Health Unit says protect yourself from the smoke

With smoke from forest fires now reaching Thunder Bay, the District Health Unit has some warnings. Spokesperson Abby Mackie says it shouldn't be taken lightly and that people most at risk should protect themselves.  He says those include children, seniors and those with breathing difficulties.  Mackie suggests staying indoors as much as possible and avoiding any necessary outdoor physical activity. 

Boshcoff has traffic light concerns

There's nothing that can spark a debate in Thunder Bay like the number of traffic lights. Councillor Ken Boshcoff thinks we have too many and wonders if we've been removing any that aren't needed and if there are any plans to reduce the number of traffic signals.   City engineer Pat Mauro says it comes under review every few years.

PWT General Manager defends service

The general manager of Pacific Western Transportation is disputing claims his company is receiving funding at this time from the Ontario government to drive people to out of town medical appointments.    Dean Wright adds, the company's new travel option is not designed to replace any existing services.   Last week the president of Caribou Coach in Thunder Bay said a subsidized service has the potential to take away one third of his business in Northwestern Ontario.

City hosting evacuees and more

Thunder Bay is playing host to almost 300 forest fire evacuees from Sandy Lake this week and there could be more. Fire Chief John Hay says we have been designated as a transportation hub with the potential of moving up to 1 thousand people to other centres.  Hay hopes other communities step up to the plate and offer to host some of the evacuees.

Burning permits suspended

The hot and dry conditions are causing concern for the Thunder Bay Fire and Rescue Service.   It's forced officials to suspend all burning permits within the city citing unusually dry conditions.  They say the suspension won't be lifted until that improves

MNR dealing with 90 wildfires

Heavy smoke laying over the entire Northwest is hindering firefighting efforts for the Ministry of Natural Resources.  Information Officer Debbie MacLean says crews are battling over 90-wildfires.  117-aircraft, 14-waterbombers, 80-helicopters and 16-transport aircraft are trying to fight through the smoke to battle the fires.  Two fires of note are Sioux Lookout Fire number 70 which has grown to over 87-thousand hectares in size and is now burning 1-kilometre away from the Mussewhite Mine.  Sioux Lookout Fire number 60 is also 14-thousand hectares in size and is burning southwest of the Mine.  Firefighters continue to try and protect the mine site.

South Side Laundromat Robbed

Thunder Bay Police are investigating a south side robbery of a Laundromat.  Police say a man walked into Barb's Laundromat on May street and threatened to shoot the employee.  He then took all the cash from the register and a quantity of cigarettes before fleeing on foot.  Police found a 39 year old man and a 32 year old woman in the area with cigarettes and money taken during the robbery.  Both have been charged with robbery.

Robbery at Riley's Sports Tavern

Someone robbed a south side bar last night. Police are investigating after a male entered Riley's Sports Tavern and demanded cash from the bartender. Police searched for the man but couldn't find him. He's described as a young person about 6 feet tall with a bad complexion.

Police investigate arson

Thunder Bay Police are investigating a case of arson in Fort William.  A North Franklin Street home owner awoke last night to popping noises outside and found their van and truck were on fire.  Both vehicles are totally destroyed. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers.

Foulds disses Eye on the Street

City councillor Andrew Foulds isn't convinced the city's Eye on the Street camera surveillance program is worth the money. Foulds believes the latest stats prove it's not working well, specifically, that out of 240 incidents caught on camera only 15 resulted in convictions. However, Police Chief J-P Levesque says Eye on the Street is a very effective tool against crime

Light sculpture to adorn waterfront piers

Two stylized light sculptures will be build at the Marina as part of the waterfront project after city councillors voted in favour of them. The 900 thousand dollar art project has its detractors, but Councillor Ken Boshcoff is not one of them. He says the purpose of the art is to help attract people to the waterfront and it doesn't make sense to vote against it after it's already been approved in the overall waterfront budget. The projects designer hopes the beacons become a symbol for Thunder Bay

Aboriginal Strategy looking for federal funds

City Councillors are a step away from supporting a call to press for federal funding for the Urban Aboriginal Strategy. Peter Jones is the Regional Director for the federal government's national program and feels the funding will help the local and national strategies work as one.  City administration will prepare a report on the issue before councillors give their formal endorsement.

Zenyatta and Constance Lake ink deal

The mining exploration company Zenyatta Ventures and the Constance Lake First Nation now have an exploration agreement. Zenyatta President and CEO Aubrey Evelegh is upset his company was forced to deal with the issue in the first place.  He believes the provincial government should have been the one carrying out the negotiations.   Evelegh says " it's been a long frustrating few months."  The negotiations reached a low point when Constance Lake filed a court injunction to stop the exploration on their traditional land

Water levels hearing takes place next month

The public has a chance to comment on the results of a Canadian and American study on Great Lakes water levels next month. Canadian study manager Syed Moin says the 17 million dollar probe sets the stage for the future.  A public meeting locally will take place at Lakehead University August 10th. Anyone who can't attend the meeting, can submit comments on the study's website.

26 year old Brit needs tow

A young Brit who is on a cross-Canada fundraising tour needs your help.  Paul Everitt is raising money for soldiers who were wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq, but his four wheeled bike has broken down.  Everitt needs a tow from Wawa to Thunder Bay.  If you can help him, call him at 807-822-2687 or visit his website http://www.going-solo.co.uk/

18 year old gets lost in woods

An 18 year old girl is safe and sound after becoming lost in the Cascades conservation area.  The teen had become separated from her friends and lost her way while trying to walk out of the trail system.  She took shelter under a tree, where police found her.  She was taken by ambulance to the hospital.

Pikangiukum suicides

The Ontario Chief Coroner's Office is releasing some startling research on a rash of suicides in Pikangiukum First Nation.  Between 2006 and 2008, 16 young people, aged 10 to 19, killed themselves in the community north of Red Lake.  Deputy Chief Coroner for Ontario Doctor Bert Lauwers says education is key to tackling the problem.  The community's only school burned down in 2007 and the government has not yet rebuilt it.

Nexus travellers smuggle illegal goods

Newly released documents show Nexus travellers who are supposed to be low-risk have been caught trying to smuggle goods into the country illegally. The federal government says the program makes border patrol more efficient by allowing border guards to move Nexus members who have already undergone security clearances to pass through customs more quickly. But documents obtained under the Access to Information Act show more than a hundred Nexus travellers were caught smuggling goods valued in the thousands of dollars in the second half of 2010.

Hot weather brings more fires

Fire crews in Northwestern Ontario are being kept busy battling over 90 wildfires.  Officials say more forest fires are expected to start within days.  More than two-thousand staff fighting the fires will soon be getting help from 500 reinforcements from B-C. 

Missing teen found

The search for a missing teen in the city is over after police say Miranda Ritchie was located and returned to her guardian.