City works with Service Ontario

Thunder Bay City Council is entering into a memorandum of understanding with Service Ontario. The two parties will look at ways they can improve Provincial Government and Municipal services. Councillor Andrew Foulds is wary of working with Service Ontario noting its mostly automated. City Spokesperson Karen Lewis says an example would be paying parking tickets while you renew your drivers license.

City decreases debt

Thunder Bay City Council is reviewing its audited financial statements for 2010.  According to the fiscal document the City is 170 million dollars in debt.  Councillor Andrew Foulds notes that's 12.2 million dollars less than in 2009.

Humanities 101 bus pass request

A Lakehead University Professor wants the City to continue its support of the Humanities 101 program.  The program is for students with disabilities and Dr. Christina van Barneveld wants enough passes to transport twenty students to 15 classes.  Councillor Iain Angus asked if they would consider holding the course in a downtown location; but van Barneveld says the students wanted to take a course on campus so they could get a feel for University life.  The students don't pay tuition so the bus passes are not included in their course.  Council will decide on September 12th whether to provide the free passes or not.

Red Cross ready to help

The local Red Cross is looking for cash donations for the evacuees of yesterday's Adelaide Street Apartment fire. Spokesperson Sharon Bak says they're ready to help the displaced residents. To make a donation call 623-3073.

Missing man on Lake of the Woods

The OPP Underwater Search and Rescue Unit has been called in to search for a missing Summerfield, Florida man on Lake of the Woods. Kenora OPP say 68-year-old Bill Amason went out on the lake early Saturday evening.  Police say when the man failed to return within the expected time, his friends and family went to look for him.  His boat was located drifting near the area he had said he was going to and his clothes were found on a nearby rock.  OPP say it appears his boat may have drifted away while he was on shore and he attempted to swim after it.

Apartment fire under investigation

Thunder Bay Fire still doesn't know the cause of an Adelaide Street Apartment fire.  Acting Platoon Chief David Long says the blaze started in a fifth floor apartment just after one o'clock Monday.  Fifth floor residents won't be allowed back into their apartments at all.  Long says there's extensive smoke and water damage to that floor.  The apartment building was evacuated and residents spent most of their afternoon hanging outside of the building.

Stabbing leaves one man injured

A 26 year old man is walking away with only minor injuries after being stabbed.  The incident happened yesterday evening just before 5 in the Picton Street area.  Police arrested a woman and she will appear in court this morning.