Children's Centre Fundraiser

A dress auction on January 23rd will help raise money for the Children's Centre Foundation. Organizer Kim Latimer says they are expecting 100 people to attend and hope to double the amount of money they raised last year. The event being held at Bight on the Waterfront will showcase 70 gently used dresses that party goers can purchase for a good cause and several new dresses they can bid on.

Another Addition To The Council Race

City Council's at large spot promises to be a closely contested position in the upcoming municipal election. Diane Armstrong is the newest candidate to join the race and encourages voters to try and familiarize themselves with those running. Armstrong adds that because this is her first time running it made more sense to run as an at-large councilor.

Drug Charges

A Thunder Bay man is facing several drug related charges from city police. Early Saturday morning during a traffic stop in the city's north end police found 650 grams of cocaine worth approximately 65-thousand dollars. Police also responded to an incident near Empress Street where a car struck a tree, two teenagers are facing Break and Enter and Theft of a motor Vehicle charges. There were also four impaired driving charges laid.

Comedy Night

Three Toronto comedians from Thunder Bay are bringing their routine to the City. Dean Young, Veronika Swartz and Bobby Knauff are headlining the Thunder B'EH Homecoming Tour which wraps up tonight at the Dragon's Den Sports Bar. Young says there has been a great public response with last nights performance being sold out. Tonight's show starts at 9.

Health Unit Warns Of Outbreak

The Health Unit says Lakehead Manor is currently experiencing a respiratory illness outbreak on the fourth floor that facility. All admissions, transfers, discharges and social activities on the fourth floor have been cancelled until further notice. Visitors are restricted to family members and caregivers only.

Red Cross PSW's Get New Deal

Personal Support Workers with Red Cross in Thunder Bay are getting a new contract. An arbitrator issued a new contract for the workers. The SEIU union says the new deal is an improvement from the previous tentative agreement.

LU Alum Shortlisted For Mars Mission

A former Lakehead University electrical engineering grad says he has made it to the short list for a Dutch mission to colonize Mars.  Zac Trolley, who now lives in Calgary,  says it's a dream he's had since childhood.   The 31 year old says he's one of 75 Canadians on the short list of over 1 thousand people worldwide  for the Mars One project in 2025.   He says there will be an interview process which will eventually whittle down the candidates to about 25 to 40 people.  Trolley says he doesn't look on the trek as a suicide mission, but as a one way ticket.

Sioux Lookout Stolen Vehicle

OPP are asking the public to help find the person who stole a vehicle from a Sioux Lookout driveway.  The suspect than drove the vehicle southbound on Highway 72 and crashed it into the ditch. Another motorists driving by at the time observed several people at the collision scene, but was unable to identify any of them. Police believe the suspects were picked up by another motorists and driven back into Sioux Lookout.

KI Worried About Moose Survey

The chief of a remote First Nation says the province needs its permission to do an aerial moose survey. KI Chief Donny Morris says he opposes a survey the Ministry of Natural Resources expects to conduct around K-I this weekend, including on the community's traditional territory. Morris says he doesn't trust how the MNR will use the results. He fears the government will use the survey to inform residents that there's not enough moose to hunt.

McPherson Funeral

Some high profile people will be attending the funeral for Couchiching First Nations Chief Chuck McPherson. The funeral is being held Saturday at the Couchiching First Nations Arena. Ontario's Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Zimmer and Ontario Regional Chief Stan Beardy will be present. Premier Kathleen Wynne, though won't be in attendance. McPherson's death, meantime, has prompted a delay in the band's nomination meeting for this year's elections. A notice issued by the band's electoral officer says it will now take place January 23rd. Elections for the chief and six councillor positions are slated for March 6th.

Hwy 11 Open

Highway 11 is now open after being shut down for a period of time overnight following an accident involving a tractor trailer unit.  The highway was closed 7 kilometres east of Nipigon.  There were no injuries in that mishap.  

Shelter House Soccer

The Provincial Government is providing 28-thousand dollars to Shelter House to launch a street soccer program. Program Coordinator Ken Miller says the program is meant for people who are homeless or living in poverty but welcomes anyone to take part.  Miller says anyone who wants to take part can call him at Shelter House.

Busy Day At LU

Lakehead University is signing a deal today with Fulbright Canada's Foundation for Educational Exchange. The agreement will see an American research chair study sustainability in a variety of areas at Lakehead University.  Meanwhile, students from 11 countries will be studying at Lakehead University this semester.  The international students will take part in orientation events this afternoon. They hail from Venezuela, Iran, Sweden, Nigeria and Brazil as well as other Countries.

City, Belluz Farms & LA Quality Foods Get Cash

The City, Belluz Farms, and LA Quality Foods are all getting money from the Provincial Government and the Greenbelt Fund.  Greenbelt Fund Vice President Kathy Macpherson says 210-thousand dollars will be shared between the three organizations for projects that will increase access to fresh local food. The City will use the money to provide more local food in their long term care homes and child care centres.

Goodbye Holidays...Hello Gridlock

With the holiday break over the bed shortage is back at the Regional Hospital and so is "code gridlock".  Patients are being treated in the halls and alcoves.   Spokesperson Mark Henderson, says the hospital has been preparing for this latest surge with the health authority and says it will likely continue for the rest of the winter.    Dr. Henderson believes the hospital may not see the end to the gridlock cycle for another 3 years.

NDP To Select Candidate Next Month

New Democrats in Thunder Bay-Atikokan will select their candidate for the next provincial election next month. The riding Association has set voting meetings February 8th at the Pioneer Centre in Atikokan and the next day in Thunder Bay. Former Schreiber mayor Madge Richardson  and Mary Kozorys  are vying for the position. Kozorys won the nomination over Richardson in 2011.

District Flu Death Toll At 5

Grim news to report on the H1N1 flu front .   The District Health Unit says the the death toll has increased to 5.   The Health Unit's Diana Gowanlock says four of the deaths were adults under the age of 65 and one was a senior citizen.   She says the number of confirmed cases in the district is now up to 81 and Gowanlock believes we have peaked.

Shoppers Robbed

City Police are looking for a woman who they say robbed the Red River Road Shoppers Drug Mart. A woman carrying a knife approached the pharmacy and demanded drugs from the employee. She got away with Fentanyl patches and was last seen on Junot Avenue heading toward the Blucher Street area on foot.

FN Men Walk To Ottawa

Three walkers have left Attawapiskat First Nation with the goal of trekking to Ottawa with a message for the government. Danny Metatawabin, Brian Okimaw and Paul Mettina are on foot to encourage the government to work together to address and reconcile several Aboriginal issues. According to a statement posted by Metatawabin on Facebook, they are walking from the "traditional territories of the people" to deliver a message to the leaders of both levels of Government and to Chiefs that the time to honour treaties is now!
The Attawapiskat walkers are supported by helpers carrying supplies on snowmobiles.

Drug Bust In Constance Lake FN

The war against drugs continues in the Nishnawbe Aski Nation.   Police say the latest bust took place in Constance Lake First Nation where about 17 hundred dollars worth of high end prescription painkillers were seized in a home in that community.  A 27 year old Constance Lake resident is facing charges.