RAP speaks to council

Councillor Andrew Foulds would like to see the City become more involved with the community's "remedial action plan".  City Manager Tim Commisso says putting RAP into the strategic planning process would mean there would be target completion dates.  He adds it would be good for Thunder Bay to work with RAP to chase down Federal and Provincial funding.  The environmental group provided council with an update on their work at Monday night's meeting.

Council passes EMS building contract

The cost of building the new Superior North EMS station is not sitting well with one City Councillor.  Rebecca Johnson had a back handed compliment for Chief Norm Gale Monday night.  She congratulated the Chief for bringing a league leading building to the community and for coming under budget.  Johnson says because the project was moved and it's being debentured the project will cost almost 1.4 million dollars more than the previous location.   The project will cost 10.6 million dollars.

Toronto woman's death tragic

Thunder Bay's Alzheimer's Society calls the death of a 66 year old Toronto woman tragic.  The elderly woman suffered from Alzheimer's and left her home shortly after 2 am in minus twenty degree temperatures.  Executive Director Alison Denton says the society has a wandering registry that is connected to the RCMP.  The registry helps track where the missing person might have travelled to.   Denton wants local residents if they see a distressed senior to lend them a helping hand.

20 accidents so far

It's been a busy day for Thunder Bay police.   They've been taking care of numerous traffic accidents which have been caused due to the snowfall.   According to police since 9 this morning there have been almost 20 accidents reported to them.   There are no serious injuries to report.

Arson not suspected in fatal fire

A six month old child from Summer Beaver remains in critical but stable condition following last weeks fatal house fire in that community.   Police say that the fire was likely accidental but the exact cause isn't known.   The blaze killed two boys aged 2 and 3 years old.   The 6 month old is now at the Children's Hospital in London with breathing problems. 

Barrick doles out big bucks to LU

Barrick Gold says it's giving back. The mineral giant is giving Lakehead University 150 thousand dollars. For company Executive Vice-President Jamie Sokalsky it's a chance to give back to the city he was born in and the school he went to. The money will be going towards a graduate scholarship and to the Northern Ontario School of Medicine

Local police arrest man wanted in Soo beheading

Thunder Bay OPP have a man in custody wanted in connection to a decapitation in Sault Ste. Marie.  The man appeared in court this morning on separate charges  and will be sent back to Sault Ste Marie sometime this week.  The body was found Tuesday and police had been looking for a suspect since.  The man has been in police custody since Thursday.

Hernandez needs a new lawyer

Christian Hernandez will remain in custody at least until his bail hearing.  Hernandez is looking for a new lawyer after Justice Pelletier ruled that his current lawyer Chris Watkins was in a conflict of interest.  Hernandez is in jail in connection  to a fatal collision that happened just before Christmas.

More snow is on the way

It looks like what you see, is what you'll get for the rest of the day. Our meteorologist Bill Laidlaw says a low pressure system is hanging over the Northwest and will drop as much as 20 centimetres when all is said and done.  Tonight expect it to clear up and cool off with temperatures pushing close to the minus 30 mark.  Laidlaw says more snow could fall Thursday and there is a chance for an even bigger winter storm next week.

Arthur Street pile up

There was a jumble of an accident early Saturday morning that involved a car, a pick up truck, a grader owned by the city and an ambulance.


The pile up at the intersection of Arthur Street and Selkirk Street was actually the result of two separate collisions that happened minutes apart.

It all began with an initial collision between a car and the grader. The noise from the crash happened to be overheard by paramedics at a nearby EMS station who then responded to the scene. A few minutes later, a pick up truck collided with the wrecked car and an ambulance.

Three people were taken to hospital with non life threatening injuries. Two paramedics and a paramedic student were also examined and released.

Bruce Hyer responds to receivership

Thunder-Bay Superior North MP Bruce Hyer says he's disappointed by the news that Buchanan Northern Hardwoods and Great West Timber have been placed under a bankruptcy trustee at the same time Northern Sawmills and Atikokan Forest Products are being placed in receivership. Hyer says affected workers are welcome to contact his office for help accessing whatever assistance that may be available.

Vincent not guilty

Not guilty is the verdict in a city assault case.  Judge Helen Pierce has dismissed an aggravated assault charge against 27 year old Michael Vincent.  It's in connection with a fight outside a Wesfort bar in 2009 that left another man with a serious head injury.   Judge Pierce said that Vincent was not the aggressor in the case and did not start the fight.

Drugs seized at airport

Another person is charged with possession of a Controlled Substance following a raid at the Thunder Bay Airport.  The Combined Forces Organized Crime unit charged the 39 year old woman after seizing Oxycodone and Hydro-Morphine pills.  Police believe the drugs were headed to Cat Lake First Nation.

Two kids dead in house fire

Two kids under the age of five are dead after a house fire in Summer Beaver First Nation.  Another child is being treated for injuries.  Nishnawbe Aski Police Sgt. Jackie George says not much information is known at this point.  Officers were called to the house fire late Thursday afternoon. 

Horizon lawsuit awaits judge's ruling

It's now a waiting game. A judge in Toronto will decide which direction the Horizon Wind farm case will be taking. The company wants to sue the city over the changes council made to a contract. City Manager Tim Commisso says the city's position is solid. He says they want the case to go to arbitration. If the judge rules against the city the 126 million dollar lawsuit will continue.

Nelson heads NOMA....for now

The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association has a new interim president today. Ron Nelson has been chosen to lead the lobby organization until April's annual meeting. He's no stranger to the position having held it ten years ago, so he'd like to have it back again. Nelson adds, that he's ready to mobilize the group in this election year to make sure Northwestern Ontario is looked after. Dave Canfield of Kenora is the interim executive vice-president.

Towns take up police costing with Gov't

Kenora City Council is endorsing a resolution drafted by Fort Frances about the cost of policing.  The resolution says the cost of policing has increased dramatically over the past decade, exceeding the cost of living.  They want the Provincial Government to cover all the increased costs of the recently negotiated OPP contract.  That includes a 5-percent increase for this year.

New technology at Con College

Confederation College is putting the final touches on its new high tech REACH centre. Nursing Professor Barb Morrison says the skills labs for paramedics and other health related fields will have EMS technology.  The EMS technology will allow students to watch themselves performing tasks, and will help grade them.  The REACH centre is expected to be open in the Spring.

RAP to speak to council

Thunder Bay's Remedial Action Plan Coordinator will be speaking to City Council Monday night.  The group was formed in the 80s and helps clean up sites that are contaminated such as the harbour.   Aaron Nicholson says they'll be pointing out future locations that need help.  Nicholson says they want to introduce the program to the new councillors and Mayor.

EMS contract on council agenda

The contract for the new Emergency Medical Services station has come in at a million dollars under budget. Administration is recommending council award the contract to Tom Jones Construction. Chief Norm Gale says they're happy the contract came in lower than expected. The contract came in at 10.6 million dollars.