House Fire At Vickers And Donald

Thunder Bay's Fire Department says Sunday's vacant house fire is suspicious.
Crews were called to the scene of a blaze at the corner of Donald and Vicker Street around 3:25 yesterday afternoon. Spokesperson Eric Nordlund says they've completed their on site investigation of the blaze and maintains the fire is questionable since there was no power to the home.  He adds the home was broken into and they've decided not to ask the Fire Marshall's Office to investigate.  Nordlund says it could be several days before they have an exact cause of the fire.

Quiet Start To Fire Season

April first is the start of the new forest fire season and so far all is quiet.   Deb Maclean of the Ministry of Natural Resources says it's in stark contrast to last year at this time when there were 14 fires even before the season even began. Officials will be working with a budget of about 60 million dollars this year.

Transit Fares Go Up Today

The city is reminding bus riders that fares are going up today April first.   Among the highlights, the exact cash fare goes up five cents, a 20 ride pass increases by five dollars and a row of 10 tickets will cost 4 dollars more. As well all the prices will be available to Handicapped Transit customers.

Dew Drop Inn Serves Easter Dinner

The Dew Drop Inn will be feeding the needy this weekend.
They will be serving Easter dinner this afternoon for about 300 people. Dinner is being served at 2:30 today.

First Nations Save Energy

First Nations communities in Northwestern Ontario have a chance to save energy through a new program. The "saveOnenergy Aboriginal Conservation Program" is offered by the Ontario Power Authority and First Nations Engineering Services. Director of First Nations and Métis Relations with the OPA Hilary Thatcher encourages communities to get involved. Thatcher thinks First Nations from across the region should apply for the program.

Lakehead University Skiers Win Big

Lakehead University's Men and Women Nordic Ski teams are Overall Team Champions at the Canadian Varsity Cross Country Championships in Whistler B.C. Coach Adam Kates is very proud of his skiers. Kates says the program will continue to grow in coming years.

Canfield Backs Government Budget

Kenora Mayor Dave Canfield says the government is doing the right thing by investing more money into aboriginal communities. Speaking about the federal budget, Canfield says the government is addressing some pressing issues. Canfield says the funding for skills training is very important in the region with the mining and forestry sector expected to boom.

Last Year For Daffodils

This is the last year you can buy daffodils to support the Canadian Cancer Society's Daffodil Campaign. Starting next year, pins will be available for a small donation. Sioux Lookout Branch President Lisa Husak says 100-percent of the proceeds go to cancer care programs. Husak says the reason they won't be giving out daffodils anymore is due to cost and transportation factors.

St. John Ambulance Hosting Food Drive

St. John Ambulance will have two empty ambulances to fill with food for the "Fill an Ambulance/Feed the Hungry Food Drive" on Saturday. They are gathering non-perishable food items in support of the St. Thomas Anglican Church Food Bank. You can bring your donations to the Metro on Arthur street between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. tomorrow.

Madder Disappointed With Government

The president of Confederation College is a bit disappointed with the provincial government's new restriction on tuition hikes. Tuition increases will now be capped at three-percent, down from five-percent. Jim Madder says this means things like programming decisions will take more time. Madder says the average tuition for a student is 2500-dollars, so three percent is around 75-dollars.

Canadian Fur Selling High

Canada's fur industry is experiencing something it hasn't seen in a long time. Furs are being sold off, in some cases, at record-breaking prices. President of the Rainy River Fur Trappers Council, Brian Love, says that can only bode well for their future. Love says increased interest in Canadian furs from the Pacific Rim countries is partly responsible for the high prices.

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 Committee 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 the road. A sewer backed up causing a stretch of Algoma near Camelot and River Street to be closed.