Virdiramo Calls Good Roads Productive

Thunder Bay's Good Roads Delegation is fresh from lobbying Provincial Cabinet Ministers in Toronto.  Councillor Joe Virdiramo says it was a productive conference and says the Mining Readiness Strategy was well received.  The delegation also spoke with Health Minister Deb Matthews about the critical shortage of long-term care beds.  They also spoke to new Energy Minister Bob Chiareli about keeping the Mission Island Power plant open beyond 2013.

Mauro Talks Highway Clearing

The Tories and N-D-P say Ontario's highways are not being cleared of snow as fast as they should be and say this sometimes leads to fatal results.  Liberal M.P.P. Bill Mauro says he too has some concerns about how highways are plowed following a snowstorm in his riding of Thunder Bay-Atikokan. Mauro says he's written the Ministry of Transportation on many occasions expressing concern for his constituents driving on Northern Ontario highways.

OFIA Holding AGM

The Ontario Forest Industries Association is painting a rosey picture heading into its Annual General Meeting.  Three new members will be introduced today, all from northwestern Ontario.  Jamie Lim is president of the OFIA and suggests there is a lot of promise in the forest sector.  Lim says they are looking forward to meeting with the province's new Natural Resources Minister, David Orazietti today at their AGM. 

Sleeping Giant Sprints

The clock is ticking on the registration for the third annual RBC Sleeping Giant Sprints, a sudden elimination racing competition hosted by the Kamview Nordic Centre. Event spokesperson Marianne Steward summarizes the event as a high speed dash for cash. While all men's postitions have been filled, registration is still open for the women's division. Every sprint completed by athletes will earn them cash, starting with ten dollars and eventually reaching the grand prize of $320.

$2.85 Million Technology Plan approved

The Lakehead Public School Board aims to keep up with technology. At last night's meeting, members of the board approved a $2.85 million plan over the next three years to upgrade technology available to students in the classroom.

NOMA Talks With Murray About Roads

Infastructure minister Glen Murray is ready to work with Northwestern Ontario.  Murray says he had some good meetings with the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association this week.  Murray says that his ministries do have funding ready to go to twin parts of highway 17 and 11.

Former Bookkeeper Sentenced

38 year old Kerry Wirkkunen is going jail for 15 months.   The former bookkeeper with a contracting company in the city was convicted of theft in connection with the disappearance of more than 200 thousand dollars.   She was sentenced in a Thunder Bay courtroom today by Justice Bruce Fitzpatrick. 

Conmee Gets 1.2 Million From Province

Conmee is getting an extra 1.2 million dollars from the Provincial Government's Disaster Relief fund.  Mayor Kevin Holland says they now have 2 million dollars from the province to repair their roads and bridges from the May 28th flood.  Holland says they want to start construction this spring and have it finished by the fall.  The funding announcement was made during the Ontario Good Roads Conference in Toronto this week. 

Investment Watchdog In T.Bay Wednesday

The province's investment watchdog is in the City tomorrow to talk about fraud.  The Ontario Securities Commission is holding a "Protect Your Money" seminar at the Valhalla Inn Wednesday from 5 until 7.  Spokesperson Eleanor Farrell says you should remember buyer beware.  Farrell adds if someone calls you up out of the blue and tries to sell you an investment you should also be wary.

Shuniah House Destroyed In Fire

A home in Shuniah Township is totally destroyed after a pre-dawn blaze tore through it early this morning. Fire Chief Blair Arthur says the two people inside the Green Point Road area home managed to make it out unharmed.   The cause of the fire isn't known , but Arthur believes it was accidental.

Animal Services Cutting Fees

Dodger

Thunder Bay's Animal Services is cutting its adoption fees for cats and dogs this March.  Spokesperson Jody Kondrat says it's because they anticipate the amount of animals they care for will go up in the spring.  The fees usually are in the 200 dollar range but for March only will be dropped down to 50 dollars.

Local Grocery Store Closing

Northwood Foods is closing its doors after the mall management didn't renew their lease. Officials with the locally owned independent grocery store say the ownership at the Northwood Park Plaza is looking at other options for the space. The last day of operations will be July 7th.

Workbay.net Is Now Online

Don Bernosky and Mary Hayes

Confederation College is teaming up with Workbay.net to launch an online job bank.  Workbay.net Spokesperson Mary Hayes describes the service as a dating site for jobs.   Hayes says it's taken a year to create the website and notes it will help match employers with future employees.

Jury Roll Recommendations Out

A report on ensuring proper aboriginal representation on provincial jury rolls is out and it includes 17 key recommendations. Former Supreme Court of Justice Frank Iacobucci released his report in Thunder Bay today after meeting with people from 32 First Nation Communities, and Aboriginal Leadership. Key goals include providing cultural training for government officials working in the justice system who have contact with First Nations people and creating a First Nation advisory group to the Attorney General.

High School Sports May Soon Return

High School sports in Thunder Bay could start back up again before March Break but it will depend on volunteer teachers and students willing to participate.  Activities Director Dave Pineau says he held a meeting yesterday with members of the Triple-S Double-A and feels they can still piece together a Winter schedule and hopefully have a full Spring season of athletics for high school students.

No Changes To Electoral Boundaries

No changes to the federal ridings of Kenora and Thunder Bay-Rainy River are being recommended in the final report of the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission. The report was tabled in the House of Commons yesterday. The Commission had proposed moving Lake of the Woods township from Thunder Bay-Rainy River to Kenora. But its report, the Commission states that after public hearings, it's assumption the area had stronger ties to Kenora than Thunder Bay or Fort Frances was mistaken.

Kenora Murder Trial Winding Down

The jury is expected to begin deliberations today in the second degree murder trial
of Kenneth Ivall.  Justice Terrance Platana has been working on his final charge to the jury for the past four days and will present his instructions this morning.  This after the crown and the defense presented their final arguments last week in the eight week long trial. Ken Ivall has been charged in connection to the death of Ed Wilson the early morning hours of March 21st, 2009. His co-accused, Angela Duchesne pleaded guilty to manslaughter midway through the trial.

Future In Farming?

Thunder Bay's economic future could lie in farming.  That's the opinion of Food Activist Wayne Roberts who toured area farms yesterday and spoke with local residents this morning.  Roberts says this area has rich farming land and will be heavily relied on when global warming takes effect in Southern Ontario.  Meanwhile, City Council received a report last night claiming area public institutions including themselves spend 6.4 million dollars on food a year and how they could redirect some of that money to local farmers.

Concealing Body Charges Laid

Provincial Police are now charging a 34 year old Manitouwadge woman with concealing the body of a child. O.P.P. say the charges stem from an investigation that started on March 1st, 2011 when they attended the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre in response to a woman having been admitted to hospital under unusual circumstances. The woman is to appear in provincial court on March 27th. Meanwhile O.P.P. are still seeking further information from the public but are not commenting further about the case as it is now before the courts.

Council Approves Cell Letter

City Council feels Tbay Tel has met its obligations to consult the public in relation to installing a cell phone tower on Wardrope Avenue. The City is sending the Federal Government a letter saying the company did its job in talking to the public about their proposed antenna.  Councillor Trevor Giertuga was the only one to vote against sending the letter to the Feds.