Quality Market Is A Winner

A local independent grocery store is being honoured by it's National peers. Quality Market was awarded the Top Independent Grocer of the Year award by the organizing body of the same name. Dan and David Stezenko beat out other competitors from Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Northern Ontario.

Police Looking For Armed Robbery Suspect

Thunder Bay Police are looking for an older man with shaggy blonde hair in connection to an armed robbery of the Shell Gas Station on west Arthur Street.  Police say the suspect is 5'7, 140 pounds and between 50 and 60 years old.  He was wearing a Brown Carhardt Jacket with hoodie, Brown pants and a Budweiser hat.  Police say he also was sporting a black t-shirt that read "I will not come home drunk."  He had a black handgun in his belt, demanded money from the store clerk and left on foot with an unknown amount of cash.

Bight Comes To The Waterfront

Jeannie Dubois, Bianca Garofalo, Chris Groenheide

Thunder Bay's new eatery at the Prince Arthur's Landing is Bight. The new restaurant & bar will be a full service, fully licensed establishment offering 90 seats in the main room and 45 seats on the seasonal patio. Bight is currently under renovation in the Water Garden Pavilion and is expected to open before Christmas of this year.

Abandoned Car Found In Geraldton Area

The RCMP say a car connected to a man wanted in the disturbing sexual assault in Nova Scotia has been found on a remote logging road in Northwestern Ontario minus a driver.  They say the search continues for Wayne Alan Cunningham, who faces charges of sexual assault and forcible confinement.  The Ontario Provincial Police discovered the car early Tuesday about 19 kilometres off the highway in the Geraldton area.  Meantime, the OPP still have custody of David Leblanc who is also charged in relation to forcible confinement.

Vegan Iron Chef Coming To T.Bay

Thunder Bay is holding it's first Vegan cooking competition this coming January. The competition is for anyone with a talent for vegan cuisine. Although it's the first many of us have heard of Vegan Iron Chef, Francis Talarico tells us where it originated. Talarico says the vegan lifestyle is becoming increasingly more popular in Thunder Bay.

Mauro Promotes New Program

MPP Bill Mauro is promoting the government's latest program which gives Ontario seniors a credit to help them make renovations to their homes. Mauro says it would be to encourage the elderly to stay in their homes longer.  It's worth up to 15 thousand dollars each year.   The credit can be claimed by homeowners, tenants or if you are sharing a home with a senior.

Abuse Victim Gives Back

A local victim of abuse is giving back to the organization that helped her through her odeal. Tessa Charlebois, recently held an art auction at the Thunder Bay Armoury and presented a cheque worth more than 25-hundred dollars to the Thunder Bay and Area Victim Services. The money will be used to create emergency kits for abuse victims in the city and surrounding area.

Salvation Army Hosting Thanksgiving Dinner

Thunder Bay's Salvation Army and the Professional Fire Fighters Association are holding a Thanksgiving dinner for 300 people Sunday.  Major Rosena Halvorsen says it's good to give back to the community.  The dinner will be held from noon until 3 and a shuttle service is available from City Hall and the Water Street Terminal at 11:45.

Heney On Port Stats

Thunder Bay's Port Authority is celebrating an increase in cargo coming through the port. CEO Tim Heney says the amount of goods being shipped through the City this past September is up over the same month last year. Heney says July and August were slow months for the Port so it's nice to see an increase in cargo traffic.

Police Probe Armed Robbery

No one is injured after the Shell gas bar on West Arthur Street was robbed late this afternoon.   They say it was an armed holdup and that one person is still at large.   They say a man displayed what appeared to be a handgun and was given an amount of money, police won't say how much.  

Council Request May Be Too Late

The regional health authority isn't saying much about city council's decision requesting the organization reverse the closure of the seniors care home on James Street. Susan Pilatzke,  a senior director with the Local Health Integration Network, says it's hard to stop something that's already underway.  She says there are only 7 patients remaining at the facility  and that it's scheduled to close at the end of the month. Pilatzke says there will be no comment on the council request until the entire board has a chance to review it.

Trail Users Asked For Input

The city wants your opinion of our trail system. A new survey is underway to help get your thoughts on four city trails according to Park Planning Coordinator Werner Schwar. He says it will gather data on who uses the system, how often and where the trail is used. Schwar says the survey information can be found on decals located along all four trails.

Tsekouras Out On Bail

A Thunder Bay man who is charged with being the director of a criminal organization and trafficking  in Cocaine and Marijuana, is out on bail.   Bail was granted in a city courtroom today to John Tsekouras by Justice Bruce Fitzpatrick. Tsekouras has been in custody ever since a police drug bust in June of last year which police called Project Dolphin.  The charges have not been proven in court.    

Suspect Vehicle Spotted?

City Police say they are looking into a possible sighting of  the vehicle whose driver is wanted in connection with a disturbing sexual assault case in Nova Scotia.   Police say someone told them they spotted a car matching the description given to the news media being driven on Oliver Road near the city limits in the early afternoon.   However police say that hasn't been confirmed.   The vehicle is believed to be driven by 31 year old Wayne Cunningham, whose partner David Leblanc, was arrested in Greenstone on Sunday night.

Red Cross Honours Volunteers\Donors

Mayor Keith Hobbs says Red Cross volunteers were crucial to helping victims of the May 28th flood in the city. Hobbs will be on hand tonight to honour those volunteers at the Valhalla Inn. Hobbs says from last year's forest fire evacuation to this year's flood, the Red Cross always steps to the plate. The evening is also a chance to thank donors to the flood relief cause.

Police Service Boards Meet In The Fort

Police services boards across Northwestern Ontario are being represented at a zone meeting of the Association of Ontario Police Services Boards in Fort Frances. Chair of the Fort Frances board John McTaggart says about 50 delegates will hear a number of presentations including one on municipal contract policing. The meeting concludes tomorrow.

RCMP Still Haven't Moved David Leblanc

47 year old David Leblanc is still in OPP custody in Greenstone.  He was captured Sunday night in connection with a forceible confinement and sexual assault case in Nova Scotia.  Nova Scotia RCMP Spokesperson Sgt. Alain Leblanc says they still have some things to work out before they transport Leblanc from Northern Ontario to the East Coast.  Leblanc says they haven't decided when they'll move the suspect.

Environmental Issues On The Table

A 3 day conference on environmental issues facing First Nations starts today at the Victoria Inn.  The conference will see delegates present new ideas on how to preserve the environment and traditional lifestyles of aboriginals. Day 2 and 3 of the conference will be held at the Fort William Historical Park.

City Supporting Saving LTC Beds

Thunder Bay Council is throwing its support behind a call to save 93 long term care beds at the Revera Interim LTC Home and the Lakehead Psychiatric Hospital.  They made their decision at last night's meeting after concerned stakeholders spoke up against the closures.  Revera's Interim LTC home is set to close at the end of October, and spots at the LPH will be gone by December.

Armed Robbery In Kakabeka Falls

Thunder Bay Police are charging a 39 year old man and a 21 woman with armed robbery after an incident Monday afternoon in Kakabeka Falls.  Police say a woman entered a gas station holding a syringe and demanded money and lottery tickets.  When she was turned down she ran to a waiting vehicle.  The duo will be in court later today and police say more charges may be added as the investigation continues.