Shelter Gets Big $$$

A huge cash injection for Thunder Bay's Shelter House, in fact it's one of the largest single cash donations in the history of the homeless facility.   The shelter received 200 thousand dollars from Northwood Park Church.   Shelter boss Patty Hajdu says the money is being set aside  for future building projects.  The church was able to raise the money  through the sale of their building.

Storm Generates Accidents, No Fatalities

Thunder Bay O.P.P. say there were no fatalities from a Winter storm over the weekend. Police say they responded to 43 motor vehicle collisions between January 18th and January 20th. Officials say on Saturday there were 16 tractor trailer units that had either been involved in a collision on Highway 17, or driven off the road into the ditch.  Most of them near Upsala.

Crime Of The Week

City police and CrimeStoppes are looking for assistance in helping to solve the following crime. Sometime between November 2nd and November 5th  someone went onto a property on Flet Road and stole a green Yamaha Grizzly 600  A.T.V. They used 2x4's from the camp to help load the all-terrain vehicle. Anyone with information about who may may be responsible for this theft is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477.  

Police Investigate Pedestrian Accident

Thunder Bay Police are investigating a pedestrian accident that happened on the corner of Arthur and Norah Street at approximately 6:40 last night. A man was walking with his dog when a woman struck him with her car. He was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries while the dog was seriously injured. The woman has been arrested and charged with failure to remain at the scene and driving while disqualified.

Greenstone to Host Expo in Spring

Greenstone is looking to expand its mining workforce. The community will be hosting a "Grow Greenstone" Expo in Thunder Bay this spring. Spokesperson Vicki Blanchard says the expo will provide businesses from across Canada a chance to network with community and mining industry officials. Another aspect of the expo is to attract skilled labourers.

Chamber Offers Entrepreneurial Spirit Awards

Thunder Bay's Chamber of Commerce is offering two 500 dollar Entrepreneurial Spirit Awards to students entering Lakehead University or Confederation College. Students who want to apply for the bursaries can pick up an application form at the Chamber's office. The deadline to apply is January 31st.

McCarville's Rink Off to Tournament of Hearts

Thunder Bay's Krista McCarville leaves for Kitchener today for the Ontario Scotties Tournament Of Hearts. The three-time champion heads into the competition with high hopes of representing the province once again at the national level. McCarville says her team was formed three years ago and she would love nothing more than to get back to a big stage. McCarville along with Marlo Dahl's team will represent Thunder Bay at the provincials starting tomorrow. 

Highway 17 East of Upsula Closed

Highway 17 east of Upsula is closed in both directions due to a multi vehicle collision. O.P.P. advise drivers to take Highway 11 as a detour if necessary. The estimated time of the closure is not yet known.

Vegan Iron Chef Competition at Confederation College

4 people are vying for the chance to be crowned the Vegan Iron Chef of Thunder Bay. The first meat and animal product free cooking competition in the City is taking place at Confederation College this afternoon. Organizer Frances Talarico says competitors will be coming up with some unusual recipes. The winner will be crowned at the awards party later tonight.

NOMA VP Nominated to President

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield could pick up some new duties later this year. Kenora council is nominating Canfield for the position as president of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association. Canfield is currently vice-president of NOMA.

16th Annual Influential Women Nominations

Nominations are being accepted for the 16th Annual Influential Women Of Northern Ontario Awards. Operations Manager with Northern Ontario Business Kimberly Wahamaa says six women will be honored at two separate events in June. She adds more information can be found online at www.influentialwomen.ca. Nominations are due by February 22.

Structural Fire In Shuniah

An Alder Road home in Shuniah is completely destroyed after the chimney caught fire Friday morning. 2 people were in the house at the time and managed to escape.  The fire was thought to be put out but it later spread to the floor, roof and garage.  3 fire departments including Thunder Bay were called to the blaze.

Storey Sentenced To 2 Years

OPP Sgt. Darryl Storey is sentenced to 2 years in prison and can't drive for 5 years.  He was convicted of dangerous driving causing death in connection with a 2008 traffic accident that killed 18 year old Jasmine Veneruzzo.  The judge brought down his sentencing this afternoon.

Dilico Hires 9 New Mental Health Workers

Dilico Anishinabek Family Care is using its share of provincial government funds to hire 9 new mental health and addiction workers.  The trained professionals will help First Nation kids get better access to culturally appropriate care such as counseling, group therapy and crisis intervention.  Executive Director Micheal Hardy says it's great news for area communities. One of the workers will be placed at Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School, two will deal with a backlog of cases within Dilico's service area, and the others will be placed in First Nation communities.

OLG Slots Pay City

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation is issuing its third quarter cheque to the city for hosting it's casino. The payment is for more than 6-hundred-and-three thousand dollars.  That's five percent of the casino's slot revenue and is up dramatically from the 5-hundred-and-eighty-four thousand dollars collected in casino slots during the same time last year.

T.Bay Hydro Solar Projects Online

Two Thunder Bay Hydro solar panel projects are now online producing energy.  The 280 kilowatt system on the Victoriaville Parkade and the 60 kilowatt system on the Superior North EMS Headquarters produce enough electricity to power 36 homes.  Spokesperson Jim Kibiuk says they plan to install more solar panels on another four buildings in the City.  Kibiuk says Thunder Bay Hydro is dedicated to building a portfolio of renewable energy assets.

Dog Attack Case Back In Court

The man charged in connection with a dog attack in Tarbutt Park in November of last year will be back in court next month.  57 year old Frank Vantroba appeared in court this morning and will be back on February the 25th to set a trial date.  Vantroba is charged with criminal negligence in addition to charges laid by the city's Licencing and Enforcement division.  The attack seriously hurt an 11 year old boy.

Confederation College Gas Leak

A gas pump leaked 140 gallons of fuel into Confederation College's storm sewage system earlier today.  President Jim Madder says they've taken the necessary actions including calling the Ministry of Environment and having the gas pumped out of the catch basin.  Madder says they don't know why the gasoline pump broke but they are looking for the answer.

Witnesses Sought In Hit & Run

City police are looking for help from residents in the area of University Drive and Inglewood Crescent who may have heard a crash just after midnight on Thursday morning. They are hoping someone has information about a vehicle that fled the scene. A driver of white mini-van lost control and slammed into a parked car on the 100 block of University Drive. Extensive damage was done to the rear of the parked car, and it is expected that the front of the white mini-van will also have damage. Any witnesses are asked to call city police or CrimeStoppers.

O.P.P. Sargeant To Be Sentenced Today

O.P.P. Sargeant Darryl Storey is scheduled to appear in court today to be sentenced on a charge of dangerous driving causing death. Storey plead guilty to the charge in connection with a 2008 incident which claimed the life of 18 year old Jasmine Veneruzzo. Storey is appear in Superior court today.

Thunderwolves Weekend Preview

The Lakehead University Thunderwolves hockey team is back at home tonight for the first of two against Ontario Tech. The Thunderwolves lead the Ridgebacks by 9 points in the West division standings. Puck drop is at 7:30 p.m. at the Fort William Gardens. The L.U. basketball teams are on the road in London this weekend for a pair of games against the Mustangs. Western is two points up on the Thunderwolves in the women's standings while the Western men's team has just one win on the season.

Gravelle Says Its A Tight Race

Thunder Bay MPP Michael Gravelle thinks its going to be a tight race between his choice for Liberal Leader Sandra Pupatello and former Education Minister Kathleen Wynne.  The final vote for the leader of the Provincial Liberals comes down the weekend of January 25th.  Gravelle is pleased the majority of Thunder Bay Superior North delegates selected Sandra Pupatello in the first round of voting last weekend.

Bell Changes Tower Plans

A planned cell phone tower for 1360 John Street Road is now being proposed for 1376 Louis Street instead.  City planner Thora Cartlidge says Bell Mobility has changed its plans and city council will get a full update Monday.  She says that instead of holding a second meeting with John Street residents Bell opted to locate the tower in another nearby location. That too is expected to involve a public meeting.

Bus Shelters To See Improvements

Bus shelters in Thunder Bay are about to get some fixing up.   The federal government is granting the city 250 thousand dollars to make those improvements.   The shelters which will be targeted  are those that are the most frequently used and those that have been identified for infrastructure improvements. Transit Manager Brad Loroff says it's part of Transit's Master Plan.

Charges Laid In Villa Street Incident

Police are charging a 21 year old man with aggravated assault in the Villa Street incident last month.  An incident at the Villa Street home lead to the death of one man and sent a second to the hospital with life threatening injuries.  The young man was arrested at the Provincial Courthouse after being released on Breach of Probation charges from a previous incident.   The 23 year old victim of the assault remains in critical condition in a Toronto area hospital.

Meeting Held, No Immediate Solution

Hobbs, Bentley, Angus

The City's Energy Task Force is vowing to continue to work with the Provincial Government and the Ontario Power Authority when it comes to the conversion of the Mission Island Power plant. No decision has been made on the possible closure of the local facility.  Mayor Keith Hobbs says he's hopeful after today's meeting with Energy Minister Chris Bentley.  Both the Energy Minister and the Mayor have said they'll continue to talk about the future of the facility and what role it will play in the region's energy needs.

Bus Shelters In Line For Improvements

Bus shelters in Thunder Bay are about to get some fixing up.   The federal government is granting the city 250 thousand dollars to make those improvements.   The shelters which will be targeted  are those that are the most frequently used and those that have been identified for infrastructure improvements.

Flu VS. Common Cold

Influenza "A" is running rampant in the the city and is being blamed for 7 deaths already in seniors homes.   Darlene Binette with the Thunder Bay District Health Unit says there are differences between a common cold and actually having having the flu. The most common differences between the common cold and the flu are the sudden on-set of symptoms which include high fever, muscle and joint pain along with a cough. Binette says if you have the flu, you should wait until you're healthier to get a flu shot. Otherwise she's encouraging everyone to get immunized through your local doctor, pharmacy or flu clinic.

Many Engines Dead

The cold weather today is wreaking havoc on engines. C.A.A. Field Coordinator Wayne Salatino says they are seeing an increase in the number of emergency calls to their office today.   Salatino says they could get up to 150 calls for emergency service today alone which is 3 times the number of calls received on an average day.  CAA has a couple of tips for motorists who want to avoid getting a boost. Make sure your vehicle is tuned-up, plugged in overnight and that the battery is relatively new.

Severe Cold Deadly To Animals

Thunder Bay's Humane Society is reminding pet owners they need to take care of their animals during these severe cold temperatures.  Executive Director Maryanne Klynendorst says outdoor dogs should either be brought inside or proper draft free shelter should be provided to them.  It's also a good idea to beep your vehicle's horn before starting it since cats often curl up under vehicle hoods to stay warm.  Klynendorst says if you are worried about an animal please call the City's animal services and if the animal is in the outlying rural areas call the Humane Society and they will take care of them.

OPG Conversion Meeting Today

The future of the Mission Island power plant is up for discussion in Thunder Bay today as Energy Minister Chris Bentley meets with municipal officials in the region.   The conversion of the plant from coal to natural gas is on hold as the government studies claims that shutting the plant down could save 400 million dollars.

Health Unit Board Elections

Thunder Bay's Health Unit is updating its board.  Board elections were held yesterday during their annual meeting.  Shunia Mayor Mariah Harding was re-elected as Chair, and Thunder Bay's Beatrice Metzler was elected as Vice Chair.

Sudbury Police Investigating Alleged Incident In T.Bay

Thunder Bay's Police Chief JP Levesque is getting Sudbury Police to investigate a January 10th complaint made by a local parent regarding an alleged altercation involving an off duty Police Service officer.  It's alleged that the off duty officer became involved in an altercation with a parent and the parent's son at a youth hockey tournament.  Spokesperson Chris Adams says during the investigation means that officer will be pulled from his normal duties.  There were no injuries involved in the alleged incident.

Water Plan In Place

The Provincial Government is giving the go ahead to the Lakehead Source Protection Plan.  The Thunder Bay area is the first in the province with a comprehensive source-to-tap drinking water protection plan.  The plan was put together by municipal and community partners and is required under the Province's Clean Water Act.

Police Report Violent Assault

City police are reporting another violent incident.  They say the male victim claims he was attacked by four  males he doesn't know last night at the corner of Victoria and Brodie.   Police say he remains in serious condition and they are continuing to hunt down the people who may be responsible.

Brant Street Assault Victim Dies

Thunder Bay Police are reporting the victim of an assault on December 29th in the Brant Street area has died. They say 28 year old Moses Kakekagumick passed away from injuries sustained in an altercation on that day.  Kimberly Fox was originally charged with Aggravated Assault, Breach of Probation and Breach of Undertaking.  She has been in custody ever since and police are consulting with the Crown to determine the appropriate charges for the change in the status of the investigation.

Watermain Work Closes Road Friday

The City is closing Mountain Road from Chippewa Road to the 15th Side Road Friday. The closure is necessary to complete a water-main connection. Advanced warning signs will be posted alerting motorists to an alternate route. The closure is expected to take place from 8am until 8pm.

Former Biker Clubhouse "Reclaimed"

The south side community group Evergreen is getting its wish.  It's a 76 thousand dollar government grant which spokesperson Linda Bruins says will be used to renovate the old Hells Angels clubhouse on Heron Street. She says work will begin next week. The house will be turned into a neighbour hub that will provide a variety of programs for youth in the area.

Breast Screening Program Changes

The Ontario Breast Screening Program out of Thunder Bay is teaming up with Sioux Lookout's Meno Ya Win Hospital.  The two will work on providing mammograms to First Nation women from remote fly in communities.  Spokesperson Alison McMullen says Sioux Lookout will have the ability to provide mammograms year round.  McMullen says the Sioux Lookout hospital should be accredited as a breast screening program partner by April.

Highway Now Open

Greenstone OPP are reporting Highway 11 from Longlac to Hearst is now open.  The road was closed due to the poor weather conditions and multiple vehicles being in the ditch. 

Local Group Helps You See Jupiter

You can check out Jupiter, its moons and our moon Friday night at Hillcrest Park.  The local chapter of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada will be letting people look through their telescopes and binoculars.  Spokesperson Dave Gallant says they like to get people involved in astronomy.  The event starts at 6:30.

MyCancerGuide Launched

Thunder Bay's Hospital is offering a new educational tool to cancer patients.  It's called "MyCancerGuide" and it will offer families and patients more information about their disease.  Cancer Survivor and Hospital Volunteer Kathy Forbes says the guide gives patients a sense of empowerment while living with cancer.  Forbes helped unveil the new website at a hospital function today. 

Businessman Pleads Guilty To Milk Assault

A Thunder Bay business man who plead guilty to assault will not have a criminal record. 36 year old Brian Hamilton was given an absolute discharge in court today following an incident where he poured chocolate milk on anti-abortion protesters in the Bay and Algoma area last June. Hamilton did receive a scolding from Justice Baig in court but sighted his lack of a criminal record and the fact that he's taking counselling for her decision.

Special Weather Statement Issued

Slick roads and reduced visibility could hamper your morning commute. A sharp arctic cold front passing through the region is causing Environment Canada to issue a special weather statement this morning. A quick 2 to 4 centimetres of snow could fall inland of Thunder Bay this morning with flurries, heavy at time, reducing visibility to less than 500 metres in some cases. Caution is being urged as you make your way to your destination this morning.

Idle No More Movement Heads East

The Idle No More movement is holding a rally today East of Thunder Bay. First Nations residents are expected to start gathering at noon at the band office in Red Rock with a march scheduled for 1 o'clock across the bridge to the Highway 11-17 junction. The rally is in support of treaty rights they feel are being infringed upon by the government. Provincial police are warning motorists that traffic on the Nipigon bridge may be slowed during this event which runs until 3:30 this afternoon.

North Stars Win At Home

The Thunder Bay North Stars were led by Matt Kaarela's hat trick in their 5-2 victory over the Dryden Ice Dogs last night at the Fort William Gardens. The win brings the North Stars to within 6 points of the Ice Dogs for second place in the Superior International Junior Hockey League Standings.

Shipping Season Over

Thunder Bay's shipping season has come to a close.  It officially wrapped up with the MV Saginaw departing with the year's final grain shipment of 12-thousand tonnes of grain destined for the lower Great Lakes.  More than a million tonnes of grain were shipped from the port in the final month of the shipping season.

Canada's HMV Safe

Canada's HMV stores, including Thunder Bay's are safe according to the company's CEO.  The parent UK company is having financial troubles and is looking to close their last remaining store.  However, Nick Williams says that won't impact Canadian operations since the British company sold off its Canadian stores last year.  Williams adds they've also taken a different business model than the UK stores.

Child Porn Case In Court

A Shuniah Township man is going to be back in court on February 19th on charges of possession and distribution of child pornography and extortion.   29 year old Mark Lethonen appeared briefly in court and was released from custody on several conditions.   Those include no access to a computer and to stay away from areas where children under the age of 16 may gather.  The charges are in connection with a case involving nude photos of a young girl who complained to police last month..

B.C. Sexual Assault Case May Have T.Bay link

A Prince George, B.C. sexual assault case may have a Thunder Bay connection.   Police there have charged 20 year old Mercedes Jewett along with 6 other people in what they call a "disturbing" attack in which the victims were targeted and lured to an apartment building where the assaults took place.  According to Facebook, a person identifying herself as Mercedes Jewett of Prince George, once lived in Thunder Bay.  Police say the incident took place on January 7th in which a teenaged victim was beaten and sexually assaulted before being found in a snowbank.