Fort Frances Hospital Gets Money

Riverside Health Care in the Fort Frances area is getting over 12-thousand dollars from the Northern Cancer Fund.  The Regional Health Sciences Foundation helped them purchase the new equipment for chemotherapy including an IV pump and specialized pharmacy cart.

Connect The Dots Open

There's some new life in the Park Avenue area.  A new business called "Connect The Dots" is now open at 206 Park Avenue.  It's a nature inspired play centre that provides children with hands-on playing. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held earlier today.

Hwy Open

Everything is back to normal on Highway 11/17 between Upsala and Ignace.  The highway was closed earlier today while a transport was pulled from a ditch.  A man was sent to the hospital for treatment.

OLG Employee Wins Green Award

An OLG Thunder Bay Casino employee is the WWF Canada's 2013 Champion of the Year for its living planet at work program.  Alan Forbes is being awarded for his efforts in mobilizing his colleagues into environmental action.  The gaming site's Cage and Coin Shift Manager helped curb the casino's paper usage and committed them to recycle.

Snowmobile Club Complaints Heard

Complaints from Ontario snowmobile clubs has forced the provincial government to reconsider a controversial policy.  Transportation minister Glenn Murray confirmed that a decision to charge snowmobile clubs for use of hydro right-of-ways is under review.  NDP critic Michael Mantha says its just one of a long line of policies that's hurting winter tourism in Ontario.  Murray says the policy was put in place because of liability concerns raised by the Ministries of Infrastructure and Energy.

ORNGE Report Cites Safety Issues

Federal investigators have cited a number of safety issues with the Ornge ambulance service.  The Report by Human Resources Skills Development Canada was conducted following the crash of an Ornge helicopter last May in northern Ontario.  Ontario's health minister Deb Matthews says she's aware of the report and says they are already taking action to address some of the deficiencies outlined.

Rentech On Track To Produce Wood Pellets

Encouraging news for Atikokan.  Published reports indicate Rentech is on track to begin producing wood pellets at the former coal-fired plant next year.  The company is also projecting the Atikokan facility to produce roughly 100-thousand tonnes.  45-thousand tonnes would go to fulfilling a contract with Ontario Power Generation.  The company also identifies European-based Drax Power as a customer.

LU Researchers Get Cash

Lakehead University researchers are getting over 1.4 million dollars from Canada Health Research Institute. Three doctors will be sharing the money to conduct research into helping injured workers, improving the lives of seniors and improving the health of Aboriginal people.

DSSAB CAO Not Coming Back

The former CAO of the local Social Services Board isn't going to return to work.  Melissa Harrison was on leave and has decided to remain at home for the early years of her children.  Harrison will also work on her Masters' Degree.

Sawmill Takes Safety Break

The Resolute Forest Products Sawmill is being shut down after an employee broke his nose on the job Monday.  Xavier Van Chau is the Director of Corporate Communications for the company and says they're taking a safety break.  There isn't a time frame for how long the mill will be shut down.  Calls to Unifor the union representing the workers have not been returned to our newsroom.

Murder Charge

A 21-year old woman is facing a second degree murder charge following a death on Kasabonika Lake First Nation.  The OPP say 20-year old Courtney Mamakeesic died from her injuries sustained in an altercation at a residence last Sunday.  Charged is 21-year old Clarissa Anderson of Kasabonika Lake First Nation.  She'll appear in a Kenora courtroom on November 22nd.  A post mortem exam has been completed but the cause of death has not been released.  

Chamber Pans Power Plant Announcement

The Chamber of Commerce is panning the Provincial Government's announcement to convert the local power plant into a biomass burning operation. President Charla Robinson says it does little to address the uncertainty of energy supply for the business community in the region. Robinson notes that keeping the plant operational for the next five years will however retain jobs at the plant.

Police Bogged Down With Background Checks

Background checks are starting to become a headache for the city police.   Chief J-P Levesque notes that at today's board meeting members heard police are dealing with a large number of them and it's causing delays.  He says the delays are causing complaints from people who say they are losing chances at employment. A report on the problem will be presented to the board at a later date.

Con College Alumni Gets Award

A former Confederation College student is the winner of a Premier's Award. Ramesh Ferris is a Social Service Worker program graduate and was honoured for his work in eradicating polio worldwide.

NAN Talks Legal Issues

Celina Reitberger

The Nishnawbe Aski Nation is spending the next three days discussing First Nation legal issues.  Executive Director for NAN Legal Services Celina Reitberger says they'll be talking about bringing back traditional aboriginal justice systems.  Other issues up for discussion include First Nation Representation on Juries, legal representation in the North and fly-in courts for remote communities.

Police Service Looks At Legal Costs

The Police Services Board is concerned about how much money it's paying in legal fees.  Board Chair Joe Virdiramo says at today's meeting there was even a suggestion that the board hire its own lawyer down the road.  For this year Police Chief J-P Levesque says the board is staring at legal fees of 300 thousand dollars.

Dryden Loses Millions

The City of Dryden lost roughly 13.3-million dollars in 2012.  The audited financial statements were presented to Council last night. It also  showed  Dryden recorded 34-million dollars in revenue in 2012, down from 45-million. Expenditures went from 40-million to 48-million dollars.

More Kiddie Porn Charges Laid

City police are reporting the second arrest on kiddie porn charges in a week.   Police say that a probe that began in August culminated with a raid on a North Edward Street home last month.   They say that a computer, an Xbox and flash drives were seized and that child pornography images were found.  Charged is 47 year old Peter Williamson of Thunder Bay.

Wedding Ring Found

Thunder Bay Police are looking for the owner of a wedding ring.  It was found in the McIntyre Centre sometime before August 3rd and Police Chief JP Levesque says they're looking to find out who it belongs to. Police say the ring has an inscription that only the owner would know. If this is your ring, call the Thunder Bay Police Service – Property and Stores at 684-1312. The incident number is P13058283.

Council Calls For VA Office To Stay Open

City Council is putting pressure on the Federal Government to keep Thunder Bay's Veterans Affairs Office open.  The Harper Government plans to close the office in 2014 and Council wants them to reconsider that decision.  Councillor Ken Boshcoff says people deserve to speak to people and not an automated phone line.  Council voted Monday night to write Minister Julian Fantino saying they are opposed to the closures of VA offices across Canada.