Hobbs Happy With Clement Meeting

Thunder Bay's Mayor is confident in the Federal Government's role with the Ring of Fire development.  Keith Hobbs met with FedNor Minister Tony Clement today to discuss the future mining opportunity.  Clement also spoke to First Nation leaders while in Thunder Bay the past two days.

Northern Policy Institute Names Chair

The Northern Policy Institute's board of directors is selecting Sudbury resident Martin Bayer as its Chair.  Marathon's Dr. George Macey will serve as the vice-chair.  Ten individuals from seven communities across Northern Ontario were appointed earlier to serve on NPI’s board of directors.  The Northern Policy Institute will help come up with legislation made for the North by the North for the Provincial Government.

Crime Prevention Booklet Available

City Police are doing their part to make the community more crime smart.  They've joined an Ontario wide crime prevention campaign.  Police will be alerting residents about online fraud, id theft, cyber crime and break enter and thefts.  A booklet full of tips can be found at the Balmoral Street Police Station.

Gull Bay Trapper Safe

 A Gull Bay First Nation man is safe and sound after his snow machine got stuck in slush on Lake Nipigon.  He was trapping on some islands east of Gull Bay when he was reported missing.  OPP found him in good health near a cabin he had taken shelter from bitter winds and frigid temperatures.

Hwy 11 Accident Caused By White Out Conditions

Highway 11 at Orient Bay, north of Nipigon, is open again after being closed for about 5 hours overnight.   OPP say a jackknifed tractor trailer caused a problem after two other vehicles ran into it.  There were only minor injuries.  Police blame white out conditions. 

John Street Road Open

Thunder Bay Police continue to investigate a collision between a mini-van and a front end loader on John Street Road.  The man driving the mini-van is in hospital with serious injuries. John Street Road is now open between Mapleward and Community Hall roads.

No Charges Being Laid In Fatal Accident

A Ministry of Labour investigation into last year's fatal industrial accident at the new Country Club Condo's on Oliver and Golf Links Road is complete.  No charges are being laid against LTL Contracting after a worker was killed after he was run over by a dump truck that was backing up at the construction site.

Dryden Making Cuts

Cuts are starting to be made within the City of Dryden.  Staff are trying to find roughly 1-million dollars in savings thanks to the reassessment of the Domtar Mill.  City Manager Joe van Koeverden says they've already come up with roughly 500-thousand dollars in staff reductions.  Van Koeverden wouldn't comment on possible reductions at the Dryden Development Corporation.

Hyer Urges Feds To Keep ELA Open

Thunder Bay's MP is urging the Federal Government not to close the Experimental Lakes Area, west of Vermilion Bay.  Bruce Hyer says when it comes to the future of the facility the government only has 2 real options.  Hyer says the cost to close the facility would cost around 25 times the cost of operating it for one year.

Energy Task Force To Have Another Meeting

The City's Energy Task Force continues to meet with members of the Ontario Power Authority over their plans for the Mission Island Power Plant.  The conversion to natural gas was put on hold and now the two sides are trying to find a compromise that would allow the plant to stay open beyond 2013.  The next meeting is scheduled for February 28th and the City plans to rehash their concerns with the new Energy Minister in Toronto at the Ontario Good Roads Conference.

V. Kelner Sells Its Helicopters

On the Local business front, Expedition Helicopters of Cochrane has acquired the fleet of V. Kelner Helicopters located in Thunder Bay.   With the addition of two aircraft to its fleet of 12,  it makes Expedition the largest helicopter operator in Northern Ontario.

Zone Watch Policing Coming Soon

City Police hope to have their new website and community based social networking site up and running by the Spring.  Spokesperson Chris Adams says they'll start recruiting members for the zone watch program in April.  Thunder Bay Police received 97-thousand dollars to establish the new websites.

Mixed Bag Of Issues For Good Roads

City Councillors are looking forward to airing their grievances with Provincial Cabinet Ministers during the Ontario Good Roads Conference in Toronto.  Councillor Joe Virdiramo says they hope to ask the Province for some extra funding to offset the 4 police officers needed to staff the new consolidated court house.  Virdiramo says they'll also be speaking to Ministers about senior care, disaster relief, energy and mining readiness.  The Good Roads Conference gets underway on Sunday and runs until Wednesday next week.