MADD praises anti-drinking law

The local head of Mothers Against Drunk Driving is loving a new provincial law. There's high praise coming from the president of MADD in Thunder Bay for the new anti drinking and driving law for young drivers in Ontario. It forbids drivers under 21 from having any alcohol in their system.  Carole Sawchuk calls the law "marvelous"  adding, the organization has been pushing for this for a number of years. Sawchuk says it looks like the message is getting through and its a good step in the right direction.

Fort Hope teen charged with murder

A 16 year old boy from the Fort Hope First Nation north of Sioux Lookout, is facing a second degree murder charge. Ontario Provincial Police say it follows the stabbing death of a 17 year old boy in that community last week. The accused will be appearing in a Thunder Bay court on August the 3rd.

Water crisis in Constance Lake

Constance Lake First Nation near Hearst, has declared a state of emergency. 900 residents have been without water for over a week. Officials say a layer of algae has formed over the lake thick enough to block accesss to the main water supply for the community. Chief Arthur Moore and the band council are demanding action from the federal government.

Quality Market opening new store

A local business is sporting a new look. Quality Market is going up against the big boys with its new store on Golf Links Road near Oliver. Manager Dan Stezenko says unfortunatly the store at County Fair Mall had to close after they couldn't negotiate a contract with the landlord.  It will be opening it's doors at 7 o'clock Thursday morning.

Staal still waiting for a contract

Marc Staal and the New York Rangers continue to sit apart in contract negotiations.  The big blueliner is a restricted free agent and says he can't say to much about how talks are going but says he wants to stay in New York.  Staal says he loves the city and thinks his team looks good moving forward.  Marc says the recent addition of Alexander Frolov is another good move that will help the solve the teams scoring woes. 

Police on the lookout for a missing girl

Thunder Bay Police are on the lookout for a missing 12 year old girl. Shae-Lynn Masik was last seen yesterday evening when she left her house on Rupert Street. Anyone who has information on her where abouts are asked to call the police.

Combined Forces Organized Crime Unit hands out charges.

The Combined Forces Organized Crime Unit has laid charges in a massive 2 year drug investigation in the Nishnawbe Aski Nation. Officers with the help of Toronto OPP arrested and charged Jabir Khan of North York after seizing 360 thousand dollars worth of Oxycodone over the course of the investigation. Police believe Khan is a major figure in the Northwestern Drug trade.  Also facing charges is Twenty year old Clinton Netemegestic of Thunder Bay, 36 year old Bazil McIntosh of Toronto and 32 year old Brandie Mosher of Toronto. 

At the World Junior Baseball Championships Team Canada cruised to a huge 9-2 win over Panama. Korea came up with a huge 5-3 win over Cuba to join Canada and Cuba in a three way tie for top spot in Pool B. Elsewhere the US downed Venezuela 14-7, Chinese Taipei beat Italy 13-4, Australia beat France 16-1 and the Netherlands made short work of the Czech Republic winning 13-4. Tonight Canada finishes off the round robin against the Czech Republic.

In the Northwoods League the Border Cats had their game with St Cloud postponed due to rain. and in the Majors Toronto hammered Baltimore 8-2.

Thunder Bay International Baseball Federation opens Bike "Staal"

The Thunder Bay International Baseball Federation is encouraging people to Bike down to Port Arthur Stadium instead of driving.  Organizers have converted the off leash dog park into a bike corral and the Staal brothers are helping out.  The four were on hand yesterday to bike around and encourage people to use a more active mode of transportation to get down to the ball park.  Eric Staal says anything that gets people active and outside is a great idea.