Board Official Says Its Not Over Yet

The tentative settlement in the public high school teachers dispute doesn't mean the end of labour troubles at the Lakehead District School Board. Director of Education Cathi Siemieiuk says there still has to be deals signed with other factions of the Secondary School Teachers Federation.  She says there continues to be job action being taken by educational assistants, early childhood educators and occasional teachers. Meantime Siemieiuk says they are pleased with the tentative deal reached with the teachers because it brings an end to their job action which forced  the board to hire a private security firm to patrol the high school halls.

Mattress Fire At Royal Edward Arms

No injuries to report following a small fire at the Royal Edward Arms on May Street this afternoon. The apartment building is run by Thunder Bay District Housing. Spokesperson Terry Flaherty says it appears the blaze wasn't an accident.  Officials tell him that a mattress that was in the lobby was lit on fire creating a lot of smoke which was put out quickly by fire crews. Flaherty says the building was evacuated and no one was injured.

Teachers Reach Tentative Deal With Board

Good news on the Thunder Bay labour front. Public high school teachers have reached a tentative contract agreement with the Lakehead District School Board. The agreement will be officially submitted to the Minister of Education for review. Their union, the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation, says that any job action taken by the teachers during this dispute has been suspended. The details of the agreement will not be released until the teachers vote on the deal.

Calendar Parking Starts Monday

While calendar parking regulations officially won't go into effect until Monday, city officials are asking you to adhere to them now.  They say it would help with snow clearing operations.   The by-law takes effect when enough snow falls to warrant plowing.  Depending on your area, you can't park on certain sides of the street on odd and even calendar days.  Specific instructions are on the street signs. 

Inflation Up Nationally And Locally

Thunder Bay went from deflation to inflation as the monthly Statistics Canada report was released this morning. The city's inflation rate now stands at 0.4 percent which is a half of a percentage point increase from last month.  The national inflation rate remained unchanged for a third straight month at 1.2 per cent.   The rate was slightly higher than experts had predicted, especially since gasoline prices went down during the month.

Resolute To Build Pellet Plant

Resolute Forest Products is sinking 10 million dollars into its Thunder Bay operations.   The company says it is going to build a new  plant which will be used to convert the material at the mill site that is not used,  into wood pellets.  In turn Ontario Power Generation will be supplied with with 45 thousand metric tons of those pellets every year.   Construction will begin shortly and be finished by 2014 and will be located next to the company's sawmill.  It will create 24 new jobs when fully operation.

Let The Clean Up Begin

The first big snowstorm of the year is in the books and now the clean up begins.   City Roads Manager Brad Adams says crews have been out since 2 this morning plowing the main streets and as of 9 a.m. they moved to plow the side streets.  Adams says they will even work into the weekend

Weekend Accident Claims Life

Thunder Bay OPP are still looking into a single motor vehicle roll-over collision that occurred last weekend on Highway 588 and Blakie Road in O’Connor Township. The 28 year old man died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash.  OPP are confirming Clinton Peacock, of Neebing Township, died in hospital.

School Buses Cancelled

Transportation of all school buses in Thunder Bay are cancelled this morning. For Lakehead Public schools, the rural schools are closed but urban schools are open. Thunder Bay Christian School is also closed this morning. For the Thunder Bay Catholic Board and the french catholic board, schools are open. School buses are cancelled for Nipigon, Red Rock and Dorion. For Terrace Bay for Schreiber, school buses are cancelled this morning.

Thunderwolves Weekend

The Lakehead University Thunderwolves men's hockey team plays host to the O.U.A.'s best team tonight at home. The Windsor Lancers are riding a 7-game winning streak into tonight's game against the Thunderwolves. L.U. has a record of 8-4--2 heading into tonight's game against the 10-2 Lancers. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Gardens. Meanwhile the men's and women's basketball teams are on the road this weekend in Ottawa as they take on Carleton and Ottawa. The men's team will be in tough as they tip-off against the defending national champions and the #1 ranked team in the country tonight. The women's volleyball team is also on the road this weekend. They'll be in London to take on the Western Mustangs tomorrow and Sunday.

New Look For Business District

It's a big day for the merchants in the Bay and Algoma Street Business Association. They get to officially open the newly renovated Algoma Street. Association President Brian Hamilton says the business owners had a rough go of it during construction , but thinks the new look will bring back the customers.  Activities are scheduled to get underway at 11:30.

3.7 Million In Health Care Spending

The local health agency is delivering 3.7 million dollars to a variety of programs aimed at helping seniors, addicts and people living with chronic conditions. St. Joseph's Care Group will be using 500 thousand dollars to provide a drug outreach program for pregnant and parenting moms in Thunder Bay, Kenora and Sioux Lookout. Spokesperson Nancy Black says it's a unique program for Northern women age 16 to 24. The Region's Brain Injury Service will be using money to bring two people living with physical disabilities out of the hospital and into the community.

Underground Gym Fundraises

The Underground Gym is asking you for your help and is launching a new fundraising effort. The Gym has offered a variety of services throughout the years for disadvantaged youth in the community. Founder Peter Panetta hopes for it to stay that way. He says it seems that this has been a bad year for the gym adding they have only taken in half of the money they did last year. The sixth month goal is to raise 20 thousand dollars.

OPP On Ride Program & Snow Plow Safety

The OPP's Festive R.I.D.E. program starts on Saturday. Sgt. Ann McCoy says it's during the holiday period that drinking and driving seems to spike with police statistics showing it's worse this time of year. The RIDE program wraps up on January 2nd.  The OPP is launching a snow plow safety campaign.  Police want to remind the public to slow down when they see a snow plow's flashing blue light and let the plow lead the way. Sgt. Ann McCoy says if you pass the plow and end up in an accident you could end up being charged.  McCoy says driving too fast and passing snow plows are major causes of winter collisions.

Gitchhiker Coming To T.Bay

The Gitch-hiker is coming to Thunder Bay Sunday.  Mark McIntyre is a below the waist cancer survivor and is hitch hiking across Canada in only his Stanfielfd underwear.  McIntyre will receive 20-thousand dollars for the Canadian Cancer Society if he makes it to Stanfield's Head Quarters in Nova Scotia in under 21 days.

Big Brothers Launches New Program

Big Brothers Thunder Bay is launching a new program for young boys.  Game On will be available at 4 schools in the area starting in February according to Program Coordinator Reco Southerland.  The program is for young guys aged 11 to 14.  Southerland says they are currently looking for volunteers to help mentor the young men.

Hebert To Ask For Vote To Be Postponed

City Council will hear from their staff about ways they can help reduce the property tax on a Victoria Avenue building.  Habib Enterprises wants to create an affordable housing unit at that property, but requires from the City reduced property taxes or a grant.  Councillor Larry Hebert says he hopes council votes in favour of the project Monday night. The project has Social Services Board approval and can only receive funding from the Provincial Government's Affordable Housing Program if the City helps.  Meanwhile, City Councillor Larry Hebert is asking to put off a vote on the Event Centre Monday night.  Hebert says he wants to hear about budget priorities and how much the water treatment plant will cost the city before they vote on whether to proceed with the Multiplex.  Hebert says there may not be a need to take a breather on the Event Centre; he just wants to ensure there are no surprises when it comes to the water treatment plant and budget.

Rafferty Points Blame at Feds

Fingers are being pointed at the Federal government for some of the reasons behind Resolute Forest Products' decision to shut down their number-5 paper machine.  In Ottawa, Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty says the government's commitment to the forest industry has been less than adequate. Infrastructure and Communities Minister Denis Lebel says any difficulties within the industry remain  market related.

Getting Ready For United

Thunder Bay's Airport is preparing for United Airlines to offer it's daily service to Chicago.  President Scott McFadden says the service will start February 14th and they're making room for them in the terminal.  The new Chicago flight leaves Thunder Bay at six in the morning and comes back into the city at 8:40 at night.

Campbell On Resolute

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell is among those who is still hopeful that operations in Fort Frances will get back to normal at a later date.  Campbell says she met with Resolute representatives as early as yesterday, but indicated they weren't asking for any provincial assistance at this time.  Campbell says the company isn't marking a date as to when operations may resume, but says she did come away with a sense that it will happen.