Child Pornography Charges

City Police are laying two child pornography related charges on a Thunder Bay man. Thirty-eight year old Dan Nawrocki was arrested at his home yesterday morning where investigators seized fifteen computers, six hard drives and an estimated ten-thousand DVD's. These charges are not related to the current international child pornography investigation.

Man Charged In Hit and Run

Thunder Bay Police are charging a 22 year old man with a series of drinking and driving related charges.  Sgt. Glenn Porter says early this morning they were called to investigate a vehicle that skidded off the road and drove over a fence at the County Fair Plaza Mall.  Police followed tire tracks in the fresh snow and found the vehicle parked at a home nearby.   A young man was still behind the wheel of the running car when officers asked him for a breath sample.  A breath test revealed his blood alcohol level was 2 and a half times over the legal limit. 

Plant To Burn Biomass Instead Of Coal

Thunder Bay's two MPPs are announcing the Provincial Government will convert the local coal plant to advanced biomass.  Over the next year, the plant will stop burning coal and will be converted to use forest or agricultural sources as fuel for electricity generation.  Work to convert the plant will begin in 2014 with work expected to be complete by 2015.

Flu Is In T.Bay

The flu is now officially in Thunder Bay.  The Health Unit is reporting two lab-confirmed cases of influenza A in the region.  The first two cases were confirmed in younger kids.  The health unit is reminding residents that there is still time to get your flu shot at any one of their clinics or at your local pharmacy. 

Christmas Kettles Campaign Is Back

The Salvation Army is gearing up for another Christmas Kettle campaign.   Executive Director Major Rob Kerr says this year they're looking to raise 170 thousand dollars.   Volunteers are needed for several locations across the City including Intercity Mall, the Superstore, Walmart and the LCBO.

CUPE Town Talk On Dec. 3rd

13 Township of Schreiber workers are moving closer to a strike.  The Canadian Union of Public Employees represents the staff and hopes upcoming mediation talks will move them closer to getting a collective agreement.  Mediation talks are set for December 3, 2013.  The workers previously voted 100 per cent in favour of a strike if a deal can't be reached.

Fire On Coady Thursday Night

There were no injuries following a fire at a home in the 100 block of Coady Avenue.   Fire crews were called to the scene at 11 o'clock last night and discovered a mattress on fire in a basement bedroom.  An adult and three children were able to make it safely out of the home before firefighters arrived.  Damage to the basement was minor and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.  

New No Frills Open

The city's new No Frills store on Edward Street opened its doors to customers this morning. Darcy Leduc is the Owner and says he looks forward to talking with his customers about what they would like to see in the grocery store.  The store is 24-thousand square feet in size and has been remodeled to include wooden slates on walls, wood crates for display cases and softer lighting.  The County Fair No Frills store is expected to open up soon as well.

LU Shares Accomplishments

Lakehead University is celebrating its accomplishments this year and sharing them with the community through its annual report.  Chair of the Board of Governors Cam Clark says they've accomplished many goals this year including opening the new law school, an increase in enrollment and launching a new strategic plan.  Clark and President Dr. Brian Stevenson addressed a group of community partners at a special breakfast this morning at the school.

Tourism Award

Officials with Tourism Thunder Bay are coming home with an award from Toronto.  Thunder Bay captured an Ontario Tourism Award for its part in the "Ride Lake Superior" program, which partnered with tourism groups in the Sault Ste. Marie region as well as Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. The organizations promoted a motorcycle ride touring program around Lake Superior as a bucket list tourism experience.  

PARO Holds Awards

Eleven women business owners are being honoured by the PARO Centre for Women's Enterprise. They are being recognized as the top enterprising women of 2013.  PARO Executive Director Rosalind Lockyer says best new business goes to Sharla Brown and her company Keynote events.  A formal ceremony took place last night at the Valhalla Inn.