L-U class has recipe to encourage local food production

A Lakehead University social work class has some ideas on how city council can support local food production. The class presented to council at Monday's meeting  and says changes like serving local food at city-run facilities and teaching kids in school about gardening would be a boost for food production in the region. The students made the presentation as part of their coursework where they're encouraged to apply their learning to real world situations. The class invited councillors to a roundtable discussion at Lakehead on March 23rd to talk more about the subject.

CNIB to again run program for blind kids

The CNIB is expected to get it's contract renewed with the Health Unit to provide services for blind children in the city. The Health Unit's Cathy Farrell says the 3 year old program helps about a dozen kids.  She says while there number of children affected is small the impact is huge.  The 36 thousand dollar program goes before the board for it's approval Tuesday.

Hepatitis program going national

The Health Unit is joining a Canada wide Hepatitis surveillance program. Information from people with the disease is to be shared with health officials nationally. Program coordinator Maureen Twigg says we'll be one of 11 reporting centres in Canada. She says the information will be compiled to come up with a data base.  Twigg says it's just an extension of a program that is run provincially

Funding for speech program running out

A Health Unit official is hoping the provincial government will again fund a speech language program. Cathy Farrell says one time funding for the program runs out at the end of the month. She says it's proven to be successful for children under 30 months and there is a waiting list for the services.  Farrell makes a presentation to the board Tuesday on the program.

Mauro makes another announcement

Another election spending announcement is expected Tuesday.  Thunder Bay Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro says the announcement is something Abitibi Bowater has been waiting for for sometime.  The press conference gets underway at the mill at 11.

Trial surprise, jury pool dismissed

The murder trial of 33 year old Andre Wareham is on hold indefinitely.   The trial came to sudden and surprising halt Monday after Justice Helen Pierce ruled that the jury pool of over 100 men and women did not properly represent the Aboriginal community in Thunder Bay and told them all they were free to go home.  Defence lawyer Steven Hinkson has no idea how long it will delay the trial.  He says it will be up to the Attorney General's Ministry as to address the issue.   Wareham is charged with second degree murder in the 2009 death of 29 year old William Atkins

OSPCA probing possible animal cruelty

Photos of what we are told are distressed animals in the Thunder Bay area are posted on Facebook.  The series of images depict horses and cows which appear to have various forms of disease.   The sames pictures have been sent to our newsroom by a concerned listener.   The Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says that the investigation is ongoing and it's too early to release any information at this time.

Thunder Bay Red Cross collecting donations for Japan

The Thunder Bay Red Cross so far is only collecting donations for Japanese Relief efforts. Red Cross Thunder Bay Spokesperson Ken Widdifield says for the time being no Canadian Red Cross members are headed to the Tsunami and Quake ravaged country.  Right now the Japanese Red Cross is assessing their needs and until they are determined no Canadian Red Cross members will be heading overseas.  Widdifield says you can make a donation at the Red Cross office, over the phone or by going online.

Thunder Bay woman still hasn't heard from parents in Japan

A Thunder Bay woman is still waiting to hear from her parents in Japan. Hiroko Bekki Moller hasn't been able to reach her parents since Friday's Tsunami hit the area of Japan where her parents live. She says all she can do is wait and hope.   Moller says she's trying to keep a positive outlook and hopes with some cellular coverage opening up she'll hear from her parents soon.

Bombardier Contract Extended

Bombardier will see more work come from the McGuinty Government.  125 million dollars in provincial funds will be spent to purchase 50 new bi-level coaches for the GTA's Go Transit.  Go Transit President Gary McNeil says the order expands on their current contract with the Thunder Bay plant.  Production of the coaches is scheduled to begin in June with the first coach being on the ground by the fall.

Tunderwolves win consolation

The LU Thunderwolves men's basketball finished off their season on a high note winning the consolation side of the CIS National Championships.  LU beat Dalhousie University 84-80 to finish 5th in the country.  The team the Wolves lost to in their opening game Trinity Western fell in the final against Carleton 82-59.  It is Carleton's 7th Championship in 9 years.

Police station crash

Police didn't have to go far to get to the scene of an accident Saturday night. According to police, a woman had stopped her vehicle at the intersection of Balmoral and Central directly in front of the police station. A man crossed into her lane with his vehicle and hit her head-on. Both vehicles were damaged heavily, however there were no injuries. Police charged the man with impaired driving, he'll appear in court in April.

L-U gives Acadia the axe

The Lakehead Thunderwolves men's basketball team beat the Acadia Axemen 75-67 in yesterday's consolation match at the nationals. They'll play for fifth place today against the Dalhousie Tigers.

Afternoon assault

Police are investigating an assault that took place in broad daylight at the corner of Syndicate Avenue and Leith Street. According to police, three men were assaulting another man until a bystander intervened. The victim was seriously injured during the assault which happened around two yesterday afternoon. Police are looking for more information about the incident and would like to talk to the bystander as part of their investigation.

Close call

A Thunder Bay man may not be looking at pizza the same way for a little while. The man fell asleep Saturday night while warming up a pizza (along with a delivery box) in his oven. The box started burning and filled his Cumming Street residence with smoke triggering a fire alarm. Firefighters responded to the alarm and helped clear out the smoke when they arrived. There were no injuries as a result of the mishap.

Court Street Standoff

Three suspects are in custody after a standoff on South Court Street. Police say they were called to a home last night while a break and enter was in progress. A man and woman immediately came out to police while another man stayed inside with a firearm. The stand off ended when police tasered the man through an open window early this morning. The trio will appear in court this morning.

L-U falls to Trinity Western 82-75

The L-U Thunderwolves men's basketball team's national championship hopes have been dashed. They fell 82-75 to Trinity Western in their quarter final game yesterday. L-U face the Acadia Axemen in a consolation match today.

Schaeffer inquest results in recommendations

Some recommendations for the OPP are coming out of the Levi Schaeffer inquest which wrapped up yesterday.

The recommendations include improved communication for officers in remote areas and that marine officers should have less lethal options such as pepper spray available when on patrol. Marine officers don't always wear their full duty belt (which has more non-lethal options) because it weight can make it hard to swim.

Also the jury recommended the OPP consider ongoing training for officers to better prepare them for interactions with individuals who suffer from mental illness such as Schaeffer.

The inquest examined the 2009 shooting death of Schaeffer by an OPP officer.

Men named in Italian warrant want to clear names

 Three Thunder Bay men named in an Italian police warrant want to clear their names.

Attorney Chris Watkins is representing Vito, Tony and Rocco Minella and says the men are shocked by the accusations. Watkins says the Italian law the men are charged under wouldn't even be constitutional in Canada.

The men are charged under an Italian law which forbids associating with mafia organizations. Watkins feels the law may be a human rights violation because a person can be charged just for speaking to the wrong person. According to Watkins, there are many examples of people in Italy being sent to prison under the law only to be found innocent years later.

The warrant was issued as part of a crackdown by Italian authorities on the Ndrangheta crime organization. The men aren't likely to face extradition because the crime the Italian warrant was issued for is not recognized in Canada.

Local man says aftershocks continue in Japan

A Thunder Bay man who works in Tokyo, Japan says the first night of sleep after the big earthquake wasn't too good. Tyler Ried says he was kept awake throughout the night.  He says ever since the 8.9 quake there have been numerous aftershocks.  He says many were quite large with his building shaking and doors and windows moving in their panes. Reid says when the quake broke out he was working at his office.  He says he doesn't know how he will get around since the train system in the big city has been shut down.