Yesno Wins In A Squeaker

Harvey Yesno is the new Grand Chief of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation.  He was selected in the third ballot in today's NAN election. He defeated Terry Waboose 22 votes to 21.   Today's vote comes two months after Stan Beardy vacated the spot after being elected Ontario's Regional Chief. 

Witness Says That Was No Lynx

A woman who called in one of this week's wildcat sightings in the city says there is no doubt in her mind what she saw was a cougar. Lindsay Gibson says she saw the animal in the parking lot of the Regional Health Sciences Centre and it was not a lynx. She describes an animal that is large and muscular with sleek golden coloured fur with a long thick tail. Gibson says she and her hospital co-workers saw the huge cat charge at them and they ran for safety.

Levesque Confirms Support For Eye On The Street

The Eye on the Street program is getting dissed by some member of City Council including the mayor, but the Police Chief is standing by it. J-P Levesque says he would like the video surveillance program to continue.  He says he sees value in the system because police use it quite a bit as an investigative tool.

New Cougar Sighting Reported

A new sighting inside the city of a large cat is coming in. Police say a witness saw the animal last night at around supper time in the River Terrace area. An injured bear was also seen in the Lakehead University area at approximately the same time. Conflicting reports have the large cat pegged as either a cougar or a lynx. Police Spokesperson Chris Adams says witnesses are still firm in their belief it's a cougar. Adams is once again reminding you to exercise caution if you see either the large cat or the injured bear and to notify police immediately.

Careless Driving Charge Laid

Careless Driving is the charge. The Traffic Unit has concluded its investigation into a serious auto-pedestriant accident that happened Sunday. A 57 year old woman driver has now been charged after police say she hit a 47 year old woman who was jogging on Blindline Road. Police Spokesperson Chris Adams says the woman jogger remains at the Health Sciences Centre listed in serious condition.

Latest Cougar Update

No New sightings of a large cat or injured bear are being reported by city police overnight. They were on the lookout for both animals yesterday. The last confirmed sighting of a cougar or a lynx was yesterday during the noon hour near a grassy field near Quality Market on Golf Links road. Earlier sightings had the animal near the Shuniah Building at Confederation College and also near a parking lot near the Health Sciences Centre. Police Spokesperson Chris Adams says public safety is paramount. Adams is urging you to call the police immediately if you spot the large cat or the injured bear.

NAN Elections Today

Voting takes place today to elect a new Grand Chief for the Nishnawbe-Aski Nation. 7 delegates are vying for Nan's top spot which represents 49 mostly remote First Nations communities. The elections come two months earlier than normal after Stan Beardy was elected as Ontario's Regional Chief. A total of five candidates are running for 3 Deputy Grand Chief positions as well.

HMCS Ville De Quebec Visits

Naval enthusiasts will want to pay attention to the harbour this morning. Thunder Bay is welcoming the 445-foot HMCS Ville De Quebec as it makes port at Pool 6 Pier at approximately 10:00 O'clock The ship is offering free tours starting tomorrow at 1:00 o'clock and will be here until Sunday. Tours are free and transportation will be offered from the Community Auditorium and Heart of the Harbour. The HMCS Ville De Quebec has served during an anti-piracy mission in Somalia and also in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Boulevard Main Beach Safe To Swim

Fluctuating levels of e-coli are constantly being tested by the Thunder Bay District Health Unit. The T.B.D.H.U. is now saying the levels have dropped low enough to lift the swimming advisory for Boulevard Lake's Main Beach. High levels of bacteria continue to keep the swim warning in place at Chippewa Park's Main Beach.

Facebook Posting Brings Out Skeptics

This week's reported cougar sightings in the city seem to be drawing a lot of skepticism among the public after the posting of this picture on Facebook. It appears to show a lynx crossing the road at the Lakehead University student residence. Local resident Dave St. Amand says he took the picture on Sunday morning and it appears to have stirred the pot somewhat. However police insist witnesses who they have spoken to claim the animal they saw has a long tail like a cougar would, unlike the short tailed lynx in the Facebook pic.

Facebook Posting Brings Out Skeptics

This week's reported cougar sightings in the city seem to be drawing a lot of skepticism among the public after the posting of this picture on Facebook.   It appears to show a lynx crossing the road at the Lakehead University student residence. Local resident Dave St. Amand says he took the picture on Sunday morning and it appears to have stirred the pot somewhat.  However police insist witnesses who they have spoken to claim the animal they saw has a long tail like a cougar would, unlike the short tailed lynx in the Facebook pic.

KI Chief Honoured

Chief Donny Morris of KI First Nation stood up for what he believes in, and now he's been awarded a medal. Morris was presented a Diamond Jubilee medal, honoring the work he's done for his community. In March 2008, Morris and others were put in jail for standing up to the province. Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell presented the medal, saying Morris has been a "true leader".

Gravelling Monitoring Cougar Sightings

Natural Resources Minister Michael Gravelle is watching the developments surrounding cougar sightings in the city. Gravelle says his ministry is on top of the situation helping to find the animal. He says MNR officials are working with city police to try to track the animal. However Gravelle points out there hasn't been a confirmed sighting of a wild cougar in Ontario since 1884.

Frigate Tour Times Announced

The Royal Canadian Navy is allowing you to take a tour of the HMCS Ville de Quebec when it arrives here for a five day visit this week. On Thursday there will be two opportunities. The first will be in the afternoon from 1 until 5 then from 6 until 8 in the evening. On Friday ,Saturday an Sunday the visits will be restricted to the afternoon starting at 1 o'clock. The ship will be docked at the Pool 6 pier.

Cougar Sighting At Hospital

City police are saying three Hospital staff members were charged by a cougar this morning. Police were called to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre early this morning. Hospital staff reported that a cougar was seen in parking lot H on the east side of the property. Meanwhile, a bear with an injured leg was also spotted in the same area by staff members just after 5:00 a.m. The cougar was said to have acted in an aggressive manner before returning to the wooded area. Police were unable to locate the animals. The police are following up on this matter with the Ministry of Natural Resources. Police are patrolling the area around the hospital and reminding the public to exercise caution when walking in wooded areas in the vicinity. They are also asking you to call them immediately if these animals are spotted.

Injured Bear Still Loose

City police are warning you of the dangers of wild animals roaming through the city. Reports of a cougar sighting were last given to police yesterday afternoon near Tungsten Street and Pioneer Ridge. Officers spotted an injured bear near their station on Balmoral on Central at approximately 10:30 p.m. last night. In both cases the animals fled into the bush before police could catch up with them. In a seperate incident, a bear was hit and killed by a vehicle on West Arthur Street at approximately 9:00 O'Clock last night. No Injureies were reported. Police are warning you to use extreme caution when walking or biking near Central, Balmoral, Tungsten and along the trails surrounding the Lakehead University campus.

Brett Kay Named All-Star

Thunder Bay Border Cats Shortstop Brett Kay has been voted to the 2012 Northwoods League Post-Season All-Star Team. Coaches and members of the media voted him as the lone representative of the Border Cats. He batted .320 with 3 triples, 14 doubles and one home run while collecting 77 hits in 64 games during the regular season.

City Wants Trade Talk Exemption

The city of Thunder Bay wants to be left out of any negotiations involving Canada's discussions with the European Union on a new trade deal. Councillor Paul Pugh is fearful having no exemption from the talks could leave us vulnerable to policy changes involving mass transit thus putting local jobs in danger at the Bombardier plant.   Council's request now goes to both the Canadian and Ontario municipal lobby groups to consider.

Funding Priorities Set

The city's top requests for infrastructure funding from the Harper government are now set in stone.   Councillors voted to promote a list of five projects including improvements to the Delaney Arena and Fort William Stadium.  Other priority projects to be submitted by the city include improvements to trails, lighting and bridges and transit shelter upgrades.

Surveillance Program Has It's Critics

It appears the city's Eye on the Street program may get some council scrutiny in the future. In presenting the program's annual report to council, some city lawmakers, like Councillor Andrew Foulds believe it may be time to rethink the video surveillance program altogether. He would like a critical analysis on whether the 200 thousand dollars spent on it is worth it. The mayor too feels the program has no value.