Monday, September 9, 2013

CLE Board Releases Vote Count

The Canadian Lakehead Exhibition board is now releasing more details of last weeks membership meeting that resulted in the ouster of director Linda Gambee.  It says that the membership voted 56 to 22 to remove Gambee.  It also released board minutes and an e-mail that members were given that night to try to strengthen the case that Gambee's conduct was unbecoming a member.  

Horwath Brings Up Local Plant In Q.P.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is calling on the Liberal government to come clean about their plans for the Thunder Bay Generating Station.   Horwath brought the plant's future up at the first session of Question Period.  The Premier responded but only spoke about the funding for roads and the Experimental Lakes Area.

Rafferty In Saskatoon For NDP Caucus

NDP MPs from across the country are meeting in Saskatoon this week.   Thunder Bay's John Rafferty is among them and says the caucus meeting is expected to focus on being ready for the next federal election and to make sure they have the strategies in place to make sure Stephen Harper is defeated.   Rafferty says he plans to meet with northern Ontario MPs during the gathering to deal with issues of concern to this region.

Rainfall Warning Ended

Environment Canada has called off the rainfall warning it issued earlier this morning.  They are forecasting heavy rain at times today and throughout the night.  50 millimeters was expected.

Gull Bay Education Program Gets Funding

A former Fort William resident and philanthropist is donating 300-thousand dollars to an education program in Gull Lake First Nation.  Margaret Anderson who has a foundation in Oakville, Ontario says she's more than happy to help with the program and could keep funding it for the foreseeable future. The program will see 10 students finish their grade 12 education.  The program will officially be launched next Monday. 

Reduced Speeds Near Schools 24/7

It seems some people may not be obeying the reduced speed limits near schools in Thunder Bay.  Police Sgt. Bill Pollock is reminding motorists that lower speed zones near schools are in effect 24 hours a day. Pollock says some people believe that the reduced speeds are only during school hours but that's not the case.

Hunter Trapped By Bears

A long ordeal for a hunter at a camp in the Dryden area.  Provincial Police received a report from a camp owner that a hunter had left for a tree stand around 2:30 Saturday afternoon and had not returned.  The camp owner checked on him and found 4-cubs and 3-adult bears around the stand not allowing him out of the tree.  Officers arrived and managed to remove the hunter from the tree without incident and without any shots being fired.  No injuries were reported.

NOSM New Research Chair

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine is welcoming a new Research Chair.  Dr. Sheldon Tobe is the new Heart and Stroke Foundation chair in Aboriginal and Rural Health.

Speedway Death In Emo

Provincial Police have confirmed the death of a Vermilion Bay race car driver. OPP say 67-year-old Bill Reimer left the track of the Emo Speedway Saturday night and was found unresponsive inside the vehicle. Emergency crews removed Reimer from the race car and tried to resuscitate him. Police are treating the incident as a sudden death.

Dryden Woman Injured In Crash

A Dryden woman is in Thunder Bay Hospital with very serious
injuries following a collision on Highway 17 in Wainwright Township. Provincial Police say a small compact car struck two horses around 8:30 Friday evening. Family members say 37-year-old Crystal DaSilva is in critical condition.  Another passenger in the vehicle was treated and released from hospital.

Orazietti Outlines Priorities For North

MPP's are back to work at Queen's Park starting today. Minister of Natural Resources David Orazietti says his priorities will include how the ministry can support more jobs in northern Ontario through areas such as the Ring of Fire and the forestry industry.  Orazietti notes the forestry sector has seen a rebound and notes the government will continue to work with companies to help them modernize and get access to crown fibre that they need.

FASD Awareness Day Today

It's Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness Day today. The Health Unit is helping put on the 5th annual Honouring Mothers Mini Pow-wow at Marina Park today. Organizers of the event will be talking about the preventable disease and spreading the message that it's not ok to drink while your pregnant.