Meals On Wheels Could Change Hands

The city's Meal's on Wheels program could be given to someone else to run. Councillor Rebecca Johnson says it's one of the options being considered as a source of saving money.  She says it would be about 100 thousand dollars a year.  Johnson says the Red Cross is one organization considering taking over the decades old program.

Tragedy Risk Reduced In Thunder Bay

Owning exotic pets like a python in Thunder Bay is against the law.  One pet store owner in the city we spoke to says for that reason the likelyhood of the  New Brunswick python tragedy repeating itself here is greatly reduced.  Two young boys in Campbellton were suffocated by the giant snake as they slept in an apartment located above a pet shop.

College Expands Mining Opportunities

Some new educational opportunities in mining are opening up at Confederation College. The College will deliver Timmin's based Northern College's highly successful Haileybury School of Mines program through its Thunder Bay campus. It allows graduates of Confederation's Mining Techniques certificate program to advance to the third semester of  Northern's diploma program. The Colleges say it will help meet an expected demand for workers.

Treaty 3 Police Chief Calls It Quits

The Chief of the Treaty 3 Police Service is calling it quits. Conrad DeLaronde handed in his resignation this morning. Police Board Chair Eli Mandamin says they will discuss the situation next week.  Mandamin says DeLaronde will leave his post in 3 months.   No reason was given for the decision.

Forest Fire Activity Still Low

Cool weather across northwestern Ontario continues to keep the forest fire hazard down to low levels. Only a handful of new fires were reported over the weekend, mostly in the Kenora and Thunder Bay regions. There continues to be no fires burning in the Rainy River district.

Osisko Suspends NWO Operations

Osisko Mining has suspended construction of the Hammond Reef gold mine in the Atikokan area. Low gold prices and high construction costs are to blame. Company President Sean Roosen says the property is still a valuable asset, but better prices are needed.  Roosen says the company still plans to complete the permitting process. Osisko Mining has been working on Hammond Reef since acquiring the property from Brett Resources in 2010.

Highway Improvements For Greenstone

Expect some delays if you are taking the northern route of the Trans Canada Highway.   Twenty one kilometres of Highway 11 in Greenstone is getting some summer improvements.   The government is paying 5 million dollars to have that portion of highway reconstructed.

Suspects Caught Near Marathon

Two men from Kitchener are in OPP custody in Marathon following a weekend adventure.    Police say the two ran away from police after the car they were passengers in was stopped by police on the Trans Canada Highway near William's Mine yesterday.  One of the men was caught last night, the other this morning and both have been charged.   The car's driver, who is also from Kitchener, is also charged.

Councillor Pumped About AHL Possibility

The purchase of the Phoenix Coyotes by Thunder Bay's Anthony LeBlanc and company is reviving hopes for an American Hockey League franchise for the city.   Councillor Ken Boshcoff says that possibility  will certainly be a catalyst for the new events centre. Speaking with John Ongaro this morning Boshcoff says it could spur partnership between the city and private developers.

Fire Cause Still Not Known

There's still no cause to report involving a weekend fire on the city's south side.   Officials say that a house on the 1300 block of Mountdale Avenue is heavily damaged as a result of the blaze.  They say it started in the rear of the home, and while there were people inside at the time the fire broke out, they managed to escape safely.   The Fire Marshall's office is investigating.