2011 Budget passed

Council has passed the 2011 budget.  But, before it was ratified councillors decided to keep 160 thousand dollars in the 2011 budget for road work slated for Shuniah Street.  Hobbs voted against the move saying the road doesn't need to be widened it needs to be paved.  The 2011 budget will result in a 1.27 percent increase in property taxes.

Gridlock solutions brought to council

A Health Science Centre nurse is speaking out about patient gridlock in the emergency room.  Alana Bishop wrote a letter suggesting ways the hospital might be able to free up 52 beds by creating a facility that would deal solely with mental health, alcohol and drug addiction cases.  Bishop says she's disappointed she didn't receive a response to her ideas from the Health Minister.  Bishop thinks the former Lakehead Psychiatric Hospital could serve as a Mental health centre and has brought the idea up with St. Joseph's Care Group as well.

Council won't sell land to Badanai Motors

Thunder Bay City Council won't give up it's ownership of the Court Street extension.  The President of Badanai Motors has asked council for a second time to sell it to him; with most of council voting against the move Monday night.  City Planner Mark Smith says they don't want to sell the land because of the city's underground infrastructure. Badanai currently leases the land from the City and says he hasn't decided on whether or not he will continue to do that.

Council talks with TTC

Members of the Thunder Bay City Council are feeling better about Bombardier's transit contract after speaking with the head of the TTC.  Councillor Joe Virdiramo says they also spoke to Mayor Rob Ford about it.  The city spoke with Ford and the TTC while attending the Good Roads conference last week in Toronto.

Awareness walk for Jordan Wabasse

Two Big Trout Lake residents will be walking from their community to Webeque First Nation to raise awareness about Jordan Wabasse.  Wabasse has been missing for a month and was last seen getting off a city bus in Westfort.  You can follow the 500 kilometer walk through  the "Help Find Jordan Wabasse" facebook page.

Charges laid in union fraud case

Thunder Bay OPP are releasing details of a fraud case in Nipigon.  Sgt. Shelley Garr says it involves a 64 year old man from that community.  Wayne Asselin was charged after a member of the Communication, Energy and Paperworkers Union came to the police in December of 2008 after they noticed over 175 thousand dollars  was missing from their accounts.  Asselin was the financial secretary of the union.

Snowfall=accidents

Police are reporting several accidents since the snow started falling last night. City police say there have been at least 8 with one of them resulting in minor injuries. The OPP say there were at least 3 in the area this morning. In one case a driver was sent to hospital as a precaution when a SUV went in the ditch in Shuniah. There was also a accident involving a school bus which didn't have students in it on Highway 102.

Veneruz dies at 81

A former Catholic School Board trustee calls it the end of an era. That's how Jolene Kemp describes the death of long time trustee Francis Veneruz  at the age of 81. Kemp says as chair, Veneruz guided the board through changing times.  She says he had the vision to make sure the school system had the means to operate for the future.   His funeral takes place Wednesday at St. Patrick's Cathedral.

More gold exploration in the northwest

An already busy mining activity in the Rainy River district is about to get busier. Catalina Metals is paying 146-thousand dollars plus shares to acquire 18-thousand acres located along the same belt that's hosting the gold-rich finds north of Barwick and at Cameron Lake near Nestor Falls. Catalina is now planning an exploration program for the area.

NOACC praises growth plan

The Northwestern Associated Chambers of Commerce is another organization on board with the Northern Growth Plan.  President Barry Streib says the proposed Northern Policy Institute is welcome by the chambers. He says it's exciting for Northern Ontario to conduct research on business, economic and social issues.  While critics say the plan has no substance, Streib believes the framework is there to guide growth.

Civil War grips Libya

With more confirmed clashes between rebels and loyalist forces it appears civil war has engulfed Libya. Lakehead University Political Science Professor Laure Paquette says the west is mainly staying out but could be providing indirect support to the rebels by sending in special forces units to make contact with different rebel factions.  Paquette says as far as military action by the west it has been ruled out.

Wilson wins regional spelling bee

Margarita Wilson is this year's champion of the Canspell Regional Spelling Bee.  She out spelled 35 other participants on route to the victory.  The grade 7 Nor'Wester View Student will move onto the National Championship's in Toronto later this month. 

Thunderwolves Basketball team off to Nationals

The day after the OUA championship the Thunderwolves Men's Basketball team has turned their eyes towards the CIS national championships.  The Wolves have learned they'll battle Trinity Western in their first game Friday afternoon.  The winner will advance to the semi finals.  The Thunderwolves earned the fourth spot at the tournament with a huge upset win over Carleton Saturday 77-62.  It was Carleton's first loss this season. 

Snow today but warm tomorrow

Its snowing today but starting tomorrow we'll be getting our first real taste of spring. Our Meteorologist Bill Laidlaw says we will get about 10 to 15 centimetres of snow when all is said and done and then warm air will move in and push temperatures above the freezing point for most of this week.  Laidlaw says the snow should taper off this afternoon.