Sawmill parts up for auction

Word that the Atikokan Forest Products Sawmill will be auctioned off at the end of the month isn't sitting well with the candidates in the Thunder Bay Atikokan riding.  MPP Bill Mauro says there's still some hope for that mill.  Both the NDP and Progressive Conservative Candidates in the riding are claiming the Liberal's misguided attempts with the forest industry and wood allocation.  The Ontario Superior Court has given the green light to auction off all equipment and property at the Atikokan and Northern Sawmill in Thunder Bay.

Liberals launch Northern Plan

The Liberals have come out swinging against the NDP and Conservatives lauding their plan for the North over the competition.  Thunder Bay Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro says the other parties are just spouting off rhetoric.  The Liberal plan calls for an increase to the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund and improving the Northern Health Travel Grant.

Housing starts drop in August

It remains a hot year for housing starts in Thunder Bay, despite a small drop last month. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Analyst Warren Philp says there were 26 starts last month, which is a drop of 13 from the same month last year.  Philp says with 171 housing permits taken out in June, he expects the hot construction market to continue this year.

Unemployment holds steady in Thunder Bay

There is no change to our unemployment rate in Thunder Bay.  Our rate stayed steady at 6.2 percent last month which followed the Provincial rate which stayed steady at 7.5 percent.  The National rate increased to 7.3 percent.

Drug bust lands a 21 year old in jail

Another drug bust has landed a 21 year old man in police custody.  The man was arrested after police searched a house on Hamilton Avenue yesterday and found almost 40 thousand dollars worth of Oxycodone pills.

Heat wave breaks records

A heat wave is breaking records across Northwestern Ontario.  New records were set in Red Lake, Ear Falls, Sioux Lookout, Dryden and Kenora yesterday.  With a high of 28 there is a chance more records could fall today.

Arrest made in connection to mugging near the casino

A person is now in police custody in relation to an attack on a 90 year old woman last week.  Thunder Bay Police say a 17 year old boy has been arrested in connection to the attack last Friday that landed the elderly woman in the hospital in critical condition.  The victim has been upgraded to stable.

Horwath rallies troops

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is calling out the Liberal Government for sending out press releases attacking her Northern Ontario platform.  Horwath says if the McGuinty Liberals want to attack her policies they can take part in a Northern Ontario specific debate set in the region.  Horwath spoke to a crowd of party faithful at the Lakehead Labour Centre Thursday night.

Speeders nabbed the first day of school

City police say too many drivers are speeding near schools. They say on the first day of school this year over 50 tickets were handed out to lead footed drivers. City traffic Sgt. Glenn Porter says he's not surprised saying it usually takes drivers several days to adapt to new situations.  Police say one woman was clocked going almost 100 in a 50 km an hour community safety zone.

LU and Metis Nation sign "historic" agreement

Lakehead University is making its mark in the Aboriginal community with the signing of an agreement with the Metis Nation of Ontario. President Brian Stevenson says the Memorandum of Understanding takes the relationship between the two parties to a new level by opening up more opportunities for Metis students.  LU becomes the 10th postsecondary institution in the Province to sign such an agreement with the Metis

Liberals attack NDP Northern platform

The Liberals are claiming that the NDP will ban all development in the Far North.  They say the NDP plan to repeal the Far North Act and instead put a climate change plan in place. The Liberals are also against the NDP's mining policy.  Northern Development, Mines and Forestry Minister Michael Gravelle says the NDP mining scheme is bad policy that would hurt foreign investment.  The NDP plan would make it law that resources that can be processed in Ontario won't be shipped away elsewhere.

Bruce Hyer talks Parliament resuming

Members of Parliament head back to work in Ottawa on September 19th.  Thunder Bay Superior North MP Bruce Hyer says his party will be able to carry on former Leader Jack Layton's vision.  The party will look at holding a leadership election in 2012.

CPR is the centre of a new study

An international study on CPR and Defribulation is looking to Thunder Bay Fire and Rescue and Superior North EMS.  EMS Spokesperson Mario Audet says the study's aim is to remove un-needed proceedures to help save lives. Audet says providing CPR and defribulation as soon as possible are vital for saving lives.

Sheelagh Hendrick gets promotion

The City has found someone to cover Crime Prevention Coordinator Amy Siciliano's maternity leave.  Spokesperson Karen Lewis says they've promoted from within.  Sheelagh Hendrick starts her new job September 19th.  Hendrick is currently the Deputy City Clerk.

United Way wants 2.5 million dollars

The United Way is ready to raise funds for the 27 local charities it supports.  Co-Chair Shelley Trewin says this year's goal is just over 2.5 million dollars.  The 2011 fundraising goal was announced at the organization's campaign breakfast Thursday at the Valhalla Inn. 

Police auction off goods

Thunder Bay Police are auctioning off unclaimed property tonight. 60 bikes are up for grabs. The event kicks off at 6:30 at the police station on Balmoral.

Local author gets recognition

A Thunder Bay author is basking in the limelight after his book was nominated for a Giller Prize.   Michael Christie is one of 17 authors in the country to be nominated for Canada's most prestigious English-language literary award. It's for his book "Beggar's Garden".

Chamber talks provincial election issues

The Provincial election campaign is underway and not everyone seems to be aware of it.  That's the finding of the Chamber of Commerce; President Harold Wilson says some residents are blissfully unaware. Wilson says they hope to raise voter awareness through a candidate survey on their website. Wilson feels creating resource and knowledge based jobs, and the cost of electricity will be hot election topics.

Top 20 under 40

The Chamber of Commerce is accepting applications for the first ever Northwestern Ontario Visionary Awards.  Board Chair Michael Nitz says it's a way to celebrate the rich array of young talent in the region.  The awards will recognize the top 20 under the age of 40.  The awards will be handed out in January, nomination forms are due by October 15th.

Provincial election campaign underway

The Provincial election campaign is officially underway. We asked residents outside of City Hall what they thought of the upcoming vote. We head to the polls October 6th.