Bentz happy to be back on council

Mark Bentz says he's looking forward to another four years serving as Northwood Councillor. Bentz won back his seat in Monday's election.  However, he admits some scepticism about the waterfront project may have caused a slight backlash against him.  He says the election of Keith Hobbs as mayor isn't a concern for him.  He calls the returning council members a "great group" who will be happy to work with him.

Accident injures one

One person is recovering after being injured in an afternoon traffic accident on the Trans Canada Highway. It took place just west of the Terry Fox Lookout at around 2 o'clock. A dump truck collided with the rear of a flatbed transport truck. OPP say that the injured man was not seriously hurt. There was a fuel spill as well, after a gas tank split open. Traffic had to be reduced to one lane for a few hours.

Crews respond to fire in West Fort

A person has been sent to the hospital after a fire broke out in West Fort.  The cause of the house fire in the 900 block of Crawford Place is not yet known.  The blaze originated in a rear bedroom where the man in his fifties was found.

Fort Hope First Nation Update

Police in Fort Hope First Nation say there aren't enough officers to fight high crime.  The Reserve says crimes such as arson are out of control so it has declared a state of emergency.  Sergeant Jackie George says the community needs patrols 24 hours a day, but there just isn't enough funding.  The reserve's chief says people are so afraid of arson, they sleep with a fire extinguisher.

Pepe provides update on Tourism Zones

It will still be several month's before the new Northern Ontario Tourism Zone is officialy incorporated. Thunder Bay's Paul Pepe is a member of the transition team and says a lot of legal work remains.  Pepe says they have decided to break-up the North zone into 3 sub-region's.  A total of 1.54-million dollars has been allocated for tourism-related initiatives in Northwestern Ontario.

Thunder Bay Hydro still dealing with outages

Most of Thunder Bay has its lights on today but Thunder Bay Hydro is still dealing with a few outages. Spokesperson Eileen Dias says a poll fire knocked out power to around 300 customers in the Balsam and Huron area, but that should be back by this evening. Dias says hopefully the worst is behind us. She says crews will also be working on a number of isolated outages across the city.

Kids deliver critical message

The message of preventing child abuse is being spread across the city by children themselves.  Over 12 hundred grocery bags have been decorated with prevention slogans by local school students.  The grocery bags are being distributed by Quality Market.  Pictured:  Hailey Madigan of Crestview School

Windy conditions are a nuisance

People may have had a hard time chasing down errant garbage cans and other items that got caught up in the high winds yesterday.  One person had to grab their trampoline after it became airborne and hopped over a fence.  Trampoline made its way over the fence in Parkdale.  Winds yesterday were gusting up to 70 kilometers an hour. 

Local Liberal eager for Federal Leaders visit

Federal Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff is paying a visit to Thunder Bay on Thursday.  Yves Fricot is the Federal Liberal Candidate for Thunder Bay Superior North and says the state of the economy will be just one issue that he will address.  The Liberal Leader will be speaking for an hour and a half at Confederation College.  Ignatieff will also tour the Bombardier facilities in Thunder Bay and hold court with Liberal faithful at Gargolyes in the evening.

Spence acquitted of manslaughter

A man facing manslaughter charges has been acquitted.  23 year old Marvin Spence was facing the charges in connection to the December 2007 death of 44 year old Scott James.  A bouncer at the time, Spence kicked James out of a bar on Simpson street, James died shortly after.  The Judge found insufficient evidence to prove Spence landed the blow that killed James and acquitted him.

Thunder Bay man has messy stop by police

Reports out of Timmins say a drunk driver with triple the legal amount of booze in his blood drove the wrong way on a one way street. When Timmins police pulled him over the Thunder Bay man told the officer he soiled himself. He was fined over a thousand dollars and is prohibited from operating a motor vehicle for 18 months after pleading guilty on Tuesday. The man told the police officer he had just moved to town for a job.

Weather impacts transit routes

City buses will be making a number of detours thanks to the wild weather today.  Many vehicle accidents, drainage issues, and fallen trees have caused the routes to be altered.  There will be delays and stops may be missed on the numbers 9, 11 and 2 routes.

Rafferty on HST warpath

Thunder Bay Rainy River MP John Rafferty is criticizing the Government for not exempting legions from the HST on poppy sales. Rafferty says its like taking money from veterans. Legions use the poppies as a way to remember fallen soldiers and as a fundraiser for their local chapters. Rafferty says it robs legions from money, and taxes the public act of showing respect for veterans. A private members bill asking for an exemption is being introduced but if passed won't help until the next Remembrance Day.

Foulds vows to work with Hobbs

Andrew Foulds was one of the 10 councillors to get re-elected in Monday's civic vote. The Current River rep says he's confident he'll be able to work with the new mayor Keith Hobbs and is looking forward to the next four years.   Foulds hopes to continue what he calls,  a relationship of respect with the other councillors

Hobbs still on cloud 9

Keith Hobbs says it still hasn't sunk in yet. He says his first day as mayor-elect has been a whirlwind of news interviews. He says he's already planning to lay the groundwork for his first term.  Hobbs says he's also looking to make some connections within the higher levels of government.

Lines down everywhere

The evidence of today's wind and rain storm is everywhere. On Balmoral between the Oliver Road and Beverly, there are several downed power poles. It's forced the closure of that section idefinitely. At the height of the outage over the noon hour there were 10 thousand Thunder Bay Hydro customers without electricity.

Power outage affects traffic lights

Hydro, Fire and Police crews have been out this afternoon at various intersections in the North Ward.    A power outage has taken grip as the result of the wind and rain storm we're experiencing.   Police have been directing traffic because signal lights are out.

Power outages reported across city

The wicked weather has caused a number of power outages in the City.  10 thousand Thunder Bay Hydro customers are without power.  Thunder Bay Hydro Spokesperson Eileen Dias says crews are doing the best they can to restore power. Trees have fallen on power lines, and the powers outs are wide spread across the City. 

Great Lakes Cyclone hits Thunder Bay

Hold on to something heavy today because the Great Lakes Cyclone is paying us a visit. Environment Canada's Geoff Coulson says the very intense system is effecting Thunder Bay.  He says the storm will be strong winds gusting to 70 kilometres an hour and as much as 50 millimetres of rain by tomorrow evening.  Coulson says the temperatures will prevent any snow from hitting the area but Western Manitoba is a different story where Major snowfall warnings are in effect. 

Oliver Paipoonge reelects Lucy Klousterhuis

Lucy Klousterhuis earned another term as Oliver Paipoonge's Mayor. Klousterhuis says it was the first election since the two wards merged. The community elected three new councillors Monday night.  Meanwhile, the official election results are in in Shuniah. 891 votes meant Maria Harding could keep her job as Mayor.