attributes the shortfall, in part, to legal services related to a potential class action lawsuit in connection with the May 28th flood.

Teens Survive Transport Crash

Two teenage girls are out of hospital after they were treated for injuries they sustained in a traffic accident last night.   Police say that it took place at the intersection of Memorial Avenue and the Harbour Expressway around 11 o'clock  when a pick-up truck collided with a transport.  The girl who was driving the pick up is now charged with a red light violation.

O.P.P. Nab Third Suspect

A 24 year old man from Wellington is now in police custody and will appear in court today. He was the third suspect involved in what O.P.P. are calling an attempted break and enter. The apprehension of the suspect proved to be difficult as he fled on foot into the bush near Pays Plat early Wednesday morning. Police picked him up while trying to hitchhike near Jackfish Lake.  He and two others were stopped by Provincial Police who used a spike belt to end the car chase.

Dryden Mill Workers Agree To New Deal

500 Canadian Energy and Paper Workers Union members from Dryden have a new deal. Last night they voted 70 percent in favour of a new 5 year contract. An additional $15.00  a month will be added to the pension contributions, additional meal allowances and a modest wage increase over the next two years were highlited in the deal.

Forest Fire Numbers Down Because Of Rain

Two days of rain is helping to dampen the forest fire numbers here in Northwestern Ontario. Ministry of Natural Resources officials now say they are battling more than 60 forest fires in our region, that's down from 80 on Wednesday. The M.N.R. is keeping an eye on the forecast, saying that the forest fire rating will rise again with sunshine and warm temperatures expected in the days ahead.

Border Cats Win Third Straight

The Thunder Bay Border Cats have now won three in a row. They edged the St. Cloud Rox 11-10 in a wild one at Subway Field last night to improve to 8-11 in the second half. The Border Cats are now 3 1/2 games back of Duluth for top spot in the North division. That series concludes tonight here at home.

Selects Lead The Provincials At 3-0

The Thunder Bay Selects are cruising at the right time. They beat Orleans 8-7 last night in the Ontario Senior Little League Championships being played at Baseball Central. The win gives the Selects a 3-0 record in the 5 team tournament and assures them a spot in the playoffs. Tonight they take on the 2-1 Thunder Bay All-Stars who need a win in order to secure a spot in the 3 team playoffs.

Druery Signs Deal To Go Pro

Lakehead University's Lindsay Druery is graduating from playing basketball for the Thunderwolves to playing professionally in Europe. She will join Lakehead Alum Kathryn Verboom in the German 2 Bundesliga on the TSV Towers Speer/Schifferstadt. Druery, from Smithville, Ontario, says she never dreamed of even being able to play basketball at the university level, let alone professionally. Druery leaves for German in September and will have an opportunity to teach English during her time away from the court.

Charge Laid In Valente Death

A 24 year old inmate of Stony Mountain jail in Manitoba is charged with second degree murder in connection with the death of Thunder Bay's Cosmo Valente last month.  RCMP says Valente died June 25 from a single stab wound he received while he was an inmate.  Charged is Bryon Jacob.  He made a brief court appearance in Winnipeg Thursday.

Funding Concerns Heard

A Harper government cabinet minister is going back to Ottawa with funding suggestions from northwestern Ontario municipal leaders. Minister of State Steven Fletcher says his round table meeting in Kenora showed roads for the Ring of Fire, Airports and the Trans Canada Highway were area funding concerns. The government wants to set up a new infrastructure funding program by 2014.

Good Samaritans Now Need Help

One Thunder Bay family is looking for help in the aftermath of the city flood. Jessica Sharpe and her family opened her home up to East End residents in the immediate aftermath of the flood, offering a hot shower, blankets and even hot food.  Now Sharpe says they don't have the $21,000 needed for repairs and is in need of help herself.  As is her nature, she is asking residents to keep in mind all of the people affected by the devastating flood and not just her family.

Goal Set For Disaster Relief

The City's Disaster Relief Committee is setting its fundraising goal at 5 million dollars. Committee chair Wayne Fletcher says they hope to get that amount raised for the May 28th flood victims by November 30th. He says committee members believe it's a necessary goal .  Fletcher is also reminding you that any donation to disaster relief can be claimed on your taxes.

Highway 61 Revisited

There's a move on to get more publicity for the Canadian portion of Highway 61. City Tourism Manager Paul Pepe is in Duluth this week to make the case for our city becoming a part of the tourism promotions south of the border for the iconic highway's route along Lake Superior.  Pepe says as it is now,  American promotions for the highway do not include Thunder Bay. 

Police Chief Celebrates Anniversary

Thunder Bay's Police Force is celebrating a year with a new Chief. J.P. Levesque was sworn into the position on July 13th last year. Levesque says he has a number of goals for the year to come. Levesque says he spent much of last year dealing with contract negotiations and disciplinary actions.

3 Kilograms Of Cocaine Seized

Two Toronto area men are currently in custody pending an investigation into a cocaine bust. Nipigon O.P.P. say a traffic stop yesterday afternoon resulted in the seizure of 3 kilograms of cocaine. The street value of the drugs seized is approximately $300,000.