Bikers Collect Toys

The Salvation Army is again hosting its annual summertime Toys for Tots Motorcycle Ride. Spokesperson Gail Kromm says toys can be dropped off at any motorcycle dealer from now until September 15th. That's when the bikers gather for a parade around the city. The toys will be presented to the Salvation Army at the end of the ride.

Labour Issues Will Not Delay Local School Year

There is no way the Lakehead Public School Board will be able to get a contract signed with its teachers by the September first deadline imposed by Premier Dalton McGuinty. Board Chair Deborah Massaro says regardless of what happens it will be business as usual in the new school year.  Massaro says the board normally negotiates with its teachers in the fall but doesn't know why no one felt the need to move the talks ahead.

Exemplary Medals Awarded

Thunder Bay Fire Service Personnel are now proudly displaying new medals for exemplary service. Nine members were honoured with the special medals yesterday on board the visiting HMCS Ville De Quebec.  Acting Captain Jo Rucchin was one of the recipients for his 20 years of dedication and says he's very proud to serve alongside a group that is so dedicated to serving our community.

Hobbs Ready For AMO Meeting

Provincial municipal leaders are gathering in Ottawa starting Sunday for their annual meeting. Our Mayor Keith Hobbs says the gathering of the Ontario Municipal Association is a chance to meet cabinet ministers they normally don't get to.  Hobbs says they hope to discuss local issues with the health, energy and infrastructure ministers.  Those issues include helping out the local tissue bank Regen Med, and getting the conversion of the Mission Island Ontario Power Generation Plant back on track.

Queen's Jubilee Medals Awarded

The HMCS Ville De Quebec is serving a special purpose during this week's visit to the port of Thunder Bay. Today the ship hosted a special Queen's Jubilee Medal Ceremony. Five people from the region were given the distinguished award including Retired Captain Ann Zuliani, who says it's an honour. Nine fire personnel were also part of the ceremony, they were given exemplary medals for 20 and 30 years of service.

Inflation Slows To A Crawl

Runaway inflation doesn't appear to be a concern in Thunder Bay.   The rate barely budged in the city last month.  Government figures from Statistics Canada show that the inflation rate dropped from half a per pent in June to point one per cent in July.   Nationally the inflation rate fell to 1.3 per cent in July.

Injured Bear Still Seen In City

An injured bear hobbling on three legs is still being spotted around the city. The bear was last seen by multiple people at approximately 10:00 o'clock last night in the area of Riviera Drive. Another bear was seen near Strathcona Golf Course. There have been no new sightings of what police believe to be a cougar or a lynx since Tuesday night.

Nuissance Bears A Problem For Police

The President of the Thunder Bay Police Association is speaking out about having to deal with nuissance animals in the city, particularly bears. Greg Stephenson says the decision by the Ministry of Natural Resources to have city police deal with nuissance bears is putting them in a very difficult position. He feels they don't have the proper training or the right equipment to deal with them. Stephenson says they will be be bringing this issue up with MPP Bill Mauro and especially with Minister of Natural Resources Michael Gravelle.

Broken Nose Leads To Charges

City police are reporting more female violence overnight. One woman was sent to hospital after she had her nose broken. City police have 2 women in custody and charged with assault after an altercation took place just after 11:00 o'clock last night on the 100 block of South May Street. Both women are to appear in court this morning.

Forest Fires On The Decline

Cooler temperatures and rain throughout the region are keeping the forest fire situation at bay. There were no new fires confirmed yesterday in the Northwest Region. Widespread rain has reduced the forest fire hazard to low for the entire region and is keeping the fire situation quiet. There are 53 active forest fires in Northwestern Ontario; of those 53 fires, 51 are being monitored by the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Woman Charged With Arson

A 25 year old woman remains in custody and is charged with arson. Provincial Police laid the charge after investigating a rash of fires that caused structural damage in the Sioux Lookout area. O.P.P. were looking into 3 fires in particular and with the help of the Northwest Crime Unit, were able to arrest and charge the woman. She is scheduled to appear in a Sioux Lookout court today.

OCSA Lauds City Tobacco Stand

Thunder Bay City Council is getting props for its stand on the issue of contraband tobacco.  The Ontario Convenience Stores Association is pleased council has voted to support the association's fight against the sale of such products.  It also applauds the District Health Unit and its ad campaign against illegal cigarettes.

More Ceremony On Visiting Frigate

There's more pomp happening on board the visiting frigate HMCS Ville de Quebec Friday.  There will be a medal ceremony taking place in the morning starting at 10.   Five Queen's Diamond Jubilee and nine Exemplary Service Medals will be presented to Thunder Bay residents.   Today there was a Canadian citizenship ceremony on board the ship.

Cougars No Stranger To The Northwest

A wildlife expert at Lakehead University says it wouldn't surprise him if it turned out if there was a cougar in the city. Don Barnes says the big cat has been spotted in Northwestern Ontario from Kenora to Thunder Bay for many years. He recalls a thesis one student did on the cougar sightings in Northwestern Ontario. Barnes says because the Ministry of Natural Resources has such strict guidelines to prove a sighting, they are never confirmed.

Peterson Applauds Sault Move

The co-chair of the city's Disaster Relief Committee is hoping it catches on. Lynn Peterson is reacting to the decision by the city council in Sault Ste. Marie to donate 75 hundred dollars to our disaster relief. Peterson calls it wonderful news for the community.  She says it shows that other communities in the north recognize that it's a disaster could have just as easily happened in their own city. Peterson says the request for donations went out to many municipal councils in the province.

True Grit Tees Off For Disaster Relief

The first major fundraising event for the city's Disaster Relief Fund is aiming to raise 300 thousand dollars to help victims of the May 28th flood.  It's a golf tournament being organized by  True Grit Consulting and takes place at Whitewater September 13th.   It also includes an auction of a Fiat sports car.

New Digs For Cancer Care Operations

Cancer Care Ontario's research presence in Thunder Bay is growing.  Vice President Rick Skinner says they have doubled the number of their software developers after being able to snap up some teckies from the now defunct Tornado Medical Systems and move into their former office space in the Whelan Building

Injured Bear Still In City

An injured bear is still making its way through the city. A bear with an injured foot, apparently only using three legs to walk, was spotted this morning at 7:40 a.m. on Golf Links Road near Cascade Crescent. Reports of wild animals including what could be a cougar or a lynx have been dominating police phones throughout the week. Numerous calls of nuissance bears were reported overnight behind the police station on Balmoral and Central. Other locations where witnesses saw bears included Hutton Park at the end of Valley Street, Dawson Road, Dragon Hills Golf Course and in Oliver-Paipoonge.

Police Association AGM

The Thunder Bay Police Association is playing host for the fifth time to the Ontario Police Association's Annual General Meeting. City Police Association President Greg Stephenson says it's a good chance to catch up with fellow members from across the province. Stephenson says 150 delegates from across Ontario are here in attendance for the meetings which wrap-up tomorrow.

Frigate Serves As Ceremony Venue

A new crop of Canadian citizens are ready to take on the world after they were sworn in at a ceremony in Thunder Bay on board the visiting frigate HMCS Ville de Quebec. Senior Citizenship Judge George Springate says having a battleship as a backdrop is just a way to take advantage of opportunities. He calls it Canada at its best. A total of 46 people from 22 different countries took the oath of citizen in the ceremony