College strike looms

A provincial mediator has been appointed to try to head off a strike by college teachers in Ontario. The union has set a strike date of February 11th but Premier Dalton McGuinty is asking both sides to sit down and reach a negotiated settlement. A strike would curtail classes for at least 200-thousand full-time student including those at Conferation College here in Thunder Bay.

Fifth person charged in abduction case

Yet another person is now charged in connection with an abduction and assault incident at a north side motel last month. City police say a 20 year old female in the case was taken into custody over the weekend. Donna Taylor Jones is now charged with kidnapping and assault causing bodily harm. She is the fifth person arrested in the case. A Canada wide warrant remains out for Emilio Bisignano

Ice warning

With the AbibitiBowater mill set to restart one of its paper machines February 4th, comes a warning from the the city Fire Service. The concern is that the Kam River is now frozen, but this will change because water used for operating the mill will be put into the river. The warm water has the potential to cause river ice to melt...causing a danger for snowmobilers and the general public.

Winter roads ready

The winter road network is now in operation to link remote First Nations across northwestern Ontario. A cold December and January has allowed for an early start to winter road construction. There are almost 3 thousand kilometres of winter roads in Ontario.

Wind farm developers grilled

Skeptical city councillors who once supported a wind farm on the Nor' Wester mountains have now completed grilling officials of the developer Horizon Wind. Due of heavy opposition and pressure from area residents, councillors were in turn showing concerns Monday night. Local project representative Steve Wright says it stands to put the city on the turbine manufacturing map, building parts for more than 200 potential turbines in the region. Meantime the company says all safety issues have been addressed and that there is no scientific evidence to support some of the concerns residents have brought up.