Stats Can says T.Bay has the highest homicide rate

Thunder Bay has earned a not so flattering title. Statistics Canada has crowned the City the deadliest in the Nation in 2010. For the second year in a row, Thunder Bay has the highest homicide rate in the nation.

Stone balloon animals unleashed on waterfront

Prince Arthur's Landing is now home to 10 stone balloon animals.  Public Art Coordinator Reana Mussato says kids played an important part in picking the art work.  Granite from Vermillion Bay was used in some of the structures.

Police examining cold case

Thunder Bay Police are dusting off a cold case from 1985.  October 26th marks the 26th anniversary of the death of Kip James Hallow.  Hallow's body was discovered on Vickers Street North at Weigand Avenue just before 2 am. Police believe his death was a result from injuries sustained in a hit and run.  Officers are remapping the location of the original incident Wednesday at 3.

Mac's officials continue to meet in T.Bay

Thunder Bay Police and Mac's Mart Officials continue to meet this afternoon to talk about the recent string of store robberies.  Detective Inspector Phil Levesque says he knows Mac's Mart isn't in favour of a buzzer system but they will continue to push for a similar system.  Other safety precautions discussed include clearing the clutter from store windows.

Long Gun Registry Challenge

Kenora MP Greg Rickford has issued a challenge to his fellow Members of Parliament from Northern Ontario.  Rickford says he wants them to support the government's legislation to abolish the long gun registry.  Rickford expects the legislation could be passed sometime early in the new year.

Wanted Quebecers caught here

A couple wanted on Canada wide warrants, are back in Quebec after being captured in Thunder Bay this week. The OPP say police in Longlac originally contacted them about the two and requested the help of police here who picked them up after they got off a Greyhound bus.

OLG quarterly payout

The latest payout to the city of Thunder Bay from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation is 640 thousand dollars. That quarterly sum amounts to 5 per cent of the revenue from the slot machines at the local casino.

Police face teen with knife

City police are reporting an encounter with a knife wielding teenager Tuesday night.  They say that it was after they went to  a call at a north side address.  They say the youth met them at the door holding a knife and refused to put it down.  Police were able to subdue him and take the 15 year old into custody.

Mac's officials meet with CPC

Meetings between the Crime Prevention Council and Mac's Mart officials are being described as productive. Acting Coordinator Sheila Hendrick says the company expressed an interest in becoming part of the community surrounding their stores. Hendrick says she will continue to meet with the two local Mac's Mart representatives. Mac's Mart officials met with police and the council to discuss the recent rash of store robberies.

City budget meeting in the books

Just a handful of people turned out to an open house on the City's budget directions for the next two years.  Anne Ostrum says she understands the City has an infrastructure shortfall that needs to be taken care of.  City Manager Tim Commisso says people are concerned about the possibility of taxes being raised to help pay for the rising infrastructure deficit.  The comments from the meeting will be brought to council November 28th.

NAN looking at gardening to increase healthy eating

The Nishnawbe Aski Nation wants healthy food at affordable prices for their people.  Spokesperson Joseph Leblanc says that's why they're holding a food symposium looking at reintroducing gardening to First Nation communities.  Farmers from across the Northwest are sharing their trade secrets with NAN and helping them create community gardens.

Raffery wants to hear from his constituents

Thunder Bay Rainy River MP John Rafferty is going to let his constituents do the talking on the latest legislation to scrap the gun registry.  Rafferty says he wants to hear from the public.  The new legislation includes a clause to destroy the records collected through the registry.

Legion isn't happy about Federal Cuts

The Federal Government's proposed 226-million dollar cut to Veteran's Affairs isn't sitting well with everyone.  Roy Lamore is the past president of the Port Arthur Legion and says if these cuts go through it will mean less benefits for future veterans.  MPs are currently studying the funding cut.

Mission Nutrition enjoys a successful 2nd year

From humble beginnings to smashing expectations a new food drive is making waves in Thunder Bay.  Nicole Konkin with the Port Arthur Chiropractic Centre says this year's Mission Nutrition Food Drive made huge strides in only its second year.  She says their first attempt at a food drive didn't even collect one can.  Now in its second year 4 Chiropractic offices hope to collect 4 thousand pounds of food and smashed their goals.  Konkin says 3 of the offices have made their collections and so far over 4400 pounds of food has been collected for the hungry in Thunder Bay.   Konkin says the community support has been overwhelming.  The Port Arthur Chiropractic Centre, along with Santin Chiropractic, Doctor Lila Coulter of the Healthy Families Wellness Centre or Doctor Christina Peterson at Jessiman Family Chiropractic took part in this year's food drive.

Mauro repeats wind farm concerns

The cat is out of the bag. A letter to two cabinet ministers from MPP Bill Mauro about the proposed Horizon Wind Farm has been leaked. In it Mauro asks Environment Minister Jim Bradley and Natural Resources Minister Michael Gravelle  to turn thumbs down to the project.  He says it was important to remind Gravelle that his predecessor had concerns with the project as they related to the peregrine falcon population.  Mauro feels it was important to get the two ministers up to speed.

Behavior issues tackled by Catholic Board

The Catholic School Board is about to embark on a new policy to help students with behavior problems. Director of Eduction Joan Powell says the policy received preliminary approval from trustees last night. It's hoped formal approval can be given in about a month or so.  The board is also looking at new cell phone rules for staff and visitors at it's schools. Powell says the new policy will make texting and talking during school hours a no-no, putting everyone on the same level as students.

Mac's robbery foiled by feisty female

A female customer is a hero today after she helped to capture a person who was holding up the Mac's Convenience Store at Arthur and Syndicate around 4 o'clock this morning. Police say she held back the culprit as he was beating on the clerk.  A cab driver who was outside witnessed the incident and called police who came and arrested a 25 year old man who appears in court today.

Gun registry bill to be introduced

The Federal Government is introducing another bill to scrap the long gun registry. Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty says they've kept the bill closely under wraps. Rafferty adds he doesn't know if today's bill will look anything like the previous bills that aimed to scrap the registry.

Cell Phone Tower resolution fails

A call for administration to work with the health unit to look into the health impacts of cell phone towers died last night.  Instead Council voted in favour of creating a standard notice for the public that let's them know when a cell phone tower is going to be placed in their neighbourhood.

Council grills Police Chief over deficit

Thunder Bay's Police Department's million dollar budget deficit didn't go unnoticed at Monday night's council meeting.  Mayor Keith Hobbs and several other councillors expressed their displeasure and worry over the announcement that was made last week at a Police board meeting.  The cost over runs are being blamed on overtime and legal fees.