Snow Birds Demonstration and Community Fund

Northwestern Ontario's aboriginal students will now have access to a quarter million dollar endowment fund for post secondary education. The fund was created by Ontario's transport medicine group "ORNGE" and the aviation company AgustaWestland. The fund was created to help the growing aboriginal population take part in the emerging career field of medical transport. Confederation College President Pat Lang is happy first nation students will have the extra funds to take part in their aviation courses. The community endowment fund was announced at the College's Aviation Day and fly by demonstration of the Snow birds.

Your meds could get you into trouble.

A Thunder Bay lawyer has a warning for people who may drive while on certain prescription drugs. Christopher Watkins says there are now tests available to detect whether a driver is on medication. Watkins says that could mean some innocent people could get in serious trouble. He says there may be a lot of citizens who have suffered injuries and could be driving while on pain medications like oxycodone or percocets. Watkin says they may not be aware they could be in danger of facing an impaired driving charge. Watkins says a conviction could result in the loss of a driver's licence.

Health care groups join National Challenge

St. Joseph's Care Group and Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre are teaming up to help the environment. All staff at both health care locations are being asked to participate in the National Commuter Challenge next week. They're being asked to take the bus, cycle, walk or car pool to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases going into the atmosphere. St. Joe's CEO Tracy Buckler joined Health Sciences Centre President Ron Saddington to kick off the challenge

Public School Board supports wind moratorium

The Lakehead public school board is supporting the Norwester Mountain Escarpment Protection Committee's quest to get a moratorium on the Big Thunder Wind Park. The decision was made at last nights board meeting by a vote of 4 to 2. Trustee Karen Wilson moved  the motion and says conflicting information from Ontario's Chief Medical officer concerns her the most. Wilson says Doctor Arlene King's information conflicts with the views of Health Canada and the World Health Organization. She says she wants to see an independent 3rd party study on the effects of wind turbines before development.

Hodder Tavern has liquor license suspended

The Ontario Alcohol and Gaming Commission has handed a 35 day suspension to Hodder Tavern. The tavern's liquor license will be suspended from June 7th to July 12th. The suspension follows a few incidents that happened last year including one where a man was served alcohol and was later found dead in a near by lake.

Special Olympic Ontario Winter Games

The Special Olympics Ontario Winter games are just over 8 months away. Thunder Bay is hosting the games this year, and Creator Dr. Frank Hayden paid a visit to the City today. Hayden says the games could have a million dollar impact on the City's economy. The games will involve more than 300 athletes and 125 coaches from across the province.

Fire Service to check for working smoke alarms

The Thunder Bay Fire Service is starting it's door-to-door smoke alarm checks again. Chief John Hay says it's part of a 5 year plan to go to every home in the city and make sure there are working smoke alarms on every floor. He says they'll go to homes and ask residents if they want a home inspection and to be educated on smoke detectors. Those inspectors will then help residents who don't have any alarms help them be in compliance with the law. Hay says no charges will be laid if inspectors are welcomed into the home

Two Mac's robberies remain unsolved

City police remain on the watch for a suspect or suspects in two Mac's store robberies on the weekend. They say that in both cases a man was involved in the robberies and the culprits had their faces covered. Police have not connected the two robberies. One took place at the Syndicate Avenue store early Saturday morning the other early Monday morning at the May and Dease location.

Snow birds fly by Wednesday

It's aviation day at Confederation College.  The event will celebrate the growth and success of aviation in Northern Ontario.  During the event, Helicopter Transport Medicine group "ORNGE" and the college will announce new opportunities for students in the health care field.  A fly-by by the Canadian Forces Snowbirds will take place at noon at the School of Aviation flight hangar.

Horizon Wind to release report this week

The next important step in the development of the proposed Nor' wester Wind Farm takes place this week. On Thursday Horizon Wind will be releasing the Environmental Report regarding the wind turbines. At the same time officials will also provide details about the next public open houses. The release of the report is significant because city councillors have said they would not make a decision on the location of the 18 turbines until after that report was made public.

Violence against women

18 not for profit groups in the Thunder Bay area will be sharing over 53 thousand dollars in provincial government funding.  The money will be used to run violence against women programs and buy resources and equipment.  The organizations receiving the money work in the Thunder Bay-Superior North and Thunder Bay-Atikokan ridings.

Thunder Bay new home activity will grow in 2010

It's going to be a great building season for Thunder Bay.  Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation released it's Spring housing market report on Tuesday.  Thunder Bay's new home activity will increase by 27 percent in 2010.  The CMHC is also calling for existing home sales to grow and reach 1 thousand five hundred and fifty units this year.

Robbery suspects remain in custody

Two Thunder Bay residents are due back in court next week in connection with a weekend armed robbery. Police say a man and a woman entered the Syndicate Avenue Mac's Store on Sunday morning armed with a knife. They ran off with some cash. The suspects were later caught and appeared in court Tuesday. The 32 year old man and 27 year old woman were remanded in custody.

Woman opts for jury trial in fraud case

A Thunder Bay woman is asking for trial by judge and jury in connection with a fraud case involving the Port Arthur Polish Alliance Branch #19. The lawyer for Krystyna Dolasinski says a preliminary hearing has been scheduled for October. Christopher Watkins says the hearing will help build his defence by continuing to explore the strength of the prosecution's case and concerns that centre around the strength of that case. Alliance officials say they found about 100 thousand dollars was missing from their accounts over a two year period. In court on Tuesday, Assistant Crown Attorney Gil Maille said that charges of Breach of Trust and Misappropriation of Money were withdrawn. He says however, she still faces charges of Fraud and Theft over 5 thousand dollars and Falsifying Documents

OPP long weekend activity

Not much activity on the long weekend for Thunder Bay OPP.  Police did pull over one vehicle in the area of Highway 61 and Arthur Street this morning.  When speaking with the driver, the officers noticed the 37 year old man was showing signs of impairment.  He's charged with impaired operation of a motor vehicle and driving over 80 milograms; that's twice the legal limit.  Police also issued 3-3 days licence suspensions over the May long weekend.

Leon's furniture store protest

Thunder Bay's skilled labourers are protesting in front of the Leon's building.  Glen Drews is the head of the electrical construction workers for the region and says they're dissapointed they didn't use local workers.  Drews adds Leon's shouldn't expect locals to buy their furniture since they didn't employ anyone locally.  Leon's Furniture store is presently being built down from Walmart on Fort William Road.

King's stereo building demolished

Demolition work is complete on the King's Stereo Building.  Clean up has commenced and is expected to take several weeks.  M Hashy and Sons Contracting Owner Michael Hashy hopes to have Syndicate and Miles Street open by this afternoon.  The materials of the demolished building are being hauled to the City landfill.

Kenyan tops the 10 Mile

The winner of the 100th running of the 10 Mile Road Race is Gilbert Kiptoo of Kenya.    While he didn't set the course record of 47 minutes he did have an impressive time of 49:51.   In second place was Eric Hartmark of Duluth, Minnesota with a time of 49:57.   For the first time this year there was a prize for the top finishers.  Kiptoo walked away with  1 thousand dollars, Hartmark took 500 dollars.   The fastest woman was Leslie Semler of Duluth who ran the course in 1:02:30.  This was her first trip to compete in the Thunder Bay event and says she was extremely pleased with her time.   There was a record field this year with over 1 thousand runners who registered.  Organizer Mark Smith says he's pleased that the race is growing in popular support within the community.

PM comes to Dryden with big bucks

The Domtar mill in Dryden is getting some extensive work done to it. The 22.7 million dollars worth of improvements were announced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper on a visit to the community on Saturday. It will allow the mill to produce it's own renewable energy and reduce the amount of power it buys from more expensive sources. Prior to the announcement Harper spent time at the Dryden Air Show which starred Canada's own aerobatic air team the Snowbirds.

Make way for the courthouse!

The old King's Stereo building on Syndicate Avenue is being demolished so a new courthouse can be built. Crews began the process Saturday morning and expect to have the job completed by Victoria Day