Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Smokey conditions due to forest fires

Where there's smoke--there's not necessarily a fire.  Thunder Bay fire officials are crediting the thick smoke in the air to forest fires in the province.  Smoke from fires in Ontario are drifting into the City causing the haze.

Breast Screening Challenge Friday

The Ontario Breast Screening Program is kicking off another Breast Screening Challenge this Friday. The goal is to get 150 new clients in one day.  Appointments can be made at four different locations across the region.

Border Cats Cullen Mahoney gets award

Another member of the Thunder Bay Border Cats has been recognized for his outstanding 2011 season.  Cullen Mahoney is the winner of the Rawlings "Big Stick" Award as the top offensive second baseman in the Northwoods League.  Mahoney was the second best hitter in the league.

Canfield weighs in on Liberal minority

The Liberal minority government might actually be a good thing for Northwestern Ontario.  That's the feeling of NOMA Vice President Dave Canfield; he says it's time Dalton McGuinty finally started listening to the North.  Canfield says the minority government might mean Premier Dalton McGuinty has to listen to the North instead of dictating what he wants to do.

Nominations Close Thursday afternoon

The City is putting in a last minute push for nominations in its first ever Crime Prevention Awards.  Acting Crime Prevention Council Coordinator Sheelagh Hendrick says they'll be accepting nominations up until Thursday, October 13th.  The awards will be presented at a City Council meeting on November 7th.

AbitibiBowater changes name

There's a new name coming to AbitibiBowater.  The company is changing its name to Resolute Forest Products.  The name was selected among 14-hundred submissions received through an internal company contest.  The change takes place November 7th.

Police still looking for people responsible for Chapples Vandalism

Thunder Bay police are looking to the public for help in finding the vehicle involved in tearing up the Chapples Golf Course.  Police say a black Honda missing a rocker panel may have been involved in the weekend incident that caused 15 thousand dollars in damage.

Housing construction remains hot in September

Housing construction continues to stay hot in Thunder Bay.  Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Analyst Warren Philp says September saw 25 single detached starts, 5 more compared to the same month last year.  Overall Philp says we are 10 percent down in single detached housing but up 90 percent overall thanks to a sharp increase in multi family starts. Philp says with the warm weather we are continuing to enjoy he can't rule out another big month for October. 

OPP looking for missing man

A search continues in Dryden for a Winnipeg man who disappeared just after he was released from custody for alleged impaired driving.  Lukas Whitmore was last seen near a wooded area on the edge of the community on October 2nd. Ontario Provincial Police say the 25-year-old man was on his way to Thunder Bay to visit his sister before he disappeared. O-P-P say continuing warm temperatures mean Whitmore should be able to handle the weather. They also say their search is not classified as a manhunt and that Whitmore is not considered dangerous.

Psychology clinic studied

Lakehead University is embarking on a feasibility study looking at creating a psychology clinic on their campus.  Dr. Josephine Tan feels a psych clinic will support the healthcare system in the City and Northern Ontario.  Bell Canada is providing the 12-thousand dollars to conduct the study.

Empty Bowls Caring Hearts

It's going to cost a little bit more to take part in the Empty Bowls Caring Hearts fundraiser for the food bank and Shelter House.  Chair Nelly Reedhead says tickets will now cost 30 dollars.  The group hopes to raise 16 thousand dollars this year through their fundraising dinner.







More Wind Projects could be coming our way

Two more wind farm projects could be coming to the area.  Gilead Power Corporation is targeting 2013 to begin construction on a 130 mega watt project in Murrillo and 2014 for a 74 mega watt project in Lappe.  According to the company's website, officials are working with government and community organizations to get the project off the ground.