Break & Enter Video Released

Thunder Bay Police are releasing some video to the public of a September 18th break and enter on Red River Road.   They say a man smashed the glass door of a business and proceeded to take the cash register. Police are also investigating eight other similar break and enters to commercial locations in the past 48 hours in the city.  It's not known at this time if these incidents are linked.

Bombardier Fined After Workers Injured

Bombardier is being fined 280-thousand dollars after being convicted in two separate cases involving injuries to workers that took place at its Thunder Bay production facility.  In one situation a worker had to have a part of his finger amputated.  In another situation, a worker was injured after touching a live electrical conductor.

Chiarelli's Comments Cleared Up

The Energy Minister's office is clearing up comments made by Bob Chiarelli about the future of the Thunder Bay Generating Station.  On Thursday he said the plant would  run six hours a year, however what he meant to say was the estimate for the plant running this year was six times.  Thunder Bay MPP Michael Gravelle says the Province hasn't decided the fate of the plant yet.  Gravelle says he's going to keep working to ensure the local plant stays open.

DSSAB Beefing Up Security

The organization responsible for social housing in  the area is beefing up security on its properties. Bill Bradica, the acting C-A-O of the Social Services Administration Board, says the upgrades are being done to help tenants feel safer.  The board has approved 335 thousand dollars for security improvements that included increased patrols and lighting.

Inflation Rate At Zero

A bit of a drop in the national inflation rate.  Statistics Canada says inflation fell in August to 1.1 percent, down from 1.3 percent the month before.  Thunder Bay's inflation rate is at zero for last month.

Age Friendly Gets New Website

Age Friendly Thunder Bay now has it's own website.  City Councillor Rebecca Johnson sits on the committee and says they want to reach out to seniors through the site.  Johnson says the site also offers local businesses a checklist to see if they are considered senior friendly.  To check out the new website click here.

The "People's Microbiologist"

Dr. Donald Low

This week's death of SARS doctor Donald Low hits close to home for Thunder Bay's Dr. David Williams.   Williams worked side by side with Low during the SARS crisis in Toronto in 2003. Williams credits Low with keeping the public calm during the crisis, calling him the people's microbiologist.  He says Low was able to explain complicated technical health issues in a very down to earth  manner which won the confidence of the public.  Williams says it was ironic that he heard about Dr. Low's death in the very building where he first met him.

Food Strategy Launched

The City is one step closer to creating a food strategy.  Spokesperson Kendal Donahue says they've started to discuss where they go from here.  The working group involves representatives from the education sector, farming, business and health fields and will work together to create the strategy that will see local food used in our main public institutions.

Review Of Dryden Operations

A comprehensive review of City of Dryden operations and services is underway.  Sudbury based KPMG addressed council for the first time last night to outline their plans of the review.  The group pulled no punches by saying every department will be looked at and Council may not like some of their recommendations.

Fiddler Sheds Light On New Committee

A new First Nation Juries Review Committee has been named.  Deputy Grand Chief of the Nishnawbe-Aski Nation Alvin Fiddler is co-chair of the 11 member committee.  Fiddler says they will work towards implementing recommendations in Justice Frank Lacobucci's report.  Other members announced on Thursday include Thunder Bay's Honorable Marc Bode, Former Treaty Three Grand Chief and Lawyer Diane Kelly as well as former Kenora Judge Erwin Stach.

Cliffs Rails Against Road Ruling

A major player in the Ring of Fire mining development is questioning its future in the project.  Cliffs Natural Resources says a recent ruling by a government commission against its road proposal for the area is a disappointment and threatens the development of the Ring of Fire mining district.   They say the road is an essential and necessary component of the company's chromite project.

Pickle Lake Man Charged With Break & Enter

Thunder Bay Police are charging a 24 year old man from Pickle Lake with Break, Enter and Robbery. Police say they received a 911 call of a break and enter at a Van Norman Street business early this morning.  Officers report that a cleaning employee was confronted by the suspect with a broken piece of glass.  The man made a court appearance this morning.

$$ For ER Nurses Helps Free Up EMS

The Province is giving the Health Sciences Centre 228-thousand dollars to hire more nurses for the emergency room.  The new nurses will only care for patients with non-life threatening conditions who arrive by ambulance.  EMS Chief Norm Gale says it's freeing up his paramedics and allowing them to get back on the road.  Gale says they were losing 11 hours of ambulance time and 22 hours of paramedic time per day because there was no one to look after the patients once they arrived at the ER.  Mayor Keith Hobbs is pleased noting it should have a positive impact on the City's emergency services budget.

Assault Near LU

City Police, conducting a Ride Program on Oliver Road near Lakehead University, got more than they bargained for.  While officers were checking for impaired drivers just after one o'clock this morning, a male nearby came up on a group and assaulted two other men.  Cops gave chase and apprehended the suspect after a brief struggle.  The two victims and one officer suffered minor injuries in the incident and they were all treated at the scene.  A 20-year old Thunder Bay man is being held on charges of assault, resisting arrest and breach of probation.