Vehicle Pedestrian Collision

Thunder Bay Police are confirming a vehicle pedestrian accident in the area of the Arthur Street and Leland intersection. The accident involves a 12 year old girl and the ambulance was on the scene. It occurred just after 4 o'clock Tuesday. There's no word yet on injuries.

NAN Wants To Take Part In Inquest

The Nishnawbe Aski Nation is one of several groups who want to take part in an inquest into the deaths of seven aboriginal youth in Thunder Bay.  Grand Chief Harvey Yesno says NAN's participation in the inquest is critical.  Other groups looking for permission today to participate are the City of Thunder Bay and the Police Services Board.

Standoff End On The FWFN

Life is back to normal on the Fort William First Nation after yesterday's police standoff.   OPP say a 40 year old man barricaded himself in a house in the community Monday afternoon.  After a brief period police say he gave up peacefully and is in custody awaiting a court appearance facing a weapons charge and uttering threats.

Float Planes Training Upsets Cottagers

Cottagers at Eva Lake near Atikokan are fuming and it's Confederation College they are angry at.  They say since the College moved its float plane training program from Lake Shabandowan it's been nothing but take offs and landings  over an over again on their lake.  They counted 40 in one day.  Cottagers say it's making it extremely hard to use or enjoy the lake.

Violent Night On The South Side

City police say that a 28 year old Thunder Bay man is in custody facing charges of robbery and threats to kill.  It follows an attack on two men just after midnight on the 300 Block of South Syndicate Avenue.   The suspect was arrested a short distance away.  Police say it was a random assault.

Councillor Stands Up For Arbitrator's Ruling

Not everyone is upset that the city has come on the wrong side of a recent firefighters arbitration decision on sick leave payouts.  City staff says that it's costing  money that wasn't budgeted for.   City Manager Tim  Commisso believes the arbitrator's decision is largely based on factors in Southern Ontario and doesn't reflect the realities of the north.  Councillor Paul Pugh disagrees with the idea that the city should pressure the province to set conditions on arbitrators so we don't get dinged so hard.  Pugh says  that's trampling on the rights of working people especially those who's bargaining rights have been taken away by legislation.

Students Plead For Fair Trade Designation

Grade Six students at Ogden School want Thunder Bay to become a Fair Trade City.  They say they were disturbed by the recent garment factory tragedy in Bangladesh and they did some homework on the issue.  They discovered that the movement started in the United Kingdom.  Under a fair trade strategy the city would agree to only do business with countries that treat their workers fairly.  City administration will be writing a report on the proposal. 

Police Seek Hit And Run Driver

City police are on the lookout for the driver of a tractor trailer after a hit and run on the weekend.  Sgt. Glenn Porter says it took place in the parking lot of the Landmark Inn on Dawson Road at 4 am Saturday morning.    He says it appears that as the driver rounded a corner the tractor trailer hooked on to a  minivan which in turn smashed into three other vehicles as it was being dragged along.  A surveillance camera captured the incident. Transport Hit And Run on PhotoPeach

Coroner To Hear Requests For Standing

An inquest into the deaths of seven Aboriginal youths in Thunder Bay takes a major step forward today.   Coroner Dr. Michael Wilson is holding a hearing to listen to those people who believe they have a right to take part in the process. Wilson says not everyone who asks can be granted standing.  He says that privilege will go to anyone with a direct interest in the outcome. The hearing begins at 10 am at the Ontario Government building on Red River Road.

Police Probe Hit And Run

City police are on the lookout for the driver of a tractor trailer after a hit and run on the weekend.  Sgt. Glenn Porter says it took place in the parking lot of the Landmark Inn on Dawson Road at 4 am Saturday morning.    He says it appears that as the driver rounded a corner the tractor trailer hooked on to a  minivan which in turn smashed into three other vehicles as it was being dragged along.  A surveillance camera captured the incident. Transport Hit And Run on PhotoPeach

Mac's Robbed At Knifepoint

City police are looking for one person following the robbery of the Mac's Store at Balsam and River Streets.  They say it happened at around sunrise this morning when a man armed with a knife made off with a small amount of money and cigarettes.  No one is hurt. 

Fire Guts City Home

Two people are said to be safe after a late morning south side house fire. It broke out just before 11 o'clock at 848 Minnesota Street.  Eyewitness Chris Davidson was passing by in his vehicle when he noticed the fire and called 9-11.  He says two men were standing outside the home as thick smoke was pouring out.  He says they appeared ok and their pet cat was rescued..   The cause of the fire is not known.

Housing Starts Up

There's been a jump in housing starts from April to May in Thunder Bay.  The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation released it's latest figures this morning that show we had 318 new units up from 292 the previous month.

Drowning At Cummins Lake

Thunder Bay OPP are reporting the drowning death of a 76 year old man at Cummins Lake in Jacques Township.  Ernest Rumpel went out in his canoe with his German Shepard Saturday afternoon.  It's believed the dog rocked the canoe capsizing it, knocking Rumpel out of the boat.  He was not wearing his life jacket and was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Boat Collision Sends People To Hospital

OPP are still investigating Saturday's small boat collision on Lake Superior near Red Rock.  The boat struck a reef near St. Ignace Island and sustained major damage.  A 37 year old man was sent to Thunder Bay Hospital with some injuries.  Two other people from Toronto were treated and released from Nipigon Hospital with less serious injuries.

Grease Fire Forces Man From Apartment

A grease fire in a south side apartment has forced the tenant out of his home.  The incident occurred last night on Lincoln Street saw a stove top fire that melted plastic furniture and damaged the floor.  The tenant will be staying with his brother until its safe to return.

Weekend Forest Fires

It was a busy weekend for Ministry of Natural Resources fire crews.  28-new forest fires were reported over the weekend in northwestern Ontario.  Most of the fires were in the Sioux Lookout, Nipigon and Thunder Bay districts.  The Ministry of Natural Resources is paying close attention to a lightning-cased fire about 35-kilometres east of Summer Beaver.  The blaze is 15-hundred hectares and is burning near several cabins in the area.

Fire Fighters Sick Leave Contract Awarded

City Manager Tim Commisso is going to tell Council tonight what the financial impacts will be from a recent Fire Fighters arbitration award.  The City is on the hook for 170 thousand dollars and an additional 3-thousand dollars per retired firefighter.  Councillor Rebecca Johnson says she takes issue with an arbitrator making decisions that the City will have to pay for.  The sick leave payouts go back to 2008 and involve 62 Fire Fighters.

State Of Emergency Remains

The City remains under a state of emergency despite the one year anniversary of the May 28th flood that's come and gone.  It's because the advisory can't be lifted until the City can settle all of the matters related to the spring 2012 flood of the Atlantic Avenue Water Treatment Plant.  Council will be renewing their engineering contracts for the plant at tonight's meeting.

Watermain Upgrades Up For Vote

The Northwood area could be seeing some upgrades to their storm sewer and watermain systems.  Council is going to vote tonight on whether or not to approve a million dollar contract with Prime Terra Group.  The work if approved will take place around the James Street, Limbrick areas.