Make way for a Colorado Low

Get ready for some more shovelling, snow is on the way. Our Meteorologist Bill Laidlaw says a system will be pushing its way into our area Sunday afternoon and we could see as much as 15 centimetres by Monday morning.

Kusznier remembered

John Kusznier's hat

On Sunday the Thunder Bay Police Service will be remembering a sad anniversary.   It's the day that Constable John Kusznier was gunned down in the parking lot of a north side hotel.   He is the only member of the city police to have died in the line of duty.   In 2010 the Current River Bridge was dedicated to his memory.

Hoarding, a community response

The problem of hoarding is getting the spotlight lately as the result of a reality TV show, and now it's getting some attention in Thunder Bay. City police Detective Constable Diane MacLaurin wants to bring a Hamilton program to the city. She says they're partnering with the Catholic Family Development Centre along with the Northwest Dementia Network to bring the program here. MacLaurin is organizing a strategy session on the issue this Monday at St. Joseph's Heritage.

Public to review Official Plan

The city wants your opinions on it's Official Plan.   It's a document that outlines policies on how land in the city should be used.   It shows how the city intends to use the land in the future.   The Open House takes place on Tuesday at the West Thunder Community Centre starting at 4 in the afternoon with a formal presentation at 7.

Jury views anonymous letter

The Michael Kelly murder trial continues today.  Yesterday the jury got a first hand look at a map sent anonymously from Thunder Bay to the OPP in  November of 2001.  It showed a location on Wolf Lake which the sender had circled and put the word "bodies" on.  Although it was pointed out the location was "eerily close" to where the body of Judie Tilbault was found in 2004,  it no way links Kelly as the sender or having any connection to it.  Kelly is charged with first degree murder in Tilbault's death.

Fire damages apartment

There is substantial damage to an apartment unit following a fire on the city's south side late yesterday afternoon. District Chief Dave Grant says  a kettle caught ablaze and started a kitchen fire.  Grant says a woman refused treatment for smoke inhalation.

Plane crash victim names have been released

OPP have released the names of the people who died in the tragic plane crash at North Spirit Lake.  The 4 who died are the Pilot 41 year old Fariborz Abasabady, 38 year old Martha Campbell and 39 year old Colette Eisinger of Winnipeg, and 62 year old Ben Van Hoek of Carmen Manitoba.  36 year old Brian Shead of Winnipeg is the only survivor. 

No murder evidence in victim's car

The Michael Kelly murder trial in Thunder Bay is into it's third day of testimony at the Superior Court of Justice.  The city police identification officer who examined Judie Thibault's abandoned car in November of 2000 testified that there was no evidence to suggest Thibault was shot and killed in the car.   Constable Chris Rasmussen also told the jury that there were no blood stains of any sort in the vehicle.  Kelly is facing a First Degree Murder charge in Thibault's death last decade.

Missing teen

Thunder Bay Police are looking to the public for help in finding a missing 15 year old boy.   Jordan Connell hasn't been seen since Sunday when he left his house.  He's described as 5 foot 5, thin, with medium length brown wavy hair and blue eyes.  

Purse snatching case comes to close

The young man who robbed a 90 year old woman in front of the OLG Casino is getting 18 months of probation.  The teen was in court on Monday and plead guilty to a charge of theft in relation to the September 2011 incident.

OPP seize drugs near Manitouwadge

OPP are charging four men with a number of drug related offences after a routine RIDE check near Manitouwadge. Police stopped a vehicle and noticed one of the passengers was in contravention of his release conditions and the other had outstanding warrants from Thunder Bay.  5-thousand dollars in marihuana and cocaine was seized.  The men face possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking.

Work begins on Country Club condo unit

Construction has started on the Country Club's new condo units and club house.  Demolition began on the curling club this morning.  The project is on target and is set to be complete in May 2013.

K-NET fundraiser for North Spirit Lake

A fundraising drive us underway up to help a remote northwestern Ontario devastated by a plane crash this week.  K-Net is accepting cash donations for North Spirit Lake.  Brian Walmark is a spokesperson and says the will help defray a number of unexpected costs for the community.  Martha Campbell from North Spirit Lake was one of the people killed in Tuesday morning's crash.

Brown wants HST hike

While most want it decrease, Atikokan town council is advocating a on per cent hike in the HST.  The town says the revenue could be earmarked for municipalities for infrastructure improvements.  Mayor Dennis Brown says it may be the only really option to covering the high cost of that work.  Brown says under their proposal, his community would receive more than 850-thousand dollars.

T.Bay economy lookin' good

Thunder Bay's economy is looking good according to the Conference Board of Canada.  They released their 2012 outlook for major Canadian cities and Thunder Bay's economy is expected to rise 1.7 percent.

Accident claims life of transport driver

Provincial police are investigating a multi-vehicle crash on Highway 17 east of Kenora that left a transport driver dead.  Yesterday's collision resulted in the closure of the Trans-Canada Highway for several hours.  Police say a westbound tractor-trailer unit jackknifed near Dogtooth Lake and was struck by an eastbound transport.  Highway 17 was reopened to one lane of traffic at about noon yesterday.

Fire at Northern Wood Preservers Property

Fire crews easily put out an overnight fire at the Northern Wood Preservers property on Maureen Street.  The building was in the process of having machinery salvaged. The cause of the 2nd floor fire is believed to be dismantling torches.

Failed robbery at Dairy Queen

A 19 year old man is in bail court this morning after he was charged with robbing the Dairy Queen on Cumberland Street.  Police say a man brandishing a knife demanded money and when he didn't get it tried to snatch it from the till.  The man fled and was picked up by police further down the road.  The teen is also charged with assault with a weapon.

NAN calls for upgrades in light of crash

The Grand Chief of Nishnawbe Aski Nation say a deadly plane crash has highlighted the dire need to upgrade aviation standards and weather equipment in remote communities.  Four people were killed on Tuesday when a Keystone Air charter flight crashed at the North Spirit Lake reserve while trying to land in a blizzard.  Only one of the five people on board survived.

Police employee testifies at trial

Two days of testimony are now in the books at the Michael Kelly murder trial.  On Wednesday the jury heard from the Thunder Bay Police employee who took the original missing persons report on Judie Thibault  November 21st of 2000.   Pamela Whissel testified that someone who identified himself as Michael Kelly told her on the phone that his common law spouse Judie Thibault was missing.  He told her that the day before Thibault had been sitting at their kitchen table upset over something and then got up, left the house and drove away in a car.  Kelly is charged with First Degree murder in her death.   The trial continues Thursday.

Operation Red Nose is a huge success

Almost double the amount of rides were given by this year's Operation Red Nose crew.  Spokesperson Diana Sustawenko says over 650 rides were handed out and over 22 thousand dollars were raised.

OFIA has signed on to use Ontario Wood Logo

The Provincial Government is happy to announce the first organization to sign up use the Ontario Wood Logo.  Forestry Minister Michael Gravelle says the Ontario Forest Industries Association is the first organization to be licenced to use the logo that ensures the product is produced, grown and designed in the province.

Jury in murder trail hears of letter

An anonymous letter to the OPP in 2001 is causing some interest at the Michael Kelly murder trail. Court was told by a forensics expert, that the letter was sent to the OPP in Toronto in 2001. It was in an envelope that had the letters OPP cut out in clippings which were then taped on the front. He testified that in the envelope was a map of the Dorion area where the body of Judie Thibault was found in August of 2004. On the map someone had put the word "bodies". The expert says there was no way to determine from the map, the exact location of any bodies, let alone Thibault's.  Kelly is facing a first degree murder charged in connection with Thibault's death

Forensics can't link Kelly to murder: Expert

The Michael Kelly murder trial is into its second day of testimony.  An OPP forensic expert was cross examined by defence lawyer Gil Labine.  Sgt. Scott Hlady admitted there is no forensic evidence of any kind to link Kelly to the death of Judie Thibault.  The 65 year old Kelly is charged in the death of Thibault who disappeared in November of 2000 and whose body was found in August of 2004 in the bush in the Dorion area wrapped in a carpet with a bullet in her head.  

Koulton on the job

The City's top lawyer is settling into her new gig.  Nadia Koulton started in January as the city's legal advisor.  Koulton is already working on the city's proposed deer feeding by-law.  Koulton is replacing Rosalie Evans while Evans is on a year sabbatical.

Rafferty reacts to defection

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty is no fan of switching parties mid-term.  Rafferty say he can't comment on the reasons behind Quebec MP Lise St. Denis leaving the NDP for the Liberals, but doesn't support how she did it.  Rafferty doesn't think her defection will have a big impact on the party that still holds down 102 seats in the House of Commons.

Inquest into Northern accidents

A northern Ontario politician is calling for a coroner's inquest into a series of fatal highway collisions in the North.  Nipissing M-P-P Vic Fedeli also says there appear to be problems with road clearing in Northeastern Ontario. Fedeli says an inquest is needed into the deaths of 10 people in collisions in late December and early January.

NAN on Pikangikum School

The Deputy Grand Chief of the Nishnawbe-Aski Nation says Ottawa must do something about the teachers living quarters in Pikangikum.  Terry Waboose says the teachers need to return to Pikangikum as soon as possible so students don't lose the entire school year.  Pikangikum leaders say nearly all of its non-local teachers have left the community because of mould in the teachers' residences.  And they say that's jeopardizing the school year for hundreds of students.

Fatal accident near Kenora

A fatal collision has forced the closure of the Trans-Canada Highway.  OPP say the crash occurred early this morning near the Highway 71 junction, about 30-kilometres east of Kenora.  Police say it may take up to 8-hours to investigate. A detour is available by using Highway 11.  Poor road conditions are to blame.

Airport sets passenger traffic record

Business continues to boom at the Thunder Bay Airport with 2011 showing a record year for passenger traffic. Figures show there was a 4 per cent increase in passenger traffic last year compared to 2010. President and CEO Scott McFadden attributes it to strong economic activity in the region.   He says some airlines helped by adding new or larger airplanes to their fleet.

Plane crash claims 4 lives

The Plane Crash that killed 4 people is said to have happened in a blizzard.  Thats the word from at least one witness in the small community of North Spirit Lake.  A Keystone Air Service plane crashed near the community just after 10 this morning.  One person survived and is being treated at a local clinic.

Law students attend murder trial

Hammarskjold High School students are getting a first hand look at how the court system works. They attended the first two days of court proceedings in the Michael Kelly murder trial. Teacher Rory Bain wants his law class to see the legal system in action. He says a majority of the students have never been exposed to the Canadian justice system, so this was a first for them. Among other things, students saw graphic evidence of the crime scene.

Police release video of "persons of interest"

Thunder Bay police say they are looking for two people who they would like to speak to about last month's false bomb scare at the Bombardier plant.   They have released a surveillance video of two people making a phone call from a pay phone at Vickers and Arthur street where the threat is believed to have been called in from. 

Mr Sub robbed this morning

Thunder Bay Police are looking for one person after a break and enter this morning.  Police say a surveillance video shows a man with a what looked like a crow bar going behind the counter and stealing a cash box.  Officers say the front glass door of the building was smashed open just before 2:30 this morning.

Apparent assault victim found in snow bank

A man is recovering after being the victim of an alleged assault. Thunder Bay Police found the man in a snow bank on the corner of Limbrick Street and University Drive just before 5 this morning.  The man was drunk and couldn't give a description of the people who assaulted him but witnesses say a van was spotted near the man and then left the area before police arrived. 

Thunder Bay murder trial underway

The Michael Kelly murder trial is underway in a Thunder Bay courtroom. The 64 year old Alberta resident is charged in the death last decade of 57 year old JudieThibault of Thunder Bay. In his opening statement to the jury Crown Attorney Dan Mitchell outlined the prosecution's case. Mitchell tells the jury the evidence is largely circumstantial, however he says it will tell the story of an undercover police operation and show that a bullet was removed from Thibault's head after her body was found wrapped in a carpet in the bush near Dorion in 2004. The opening statement is not considered evidence.

OPP find suspicious package

OPP in Marathon are dealing with a suspicious package.  Officials say they got a call from a resident Sunday about an unknown package inside a package.  Officers called in the Explosives Disposal Unit and they found the package to be safe. 

Lost time at Lakehead

The Lakehead Public School Board is seeing improvements in the number of at work accidents they see in a year.  Spokesperson Rick Molloy says they had 20 lost time incidents with staff in 2011.  Most of the accidents were due to falling or straining due to heavy lifting.

Driven to Quit

Quit smoking and you could win a car.   The Canadian Cancer Society has launched its annual “Driven to Quit Challenge.”  Quit Coach and former Phys-Ed teacher Dr. Jim Morris says he's been working with his former high school students.  To be eligable for the contest you need to stop smoking for the month of March.

Police looking for escapees

Police are on the lookout for a young man who escaped custody from the Jack McGuire facility yesterday afternoon.  The 16 year old was wearing a black sweater two pairs of pants and has short cropped hair.  A second 15 year old who also fled the facility was caught and will be held for video court today.

Aboriginal Program Funding

The City's Urban Aboriginal Strategy is looking for some more money from City Council.  The proposed 2012 budget already includes 125-thousand dollars for their cause, but an additional 25-thousand is being requested.  The money if approved would be used to continue their Action Circle Coordinator position.  The money won't be approved until Council tackles the 2012 budget.

Walsh Street Contract

Thunder Bay City Council is awarding a 2.2 million dollar contract to Makkinga Contracting.  The contract is part of the ongoing reconstruction of Walsh Street.  City Councillors spent the evening grilling members of administration about the cost of the project.

New ATU President talks to Council

The new President of the Amalgamated Transit Union is throwing her support behind a central location for a proposed bus terminal.  Sheila Kivisto spoke to City Council Monday night and says they're still working on finding a way to make routes faster.  Kivisto notes they are pushing to locate the main terminal at the Lakehead Labour Centre across from the Intercity mall.

Peninsula Harbour to be cleaned up

The federal and provincial governments along with Ball Packaging are joining together to clean up Lake Superior. Natural Resources Minister Michael Gravelle says they've agreed to begin cleaning up Peninsula Harbour near Marathon this spring. The location has been designated a pollution hotspot for decades. It was the site of a pulp and paper mill.

Sharp out for 3-4 weeks

A slash in last night's Chicago Detroit game has landed Thunder Bay's Patrick Sharp on the injured list.  The Blackhawks coaching staff say Sharp will be out for 3-4 weeks with an upper body injury. 

Pyatt signs 2 year extension

Good news for Thunder Bay's Tom Pyatt.  According to a Twitter report by TSN's Bob McKenzie Tampa has locked up Pyatt to a 2 year contract extension.  The deal is reportedly one way and worth 600 thousand per year.

Foulds is setting his sights on infrastructure

The City's infrastructure deficit must be addressed but not at the cost of cutting services.  That's the opinion of Councillor Andrew Foulds who says infrastructure effects every aspect of city life.  That being said Foulds believes services are a type of infrastructure.

Mac's employee speaks out

A Mac's Convenience Store employee remains concerned about the safety of fellow workers. Larry Larivee was a clerk who had a knife held to his throat during one of last year's 26 store robberies in the city. He believes more needs to be done to protect his fellow workers and he's taken it upon himself to call for more changes to security at the local stores.    Mac's officials have not returned our call for a comment.

Kelly murder trial starts this week

The jury selection process is underway in a city murder trial.  Sixty four year old Michael Earl Kelly is charged with First Degree Murder in the death last decade of 57 year old Judy Thilbeault.   The Thunder Bay woman disappeared in November of 2000 but her remains weren't found until four years later in the Dorion area.   It wasn't until 2010 that Kelly, an Alberta resident, was arrested and charged.   The trial before Justice John Wright is to get underway Tuesday morning and last about 3 weeks.

Dorion worried about fire fighting bill

Canadian Pacific Rail is hoping to ease the fears of the community of Dorion.  The Reeve is worried the company won't pay for a seven thousand dollar bill for fire fighting by the Ministry of Natural Resources.
A company spokesperson says if they're found to be at fault for the fire they'll pay.  Dave Harris says they'll be submitting the MNR's bill as well as their own from the municipal fire department.

NDP candidate in T.Bay

A hopeful in the Federal NDP leadership race will be in the City tonight.  B.C. MP Nathan Cullen is holding a meet and greet at the Madhouse Tavern this afternoon and then another event in the evening for party faithful.  An NDP all candidates debate will be held in Sudbury in February.