Police Service launches 2 year business plan

Thunder Bay Police are moving ahead with their two year business plan. Mayor Keith Hobbs says he's pleased with the initiatives in the living document. It details how the force will address First Nation issues and public consultation. The plan also calls for increased communication with the Aboriginal community. To check it out click here.

Cyclist crosses Ontario on one wheel

The Man in Motion is now the Wheel in Motion. Stratford's Derrick Ferguson will be cycling across Ontario with a unicycle to raise money for the Rick Hansen Foundation. Ferguson will cover 26 hundred kilometres on his cross-province journey starting in Kenora May 6th. To donate visit their website at http://wheelinmotion.ca/

Dawson Road Truck Issue Postponed Again

McIntyre Ward Councillor Trevor Giertuga was frustrated on behalf of residents in his ward as the Dawson Road and heavy truck issue came up before city council Monday night. Giertuga was upset for a variety of reasons but wanted to be involved in the process during council's intergovernmental liaison committee meeting on the subject. After venting his frustration about not being invited, despite asking to be, he put forth a motion that council have another intergovernmental committee meeting on the subject. It was passed and now council won't be expected to hear back on the subject until July.

ReGen Med requests cash

City Council is hearing a request from ReGen Med.  The not for profit bone and tissue bank is requesting 500-thousand dollars in transitional funding.  The organization feels the money would ensure their future growth.  They want to increase their staffing levels from 8 to 40.  Council is getting a report on the funding request and will make their decision at a future meeting.

McDonald tops locals at marathon

12 Thunder Bay runners are celebrating their Boston Marathon finishes today. The City was well represented this year with Ryan McDonald posting the best time of all Thunder Bay runners. He finished in 3 hours 13 minutes and 40 seconds, while Marcia Migay was tops for the local women with a time of 3 hours and 35 minutes. Local results as follows.

McDonald, Ryan (CAN) 03:13:40

Migay, Marcia (CAN) 03:35:58
Pazianos, Tom (CAN) 03:46:55
Sneve, Darren (CAN) 03:53:42
Harris, Allan (CAN) 04:00:59
Baraskewich, Lindsay (CAN) 04:01:04
Bociurko, Christine (CAN) 04:12:02
Smith, Leigh (CAN) 04:30:04
Frederickson, Deborah (CAN) 04:34:23
McDonald, Susan (CAN) 04:35:40
Barton, Judy (CAN) 04:45:49
Smith, Mark (CAN) 04:48:27

Area highways start to re-open

OPP say Highways are starting to open up. Police say Highway 11 from Nipigon to North Bay Highway 17 from Sistonen Corners heading west to Ignace is open as is Highway 11 between Shabaqua and Atikokan.

Gun incident on FWFN

A woman is out of police custody after an incident with a gun on Chippewa Road Sunday afternoon.  Anishinabek police say the woman was on the road waving what appeared to be a rifle or a shotgun.  Police took her into custody but later let her go. Police say charges have been laid.

Cartoon display at City Hall

The city is hosting a display that involves award winning editorial cartoons from all around the world. The Freedom of Expression Broadstrokes exhibit is being shown in the lobby of City Hall until May 15th.

Grocery shopping goes high tech

Quality Market is introducing the first online grocery store in the city. In addition to city residents the new internet shopping system will benefit many First Nation communities. Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Stan Beardy says remote communities will have access to fresh produce at an affordable price. The link for the grocery store website is here.

Marathon stolen vehicle

Marathon OPP are charging two Southern Ontario residents with possession of stolen property and fleeing police.  It stems from a report of a stolen vehicle over the weekend.  Police spotted the vehicle and started a high speed chase.  Two men and woman evaded a speed belt and abandoned the vehicle.  The K9 unit helped track the duo a short distance from the stolen car.

Hobbs talks truck traffic on Dawson

City lawmakers will be considering a proposal many hope will discourage truck traffic on Dawson Road. Councillors will be voting on whether to reduce the speed limit and make it into a community safety zone.

Hydro One reports outages

Hydro One is reporting a power outage in the outlying communities around Thunder Bay.  128 customers near Pass Lake are without power this morning, as are several residents in Neebing and Oliver Paipoonge.

Rural Schools Closed-All buses cancelled

The bad weather is impacting all school bus transportation today. All buses are cancelled. School closures today include, CRESTVIEW, MCKENZIE, FIVE MILE, NOR’WESTER VIEW, GORHAM & WARE, VALLEY CENTRAL, KAKABKA FALLS, WHITEFISH VALLEY, Thunder Bay Christian School is also closed. All rural schools are closed. Urban schools will be open. All Thunder Bay Catholic and French Catholic schools are open.

Foulds brings hockey rink resolution

City Councillor Andrew Foulds is introducing a resolution tonight that will look at increasing supervision at local hockey rinks.  Foulds says it's the first step towards getting kids more physically active in the winter.  Foulds says if the resolution passes tonight, staff will come back with a list of options for council on how they can make the rinks more accessible.

Queens are winners again

Thunder Bay's Sportop midget double A Queens are the Ontario Women's Hockey Association provincial champions. It's their second time winning the title in three seasons. The Queens now move on to represent the province at the Esso Cup Canadian national female hockey championship in P.E.I.

Pikangikum suspicious death

Police are investigating the suspicious death of a 32 year old Pikangikum First Nation man.  Officers were called to a house on the First Nation to deal with an altercation on April 14th.  A short time later a man was located unresponsive on the side of a road.  A post-mortem exam still needs to be conducted.

Kenora MP Takes Issue with Federal N.D.P. Leader

The MP for the Kenora riding is not impressed with comments made by the Federal N.D.P. Leader. Greg Rickford says the comments came moments after the long gun registry received royal assent. Thomas Mulcair stated that if he were in power he would lean on his fellow party members to vote in favour of the gun registry. Rickford says Thomas Mulcair has lost touch with the values of Northern Ontarians.

Deer Feeding By-law Examined in Kenora

A warmer than normal winter is expected to result in an increase in the deer population in the City of Kenora. City Council is taking steps to try and deal with the problem. Kenora mayor Dave Canfield says they've tightened up their Feeding of Wild Animals by-law to make it more enforceable. Councillor Louis Roussin has suggested that a deer cull is in order to deal with the rampant deer population in the city.

Hunter Fined For Illegal Moose Hunt

A Fort Frances area man has been fined 25-hundred dollars for illegal moose hunting. Court heard that Myron Huber was hunting at the Turtle Tank cut, east of Mine Centre last October. He shot a bull moose but he didn't have a seal.

Spring Seatbelt Campaign Begins

The Thunder Bay OPP are running their annual spring seatbelt campaign which starts Saturday. Provincial Constable Diana Cole says they want to help save lives. The campaign is to raise awareness on seatbelt use and runs until April 22nd.