New CAO In Red Lake

A new face to the Chief Administrative Officer Position in Red Lake. Mark Vermette will take over effective immediatly. He is replacing Brian Anderson, who is retiring after nearly 40 years.

Fort Frances Mill To Reopen Briefly

A deal has been reached on starting up one of the paper machines at the Resolute Forest Products Mill in Fort Frances. Over 40 members of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union will be heading back to work for 2 to 3 months. National CEP Rep Stephen Boon says that will hopefully give the mill the boost it needs. Boon says a lot of workers that were laid off in February have found other jobs, but this deal will make the recall completely voluntary.

Wind Farm Opponents Resume The Fight

Wind farm opponents on the city's south side are confident they have a solid case against proposed turbines on the Nor' wester Escarpment. Spokesperson Irene Bond says their consultant has torn apart some of Horizon Winds environmental claims and believes the government will see their point of view, especially when it comes to noise issues.  The report was filed as part of the government's environmental assessment process on the project

No Injuries In Pellet Plant Fire

No one is hurt after a fire this morning at a wood pellet plant on Mission Island.   Fire officials say the blaze started in some dust around 10 o'clock in part of a pellet making machine.   Firefighters stayed for about two hours because in order to make sure the fire was out, they dismantled part of the machinery.

Dilico Workers Poised To Strike

The picket signs are ready to go up at Dilico Anishinabek Family Care offices here and across the district.   Three hundred and fifty workers from Thunder Bay, Armstrong , Longlac, Marathon and Nipigon are set to walk off the job Monday at 8 am.   They are members of the Canadian Energy and Paperworkers Union,  and are pressing their case for a new contract. There are no scheduled talks to try to end the dispute.

AIMS Boss To Head NOPI

A Nova Scotia economics whizz is coming to Thunder Bay to head the Northern Ontario Policy Institute.   Reports indicate that Charles Cirtwill, president of the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies, will be the Institute's first head.   The Ontario government set up the think tank to put together a plan for the north which will then be presented to the province.

MNR Doing Invasive Species Study

The Ministry of Natural Resources is out on area lakes monitoring fish populations, taking water samples and checking for invasive species. Surveys are being done on 61-lakes in northwestern Ontario. Spokesperson Kim Armstrong says the process should take until about early September.
He notes it could take over a year to know the final results.

Acadia Applies To Buy N.B. Station

In business news - Acadia Broadcasting is moving to add another radio station to its stable - the parent company of  Giant 105.3 has filed an application with the Canadian Radio Television and Telecommunications Commission to purchase CKNI-FM - News91.9 in Moncton from Rogers Broadcasting.  The Saint John based company currently owns ten stations in the Maritimes - and - here Ontario.  Acadia Vice President Jim MacMullin says he looks forward to bringing our brand of community focused - quality local radio to Moncton.

LU Prof Weighs In On Egypt

A top Egyptian judge is the country's new interim president.  Lakehead University Political Science Professor Laure Paquette is weighing in on the military ousting democratically elected Mohammed Morsi and hopes the military will give power back to the next person elected by the people.

Grain Elevators Group Likes Hotel Idea

The Friends of Grain Elevators group says a local business man's plan to turn a grain elevator on the City's waterfront into a hotel has peaked their interest.  Global Recycling and the group have been in talks about offering a grain elevator learning centre near the hotel.  Friends Spokesperson Nancy Perozzo says talks will continue.  Perrozzo says she likes that the hotel could be made up of old parts from the grain elevator.

Target Store Opening July 16th

Thunder Bay's Target Store is set to open at 8 am July 16th.  Spokesperson Lisa Gibson says it's one of 20 stores across Canada that will open that week.  The former Zeller's store has undergone extensive renovations and will employ 150 people.

One Fire In T.Bay District

The Ministry of Natural Resources is reporting a new fire in the Thunder Bay district.  In total, there were five new fires in the region last night.  Lightning continues to be the main cause of the fires which is a normal trend for Northwestern Ontario during the summer.

Silver Lining Docked In T.Bay Marina

Former Thunder Bay resident Chris Lenz is back in the City with his yacht the "Silver Lining".  Lenz left the City in 1984 and started a series of resteraunts in Asia.  Lenz says there's no better place to be in the summer then in the Shebandowan lake area.  The super yacht took several years to build is docked in our Marina.

Pepe Sees Hope In Early Tourism Numbers

The city's tourism manager is hoping some early numbers will bode well for the summer season.   Paul Pepe says visits are up 12 per cent from last year at the Terry Fox Lookout something he is cautiously hoping will translate into an increase in overall local tourism. Meantime Pepe says there will be a push to get more Americans to visit the city.

 

Feds Fund Applicants In E.A. Process

Federal funding is now available for individuals and groups interested in taking part in the environmental assessment for the Griffith Iron Ore project in Ear Falls. Applications must be submitted by August 1st. Northern Iron is proposing the redevelopment of the former Griffith Mine. The project would produce roughly 16-thousand tonnes of ore per day, with a mine life of some 20-years.

Private College Leaving The City

Everest College is pulling the plug on Thunder Bay.   Officials with the private school say they are no longer enrolling new students here.  Any existing students will get to complete their courses, but as of October of next year the school will be looking at the city in the rear view mirror.    Officials, who refused our request for an interview,  say they just weren't making money off the local operation.  

Police Nab Wanted Man

A 45 year old Calgary  man is cooling his heels in a Thunder Bay jail after a report of a dangerous driver on the Trans Canada Highway yesterday.  Police say they had stories of a driver in a white pick up truck speeding, driving people off the road and causing collisions in the Kakabeka Falls area.   They caught up with the driver west of Finmark Road trying to retrieve his vehicle from the ditch. They say alcohol was involved.   Turns out he's also wanted by police in Alberta.   

Local Athletes Taking Part In Summer Games

Thunder Bay's Special Olympic's program is being celebrated.  The President of Special Olympics Ontario was in the City today to praise the local force for raising over 50 thousand dollars for their organization.  Chief JP Levesque says its another feather in the police force's hat.  Money raised locally is going to send over 20 Thunder Bay Special Olympic athletes to the 2013 summer games in Southern Ontario.

Door To Door Fire Education Program

Thunder Bay's Fire Service is starting it's door-to-door smoke alarm education program this week.   Spokesperson Anthony Stokaluk says they'll go to homes and emphasize the importance of having a working smoke alarm on every storey of a residence. According to the local fire service you should be checking your smoke alarms on a monthly basis.

MNR Evaluating Training After Tragedy

The Ministry of Natural Resources is working to prevent a situation similar to the one in Arizona.  19-firefighters were killed battling an erratic blaze northwest of Phoenix.  MNR Spokesperson  Al Tithecott says they take firefighter safety very seriously.  Tithecott says they also have to look at shifts in fire behaviour.