Vehicle Fire Closes Highway

OPP were forced to close Highway 102 this afternoon because of a tractor trailor fire.  They say it happened at  Alppila Road in Kaministiquia..  No one was injured.  Conmee and Oliver Paipoonge Fire Departments responded as well.

Mulcair To Visit Thunder Bay

A stop in Northwestern Ontario for the leader of the Opposition Party. Tom Mulcair will be in Thunder Bay on Tuesday to tour the Bombardier Plant, as well as meet with Nishnawbe-Aski Nation Deputy Grand Chief Harvey Yesno and the Port Authority. Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell and Thunder Bay MP John Rafferty will join Mulcair in his visits.

Robichaud Tops Local Sunshine List

Once again the head of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre tops the local Sunshine List of those publicly paid workers that made more than 100 thousand dollars last year.   Andree Robichaud was paid 389 thousand dollars in 2012 making her the highest paid public servant in the city.  Lakehead University has the highest number of employees who made over 100 thousand dollars last year. President Brian Stevenson tops that list after making 360 thousand dollars.  He is followed by about 270 more administrators, professors and associate professors who raked in more than 100 k in 2012.  The City of Thunder Bay Manager Tim Commisso tops the city list making 227 thousand dollars in 2012.   Police Chief J-P Levesque made 200 thousand dollars. You can view the entire list by following this LINK

Bentz Wants To See Commitee Costs

City Councillor Mark Bentz is looking forward to finding out the costs associated with Thunder Bay's various committees.  Bentz says he likes having special committees set up to look at specific issues but notes the City should also look at finding savings.  A report on the topic should come back before City Council this fall.

Police Service Members Honoured

It's a big night for 16 city police service members.  They are being honoured for their long service.   The Exemplary Service Awards are being handed out at the Valhalla Inn.  There are three categories. The first for 20 years of service, the second for  30 and 40 years of service and the third honour goes to civilian employees.

Long Weekend Bring Seat Belt Blitz

Buckle up.  OPP are using this Easter long weekend to watch for motorists who fail to use their seat belts.  Constable Anne McCoy says it's an ongoing problem they've identified in the Rainy River area.  OPP says there have been eight deaths on provincial highways related to a person not wearing a seat belt this year.

Fort Frances Mayor Opposed To Tolls

The mayor of Fort Frances is no fan of tolls being set up on northern Ontario highways.  Premier Kathleen Wynne suggests it might help municipalities cover the costs to replace roads and bridges.  Roy Avis doesn't see it as a viable solution.  Avis says earmarking a share of stumpage fees from the wood being hauled along area roads might be a better option.

NAPS Fights For Funding

The Nishnawbe Aski Police service is in a crisis.   Interim Police Chief Bob Herman says the problem is simple, the federal government isn't funding the service properly,  and as of next week, 11 positions will be lost.  Herman hopes the Feds will come to the table and negotiate in good faith.  Herman says he's been working to try to keep the service operational, but says the days of band aid solutions must end.

Algoma Open

 Algoma Street is now open to traffic.  It was closed yesterday to both lanes of traffic while crews worked on repairing a section of road.  A sewer backed up causing a stretch of Algoma near Camelot and River Street to be closed.

Virdiramo Envisions Waterfront Book

One city councillor wants a coffee table book produced on the new Thunder Bay waterfront.  Joe Virdiramo believes there should be something to commemorate such a huge legacy project.  He thinks it should include all the successes and failures that went into having the 58 million dollar project become a reality. Staff at City Hall will be reporting back on the idea at a future council meeting.

LU Hockey Welcomes New Coach

Lakehead University and the Thunderwolves hockey team have a new Head Coach.  Bill McDonald replaces Mike Busniuk, who had been at the Wolves’ helm on an interim basis since taking over for Joel Scherban early this past season.

Teachers Anxious To Volunteer

There is relief now that public elementary school teachers are again volunteering for extracurricular activities.  David Pineau organizes school sports in Thunder Bay and says there's plenty of activities in store and believes  it should be no problem to salvage the year for many activities. Pineau says he's had calls from teachers who are anxious to get started.

Rafferty Sides With Revolting MPs

Some Conservative MP's in Ottawa are revolting and Thunder Bay NDP MP John Rafferty is on their side.  The MPs are upset with how short a leash the Prime Minister's office has them on and Rafferty says he's not surprised.    Rafferty agrees that it's limiting the MPs ability to represent their ridings

Sewer Work Forces Street Closure

The city is conducting sewer work on Algoma Street and that's forcing a road closure for at least two days, maybe longer.  Officials say Algoma between River Street and Camelot will be closed to all traffic for that time.  

City Says Fewer Pothole Calls

City crews are working to fill potholes as fast as they can find them.  Over at City Hall roads boss Brad Adams is coordinating it all.  He says crews are telling him it's an average year for potholes and he says there have been fewer calls to complain about them.  Adams says you can report potholes by calling 625-2195 or report it online at this LINK

Con College To Host DFC Residence

Confederation College will be hosting the new residences for Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School.  President Jim Madder says they're happy to help by building the facility on the corner of Edward and Williams Streets.  The building is expected to house 150 beds for students and another 50 for families visiting from the remote north.
DFC New Residence  on PhotoPeach

Foul Play Ruled Out

OPP don't suspect foul play in the death of 33 year old Erik Legarde.  The Geraldton man was reported missing and then later found dead on a bush trail.  Police say results from the post mortem don't point to foul play.

T.Bay Inflation Rate Rises

Statistics Canada is out with its latest inflation rate figures.  Thunder Bay's rate in February was 0.9 percent up from January's 0.3%.  Canada's national annual inflation rate was 1.2 per cent.

Safeway Fundraiser Kick Off

Thunder Bay's Safeway Stores continue to raise awareness and money for Special Olympics and Easter Seals.  Easter Seals Spokesperson Rhonda Harrison says they'll be using their share of the money to send kids to camp.  During the month of April, Northwestern Ontario Safeway stores will be asking customers to donate two dollars towards the charities in return you'll receive 5 bonus air miles points.

College Gets Cash For Mental Health

College and university students in Thunder Bay will have better access to mental health supports.  The Provincial Government has announced over 900-thousand-dollars in funding over a three-year-period.  Confederation College will design a "northern relevant" website for students and staff, improve counseling services and programs and create a peer support network.