Fire Service to check for working smoke alarms

The Thunder Bay Fire Service is starting it's door-to-door smoke alarm checks again. Chief John Hay says it's part of a 5 year plan to go to every home in the city and make sure there are working smoke alarms on every floor.   He says they'll go to homes and ask residents if they want a home inspection and to be educated on smoke detectors.   Those inspectors will then help residents who don't have any alarms help them be in compliance with the law.  Hay says no charges will be laid if inspectors are welcomed into the home

Two Mac's robberies remain unsolved

City police remain on the watch for a suspect or suspects in two Mac's store robberies on the weekend. They say that in both cases a man was involved in the robberies and the culprits had their faces covered. Police have not connected the two robberies. One took place at the Syndicate Avenue store early Saturday morning the other early Monday morning at the May and Dease location.

Snow birds fly by Wednesday

It's aviation day at Confederation College. The event will celebrate the growth and success of aviation in Northern Ontario. During the event, Helicopter Transport Medicine group "ORNGE" and the college will announce new opportunities for students in the health care field. A fly-by by the Canadian Forces Snowbirds will take place at noon at the School of Aviation flight hangar.

Horizon Wind to release report this week

The next important step in the development of the proposed Nor' Wester Wind Farm takes place this week. On Thursday Horizon Wind will be releasing the environmental report regarding the wind turbines. At the same time company officials will also provide details about the next public open houses. The release of the report is significant because city councillors have said they would not make a decision on the location of the 18 turbines until after that report was made public.

Violence against women funding

18 not for profit groups in the Thunder Bay area will be sharing over 53 thousand dollars in provincial government funding. The money will be used to run violence against women programs and buy resources and equipment. The organizations receiving the money work in the Thunder Bay-Superior North and Thunder Bay-Atikokan ridings.

Thunder Bay new home activity will grow in 2010

It's going to be a great building season for Thunder Bay.  Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation released it's Spring housing market report on Tuesday.  Thunder Bay's new home activity will increase by 27 percent in 2010.  The CMHC is also calling for existing home sales to grow and reach 1 thousand five hundred and fifty units this year. 

Robbery suspects remain in custody

Two Thunder Bay residents are due back in court next week in connection with a weekend armed robbery. Police say a man and a woman entered the Syndicate Avenue Mac's Store on Sunday morning armed with a knife. They ran off with some cash. The suspects were later caught and appeared in court Tuesday.   The 32 year old man and 27 year old woman were remanded in custody.

Woman opts for jury trial in fraud case

A Thunder Bay woman is asking for trial by judge and jury in connection with a fraud case involving the Port Arthur Polish Alliance Branch #19.   The lawyer for Krystyna Dolasinski says a preliminary hearing has been scheduled for October.  Christopher Watkins says the hearing will help build his defence by continuing to explore the strength of the prosecution's case and concerns that centre around the strength of that case.  Alliance officials say they found about 100 thousand dollars was missing from their accounts over a two year period.  In court on Tuesday,  Assistant Crown Attorney Gil Maille said that charges of Breach of Trust and Misappropriation of Money were withdrawn.  He says however,  she still faces charges of  Fraud and Theft over 5 thousand dollars and Falsifying Documents

OPP long weekend activity

Not much activity on the long weekend for Thunder Bay OPP. Police did pull over one vehicle in the area of Highway 61 and Arthur Street this morning. When speaking with the driver, the officers noticed the 37 year old man was showing signs of impairment. He's charged with impaired operation of a motor vehicle and driving over 80 milograms; that's twice the legal limit. Police also issued 3-3 days licence suspensions over the May long weekend.

Leon's furniture protest

Thunder Bay's skilled labourers are protesting in front of the Leon's building. Glen Drews is the head of the electrical construction workers for the region and says they're dissapointed they didn't use local workers. Drews adds Leon's shouldn't expect locals to buy their furniture since they didn't employ anyone locally. Leon's Furniture store is presently being built down from Walmart on Fort William Road.

King's stereo building demolished

Demolition work is complete on the King's Stereo Building. Clean up has commenced and is expected to take several weeks. M Hashy and Sons Contracting Owner Michael Hashy hopes to have Syndicate and Miles Street open by this afternoon. The materials of the demolished building are being hauled to the City landfill.