Tip Lines Seeing More Action

The city's Crime Stoppers program is getting more calls this year than they have in the past decade. Crime Stoppers Coordinator Jason Disher says people are using all mediums to report incidents including e-mail and text message. There have been 839 tips this year. January marks Crime Stopper Prevention Month.

Different Drug Charge

OPP are correcting some of the charges they announced against a Longlac man and woman. Last week they charged the 27 year old and 38 year old with a variety of drug related offences but are now changing one of the charges for both individuals to trafficking meth. The two have since been released with conditions.

Lawyer Talks Road Conditions

A Toronto lawyer says governments have a legal duty to keep the roads under their jurisdiction in a reasonable state of repair. Troy Lehman says the number of cases heading to court over poor roads in the winter is increasing. In some cases, it's about monitoring the roadways. Lehman warns any lawsuit must show road conditions played a part in an accident and that the governments responsible failed to take reasonable steps to prevent the hazardous condition.

Hyer's Fave Christmas Memory

It's the holidays and we've been speaking to prominent local residents about what their fondest Christmas memories are. For Green Party MP Bruce Hyer its the Christmas Eve in 1975 when he had just arrived as a new Canadian immigrant. Hyer says as a result, that Christmas Eve was spent with a couple whose daughter, just hours before, gave birth to a baby in a cabin by the railroad tracks.

NOMA Wants More Say

Northwestern Ontario needs more of a say on it's future development. That's the feeling of the president of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal
Association. Dave Canfield says he'd like to see this region have more autonomy and less influence from Queen's Park. Canfield says ideally this region should have more control over infrastructure and training as it pertains to industries such as mining and forestry.

Health Care Reception Today

The City is playing host to over 100 health care professionals and students at a special reception today at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery.  Organizer Cheryl Armstrong says they want to make a good impression on health care students home for the holidays.  Armstrong adds the reception is a chance for the professionals and the students to mingle and talk about working in Thunder Bay.

Costarter Announces Grants

Five technology companies are receiving fifteen-thousand dollar investments from Co-starter. The Co-starter Program is the regions first of its kind and helps companies with start up costs. The five will work from January to March at the Innovation Centre at the Confederation College campus.

Warning For Snowmobilers

The OPP and the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs are reminding snow machine enthusiasts to use caution when out on frozen bodies of water. The groups say that with some areas freezing faster then usual riders may be given the impression that all lakes are safe to ride on. The OPP suggest riders carry ice picks and wear buoyant snowmobile suits if they do cross over ice.

City's Snow Removal More Than Expected

This years snow removal budget is reportedly operating at a 700-thousand dollars overage. Councillor Rebecca Johnson says although the difference is significant, predicting what a snow removal budget should be is almost as difficult as predicting the weather. Johnson adds that if this figure does throw the budget off as a whole the city may need to dip into its reserves.

Crime Of The Week

Crime Stoppers and the OPP are asking for your help in solving a total of 25 break and enters that took place in the rural Thunder Bay areas of Boreal Road and Highway 527.  Sometime between November 22nd and December 2nd, camps were broken into off Boreal Road at Mark's Lake, Hoof Lake and Batwing Lake.  Thieves also hit camps up Highway 527 on Pete's Lake, Escape Lake, Max Lake and Decourcey Lake.  A total of 17 rifles were stolen along with several boxes of ammunition.  Other items taken included boat motors, generators, fishing equipment tv's and stereos.  The estimated value of the items stolen and the property damage is approximately $50,000.  Anyone with information on these thefts is asked to call 1-800-222-8477 or submit a web tip at www.tipsubmit.com

Experience Magazine

The city is releasing their 2014 on-line and print Experience Magazine outlining the spots to be in Thunder Bay. Paul Pepe is Manager of Tourism and says the magazine remains the top resource guide for tourists and locals. Online versions can be downloaded at www.visitthunderbay.com

Flight Issues

The ice storm currently hitting Southern Ontario is taking a toll on incoming and outgoing flights to/from the region. Roughly a dozen flights are being affected at the Thunder Bay Airport with nearly all flights to Toronto experiencing delays. Porter's 5:00 flight to the Billy Bishop airport in Toronto has been cancelled.

Thunder Bay's Newest Fire Fighters

Thunder Bay Fire and Rescue is welcoming eight new members after their New Recruit Graduation that took place yesterday afternoon. The event also recognized some of the city's longer serving firefighters, with twenty receiving Long Service Awards. Being presented with badges are: Darrec Folino, Stefan Moreira, Glenn Lorentz, Tyler Reinelt, Derek Stajkowski, Michael Carli, Cory Prevost, Greg Pettypiece.

Police Lay Six Charges

A Thunder Bay man is facing several charges stemming from an investigation by City Police that began in November, after a complaint of sexual assault involving a fifteen year old girl. The fifty-three year old man faces a total of six charges:

- Sexual Assault
- Sexual Exploitation
- Invitation to Sexual Touching
- Possession of Child Pornography
- Breach of Probation
- Breach of Prohibition Order.

He will appear in court December 22nd.

Holiday Garbage Collection Dates

There are new collection dates for garbage and recycling to take note of. There will be no collections on Christmas, Boxing Day or New Years Day. For Area One - Blue Cards the new dates are Monday December 23rd and Monday December 30th. For Area Two - Yellow Cards Tuesday December 24th and Tuesday December 31st. For Area Three - Green Cards Friday December 27th and Thursday January 2nd. For Area Four - Pink Cards Saturday December 28th and Friday January 3rd. Be sure to have waste out for collection by 7 am on those days.

Greg Rickford Is Optimistic

Kenora MP Greg Rickford says the Ring of Fire mining project should be able to make some progress in 2014. Rickford admitted recently that the project does have some challenges specific to the development but that there is reason to be optimistic when it comes to the construction of an east-west road corridor. Rickford adds that he has maintained close contact with Mines Minister Michael Gravelle.

Gasoline In Short Supply

Reports of a gasoline shortage in the city has some station managers on edge.  Gail Robertson of Chapman's Gas Bar says right now they are going day to day and have imposed a ceiling on purchases.  She says until further notice, no one will be allowed to pump m ore than 50 litres.  As well, several gas bars have been selling premium gasoline for the price of regular because of the shortfall

Toys For Tots Exceeds Last Years Totals

This years Toys For Tots Campaign has raised one-hundred fifty-eight thousand dollars. Thunder Bay firefighters made the presentation this afternoon at the Intercity Mall. Paul Penna is fundraising Chair and says all the work done by the city's firefighters was on their own time. Toy buyers will attend the March Toy Fair where they will try and purchase most of the toys needed for next Christmas.

Bar's Liquor Licence Suspended

A Thunder Bay bar owner will have to stop serving liquor for a month in the new year after officials say there were violations of the Liquor Control Act.   The Alcohol and Gaming Commission  says the sanction follows the investigation into an incident outside what was then, the Aden tavern on Brown Street last year.  They allege surveillance video wasn't made available to police.  As well, in a separate case,  investigators allege that a patron of the bar left drunk and drove a vehicle that hit a pedestrian. The licence to serve alcohol will be suspended from January the second until February the sixth.

Flu Death Confirmed

The Health Unit is raising a red flag about the number of flu cases in the region after the death of one person.  Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams, says the death took place in the last week and involved a person under the age of 65 who developed the symptoms.    He says  that Thunder Bay leads the province with the highest number of emergency room visits for patients experiencing symptoms of the flu.  Williams adds there have been 35 confirmed cases of the flu and that several  have been severe with some requiring hospitalization.